RN students who've completed 1st semester (fundamentals) can sit in for CNA exam!

[Sabr&Shukr]

Ok, I'm sure plenty of others can benefit from this as well. I've just completed my first clinical rotation, and kept hearing from other people that I could sit in for the CNA exam without having to pay for the course. So I found out it's true! (Check below for the MA nurse aide registry info). Here is the scoop:

- A nursing student enrolled in a licensed practical nurse (LVN) or registered nurse (RN) program is eligible to challenge (sit in on) the CNA state exam as long as they've completed the basic nursing fundamentals course. Both the theoretical and practical parts of the course must be completed and official school transcripts are needed for verification. As soon as you meet this criteria you may sit for the nurse aide competency evaluation.

- The cna exam consists of a written or oral exam and a hands-on, skills examination. The written and skills exams are administered on the same day and you need to successfully pass both parts in order to be certified and listed on the Nurse Aide Registry. The number of questions on the written exam may vary from state to state, with most states requiring an average of seventy questions. The written test questions use a multiple-choice format . The second part of a CNA examination the nurse aide student must show competency in performing five (5) hands-on skills. These five skills are selected randomly from a list of twenty-five skills. Twenty five to thirty minutes are usually allocated to completing all five required skills of the hands-on CNA examination. One of the five skills chosen at random consists of taking a measurement and recording your findings. Some of the most commonly requested measurements are the blood pressure, the pulse, or the weight of a client. When challenging the CNA examination, five of the following skills need to be correctly performed in order to pass the skills portion of the certification exam.

• Wash hands
  
• Apply one knee-high elastic stocking
  
• Assist to ambulate using transfer belt
  
• Assist with use of bedpan
  
• Clean dentures
  
• Count and record client's radial pulse
  
• Count and record patient's respirations
  
• Donn and remove gown and gloves
  
• Dress client with affected (weak) right arm
  
• Feed client who cannot feed self
  
• Give modified bed bath
  
• Make an occupied bed
  
• Measure and record blood pressure
  
• Measure and record urinary output
  
• Measure and record weight of ambulatory client
  
• Perform passive range of motion exercises for client knee and ankle
  
• Perform passive range of motion exercises for client shoulder
  
• Position client on side
  
• Provide catheter care for female client
  
• Provide fingernail care
  
• Provide food care
  
• Provide mouth care
  
• Provide perineal care for female client
  
• Transfer from bed to wheelchair using transfer belt
  

For more info. you can call here and ask:

Massachusetts Nurse Aide Registry

Massachusetts Department of Public Health - Division of Health Care Quality

99 Chauncy Street, Boston, MA 02111

Phone: [phone]

License Verification: [phone]

This will definitely come in handy for nursing students who want to get cna experience while in school.

I hope this can help someone else as well! :)

[bebahloo]

Nice info!! You should look into a nurse tech job. You kinda function the same as a CNA but its more like an internship.

[NeoPediRN]

I never had to take the CNA exam. After your nursing fundamentals course you are eligible to work as a CNA.

[vitiana]

@NeoPediRN If after the nursing fundamentals course you are eligible to work as a CNA where do you get your CNA license? Or nursing homes will just hire you like that as a nursing student with her official transcript?

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

There is no such thing as a "CNA license" in the state of Massachusetts. Like NeoPediRN, I never took a CNA exam. I applied to my local hospital, stating that I was a nursing student and that I had completed 3 clinicals and they hired me right into a nurse's aide position. I was never asked for any transcripts when I worked as an aide. You will find that many places hire people into "CNA" positions who are not actually CNAs. In many of the Boston hospitals, they don't even call them CNAs... in some they are PCAs, in others PCTs, in still others CAs.

[PediLove2147, BSN, RN]

Yup, I have to agree with NeoPedi and KelRN here. I was able to get a "CNA" job once I completed my first few nursing clinicals. They didn't require a license. I think you only need that if you are not in school, like if you were going for a full-time position. Don't bother sitting for the exam, just apply! Good luck with your job search.

[vitiana]

I did a nursing assistant/home health aid training last year but never sat for the exam because I got a job as a home health and now I'm applying for LPN program...I hope after my few clinicals I will work in a hospital without problems...

[bostonguy2013]

This is really helpful! I am starting nursing school in May and heard the only way to get a job after graduating is to work as a CNA while in school. I was trying to figure out how to become a CNA in Massachusetts, but it sounds like that's not as important since I would only do it for a few semesters before graduating.

[shfulks]

Thank you for taking time to post this information, your a gem, just what I needed.

[Just.Blessed.RN, BSN, RN]

Hi guys, does anyone know if this applies in TN? I'm in Memphis and I aced fundamentals and my skills class, I need some extra cash and would love to get experience in the health care field.

Thanks in advance!

[ellaballet]

I agree with everyone else - don't take the actual exam just apply for tech jobs. I think sitting for the exam costs 100 dollars (or more?).