Skills Exam

Please do not guess a blood pressure number! Anyway, good luck to you. It shouldn't take three times to pass the exam for a CNA, but I am guessing its because of your nerves. Don't let the instructor intimidate you, they are a person as well, and trust me, they don't want to fail you. Good luck!

What I tell my students is to have all your equipment ready before you start the skill. If you have anything left over you have forgotten something. Make sure you know your critical elements and take care of those early in the skill if possible. Start each skill out consistently with the same introduction to make your feel comfortable and confident, end each skill in a similar fashion. Start a skill completely over if you need to.

Relax and take your time, don't rush. Most people have plenty of time.

What I tell my students is to have all your equipment ready before you start the skill. If you have anything left over you have forgotten something. Make sure you know your critical elements and take care of those early in the skill if possible. Start each skill out consistently with the same introduction to make your feel comfortable and confident end each skill in a similar fashion. Start a skill completely over if you need to. Relax and take your time, don't rush. Most people have plenty of time.[/quote']

Thank you. I got really simple skills and I know it shouldn't take 3 tries to become a cna :/ it just makes me feel like maybe I wasn't meant to do this

Thank you. I got really simple skills and I know it shouldn't take 3 tries to become a cna :/ it just makes me feel like maybe I wasn't meant to do this

My first job training as a pct/cna I really sucked..during my peds rotation I broke out in a cold sweat and poked an 11 boy in his eye when I went to get his vital infront of his parents lol.. my instructor took me outside and told me "everyone isnt cut out for this and maybe you should put some deodorants on ur face to control the sweating " lol smh.. I honestly dont know if thr vitals were right because I couldnt get past "not hurting " the patient lol... but the next day I was checking gtube placement on a 5month old on a trach ..and I was terrified everytime ..until I wasnt anymore. .ive worked in hosp float pool for 3 yrs and got to learn ALOT ..which made me know I wanted more and that I could do more. If I listened to that nurse I would have quit rite there. B/p took me the longest to get...just do as many b/ps as u can before your test.

Try talking to your "resident" that you're doing the skill on as if they were an actual resident. They may not be able to respond to you, but talk anyway. Talk your way thru the skill, tell the "resident" what you are doing/are about to do, etc.

Don't look at the proctor. (if you don't see them, maybe you can convince your brain they aren't there! ).

Before the exam, practice each skill on a friend. Talk out loud each step your doing.

If you make a mistake or forget something, say so (before you say you are finished)! and then corrrect it.

Like everyone else said... Practice, talk yourself through the skills, and become confident. Confidence will help to calm your nerves.

Thanks everyone that took the time to respond :). I will try my absolute hardest for this test because if there's one thing I do know it's that I really want to do this. Now the problem is getting the courage to actually send in the application for the test.

I dont know if you have taken your test yet, if not, I know you can do it! I felt very sure of myself the day of my test, but once I started, I had to take deep breaths, and calm myself so that the assessor couldn't see that I was shaking! I was sweating profusely by the time I ended the test, however I passed because I took my time, and reviewed my steps to ensure that I completed everything before I stated that I was done. I know we have a time limit, however, being nervous, you have take your time or you will mess up. I even corrected myself, unbeknownst to the assessor, because as I began to count my patient's pulse rate, I realized that I was actually supposed to be counting her respirations! Instead of freaking out, I guesstimated that it had been a few seconds and I started on respiration 3 and kept going! She didn't even notice! My point is, you have testing anxiety, you just have to be calm and sure of your skills, its okay to be nervous, but dont allow your nerves to control you! All the best to you! Also, maybe you should test in another location, it might help to be in another environment. I had the opportunity to test near my home, but I took the chance and drove 30 minutes away, and it worked in my favor, the assessor was extremely kind and patient, she was really rooting for us to pass. We hugged and wished her well after the test, she was amazing!

I failed my skill exam because I did not soak my hand and risk thoroughly; and I did not introduce myself. Two non-critical skills failed me. although I did well on everything else, I still failed the skill part which has only helped me prepare for nursing school because I see now that I need to study hard and make 100% in nursing or I might fail nursing. Good Luck!

No need to fret! Great advice above. Be very confident in yourself. You've done this twice, you KNOW you have the skills. One of the things I've found about nursing school that has made it the EASIEST is that the more you believe in yourself, the calmer you are, the less pressure you put on yourself, the better you're going to do! One of the most important parts of being successful with patients is being calm and believing in your capabilities. Be prepared. Have everything you need with you, whether its equipment or skills. Don't be scared to put in your application or turn the test in to a big point of fear because its not! We as HCPs and the residents WANT you in the field and we want you to succeed! Just slow down, if you can recheck the BP or forget a number just ask if you can listen again! More often than not they will be thankful you want to be safe instead of guessing. Same with any vital or skill. Also (and this may be different where you take it) if you are going along on your skills and notice you forgot something SAY SO! They definitely won't judge you or think you're dumb. They get that its a lot of pressure! Just take your time, come prepared, and don't be afraid to slow down, back up a step, or even ask if you can double check something! I'd be surprised if anywhere gave you one listen to a BP as a testing CNA Good luck! You've got this!