Skills exam tomorrow- help!

Raven.poe · Jun 20, 2014

Took mine today, I know how you're feeling. I worried about the little things as well. All I could say is act as confident as you can be no matter how shaky and nervous you feel. And talk A LOT throughout each skill to the patient. Few students failed because they were too nervous to talk. Take it slow and breathe... but one thing that really helped was I used flash cards. On one side put the name of the skill and the other all the equipment, n have someone test you. When you know all the equipment you need, it makes it easier to remember what to do next.

I thought I failed because I didnt check the ID, but did everything else right. Just found out online I passed and didnt make any mistakes (which is weird because I thought checking the ID was a major thing but whatever) .

Good luck and just stay positive! Wish you the best.

kynmarie · Jun 20, 2014

Thank you so much! Im taking mine in oklahoma & we have 35 minutes to do 5 skills, hand washing is one guaranteed. Idk if the patient will have on a name band, that makes me curious. Im so happy for you for passing yours! My instructor said they'll have all supplies needed at the stations, so idk if i'll have to get them or not either... :/

Raven.poe · Jun 20, 2014

Thank you!

yea maybe its different for your state. We had to grab the equipment ourselves and set everything up. The proctor just told us where everything was, and how to use certain things.

Keep us updated. Im sure you'll be fine hun.

Proton · Jun 20, 2014

Thank you!
yea maybe its different for your state. We had to grab the equipment ourselves and set everything up. The proctor just told us where everything was, and how to use certain things.
Keep us updated. Im sure you'll be fine hun.

It's the same setup for my state. Try to remember through out each skill:

Is the patient safe? Am I following standard precautions/infection control? Patient rights (the ability to choose, always explain the procedure) and Privacy. Someone mentioned that on the forum before mine and it helped a lot.

It helped to talk/say everything out loud so I knew if I missed a step. In my state, before a skill was over, you could state where you made a mistake, prior to stating your skill was complete.

Be calm and confident, your age doesn't define your ability to pass or fail. You just finished the course so luckily everything is still fresh!

Good luck, you can do this!

kynmarie · Jun 20, 2014

Thank you so much guys, the test is at 10:55, its now 9:41 & im going to puke. Haha. I practiced all morning & all night. Im scared for dressing a resident. What if I forget to dress the affected side first?

kynmarie · Jun 21, 2014

Well the verdict comes in Monday night. I want to puke. I did all my skills correctly just in a speedy manner. I got hand washing, bedpan and output, hair care, blood pressure, & mouth care of a comatose resident. Everything was good until blood pressure. Did all of my opening steps correctly, & didnt miss a step, but the "resident" I was taking the BP of had an abnormally faint pulse & you couldn't hear anything through the stethoscope. I had to repeat the reading about 3 times and one of the times the woman who was giving the test's phone vibrated on the table & I couldnt hear the systolic.

So if I was more than 4 points off I fail the whole skill. My nerves were in full gear, so even if I did miss a step I probably wouldn't remember.

kynmarie · Jun 21, 2014

Sorry for so many replies but I found out today I passed! Now I go take my written, then I'm licensed!

Proton · Jun 22, 2014

Congratulations!!

klallen · Jun 29, 2014

Congrats! I have been a CNA for about three years and just recently got my EMT license. The one thing my instructors have taught me it EVERYONE is nervous and the people giving the test know this and understand! (Well most of them do) Just take a deep breath, you know what you need to do to pass, and being nervous is okay!