skills test before school?

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Anyone have to take a skills test before nursing school starts in the fall? We have to take a skills test on CNA type skills in the fall. I am so nervous! I am just wondering if anyone else has taken it and what it was like if they did.

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Specializes in ICU, Emergency Department.

Have you worked as a CNA? If so, I'm sure you'll be able to handle it. I didn't have to take one, but I'm assuming it's basic stuff like vitals, maybe I&O's, etc.

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We had to do one the first or second week of class. They had cards that we drew and had to perform that skill. It wasn't bad. If you've worked as a CNA I wouldn't worry too much about it. If not, just review your CNA book/notes and you should do fine.

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At the school I attended, if you already were a CNA, they gave you the skills test & if you passed it, you didn't have to take one of the first term classes. It was nice for the ones who passed as it lowered their tuition expenses considerably and their class load. I, however, wasn't a CNA & worked my bottom off that term.

Dixie

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Specializes in LTC.

We had to test out on our nursing assistant skills our first day in lab. It was a bit intimidating.

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I am a LPN , but have been out of practice for 15 years and am afraid that my skills are too rusty. Some things such as CPR come second nature to me. I just perform the skill without having to think about it. I am hoping that the other skills will be the same.

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Specializes in TCU.

Yes, we have to do a skills test the first day/week of NS. They gave us a list of the skills, and the page number we can find it in our nursing books.

I have also been a CNA for 15+ years, so I am confident in performing the skills, I just need to know what to do when they tell me what skill I have to do next.

You'll do fine :up: !

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Specializes in CNA.

Yeah my school is actually having us do the skills test right after orientation but before classes start. The hardest part is we have no idea how many skills or which will be tested (out of 23 skills )...then it could be any few of them or all of them!

I have even asked the dept chair how many skills we will have to do and she said "they" had not decided yet~ Every one accepted in to the program had to complete the 75 hour CNA class recently or already hold the certification so I wish this was a step we could skip...it does no good for my anxiety levels that is for sure~:eek:

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kburns0016....

Do you have a list of the 23 skills that we are going to have to know? I just have the ones that are listed on the letter they sent.

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Specializes in CNA.

mom4jesus I just have the sheets where the steps of the skills are listed...andI made a typo it is 25 not 23! I just did an internet search on nursing assistant skills test and these are what I came up with.

They are listed as follows WASHES HANDS, ASSISTS CLIENT TO AMBULATE, ASSISTS WITH USE OF BED PAN, CLEANS AND STORES DENTURES, COUNTS AND RECORDS RADIAL PULSE, COUNTS AND RECORDS RESPIRATIONS, DRESSES CLIENT WITH AFFECTED RIGHT ARM, FEEDS CLIENT WHO CANNOT FEED SELF, GIVES MODIFIED BED BATH(face one arm hand and underarm), MAKES AN OCCUPIED BED, MEASURES AND RECORDS BLOOD PRESSURE, MEASURES AND RECORDS ORAL TEMPERATURE, MEASURES AND RECORDS URINARY OUTPUT, MEASURES AND RECORDS WEIGHT OF AMBULATORY CLIENT, PREFORMS PASSIVE RANGE OF MOTION ON ONE KNEE AND ONE ANKLE, PREFORMS PASSIVE RANGE OF MOTION ON ONE SHOULDER, POSITIONS CLIENT ON ONE SIDE, PROVIDES CATHETER CARE, PROVIDES FINGERNAIL CARE FOR ONE HAND, PROVIDES FOOT CARE ON ONE FOOT, PROVIDES MOUTH CARE, PROVIDES PERI-CARE FOR INCONTINENT CLIENT, PUTS ONE KNEE HIGH ELASTIC STOCKING ON CLIENT, SHAMPOOS CLIENTS HAIR IN BED, TRANSFERS CLIENT FROM WC TO BED, TRANSFERS CLIENT FROM BED TO WC~~~

so most any of those skills fall into the catagories they listed in the welcome letter...we could be tested over any of them I think!

Hope this helps....

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Specializes in TCU.

For anyone interested, here is what my list says:

Transfers:

  • Mechanical Lift
  • Bed and Chair
  • Bend and stretcher
  • Sitting on side of bed

Body Mechanics

Positioning:

  • Lateral
  • Supine
  • Side Lying
  • Prone
  • Fowlers
  • Sims
  • Dorsal Recumbant
  • Lithotomy

Activity:

  • Ambulate
  • Use of Transfer belt
  • Use of Mechanical Aids for Ambulating
  • Fall Assist Procedure

Making a Bed:

  • Occupied
  • Unoccupied

Isolation Procedures/Asepsis

Application/Removal of Antiembolic (TED) stockings

Activity/Range of Motion:

  • PROM
  • AROM

Personal Hygiene:

  • Bathing
  • Shampoo
  • Shaving
  • Perineal Care
  • Skin Care
  • Ora/Denture Care

Elimination Management:

  • Use of a Bedpan
  • Catheter Care
  • measuring Intake and Output

Nutrition Support:

  • Assisting with Oral nutrition

Vital signs:

  • Temperature (Oral/rectal/axillary)
  • Pulse (radial, apical)
  • Respirations
  • Blood Pressure
  • Measuring Height and Weight

I just want to add that this could be a guide for those interested, I don't know what your program will be looking at, but this is what mine is looking for.

Good Luck All & CHEERS:up:

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