I have my licensure tests coming up and Im, of course, a nervous wreck!!!! Im worried about the "small" stuff that could fail me. I know it varies by state, but no one is ever on the RI page. SO i would appreciate any help you can give me.

I was told they provide us with everything we should need for the specific skill. if i am only given 1 wash cloth - the correct way to rinse after washing with it is?? I think it is just rinsing out the wash cloth making sure you dont use the same part of it to rinse?

When you have your dirty linens, more specifically, when you are making an occupied bed, if there is no basket close by...what do you do with the dirty linen??? I was told we will have a basket near by to put them in as we are working. However, if not, can i roll them up so the top is rolled in and the bottom was on the outside and place them on the "clean bed"

These are just some questions that no matter how many times we asked in class, nothing was ever answered for a speific case. Thanks a bunch!

For my skills test everything we would need for the test was set out on a central table and it was part of our job to grab what we needed for the skill.

The linen baskets were always nearby, but if they aren't grab a garbage or linen bag if they are available and have it at your station with you for dirty linens. I do the garbage bag thing in practice all the time.

One thing that got a LOT of people (and almost me!) was a choking or falling resident -- either yell out "HELP" or say "YELLING HELP" to the evaluator. I said, "She's choking!" when I had my skill, and she told me she'd be nice enough to excuse it. Others weren't so lucky, and actually had to retake the skills portion of the test -- if you don't indicate the "HELP!" you get no points for the entire skill!

Also, another thing I forgot, line the sink with paper towels when you clean dentures.

Where I took the test, anything you forgot you could go back and say as long as you were in the testing area. Even if it was something you forgot on the first skill, while you were on the last.

Before you begin the skills portion, ask about that. Don't say "honey" or "sweetie" and if you do, excuse yourself immediately and strike it from the record. And if you can fit two fingers in the gait belt, it's an automatic fail.

All of these are according to Iowa state rules, so there might be some stretch room!

I postponed my test for a year, just because I felt unprepared and worried. Worst mistake of my life, I lost a whole year of CNA work I could've had -- the test was SO much simpler than I thought it would be! And the written test is just plain common sense.

Good luck!

I'm sorry but, state board? Licensure tests? Are you talking about your CNA practical or LPN/RN boards? I'm confused...