stna getin state tested help!

[maria101]

hi i have like 4 days left of the cna classes, im getting state tested on june 8th., im in ohio.

is it hard? everyone says they always fail you the first time? is that really true? like they say there are 5 skill handwashing is one. but like are the skills hard, i mean no they are not, but will i miss a step? and if so what do they grade you on? i mean im really nervous and i really cant afford not to pass. i paid 500.00 for the classes and 88 for the test. im confident on the written not the skills though./ help

[maria101]

i was always wondering about the pepartial bedbath. in the state book for ohio it didnt say anything about perineal care but my teacher said you are supposed to do it??? and i call thompson education and they said go by what your teacher says? im confused.

[Megsd, BSN, RN]

Don't sweat it too much. The written test is really rather easy... when in doubt, the answer is probably "Ask the nurse." :)

As far as the clinical portion goes, I was absolutely petrified. In my classes, we got a skills packet with step-by-step instructions for each skill, and we always practiced them and got checked off on them in class. The last day of class was a mock exam where they gave us random skills to perform. This was really helpful. Hopefully your instructors will do the same. To study for the skills, I repeated the steps aloud to myself the night before, to try and remember what to do and in what order.

Remember that one of your tested skills is ALWAYS handwashing, but the tester will not ask you to do it. When you start your first skill, politely tell the tester that you would like to wash your hands first, and go through the whole handwashing ordeal. They do not seem to be really hard on you unless you do something majorly wrong. My friend was doing her skills on me and did an occupied bed change, and rolled me over without the siderail up! That, I felt, was a big enough deal that it could put her in jeopardy, since it's a safety issue, but she passed anyway.

Just relax, and you'll be okay. Good luck!

[tookewlandy]

Its not bad, i completed my STNA program but then i moved back to my home state, had to drive all the way back to Ohio to get state tested and it was already over 3 months since i completed the program. You should do fine and they don't fail you unless you are bombing the skills. I did not get hand washing but they always look for you to know when to wash your hands even if you don't get the hand washing skill. GOOD LUCK

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

hi, maria! i've spent half my working life as a nurse in ohio.

this is the website of the ohio nursing aide registry

http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhprograms/io/nurseaide/nurseaide1.aspx

it has limited information on the site and your best bet is to contact them directly at the telephone numbers below. i was looking for some sort of a booklet that they might publish about the state rules and regulations regarding becoming a cna in the state where they would specifically mention what was on the certification test. i only remember that at the nursing homes in which i worked, the aides who were test eligible always seemed to know where they had to go to take their test. ohio has a four month grace period during which you have to take and pass the certification test. you have 3 chances to pass the test. if i remember correctly, that grace period doesn't start until you are actually working and employed as a nursing aide. ohio has a section in their law that allows you to be reimbursed for what you paid for your training and testing once you are hired to work somewhere. this is mentioned in their faqs on their website at: http://www.odh.ohio.gov/assets/499b3733986e417ba7377a062e09eff0/nurse%20aide%20registry%20frequently%20asked%20questions.pdf you really should get in touch with their office for more specific information as they do not say much about this on their web site. i'm surprised your aide training instructor hasn't told you all this.

ohio department of health

nurse aide registry

246 n. high street

columbus, oh 43215

telephone:

[phone] (in-state)

[phone] (out-of-state)

fax: [phone]

e-mail: [email protected]

[tookewlandy]

i was always wondering about the pepartial bedbath. in the state book for ohio it didnt say anything about perineal care but my teacher said you are supposed to do it??? and i call thompson education and they said go by what your teacher says? im confused.

Maria first you have to calm down, and i dont knwo who is givin gyou this info but its not reallu accurate. First off your program should have taught you how to do Peri care and how to do a partial and complete bed bath because that amongst other things is one of the skills you will use mor eof in the field. Practice all of you skills on your family and friends thats what i did. Im telling you practice and you will do fine, Are you taking the test at Calcutta healthcare by any chance in east Liverpool Ohio. If so you will have a good nurse hwo gives the exam and you wont be nervous if you are taking it there.

[tookewlandy]

Ohio dosent have a 4 months grace period you have about 2 years after completing your program to pass the test. AT least thats how it was last year because i complted my program and i was moving they told me you have liek 21 month sor something to take the test if you dont do it int hat time frame you have to take a program all over again.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Ohio dosent have a 4 months grace period you have about 2 years after completing your program to pass the test. AT least thats how it was last year because i complted my program and i was moving they told me you have liek 21 month sor something to take the test if you dont do it int hat time frame you have to take a program all over again.

I checked the official Ohio state site myself just moments before posting the weblink. That is where I got my information. Additionally, I was a charge nurse and supervisor in several LTC facilities in Ohio. That 4 month grace period for nursing home CNAs is quite well-known.

[tookewlandy]

is that law new because i finished my program last may(05) and i did not get state tested until december(05) because i had at least 21 months to do it.

[TashaLPN2006RN2012, ASN, RN]

First of DONT FREAK out! I've been An STNA in both Texas and Ohio, took both state tests (cause i let my ohio one lapse without working for almost two years) and the first time i took it, i was only 17. YOU WILL DO fine! My mother-in-law teaches the CNA class, and she said that every one should get handwashing and communication...the other three skills are randomly picked by a computer and assigned to you to do. The only way you will fail completly is if you don't do the SAFETY stuff...like pillow at the head of the bed when moving a pt up in bed, side rails up when turning a pt ect. And one big thing to remember is that if you start a skill, and realize half way through that you forgot a step, or you've completly screwed up something, STOP and tell the tester that you would like to start over...i believe you can do a start over one time on each skill...for instance, (and i did this) you get brushing someone's teeth...and you get your equiptment, and begin brushing and low and behold FORGOT to put gloves on, i simply stopped, looked at the tester person, and said "i forgot gloves i'd like to start over" and she said ok, then i re-started and did it right...Now be thankful you are testing in ohio, cause in TX i had to do my state skills test ON A PT, yes a real pt, and that was more scary, cause i didn't know how they were going to react! lol, anyway, take a couple deep breaths and think your way through you will do just fine!

One other thing, if there is a skill or skills you still don't feel comfortable with once you finish your class see if the instructor will go over them with you after class, just to be sure you feel better about it! And if you got the skills check off sheets in your class take those home, practice on a friend or relitive and have someone go down the checklist and watch you do it, so you get comfortable with someone watching you!

Remember, always wash your hands, use gloves, pull the curtain for privacy (even if it's on the person checking you off- pretend they aren't in the room, they'll move so they can see you) and alwyas always remember patient safety!

Let us know once you take your state test! and GOOD LUCK!

[mandee13]

Do you automatically fail skills test if you forget a bolded part? I just took my STNA and forgot a bolded part on the occupied bed because I was so worried about the restraint vest which was no big deal (UGH)

That would really suck let me know... Thanks

Amanda