Yet, another classmate fails cna skills exam on small technicality...

K_girl · Jul 25, 2011

I don't live in FL so not exactly sure what questions they'd ask but I would imagine they'd want you to know what things you can/can not do for diabetic patients, their daily nutrition, etc. We only went over a few topics on diabetic patients and those are the ones i can remember.

i'm sorry to hear about your friend! That's really disappointing that had happened to him. I live in IL and we do not have to do a skills exam to pass the state licensure. We have an 85 question written exam. The skills checkoffs that we do during clinicals takes place of the state skills exam that some states have.

Starletta, CNA · Jul 26, 2011

Now, I am really nervous. I just found out today, that yet, another classmate of mine failed the state skills test, he took today, on a small technicality. His tasks were, emptying a urinary drainage bag, perineal care, and helping a patient move to side lying position. Of the 3 tasks, he failed, what I would consider to be the easiest ....The side lying position. He narrarated every step as he did it. When it came to placing the pillows in the different areas they go, ( behind back, under arm, under head, between legs, and between knees). However, he thought the pillow b/w the knees was long enough to reach and go b/w the ankles. So, therefore, it looked like the ankles were seperated, when in fact, it was the "extra" pillow case opening that was b/w the ankles. Then, before he announced that he was done with that task, he did acknowledge that he needed to put another pillow or blanket b/w the ankles. So, that's the only thing that stopped him from getting his cna license today..... So, if you haven't taken the test yet, like myself, beware, of EVERY LITTLE THING YOU DO!!!! I'm nervous, because out of my cna class, of 10, 6 of them failed the skills test. I do have a question, are all the State Written Exams, basically the same questions? Like, they say that the written test here in FL asks about 10-15 questions, about Diabetes. What kind of questions would they be? We didn't really study that in our class.......Any helpful hints??? I would greatly appreciate it......

Wow, on my state instructions, it says as long as you correct a task BEFORE you complete it, it would be fine.

I can see why so many people fail the task test. I have my worksheet in front of me, and there are sooo many details to every task. It says the task does not have be performed perfectly, but a lapse in safety will fail you.

My test is 8/2 and instead of totally focusing on a task, I'll just repeat in my head, safety, safety, safety...and do everything with that in my mind.

tomc5555 · Jul 26, 2011

Remembering the Six Principles of Care helped me in studying and passing the skills test.

RJ_SOON2B_RN · Jul 26, 2011

For the CNA Skills test in New Jersey, we were given the handbook to review with all the small details by the school as required by the state. I just basically repeatedly studied and practiced the skills until it became natural to me. Again, you have to make sure you follow the state guidelines.

For the state written test, review medical terminologies and the diseases. Its going to be pretty much a mix of common sense with the situational questions but mixed in with book lecture material.

northernguy · Jul 27, 2011

So he told the person giving the test that a pillow SHOULD go between the ankles, but didnt actually put one there? If thats the case then I guess thats easy enough to correct for future tests, just make sure you DO everything and dont just vocalize it. When I took my state test, the person testing me stated what exactly I was allowed to vocalize instead of actually doing(for instance after washing my hands a few times with them watching, I could then simply say I would wash my hands), the rest had to be demonstrated. This person made the mistake of assuming it was OK to just tell the tester what they would do. The person giving the test probably should have said ok, if thats what you would do then do it, instead of just failing, but I guess they arent allowed to say anything that might be a hint.

I suppose the tester simply looked at the person after they were positioned and asked themselves if this person has any points that could develop into a bed sore, if yes, you failed, period. Which seems fair enough, since positioning someone in bed that cant move themselves is certainly something every CNA in long term care does regularly.

For Diabetes,I would say know the difference between hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia and what the symptoms for each are. Know what blood glucose levels are considered low and what is considered high. Know that insuline lowers blood sugar, so if someone recieves an injection they need to eat soon so it doesnt drop too low. Also what to do if a patient/resident appears hypoglycemic. What the long term side effects of Diabetes are, and special precautions for foot and nail care for diabetics are.

I thought the written test was easy, mostly just common sense.

cstatic · Aug 11, 2011

I don't know if you already took your test but our instructors said that not pulling the privacy curtain ALL the way got you docked and one girl failed because on oral care she forgot to brush the tounge!

jjic3982 · Oct 10, 2011

Hey all,

I know were in October now, but I'm was curious, the NNAAP (National Nursing Aide Assessment Program) administers these tests, and in their California Handbook, it states that one should not fail the test for simple mistakes, but for crucial steps that are bolded in the handout. Unless he made many non-bolded mistakes, isn't your friend supposed to have passed?

Go check out the handbook if you'd like. I still am not sure why this handbook isn't familiar to many schools in my area.

For future consideration, grievance (contesting your results) is allowed and might be a good idea for these situations.

Correct me if I'm wrong, please.

jjic3982 · Oct 10, 2011

btw cstatic, the CA handout has bolded that step (the tongue) so at least that is consistent with the handout.

Thanks for the info. I'm going to call Tuesday to see if I can get answers on whether this handout is reliable or not!

cstatic · Oct 10, 2011

There are two ways to fail, if you miss or incorrectly perform a BOLD step then you fail, period. If you make TOO MANY mistakes on the non bold steps, you can fail. I could not find out how many was too many or how they tally that. When I said docked for not pulling the curtain ALL the way I was referring to that being one that would "add up"

jjic3982 · Oct 10, 2011

Hi Cstatic,

Thanks for the reply. It seems like many are familiar with the Pearson VUE handout. Schools in my location are not familiar with it but Pearson VUE said they should be.

I'll study the handout and will do my best, wish me luck!

student forever · Nov 9, 2011

In FL it is supposed to count if you say "I should have placed a towel or blanket or pillow between the ankles" before saying "I'm done." Our instructor is a cna and he failed his first time for not putting the weights on 0 before allowing the pt to step on the scale. If he had said "I should have put the weights at 0 first" he would not have failed that skill. He did catch himself on another point during another skill, and he said the tester erased the error mark right after he said "I should have. . ." so he knows they do give credit for saying that; as long as it is before you say "I'm finished."