What to Expect During CNA Testing?

Answer 1

CNA training lasts from one to three months depending on the amount of time dedicated each day to classes and studying the materials covered. Obtaining a CNA license is an important process in gaining trust from fellow colleagues and almost guarantees better salaries from future employers. The actual test to become a licensed Certified Nursing Assistant consists of two parts, a hands on skills test and a basic theory test consisting of questions and answers that is administered by an individual or group of Registered Nurses and other clinical workers.

There are many free and low cost question and answer practice tests that are available to students to help prepare for the actual examination and booklets that discuss which skills are most often tested. Depending on which state the exam is being held in, the proctor may ask you to choose the skills to demonstrate or they may instruct you in what they want to see performed. There are several different licensing boards that may provide a CNA test and each state has made their choices publicly known so that students may better prepare themselves for what may be on each part of an exam.

Skills that are frequently tested during CNA examinations often deal with bed ridden patients and will include topics such as how to make an occupied bed, providing a bed bath, transferring a patient from a bed to a wheelchair, measuring fluid outputs, feeding, and oral and body cleaning. This group of skills are considered to be the most helpful because a CNA is often on the front lines of a hospital or nursing facility and has the most interaction with patients. This close relationship with the patient can make these sometimes difficult jobs easier on both the patient and the care provider.

Many students are understandably nervous about facing this exam as seemingly small mistakes can cause a person to fail the demonstrated skills test. However, remembering to take the exam one step at a time and follow basic procedures will help make the exam go much smoother. Many exams are timed and everything is taken into consideration starting from the time you knock on the patient’s door. Taking several practice exams may be helpful to ease any pretest jitters that may arise as well as reinforce skills and proper habits.