How To: Finish Your Skills Exam on Time for CNA Certification

Each aspirant nursing assistant is require to obtain CNA certification for their work employment. Thus, passing the CNA state exam is highly recommended. Usually the CNA testing process has two types of test - written and clinical exam. The most difficult yet challenging part of CNA test is the skill exam.

The CNA certification skill exam can be nerve-racking for most, and the biggest challenge lies in familiarizing yourself with the 25 skills you are required to be adept at. Memorizing twenty-five clinical skills may seem intimidating, but with adequate preparation and a few tips and tricks, you will do just fine.

In order for you to be successful in taking the exam, the following important steps that you may consider doing are as follows:

Step 1 What to Expect During CNA Skill Test

Depending on your state of residence, the skills portion of the CNA certification test will consist of three to five skills chosen at random. Hand-washing is usually one of them so you have one down already. You will be given twenty-five to thirty minutes to complete all of the clinical skills required of you. Twenty-five minutes doesn't sound like much time, but in actuality it is a sufficient amount of time to get your work done. It is likely that you will have time to spare, as long as you have had adequate preparation.

Tips

• So with that said, don't be hasty! Take your time and be thorough. Exams have been failed due to examinees forgetting the simple act of raising a bed rail, or locking the wheelchairs.

Step 2 Breakdown Potential CNA Skill Scenario

Potential Scenario:

1) Hand washing (1 minute)

2) Blood pressure (1-2 minutes)

3) Respiration (five minutes)

4) Pulse (one minute)

5) Measure Urine Output (one minute)

Tips

• That's all of 10 minutes. However, keep in mind that these are relativity quick skills to perform.

Step 3 Always Time Yourself When Practicing the CNA Skills

The skills that require the greatest amount of time are a modified bed bath and making an occupied bed. If it takes you five to seven minutes to make an occupied bed, then you know that you'll have eighteen to twenty minutes to complete the other 4 clinical skills. What if they give you two clinical skills that take a relatively long time to perform? No sweat – both should just take up to ten to twelve minutes.

Tips

• Once you have your skills down, time yourself performing them and write them down. This isn't to alarm you, but to give you an idea as to how well you will perform within the given time. It is improbable that there will be any combination of skills that will consume more than the allotted 25 minutes. If you are still worried about it, you would be best advised to practice your clinical skills to become more proficient at performing them. Again, I don't mean rush – you should never rush. But instead, become more comfortable and efficient with the clinical skills, and your time will surely improve.

Good luck! Pass that test