• Skills Inventory Manual Generic Nursing Assistants

. You probably already know what you need to do to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA):. Complete training at a state-approved school. Pass a written examination of 60–100 questions, depending on your state. Demonstrate about five nursing skills in front of an evaluator. Nearly every future CNA is most nervous about the Skills part of the.

After all, there are about thirty basic procedures that you can be tested on. Except for handwashing — which every state includes — CNA candidates can’t know in advance which skills will be requested by the evaluator. There are about 30 basic procedures that you can be tested on. What’s the best way to prepare for the exam? How can you be confident when you walk in? Let’s break the CNA Skills Test down into 5 easy steps. You’ll need them They’re the same skills you will use every day as a CNA.

2 Step Two: Use the resources Thanks to the Internet, everything you need is readily available. Use these resources to help you study:. On YouTube, every skill is demonstrated in several videos. Type in “CNA skills” or the name of a particular skill and watch a few videos. Your brain will capture the information and be able to recall it.

Scroll down to the bottom of this page to view the Skills Test videos we recommend!. Two of the CNA testing providers have websites with precise descriptions of what the examiners will be looking for:. has a checklist of that you can print out. The list gives all the steps and details of what the examiners will be looking for.

Even if your state doesn’t use Prometric, this can be a valuable tool. has the checklists that the evaluators use! A sample checklist for Ambulation with a Gait Belt is from the Arizona examination. Headmaster also has an online that covers all the skills. Even if you are in a different state, at least you will be able to see what evaluators will look for. An effective old-fashioned way to learn is to make flashcards. Use big index cards.

Write or paste the steps for each skill on one side and the name of the skill on the other side. Shuffle them and review them again and again. Gather several classmates for a study group. Practice demonstrating the skills with each other until you can do them without hesitation. Never forget handwashing!

3 Step Three: Know your state Although the states all have similar requirements for the skills exam, their testing methods may vary. If your training program didn’t give you any specifics, find your state. You’ll find useful information on how many skills will be tested and how much time you will have. You may also find out whether you’ll have an actor (another person taking the test) or a mannequin for your demonstrations and whether you’ll be required to “act” as a patient for another CNA candidate’s skills test. Every state includes handwashing as a skill.

Every state includes handwashing as a skill. Some will make it the first skill; others will include it during your other demonstrations. Handwashing is the primary technique for infection control. Absolutely, positively do not mess this up; it’s an instant fail if you do. Besides handwashing, most states will also test for one of these two skills:.

Recording a measurement: Be ready to demonstrate taking a resident’s blood pressure, radial pulse, or respiration. Measuring urine output is common, too. Indirect care: This skill requires you to communicate with a resident and pay attention to the person’s comfort, needs, and safety.

The scenario might include knowledge about Residents’ Rights. Infection control is part of this skill, too.

Skills Inventory Manual Generic Nursing Assistants

Each state chooses an approved provider to administer the skills examination. These are professional organizations that provide independent and unbiased tests to CNA candidates. Here are the test providers for each state:: AZ, MT, ND, NH, NJ, NV, OH, OR, SD, TN, VT: AL, AK, CA, CO, DC, GA, LA, MD, MN, MS, NH, NC, ND, PA, RI, SC, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WY: AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, HI, ID, MI, NM, NY, OK American Red Cross, university, or private: IL, IN, KY, MA, ME, UT, WV. 5 Step Five: The big day If you have prepared, you may still be nervous, but you will be ready for the challenge. If your skills exam is on a different date from the written part, be sure to arrive about 20 minutes early. Greet your evaluator politely.

Listen to the instructions carefully and ask questions if you need additional information. As the exam begins, take a deep breath. You are less than an hour from qualifying as a Certified Nursing Assistant!. As you go through each skill, it’s fine to verbalize what you are doing, but you must perform each step of the skill.

If you make a mistake or forget a step, tell the evaluator right away. Go back to the step that you think you missed and continue. You can make corrections during the skill but not afterward. The passing score is usually about 80%. Of course, you want to do your best, but perfection isn’t the goal.

It’s about going through all the steps to the best of your ability, keeping the patient in mind the entire time. Examinations are always nerve-racking. And the one that stands between you and your future can be the scariest. But if you study and prepare, your knowledge and confidence will take over and you will sail through with ease.

Improves Nursing Skills in Many Areas Your entire nursing staff can greatly improve their clinical nursing skills in an effective manner with the evidence-based resources provided in. Resources focus on all areas of clinical nursing skills including technical skills, patient care, nursing communication skills, cultural competency, critical thinking skills and decision-making skills.

Multiple Resources to Improve Nursing Skills Resources include: Nursing Practice and Skill Documents These documents provide an overview of a procedure or skill, the desired outcome, facts, step-by-step instructions, red flags, and information on what needs to be communicated to the patient and the patient’s family. Resources help develop nursing competency, critical thinking skills and communication skills. Skill Competency Checklists Skill Competency Checklists complement the Nursing Practice and Skill Documents described above. Nurse managers can use the checklists to assess a nurse’s competency in areas including prerequisite skills, preparation, procedure and post-procedural responsibilities.

Nursing Cultural Competencies Nurses can learn how to provide culturally competent care to patients of various cultural backgrounds. This information can help your nursing staff communicate effectively with patients and their families and help nurses provide care that is appropriate to the culture and the individual. Disease and Conditions Quick Lessons Nurses can improve their nursing competency and knowledge with quick lessons which provide evidence-based summaries of diseases and conditions that map to the nursing workflow. Quick lessons can be accessed for quick reference at the point-of-care and can be used to strengthen nursing skills. Evidence Based Care Sheets Evidence Based Care Sheets provide summaries outlining what is known about a disease or condition and the best way to treat the patient. This information can be referenced at the point-of-care, keep nurses up-to-date on the latest evidence and refresh clinical nursing skills. Continuing Education Nurses can improve their nursing skills with continuing education modules which provide contact hours.

Nurses who successfully complete the modules can obtain CEUs. Drug Information Nurses can access drug information containing precautions, side effects, interactions, dosage instructions, potential nursing diagnoses, patient/family teaching and more. Drug information includes Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses and AHFS Drug Information Essentials.

Practice Resources Nurses can increase their skills with additional resources including practice guidelines, research instrument information and legal cases. Resources also include full text for books covering a wide range of topics including drug information, nursing communication skills, critical thinking skills and more.