CNA Exam

The certified nursing assistant (CNA) training program lasts at least 75 hours, under federal regulations. The program itself may run from four to 12 weeks, depending upon the curriculum and setting and the requirements of the state in which it is held.

CNA training encompasses classroom time, practical experience working on mannequins or “dummies,” and clinical training working in a real medical facility with real patients under a Registered Nurse’s supervision.

After completing the CNA training program, the final step is taking the CNA Exam. Check with your individual state for regulations, but in most states, you must register within at least 90 days of completing your courses.  You should be well prepared after completing your CNA training, as you will have learned the basic fundamentals and have had some practical practice as well.

CNA Exam consists of 2 parts

Each state mandates its own requirements for the CNA Exam. However, most are similar in the way they are structured and in what they contain. There are two parts to the CNA Exam. One is the written part, which tests basic procedures and concepts you learned in your CNA training classes. Preparation for this part is to read class notes and your textbook.

The second part of the CNA Exam is the clinical part. In this part, you will have to demonstrate from three to five skills you learned in your CNA training program. A state nurse examiner will be testing you on this portion and will determine which of the nursing assistant skills he or she will ask you to demonstrate.

Some of the possible skills you could be tested on include proper hand washing techniques, how to provide a bed pan, how to reposition a patient in bed, how to take a patient’s temperature, how to change a patient’s linens while he or she is still in bed, basic patient grooming skills, an skills involving the privacy and dignity of patients.

Not only is it important to master these basic skills to pass your CNA Exam; it is also vital to know them as a member of a team of medical professionals. These are the basic fundamental tenets all medical professionals are expected to uphold. Proper hand washing techniques prevent the spread of infection and communicable disease.

The ideas of patient privacy and dignity are significant among all medical professionals, especially to CNAs, as the they will have the closest contact with patients of all of the medical professionals in a health care facility.

Clinical Part of the CNA exam can be stressful

The clinical part of the CNA Exam can be the most stressful for a CNA student. Practice with classmates, friends and family is the best way to prepare for this portion, so that you can master these basic skills and not be too nervous to remember them during the clinical portion. While taking this part of the CNA Exam, the state nurse examiner will be watching you very closely to see how you perform under times of pressure.

Passing is a significant step. Many medical facilities will hire applicants who have just passed the test but have no work experience yet (beyond the practical and clinical experience provided in the CNA training program. Your potential employer will need not only your examination scores but also proof that you have passed the CNA Exam within a specific time frame after completing your CNA training program.

Many states give you scores right after taking the CNA Exam and will allow you to take it again if you fail to pass. State regulations determine how many times you are allowed to re-take it.

Related posts:

1. CNA Certification
2. CNA Classes
3. Steps to Becoming a CNA