Congratulations, you’ve just completed your Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program! The next step in your CNA journey is to take the CNA exam, and you want to ensure that you do everything you can to pass it with flying colors.
In this article, we give helpful tips and tricks when it comes to passing the CNA exam and helping deliver quality care to patients in need.
Know what to expect
Every state has a different set of standards and requirements, so depending on where you live, you have to know what kind of tests you’d need to complete to get your CNA certification.
For example, in New York, the CNA exam is administered by Prometric. It consists of two parts: a written exam and a clinical skills exam.
Understanding what the CNA exam entails will help you prepare for it better.
Typically, during the skills or practical exam, examiners will check your knowledge of at least five essential CNA skills, which include handwashing, measuring and recording a resident’s radial pulse, and changing a resident’s position to a supported side-lying position. The skills are randomly selected, which means you have to display knowledge of the steps involved in all the essential CNA skills.
Meanwhile, the written test is a multiple-choice exam composed of 50 to 70 items covering important topics such as CNA roles, reporting and abbreviations, safety and managing behavior, and infection control and blood-borne pathogens.
Practice, practice, practice
Make sure that you spend enough time practicing for the skills portion of your CNA exam. Check out the clinical skills checklist and instructions (that you can get from your school or via credible online sources) and make sure that you’re well-versed in doing all of them.
If you’re a visual learner, there are also excellent online video resources on YouTube that can give you a great idea of performing clinical skills such as handwashing and occupied bed-making properly.
To prepare for the written portion of the exam, it’s a great idea to take practice tests online and from textbooks regularly. Doing so will help you build confidence, assuage fears surrounding taking tests, improve your critical thinking skills, and enhance your test-taking proficiency.
Be fully prepared
Prepare for the exam by figuring out your ideal study routine. Everyone has different schedules and preferred learning methods, so it’s important to understand what works for you. If you have work or familial responsibilities in the morning until the afternoon, explore what time in the evening is best for studying.
When you figure out your ideal study schedule, make sure that you commit to it. Having a study plan can help ensure that you’re reviewing the topics you need to learn at an ideal pace before your exam date.
Before the exam day, you also need to make sure that you submit the CNA exam application, pay the necessary fees, and schedule an electronic fingerprint appointment. Take note that your application form and fingerprint screening information should be error-free and contain the same personally identifiable information (PII), such as your SSN, name, and date of birth.
On the night and morning of the exam day, get a full night’s rest, wear comfortable shoes and clothes, and eat a nutritious and filling meal. It’s also a good idea to bring a light and healthy snack and a bottle of water when you take your test.
Pro-tip: Don’t forget to bring your IDs and other required documents. Failure to do so may result in you needing to reschedule your exam.
Be thorough
During the written portion of the CNA test, read each question carefully. If a question is confusing, ask your proctor or examiner for clarification.
If you’re having a hard time answering a question, skip it and circle back to it. Note that you should answer all the test questions. If you’re unsure which option is the right answer, eliminate the options that stick out as completely wrong or unrelated and make an educated guess from there.
Start your CNA career journey at Oculus Health
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Have your sights set on a thriving healthcare career? Start it at Oculus Health. Explore our job openings, learn about our easy application process, and discover the perks of working with us.
