CNA EXAM - THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

CNA which stands for certified nursing assistant works under the supervision of an RN to meet the healthcare needs of the patient.

What is a CNA?

A Certified Nursing Assistant (or CNA) needs to perform many basic care tasks for patients, like dressing, grooming, bathing, eating, and exercising. Also, they assist the nursing staff with such medical tasks as taking blood, monitoring vitals with medical equipment, and then reporting patient behavior and wellbeing. Their role is to ensure patients are comfortable and well cared for while under the care of Doctors and Nurses in hospitals, outpatient centers, or and long-term care facilities.

CNA certification

CNA certification is a nationally recognized nursing specialty credential for nurses. The CNA exam concludes with 60 questions that cover over 5 sections as listed below. You will have 90 minutes to complete the test.

Sections of the CNA

• Activities of Daily Living

The main duty of the nursing assistant’s job is helping the patient with activities of daily living, often referred to as ADLs. These include feeding, bathing, toileting, dressing, and ambulating. Knowing how to best and most efficiently help the patient in these activities is the key to do the job well.

• Basic Nursing Skills

As a member of the healthcare team providing “bedside” care, the nursing assistant needs a number of basic care skills in order to provide safe and effective care to the patients. This kind of job requires being able to take and record vital signs and weights, helping the patient with activities of daily living, and being well versed in methods of infection control.

• Client Rights

The Patient’s Bill of Rights is to help make more clear what rights all people are entitled to when they play the role of a patient in the healthcare setting. 

For example, each patient has the right to be free from the unauthorized use of restraints and to use their own clothing or possessions if they are not hazardous or do not infringe on the rights of another. Knowing the rights of patients is critical for the nursing assistant who wishes to provide ethical, safe care, and violating these rights could result in losing a job or even legal actions.

• Communication

Communication skills play a vital role in the job of the nursing assistant. This CNA practice test will evaluate your ability to communicate clearly with team members regarding patient care, as it is critical to provide safe, effective care in any healthcare setting. While communicating with residents, cultural competence, caring, and active listening skills are also needed to be an effective and efficient nursing assistant.

• Emotional and Mental Health Needs

As a caregiver to a vulnerable population, it is essential that the nursing assistant be well versed in caring for the emotional and mental health needs of the patient. This can range from such a simple thing as sharing in a happy moment with a patient, or as complex as being empathic when the patient is grieving a loss.

• Legal and Ethical Behavior

It’s important for a professional nursing assistant working in the healthcare setting to know the rules and regulations surrounding their job description. Performing duties outside of one’s scope of practice or performing duties incorrectly can result in losing a job or even legal actions. 

• Member of a Healthcare Team

This section of the CNA practice test covers working under the direct supervision of an RN or LPN. The nursing assistant is a critical part of the healthcare team because they deliver so much hands-on care to the patient. The nursing assistant is often the first to realize something is wrong and therefore may prevent a serious problem or complication from happening.

• Restorative Skills

Restorative skills in the CNA practice test are skills the nursing assistant has that help enable the patient to function to the best of their ability or to prevent an injury or complication from happening. For example, turn a bedridden patient every two hours to prevent bedsores, or encourage a stubborn patient to walk three times a day as directed by their nursing care plan. 

These are the kinds of questions that would be included in this CNA practice test.

• Spiritual and Cultural Issues

The US is a very diverse country, and the healthcare setting is a reflection of that diversity. A nursing assistant will often encounter patients or co-workers with a different culture or religion than yours. Being sensitive and respectful of these differences definitely helps you work well with others and help the patient feel like their spiritual needs are being met.

What to bring

Because the testing requirements vary from state to state, it’s a good idea to check with the testing location beforehand to find out what they need you to bring on the exam day. Examples of common documents requested could include:

• Legal identification/proof of age
• Parental consent is required (in states that allow examinees under the age of 18)
• High school diploma/GED equivalent
• Physical examination records
• Proof of immunization/TB testing results
• Background check
• CPR/First Aid certifications

CNA FAQs

• How to renew a CNA license?

→ A CNA license is valid for 24 months and it is renewable in some states if the CNA worked for at least eight hours during this time. If you are eligible, you must complete a renewal form and submit it with the renewal fee to your state board. The renewal form online is available in some state boards.

• Where do CNAs work?

→ The most common areas of work for a CNA are skilled nursing facilities, aide agencies for home health, assisted living facilities, or local hospitals. 

• How much does it cost to take the CNA exam?

→ The fees for this CNA exam may vary from state to state, but generally, test takers can expect to pay around $100.

• When will I receive my exam results?

→ Each state has specific timelines for when examinees receive their results. Some states allow results to be provided immediately upon the end of the test, while others may take several weeks. It is best to check with your testing site to determine exactly when they release the scores.