CNA EXAMINATION – THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

CNA EXAMINATION – 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.

Those who want to become certified nursing assistants must pass the CNA exam. The CNA exam consists of a written exam (often referred to as a knowledge exam) and a clinical skills test. The purpose of the written exam is to evaluate a candidate’s knowledge and proficiency as a nursing assistant. There are 60 multiple-choice questions on the test, and you have 90 minutes to finish them. Candidates must perform nursing tasks in front of an assessor for the clinical skills test. In 30 minutes, you’ll need to show five tasks.

What is a CNA examination?

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 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 examination

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 doing 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 a happy moment with a patient, to 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.

Who administers the CNA exam?

In the USA, each state has its own CNA certification examination. A written knowledge examination with multiple-choice questions and a skills assessment make up the majority of these exams. Your CNA examination will most likely be given by one of the third-party exam certification providers listed below, depending on your state of residence:

• National NNAAP of Pearson Vue

The largest CNA exam assessment program in the country is called the National Nurse Assistant Assessment Program (NNAAP). There are 70 multiple-choice questions on their written knowledge exam, each with four possible answers.

Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, DC, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virgin Islands, Virginia, and Washington are among the states where you can take the NNAAP Nurse Aid test.

• Prometric’s CNA Exam (Nurse Aide exam)

You will have 90 minutes to do a 60-question written test, and another 30 to 40 minutes to finish the clinical skills test.

Your CNA exam will most likely be given by Prometric if you reside in one of the eleven states listed below: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, and Oklahoma.

• HDMaster (D&S Diversified Technologies)

The Headmaster CNA exam is given in two sections, similar to the other test providers: a written exam and a manual skills exam. While the clinical skills exam consists of 3–4 chosen skills, the written CNA examination consists of 75 multiple-choice questions.

Arizona, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin are among the twelve states that use HDMaster to administer the CNA test.

What to bring on the test day?

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

Take CNA practice tests

You can take hundreds of free CNA practice questions HERE!

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 on some state boards.

How do I renew my CNA license online?

→ Because they don’t have to deal with paperwork and storage of said paperwork, most states offer a significant discount on the cost of renewing a license, which is the main advantage of renewing online. Going to the website of the relevant state’s board of nursing and then following the steps there are all that is required to renew a CNA license online. The majority of websites feature straightforward guidelines and easy-to-follow directions for submitting their applications online. At the time of writing, almost every state has online renewal application submission options.

How many years is the validity of my CNA license?

→ CNA license holders are required to renew their credentials at least once every two years. Again, the laws and regulations of various states may differ.

How to check the status of your CNA license?

→ This is easy because all it takes is a brief phone call to the state’s nurse aide registry. The next step is to simply inquire about the status of one’s license. Although not all states offer this feature, it is also feasible to just visit the website and check the status of one’s license there.

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.

If I lose my CNA license, what do I do?

→ If a CNA license number is required by an employer but has been lost, it can typically be found online as mentioned above. If the license is forcibly revoked, however, that will solely depend on the state and the reason why it was revoked. For more information on specific conditions, it is preferable to get in touch with the board of nursing for that state.

What does a CNA’s job description look like?

Oftentimes for patients who may be old or disabled, CNAs give basic care and assistance with daily life activities. Every employer has a different work description for a CNA, and they are responsible for a variety of duties. Based on their patient’s needs, CNAs will handle a variety of tasks. The following are some of the duties that could be listed in a CNA’s job description:

• Bathe and clean up patients
• Helping patients dress and use the restroom
• Throughout the day, reposition patients. This may entail turning them over in bed or moving them from a bed into a wheelchair
• Patients’ health concerns should be heard, written down, and reported to nurses and doctors.
• Check the vital signs of the patient
• Help people with their eating
• Being warm and considerate

How long does it take to become a CNA?

→ Several variables may affect how long it takes to become a CNA. The first is how long your training program will last. A lot of CNA training courses can be finished in a matter of weeks. How long it takes you to schedule, finish, and successfully challenge your CNA competency exams is another consideration. Although this may seem like a lot, becoming a CNA doesn’t require as much time as some other careers in the healthcare industry.

You should take as many CNA Practice Tests as you can in order to be as prepared as you can be for your test. You will be more prepared if you have seen more CNA test questions. It’s also advised to get a great CNA exam study guide for further material review and practice questions. Wishing you luck in your new career!