In order to gain certification and practice as a certified nurse assistant, or CNA, applicants have to go through a training program and then sit a final exam to gain their license. Although training requirements vary from state to state, the one thing that all states have in common is the structure of the final exam that CNAs have to sit. Exams are in two parts; a written examination and a practical CNA skills test.
Written Examination
The written examination at the end of the training will usually be in multiple choice or short answer format. It will examine all the topics covered in the training curriculum such as:
- Responsibilities of certified nurse professionals as well as of registered nurses and other health professionals working in the hospital or care environment.
- Ethics of healthcare.
- Registration and legal obligations of being a certified nurse assistant.
- Rights of the patient or resident including topics such as privacy and confidentiality.
- Correct use of medical terminology and abbreviations.
- Identifying risks and being aware of health and safety legislation and procedures.
- Infection control and hygiene processes which should be followed to keep the environment as clean and germ free as possible.
- Basic first aid and lifesaving procedures such as CPR, and what to do in cases of choking, burns or seizures.
- Nutrition including dietary requirements for hospital or nursing home residents.
- Measuring and recording vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure and heart rate.
Usually in the examination, the candidate will be asked to choose the best option for an answer from a choice of four, or will be asked to write a couple of sentences on each topic to demonstrate to the marker that they have understood the topic and have good knowledge of basic nursing practice and procedures.
Practical CNA Skills Test
Again, there are many different ways that trainers or assessors use to measure whether or not a candidate comes up to the required standard to receive accreditation as a CNA. Some will watch the CNA working their shift as normal, making observations about whether they are following correct procedures and using the correct techniques for situations such as bathing or lifting patients. More commonly however, the CNA will take part in a role play exam, where volunteers play the parts of patients and the candidate is put in certain situations to see how they cope when faced with a challenge.
When preparing for these sorts of exams, the best technique is to shadow a good CNA with considerable experience, to see how things are done properly. When combined with classroom training and knowledge of issues like infection control, the assessor should be able to show the examiner that they are confident and competent. There are many websites where you can read up on the curriculum for becoming a CNA and practice examinations before going under exam conditions. It is always wise to prepare well for exams, and to ask for feedback from colleagues and managers about which skills require refining before assessing by an official.