What does CNA Skills Test cover?

The Certified Nursing Assistant exam involves a written test and the practical or skills test.  This set of tests examines your understanding of the basic concepts and skills required for becoming a proficient Nurse’s Aide or Certified Nursing Assistant.

The CNA written test is comparatively easy to get through if you have been diligent in taking notes during the classroom sessions and are able to revise and recapitulate it all and you have gone through the nursing manuals supplied for the course, before appearing for the written test.  It covers all the fundamental concepts, the medical and pre- and post-surgical procedures that form the basis of the CNA training course.

The written test is easier than CNA Skils test to attempt.  This theory test generally covers medical knowledge of basic medical theory and medical procedures.  A CNA course takes a period of between a few weeks and three months to complete.  This includes theory classes conducted in the classroom along with practical training that gives guidance in clinical application to put the skills learned in the classroom to practical use.  Under the supervision of a guide, who is usually a registered nurse, the clinical training is conducted with real patients.

The clinical aspect of the CNA skills test is comparatively more of a challenge as it tests the individual’s clinical skills.  The examinee is requested to get a model patient to demonstrate their skill as a part of the practical examination.  The examiner then puts the examinee to test by asking them to display any of the various skills they have mastered during the course of their training sessions.

The clinical skills tested in the CNA skills test may include anything like taking a patient’s temperature, changing wound dressings of a patient, moving a patient from the bed to wheelchair, making the patient’s bed, holding a bedpan, grooming a patient or even just washing hands to display personal hygiene or knocking at the patient’s door before entering to demonstrate patient privacy.

All the demonstrated skills are observed carefully by the examiner who makes the evaluation. As a matter of precaution, it would be prudent on the part of the examinee to be calm and not stressed while performing any of the given tasks for evaluation of their clinical skills.  Your success in course completion is dependent on your composure and ability to stay calm under the most stressful conditions.

The supervision of the CNA exam is undertaken by a state examiner who carefully observes and evaluates every step of the examinee’s presentation.  The examiner may also evaluate the examinee by giving him a mock case and making him go through the motions of handling the model patient as if it were for real.  Recalling the minutest of details helps a great deal to demonstrate your skill at being in control of the situation.

CNA Skills Test Practice

So, are you ready for taking your CNA certification exam?  Well, if you have attended all your theory and practical classes sincerely, you should not be afraid to take the CNA exam. However, we recommend the following two books for your CNA Skills Test practice as well as for written CNA Test preparation.  Your confidence will boost up after using these valuable books and DVDs on written as well as skills test for CNA, and you will fare much better in these tests.

1.  Competency Exam Prep and Review for Nursing Assistants

2.  Mosby’s Textbook + Video Skills for Nursing Assistants

For more information, check this post on CNA Test preparation

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If you are among those who are interested in a nursing career, then you should also explore the possibilities to be eligible to get Free CNA Training from your potential employer.  The US Federal Government offers reimbursement for training through Medicare to the health industry employers.  This free training also includes CNA training programs.  All CNAs by law must clear a competency test as per federal requirement. This is the same for all health aides.  Health aides must also have seventy five hours minimum of state approved training.

The National Association for Home Care and Hospice also provides voluntary certification. This is mostly for states that need nursing aides to have a license.  Some high schools also provide free training for CNA certification test.

American Red Cross trains and tests CNAs but it is not free.  However, it is relatively less expensive in comparison to most paid CNA training programs.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) along with Tulsa Community College and Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education is offering to cover cost of training of approximately 1000 CNA students for the year 2010.  All the money to fund this program has been collected form nursing homes that have defaulted by providing sub standard care.  CNAs working with long term  patients in a  nursing home and skilled facilities are eligible for these CNA training classes. Continue Reading »
Free CNA Training Classes

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Certified Nursing Assistants are specially trained technicians for patient care and have to work in various demanding environments.  Trained CNAs are hired in hospitals, health care clinics, long term and continuing care facilities, psychiatric care settings or as they can work as home nursing aides.  There are many CNA training schools, but selecting a good and effective CNA training program is quite a challenging job.

Before selecting a CNA training School,  you should take certain factors into consideration. Some of these are as follows:

Location of CNA School

First thing to note while selecting any CNA training school is its location and the distance you need to travel to reach the school.  If you prefer not to travel long distance, then you should finalize on school near your residence.  You also need to examine the class and school size as some students opt for smaller schools and classes to get individual attention, while others may opt for bigger schools with more students.

Facilities Available in CNA College

If you wish to work as a Certified Nursing Assistants in health care services, the most important factor  is practical experience.  So while selecting any CNA training school always make sure that it is  affiliated with nursing homes, hospitals or any other health care center where you can practice your CNA skills and gain practical knowledge.

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How to choose the right CNA training School?

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Red Cross is a prominent name in medical service. The main objective of Red Cross is to offer help to the people in need for medical need and recovery.  Red Cross also offers training programs and tests for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).  CNA certification through the American Red Cross is nationally recognized in the United States.  The Red Cross Certified Nursing Assistant Training is perfect for those who have passion to become a responsible nurse.  The Red Cross CNA Training programs are available in several states and are designed based on the requirements of each state.  CNA training hours and other program requirements may vary from state to state.

You would need a lot of dedication and hard work to quality for the Red Cross CNA course,  as it is a hands on training program.  However, once you qualify, you will be working as an certified nursing assistant within 6 to 12 weeks.  For successful completion of the Nursing Assistant Training program, you need to fully participate in classroom and skill sessions, apart from performing successfully in knowledge and skill evaluations.  The training imparts knowledge about  nutrition, infection control and physiology.  It also lets you get the clinical and practical experience to provide critical care to patients.

The Red Cross CNA training involves lot of strenuous activities; you should therefore ensure that you meet the course requirements in case you have any physical disability or medical condition that may restrict you from participating in the skill sessions.

The Red Cross CNA examination has two sections, Written Test and Skills Test.  You can complete the entire examination in a day as it approximately takes 5 hours 30 minutes.  You can appear for the written test only after successfully passing the skills test. You will receive the test results on the same day you take the test.  Upon passing the test, you will receive the certification – Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) – recognized by your state. Continue Reading »
Red Cross CNA Training

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What you learn in CNA Training Programs?

CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) Training Programs impart the training required for a person to become a CNA, also called as a caregiver, nurse aide, or home health aide.  CNA Training Programs will help you prepare for the CNA exam for your state.  You can work as a Certified Nursing Assistant, once you pass the CNA exam with a minimum score of 80%.  The demand for CNA jobs is high in the United States and other countries due to high percentage of aging population.  CNAs are employed in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and in private homes.

CNA Training programs are available in colleges as well as online.  CNA training classes are usually taught by registered nurses, and may take two to six weeks to complete the course requirements, as prescribed by the state authorities.

The major components of CNA training courses are skills lab training, practical clinical instruction, and classroom training. Skills are imparted with the aid of lectures, role-playing, training videos, discussions, and actual demonstration.  Usually, they will make arrangements at a hospital or nursing home for your hands-on or clinical or training.  Once you complete the course requirements, you would have to pass the CNA test administered by your state to receive the CNA certification.  After receiving the CNA certification, you can get a CNA job in hospitals, and nursing homes.

So what do you learn in CNA Training Programs? CNA Training programs prepare you in the following skills which are vital for a job as a certified nursing assistant.

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What do you learn at CNA Schools?

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Welcome to CNA Training Pro. If you are interested in obtaining a CNA certification or becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant, then you have come to the right place.

On this site, we will provide resources and information about free online CNA training programs,  Red Cross CNA Training program and other related CNA Training programs that will help you to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.  We will also provide information about the demand for CNA jobs, typical  job description of an CNA, average salaries of certified nurse assistants etc.

A CNA ( Certified Nursing Assistant) is a person who helps patients with their healthcare needs and provides bedside care under the guidance of a RN (Registered Nurse).  In the United States, a CNA is also called as PCA (Patient Care Assistant) or NA/R (Nursing Assistant-Registered.  In other countries such as the UK, CNA are also called HCA (Healthcare Assistant), NT (Nursing Tech), PCA (Patient Care Associate), Aux-N (Auxiliary Nurse) or NA (Nursing Assistant).  Whatever may be the title, their role is identical.

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