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Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
The Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) examination is the last test a nurse aide student must pass in order to become eligible for employment and to be listed on a U.S. State Nurse Aide Registry. The test consists of two parts: a written or oral exam, and a hands-on skills exam. A prospective nurse aide must obtain passing scores on both portions of the test in order to earn certification. Minimum passing scores vary by state, as do the number of written questions a candidate must answer; however, the average is approximately 70 questions. Written questions are all in a multiple-choice format.
The hands-on portion of the test takes place in an area that resembles a nurse aide’s actual working environment. A trained evaluator assesses this portion of the test. Five skills will be chosen for the candidate to complete within a set time frame, usually between 20 and 30 minutes. Candidates must complete all skills correctly in order to pass this portion of the examination. All candidates will be tested on their skill in correctly measuring and recording the blood pressure, weight, urinary output, radial pulse, and respiration of a patient in their care. The other skills tested will be chosen randomly from the following list. All skills will have been thoroughly covered in the nurse aide’s training program in preparation for the job:
- Wash hands
- Apply one knee-high elastic stocking
- Assist to ambulate using a transfer belt
- Assist with the use of a bedpan
- Clean dentures
- Don and remove hospital gown and hospital gloves
- Dress a patient with a weak right arm
- Feed a patient who is unable to feed himself
- Give a modified bed bath
- Make an occupied bed
- Perform passive range of motion exercises for a patient's knee and ankle
- Perform passive range of motion exercises for a patient's shoulder
- Position a patient on his or her side
- Provide catheter care for a female patient
- Provide fingernail care
- Provide food care
- Provide mouth care
- Provide perineal care for a female patient
- Transfer a patient from a bed to a wheelchair using a transfer belt
If a candidate fails only one portion (written or hands-on) of the test, it is allowable to retake only that portion of the test. If a candidate fails the entire test or fails a portion of it three times, retraining will be required.
