Guide to Studying for and Taking the CNA Exam (Certified Nursing Assistant Test)

You made it through Nursing Assistant classes and you may have landed a job as a nursing assistant at a health facility. Now you need to take a State exam to receive your certification. While taking tests may not be your strong point, the nursing assistant exam is easier if you know what to expect.

First, you need to know that the test consists of two parts – a written exam and a clinical exam. The written part of the test is based upon common sense. For the clinical exam, you may be asked to bring a person with you to act as a ‘patient’ so you can demonstrate your clinical skills.

The written part of the test is based upon much of the learning you accomplished during training. Therefore, your class handouts or books will provide all the information you might need for your State exam – especially if you studied for the test in the same state where you’ll take the test. Review that paperwork, your notes and any portions of the book that presented the most problems for you in class. A review like this will help you learn more in an environment outside of class. This type of review may prove less stressful for many people.

While some individuals may sweat over the written exam, many others may become equally nervous about the clinical part of the exam. The reason? Someone will be looking over your shoulder the entire time, watching your every move. But, you can keep in mind that the State examiner has seen many nervous students before, so your shaky nerves won’t be taken into account. If you know your clinical skills, you’ll fly right through this portion of the test before you know it.

In most cases, you will be asked to demonstrate three to five Nursing Assistant skills such as hand washing, privacy policies, a nod toward dignity (such as remembering to knock before entering a patient’s room and pulling the privacy curtain before working with the patient) and safety standards.

Fortunately, the future CNA can find test questions and clinical skill procedures online. Additionally, many of these helpful sites don’t ask for payment as the writers impart their knowledge. One site where you can learn more about clinical skills and how to practice them is Nursing Assistant Central. Another site that offers help on how to study for the written exam is the Test-Preparation Web site.

Finally, a great way to ask questions about the CNA exam is through support sites such as Nursing Assistant Resources On The Web or through a state CNA support group such as the Connecticut Nurses’ Association Web site. Many of these groups provide help for the nursing assistant who is about to take the State exam. If you these resources and more to shore up your confidence and knowledge, your exam may seem like a piece of cake.

Remember is that every state is different in regards to amount of time required for training and testing and the type of environment where  you’d like to work. Before you begin your nursing assistant training, contact your State Nurse Aide Registry and/or State Licensing Board to learn about their requirements. You also might check the requirements for nursing assistants in any state where you’d like to work to make sure you meet those qualifications.