| The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is a two part | | | | The examiner observes and evaluates every step of |
| examination and is made up of a written test and a | | | | the CNA skills test. Forgetting to wash your hands |
| practical test. A certified examiner will be on hand to | | | | before entering into the patient's room or something |
| grade you on the clinical part of the test which is | | | | as simple as knocking on the patient's door prior to |
| usually done after the written exam. The one good | | | | entering their room can result in failing this part of the |
| thing is that you will know whether you have passed | | | | CNA exam. |
| or failed your CNA examination once the clinical part | | | | The student's demeanor will also be observed by the |
| is completed. | | | | examiner who will want to know if the student can |
| The first part of the exam is pretty easy and zeroes | | | | maintain a calm exterior under stressful conditions. It |
| in on the medical concepts and procedures you had | | | | is best to always remain calm, composed and |
| learned during the CNA training courses. By enrolling in | | | | preserve the patient's dignity; those are important |
| one of the many Red Cross' CNA classes you will be | | | | qualities for a CNA to demonstrate in a real live |
| helped along to pass the CNA test. | | | | setting. |
| A Certified Nursing Assistant course can last up to 12 | | | | The state examiner will be the one who will supervise |
| weeks. You will attend classroom training sessions | | | | the CNA exam. Mock cases may be included; for |
| and then a few practical training sessions. The | | | | example the "victim" may be having a heart attack. |
| student nurse learns clinical applications and how to | | | | Under those circumstances, you may be asked to |
| apply them; this is done under the supervision of a | | | | get the "patient" out of bed and the examiner will be |
| RN staff and with the ability to work with real | | | | watching carefully how you transfer the patient to a |
| patients. | | | | wheelchair. Correct procedures will always need to be |
| Most students will tell you that the written test is | | | | followed and the ability to pay attention to small |
| easy but it is easy only if you studied the nursing | | | | details followed. |
| manuals provided during the CNA course. | | | | As a Certified Nursing Assistant, you will have a great |
| The second part of the exam is based on a clinical | | | | career ahead of you but only if you pass the CNA |
| setting and is usually harder. An escort is usually | | | | examination. That is followed by obtaining your state |
| brought with the student and will act as the model | | | | certification and only then will you be able to practice |
| for the student. The student will use the escort as | | | | your profession a mere few weeks after graduating |
| the "patient" and will need to demonstrate any | | | | from high school. Already a job landed before your |
| number of clinical skills acquired during the attendance | | | | classmates begin attending a school of higher learning. |
| of the CNA course. | | | | |