In order to practice as a certified nurse’s assistant (CNA) you must have at least 75 hours of state-approved training, as well as pass a competency exam. The exam, as with many standardized tests, is designed to prove that students who pass are qualified to work as a CNA.
What does a CNA do?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says, "There were 1,534,400 CNA jobs in 2012, with a projected growth of 21 percent between now and 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. This is due in part to the growing elderly population."
A career as a health care professional takes compassion and dedication, along with a constant thirst for knowledge.
Nursing assistants help provide basic care for clients in hospitals, facilities, and the home setting.
BAYADA Home Health Care offers a wide range of opportunities for CNA professionals.
How to prepare for the CNA exam
Before you begin your career, here is a CNA practice test and Nursing Assistant's Guide to help you prepare for the CNA exam:
- Take the practice test more than once. The website Flashcard database offers CNA practice questions and flashcards to help you study.
- Purchase texts books from Amazon and use websites like CNA Training Help for videos, checklists, and reading materials.
- Find study partners to help you prepare. Talking through what you are learning will help you better understand the material. Having a conversation about the concepts you are learning will help those concepts stick.
- Do your research to learn about what to expect from the exam. Some questions are designed to test your technical knowledge while other questions are meant to test your intuition and empathy.
- Once you’ve gathered your resources and tools create a study plan that will help you review the materials. Designate time either daily or weekly for test preparation. Don’t procrastinate, stick to your schedule and remain disciplined.
- When practicing clinical skills utilize neighbors, your spouse, or friends. Talk through your processes, explaining to your "patients” what you are doing. This will help you retain the information.
- The best way to get the inside track is to talk to someone who has been there already. Reach out to professional CNA’s and pick their brain about how they prepared and what they experienced.
- Think about the most common skills you will be asked to perform and do them often. Practice things like moving a patient with right or left-side paralysis, taking blood pressure, and recording vital signs. Your test prep books and online resources will be a good guide to knowing what you need to practice in order to help you prepare.
- Be sure your fingernails are trimmed and free of polish, make these grooming habits a part of your test preparation.
- This career path is a calling and there are reasons why you are pursuing this path. If you are overwhelmed remind yourself why you answered the call and believe in your abilities.
If you want to become a home health care professional, contact us today!
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