Pursing a certificate as a Nursing Assistant is a very
exciting adventure. The curriculum generally lasts from four to twelve weeks
depending on the requirements in your state. Federal regulations require a
minimum of seventy five hours of training. You Nursing Assistant course will be
composed of classroom training, practicing what you learned on mannequins and
each other, and clinicals that involve working with actual clients in a medical
facility under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.
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Upon completing your certification, you will be required to
take the Certified Nursing Assistant Exam. Most states require you to sign up
for the test within ninety days of completing all course work. Your program is
set up to specifically teach you the fundamentals you will need on the job as
well as to pass the exam. It is your responsibility to ask for clarification of
any areas you are unsure of prior to taking the Nursing Assistant exam.
While the Certified Nursing Assistant Exam requirements will
vary from state to state, most are very similar in structure and content. The
test is made up of two parts – written and clinical. The written portion of the
test will contain questions about basic concepts and procedures. Your course
textbooks and class notes are excellent studying resources.
The clinical portion of the exam requires you to demonstrate
anywhere from three to five Nursing Assistant skills you should have mastered
during your program. You will need to perform these skills for a state examiner
who will be watching your every move. These skills involve hand washing,
privacy, dignity, providing a bed pan, re-positioning a patient in their bed,
grooming, taking a patient’s temperature, and completing a linen change with
the occupant still in the bed.
While hand washing, privacy, and dignity may all seem like
common sense areas to many of us, they are very important. Since most
communicable diseases can be eliminated by proper hand washing, this skill is
absolutely necessary. Providing all patients with privacy and dignity are the
cornerstone of any area of the medical profession. They are relevant to the
many duties of Nursing Assistants.
Most people are very nervous about this portion of the test,
but practicing correct processed during your program and on your own will help
you be prepared. Forming study groups with classmates is an excellent way to
practice for both the written and clinical portions of the test. There are also
study guides available and online practice tests.
The state examiner understands that exams are stressful and
make people nervous. They will be watching to see how you react under stress
and pressure because these skills are also important for Nursing Assistants to
acquire.
Passing your Nursing Assistant exam is very important. Some
employers will hire you once you have completed the program, but you must
provide verification that you also passed your state exam within a specified
timeframe to maintain that employment. Most states will allow you to find out
right after the exam if you have passed or not. You will have the opportunity
to retest if you don’t pass the first time. There are rules regarding how many
times you can take the test, the length of time between each testing, and the
cost to retest. These things all vary by state guidelines.
Prepare for the Certified Nursing Assistant Exam - Innakaghaitsa.com