Is the CNA exam difficult?
The CNA exam is not as difficult as one might expect.
Many exam takers report that the practical skills portion is more difficult than the written portion. Even so, with appropriate preparation, passing the CNA exam on your first try is realistic.
What is on the CNA exam?
The exact outline of the CNA exam will depend on the state you are taking it in.
Different providers offer different outlines, but the basic information remains the same.
The broad outline of the CNA exam includes:
Physical Care: Basic Nursing Skills, Restorative Care, Infection Control, Disease Process, Changes in Health.
Role of the Nurse Aide: Client Rights, Communication, Ethical Behaviour, Resident Rights.
Psychosocial Skills: Mental Health, Cultural Needs.
To see the exact outline your state offers, check the provider and then access their website.
The practical skills section is comprised of 5 questions selected from a list of 23. This applies to all providers.
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Hand Hygiene (Hand Washing)
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Applying One Knee-High Elastic Stocking
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Assisting to Ambulate Using Transfer Belt
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Assisting with the Use of Bedpan
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Cleaning of Upper or Lower Dentures
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Consulting and Recording Radial Pulse
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Counting and Recording Respirations
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Donning and Removing PPE
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Dressing Someone with a Weak Right Arm
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Feeding Someone Who Cannot Self-Feed
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Giving Modified Bed Bath
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Measuring and Recording Urinary Output
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Measuring and Recording the Weight of Ambulatory Client
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Performing Passive Range of Motion for One Knee and One Ankle
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Performing Passive Range of Motion for One Shoulder
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Positioning on Side
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Providing Catheter Care for a Female
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Providing Foot Care for One Foot
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Providing Mouth Care
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Providing Perineal Care for Females
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Transferring From Bed to Wheelchair Using Transfer Belt
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Measuring and Recording Manual Blood Pressure
What types of questions are on the CNA exam?
The CNA written exam is comprised of multiple-choice questions.
How is the CNA exam structured?
The CNA exam is made up of two parts: the written portion and the practical skills portion.
The written portion is comprised of three sections:
Physical Care Skills
Psychosocial Care Skills
Role of the Nurse Aide
The skills portion has no specific categories. It tests several practical abilities. While there is a set list of skills, you will not be asked to perform all of them during your exam. You will be asked to perform a total of 5 activities, with the instructor giving you all the necessary instructions.
Keep in mind that this structure may differ from one state to another. Check your state's requirements to get all the relevant information.
What is the time limit for the CNA exam?
The CNA exam's time limit will depend on your state's provider.
For Credentia, the CNA exam time limit is 2 hours.
For states that offer the exam through other providers, the time limit is between 60 to 90 minutes.
To see the time limit that applies to your exam, check your state's provider.
How long is each part of the CNA exam?
The written portion of the CNA exam lasts 2 hours, and the skills portion takes 30 minutes.
Remember that this applies to states that offer the CNA exam through Credentia. If your state is using a different provider, these guidelines may not apply. Always check your state's guidelines before registering.
What is the hardest part of the CNA exam?
Many exam takers say that the practical skills portion is the hardest.
However, do not be discouraged. With appropriate practice, this portion shouldn't cause any issues.
What is the biggest mistake students make on the CNA exam?
The biggest mistake students make is not being prepared enough for the practical skills section.
There are 23 total skills required for this section. Even though your examination will only include 3 skills, you should spend a significant amount of time perfecting your abilities for all 23.
There are no skills that are tested more than others, and you should not try to guess which skills you are more likely to encounter on exam day. Instead, spend your time perfecting each one.
Can you skip around on the CNA exam?
You can skip questions on the CNA written exam.
However, pay attention and do not overdo it. Skipping too many questions might become a problem since you might not have time to return and answer them at the end.
