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CNA Skills

For those that are preparing for your CNA Exam, we have compiled the list of skills that you could be tested on.  Keep in mind, there are more skills that you need to be proficient in other than the State Exam skills.  We have listed all of the CNA skills below, but the skills listed inBOLD and BLUE,  you will need to learn to pass your CNA Test.

 

I.          PERSONAL CARE (ADL)                                   V.         SAFETY

  • – Bathing (assist, bed bath, tub bath,                               – Side rails/ call rails
  •   shower, sitz)                                                                – Mitts and restraints
  • – Mouth care                                                                  – CPR/Heimlich Maneuver
  • – Skin care                                                                    – Infection control
  • – Hair care                                                                                 Handwashing
  • – Nail care                                                                                 Isolation technique
  • – Bedmaking (modified)                                                               Universal precautions
  • – Dressing and undressing

 

II.          BODY MECHANICS                                           VI.        SPECIAL PROCEDURES
            – Turn and position                                                         – Vital signs
– Transfer – chair and stretcher                                                    Temp (oral, rectal,
– Use of lifts                                                                               axillary)
– Assist with ambulation                                                              Pulse (radial, apical)
– Range of motion exercises                                                        Respirations
BP

III.         NUTRITION                                                                   – Height and weight (stand-up
– Prepare patients for meal time                                                   scales/bed scales)
– Feed patients                                                               – Application of heat/cold
– Intake and output                                                          – Prevent and care for decubitus
– Force and restrict fluids                                                            ulcers
+  – Surgical skin preps and scrubs
IV.        ELIMINATION                                                                – Clean dressing changes
– Bedpan/urinal                                                               – Apply ace bandages, TEDs and
– Bowel/bladder retraining                                                            binders
 Collect/test specimens                                              +  – Apply and remove EKG monitor
– Perineal/catheter care                                                              leads
– Apply condom caths                                                     – Postmortem care
+  – Douches                                                                     – Cough/deep breathing
– Enemas
+  – Insert rectal tubes/flatus bags
– Empty drainage devices from body
cavities/wounds
+  – Maintain gastric suction

 

*The licensed nurse maintains accountability and responsibility for the delivery of safe and competent care.  Decisions regarding delegation of any of the above activities are made by the licensed nurse on a client-by-client basis.  The following criteria must be met before delegation of any task may occur:

  • task is performed frequently in the daily care of a client or group of clients
  • task is performed according to an established sequence of steps
  • task may be performed with a predictable outcome
  • task does not involve on-going assessment, interpretation or decision-making that cannot be logically separated from the task itself.

5 Comments

  1. Virginia Taylor
    March 6, 2012 @ 5:32 pm

    I was wondering what are the CNA skills that you find the most difficult and what skills should I study the most?

    Reply

  2. Adam
    March 9, 2012 @ 9:00 pm

    Excellent read, I just passed this onto my girlfriend that is going to enroll in the CNA program next semester.

    Reply

  3. Rico Torres
    May 30, 2012 @ 8:09 pm

    Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly return.

    Reply

  4. Darcy M.
    July 8, 2012 @ 1:06 am

    Woh I enjoy your posts , saved to bookmarks ! .

    Reply

  5. Jen Longtin
    July 31, 2012 @ 4:10 am

    I had problems learning the skills but I made myself mnemonics to help. The CNA exam was not too hard, but wasn’t exactly easy either. I took the skills test and that was the hardest. I am just happy to be a certified nursing assistant finally!!

    Reply

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