As you near the end of your CNA training, one of the best ways to prepare for the coming exam is to solve sample exam questions
. The certification test is usually in two different parts. The first part is the written exam which is in multiple choice format. This tests more of your theoretical knowledge of basic nursing.
The other part of your CNA exam is a skills based test. You will be expected to demonstrate useful skills that will be used in real life situations. An instructor will watch over you while you perform a skill and grade you accordingly. You will be performing real life tasks that you would perform as part of being a nursing assistant.
To get sample questions for the written exam it is as easy as doing a Google search. There are a lot of websites which have study tests you can use to scope possible questions you will have to answer. You should download them and save them on your computer. You can then read through them while studying or print them out and try yourself in an exam like situation.
Depending on which institute or college you attended for the CNA training, you might also have done periodic tests as part of the teaching curriculum. It is a good idea to go through the questions that appear on them so that you know what you'll be up against in your actual certification test.
The skills based exam is not as easy to prepare for. A lot of students get nervous and mess up when they are performing a task in front of an instructor. One of the best ways I found was to attempt these skills with colleagues at first. This builds up confidence as well as helps you learn from your mistakes as there won't be someone watching over you. You need to be calm and composed when doing the skills in the exam.
Some of the skills you will need to do will include taking a patients vitals or performing a routine task such as repositioning a patients bed. As part of your CNA Training Classes you will have gone through many of these skills. You will also be tested on the way you interact with the patients. It is imperative to be polite at all times and refer to your patients with respect. Social skills are a very important part of being a nursing assistant.
If you've practiced well there is nothing stopping you from acing the CNA exam. You will be on your way to a rewarding career as a Certified Nursing Assistant in no time!