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.