The CNA clinical skills exam tests a random sample of hands-on skills, usually three to six, drawn from a list of 22. The exact number depends on your state vendor, but the evaluation criteria are the same everywhere: safety, infection control, privacy, communication, and correct steps in the correct order.
#You will almost always get handwashing
Handwashing is considered an automatic skill at most test sites. Perform it deliberately at the beginning of the test and whenever a skill requires it. Rushing through hand hygiene is the fastest way to lose points.
#One word matters: "indirectly"
If a skill is performed "indirectly" — for example, indirect care of a bedpan — it means you do not touch the resident. Read the task card carefully. Many candidates fail because they treat an indirect skill as a direct one.
#Talk to the resident out loud
The evaluator wants to hear that you identify yourself, explain the procedure, ask for consent, provide privacy, and give closing instructions. Speak to the resident even if a manikin is standing in for them.
#A small mistake is not a fatal mistake
If you miss a minor step, you can often self-correct by saying so out loud and completing the step. The key is not to panic. Safety and infection control mistakes, however, are usually critical and result in immediate failure.
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