Are you getting ready to sit for your certified nurse assistant (CNA) exams? If yes, congratulations on your choice of an excellent life-changing career.
Job prospects for CNAs are positive as demand for your skill set is rising. The job projections until 2031 are 5%. That translates to over 220,200 openings for orderlies and nursing assistants every year for the next ten years.
Life as a CNA will be challenging, but very rewarding. There is great satisfaction in knowing that you contributed to making someone’s life better.
We understand how tough it can be to prepare for any final exam. This will be a culmination of the long hours you spend learning and getting ready. That exam is the only thing standing between you and joining the workforce. Read on for tips on preparing for the CNA exam from home.
- Start By Preparing a Study Schedule
When preparing for the CNA exam from home, the first thing is to prepare a study schedule. It is not a good idea to think that you can slot in study time whenever you’re free. At this moment, your top priority is passing the exam.
Everyone has a study time that works well for them. You may be an early bird and prefer to read in the morning. For night owls, the silence of the night works well for them.
If you are juggling work and being a student, it can be tough. But, you will still have to clear sometime within the day for study. See if you can take some time off work nearer the exam time. That way, you can dedicate more time to exam preparation.
2. Use the Free CNA Practice Exam
During the exam, you will need to answer 60 multiple-choice questions. You have two hours within which to complete this. After that comes the clinical skill test you will perform in front of an evaluator. For this, you only have 45 minutes.
The free CNA practice test is a gem you need to be aware of because what you get in this practice test are actually questions that have a high chance of appearing in the CNA exam.
The CNA practice written test contains 20 questions. These are representations of what you will find in the main written exam. Answering the questions is easy because of the multiple-choice format. After that, all you need to do is give your name and email address to get your score.
But it gets better. For those questions that you did not get right, the practice CNA test will explain why. That gives you a chance to brush up on any areas that may be challenging.
The free CNA practice test is mobile-friendly. That means even on your commute home, you can log in and do the practice test.
3. Don’t Always Study Alone
It can be pretty daunting to practice for an exam on your own. That is where study groups can make a big difference. Get together with some of your classmates and schedule times to review the material together. You could even use the CNA free practice test in the group setting. It allows everyone to gauge their preparedness level.
The beauty of technology is that you don’t have to meet in a physical location if it is impossible. With video conferencing facilities, you can still host group study sessions.
As a group, you should also set a time when everyone can explain their answers. Think about it as a sounding board that helps clarify the material. Feedback from the group is also essential because it will enhance your understanding.
4. Create Visual Aids
Consider using visual aids as part of your study material. Research shows that after three days, humans will remember 65% of what they see. The retention rate for spoken or written information is 10 to 20%. This is based on the memory retention and forgetting theory proposed by Ebbinghaus, a German psychologist.
When creating visual cues, decide on the topic you need to work on based on the highlight critical information that you need to have. You can then develop diagrams or graphics to help you remember the information.
The best part is these are your visual aids. So, whatever works for you is good enough. You will be amazed at how easy it will be to remember the information. And, a quick glance the day before or on the morning of the exam will immediately refresh your mind.
5. Read, Write, Say, Repeat
You will ace the CNA test exam if you master this study pattern. So here is how you do it.
- Read the exam material and pick out the main points you need to remember
- Write down the points on a piece of paper (if you want, include some visuals)
- Say the key points out loud
- Repeat the key points out loud several times.
Please don’t confuse this method with cramming. Remember that the first step requires you to carefully review and understand the study material. It is only by doing that will you be able to pick out the key points to remember. You will find this study method especially helpful for the areas that are challenging to you.
6. Know When to Take a Break
Yes, the CNA exam is around the corner. Suddenly it seems like there is so much to do within a very short time. So you find yourself studying every free second you have. You don’t even allow yourself to go to bed on time because of the stress. If this describes you in any way, you’re going about it all wrong.
You must take regular breaks because your brain needs it. This takes us back to our first point. In your study schedule, ensure you slot in some time to relax. That would be an excellent time to take a walk, go for a jog, or dance to some music.
And yes, please make sure you get enough sleep every day. Also, eat healthy meals and drink plenty of water. You want to be healthy and stress-free when you take the exam.
Final Thoughts
Prepare for your CNA exam with the tips we have shared above. You must first prepare a study schedule, and please make sure you commit to it. Study materials and books will help with the preparation. And the free CNA practice test will also be an invaluable tool for you.
Also, get together with your classmates in study groups and utilize visual aids. The latter is crucial because it helps in the retention of study material.
Good luck with your CNA exam!