Click here to watch the skill Why can't you tell the patient you are counting their respirations? When you tell someone that you are counting their respirations, they will become aware of their breathing. This will usually cause them to alter their breathing patterns (either slow down or speed up), and your count won't be…
Measure and Record Radial Pulse These are the basic steps for measure and record a resident's radial pulse. In-depth step by step directions can be found in our CNA Skills Study Guide, available on this website. Opening and wash hands Locate pulse on thumb side of patient's wrist (do not use your thumb) Count thumps…
Check the Position of the Drainage Bag! The drainage bag should be positioned so that it is hanging from a non-moving part of the bed, above the floor. The bag can NEVER be lifted above the patient's hips and it should never be allowed to touch the floor. The tubing should be coiled on…
You may be assigned to give a partial bedbath during the exam. The care plan will specify what you are expected to wash during this skill. This skill will be done on a manikin and the Nurse Aide Evaluator (NAE) will play the voice of the patient. Pay attention to the care plan! The…
Dressing with a Weak Arm When a patient has a weak arm, or limited mobility in one shoulder, dressing the patient can be a challenge. Nurses will explain to the patient that button or snap front shirts will be easier to put on. Pull-over shirts require that you lift both your arms to push…
Do you know how to wash your hands the right way? You will be graded on Handwashing at the beginning and end of your first skill. It is important that you work up a good lather and rub with friction for at least 20 seconds. This 20 seconds is friction (rubbing) and does…
A lot of students think that you should put your gloves on immediately after washing your hands. But let's think about this: who are those gloves there to protect? You...or the patient? Who are the gloves for? In reality, gloves are there to protect BOTH you AND the patient! If you put on gloves when you…
Skills timing is a complex subject. A question I often hear is....how much time do I have to do the clinical skills. And the answer is...it depends! It depends on the skills you get. Some skills are short and will take less time to perform. Others are longer and will require more time. The combination…
Skill: All Question: Are you supposed to wash your hands before touching ANYTHING in the patient's room? Answer: No. When do you wash your hands? You wash your hands at the beginning of the skill to prevent the spread of germs from you to the patient. But you also wash your hands at the end of every skill…
Skill: All Question: Do you need a barrier to turn the faucet on? Answer: It depends...are your hands clean, or dirty? Rationale: Dirty hands (and gloves) can touch a dirty faucet all day long, but clean hands cannot (that's when you need a barrier). When you begin a skill you must wash your hands…
