What is on the Final Exam for CNAs in Georgia?

For aspiring certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in Georgia, passing the final exam is the crucial last step in earning your certification. The exam is designed to test your knowledge of patient care and your ability to perform the skills required to work as a CNA. Like most states, Georgia uses the Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation to assess candidates, and it is administered by Pearson VUE. This exam is a combination of a written (or oral) portion and a skills evaluation. Below, we will break down exactly what to expect on the final CNA exam in Georgia and provide tips to help you succeed.

Written (or Oral) Exam Overview

The written exam for CNAs in Georgia consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. You will have 90 minutes to complete the exam. The questions cover a wide range of topics that CNAs need to know to provide effective patient care in settings such as nursing homes, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.

Topics Covered in the Written Exam

The written portion of the exam is designed to evaluate your understanding of several key areas related to patient care. While specific questions may vary, you can expect the exam to cover the following major topics:

Basic Nursing Skills: This includes tasks such as taking and recording vital signs (temperature, pulse, and blood pressure), infection control, and proper hygiene practices.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): You’ll be tested on assisting patients with bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, and mobility. This also includes knowledge of patient positioning and range-of-motion exercises.
Safety and Emergency Procedures: Understanding how to maintain patient safety is critical. This includes preventing falls, managing emergency situations, and adhering to safety protocols.
Patient Communication and Rights: Communication is key in CNA work. The exam will test your ability to communicate effectively with patients and healthcare staff while respecting patients’ rights, including privacy and confidentiality.
Mental Health and Social Needs: You’ll be assessed on how to care for patients with mental health issues and how to promote their emotional well-being.
Caring for the Cognitively Impaired: The exam may include questions about working with patients who have conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
Infection Control: You will need to know how to prevent the spread of infection through proper handwashing techniques and by adhering to infection control protocols.

In addition to the written exam, Georgia also offers an oral exam option, which is beneficial for candidates who may have difficulty with reading comprehension. This version contains 60 audio questions that cover the same topics.

Skills Evaluation

The skills evaluation portion of the CNA exam in Georgia is often considered the most challenging part because it involves hands-on demonstration of five randomly selected CNA skills. This part of the exam is performed in front of an evaluator, and you are required to demonstrate proficiency in real-world tasks that CNAs perform daily.

Skills Tested on the CNA Exam in Georgia

There are 22 skills that you may be tested on, and five of them will be selected randomly for your evaluation. While the specific skills you are asked to perform will vary, here are some of the most commonly tested:

Hand Hygiene (Handwashing): This skill is almost always included because infection control is essential in healthcare settings.
Ambulating a Patient Using a Gait Belt: You’ll need to demonstrate how to assist a patient with walking using a gait belt for support.
Measuring and Recording Vital Signs: You may be asked to take a patient’s temperature, pulse, and blood pressure and record the findings accurately.
Range-of-Motion Exercises: Demonstrating passive range-of-motion exercises for a patient’s shoulders, elbows, wrists, or knees is a frequent task.
Transferring a Patient from Bed to Wheelchair: This skill requires you to move a patient safely from a bed to a wheelchair using proper body mechanics.
Feeding a Patient: You may be asked to demonstrate how to assist a patient with eating, following proper safety and sanitary procedures.
Changing an Occupied Bed: The ability to change linens while a patient is in bed is another commonly tested skill.
Performing Perineal Care: This involves cleaning a patient’s genital and anal areas while maintaining dignity and hygiene standards.

Passing Criteria for the Skills Evaluation

To pass the skills portion, you must complete all five skills to the evaluator’s satisfaction. Each skill has specific steps you need to follow, and missing key steps can result in a failure. For example, for handwashing, neglecting to wash for the required amount of time or to clean all surfaces of the hands could cause you to lose points. If you’re nervous about this part, consider practicing all the skills with a partner or classmate before the exam to build your confidence.

Preparing for the CNA Final Exam in Georgia

To prepare for the CNA final exam in Georgia, consider the following steps:

Review the Exam Handbook: Pearson VUE provides a candidate handbook with detailed information about the exam format, content, and what to expect. This handbook is an essential resource for your preparation.
Practice CNA Skills Regularly: Since the skills portion is hands-on, regular practice is crucial. Work with a classmate or use online videos to review the correct steps for each skill.
Take Practice Exams: Many resources, including books and online platforms, offer CNA practice exams. These can help familiarize you with the question format and give you a better sense of the topics you’ll be tested on.
Time Management: Practice completing tasks within the given time limit, especially for the skills portion, as you’ll need to perform each skill efficiently during the exam.

What Happens After the Exam?

After successfully passing both the written and skills portions of the CNA exam in Georgia, your name will be placed on the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry, which allows you to work as a CNA in healthcare facilities across the state. You will receive your certification shortly after passing the exam.

If you do not pass the exam on your first attempt, don’t worry! You are allowed up to three attempts to pass both the written and skills evaluations. If you fail after three attempts, you will need to retake the entire CNA training course before attempting the exam again.

Ready to Become a CNA in Georgia?

Becoming a CNA in Georgia involves successfully completing both the written and skills portions of the final exam. While the process may seem daunting, thorough preparation, practice, and understanding of the exam format will significantly increase your chances of passing. Once certified, you’ll be on your way to a rewarding and in-demand career in the healthcare field!