Using CNA Simulations as Test Prep in California
Author: Julie Ann Reynolds (Nurse JAR), LVN, C-NM, QCP, WCC, NATCEP Instructor
Hey, folks! I’m Julie Reynolds, Partner Success Manager with CNA Simulations. Some of you may also know me as Nurse JAR. Have you ever tried practicing virtual, scenario-based simulations? They’re an incredible way to enhance your skills and performance and gain confidence. Today, I’m talking about using CNA simulations as a test preparation modality in California as a new and innovative way to prepare your CNA and/or HHA students for their nurse assistant certification exam.
Caring4Cal is a program by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) to offer licensed or certified in-home or community care providers — and those interested in becoming an in-home care provider — free training, free coaching, and up to $2,750 in incentive pay.
The Importance of Test Preparation
As a healthcare professional, you know how crucial it is for students to be fully prepared for this exam. That’s why I’m excited to introduce you to these online clinical simulations, which will help your students excel in their exams and beyond.
My Journey with Test Preparation
As someone who has experienced the rigors of nursing school and exam preparation, I can attest to the fact that test preparation is not always easy or efficient. Back in the day, our test preparation was in the form of handwritten notes and textbooks. Yeah! A lot of fun, right?
Well, look at where we are at now! In 2024, you can introduce your CNA and HHA students to an innovative platform designed to help them prepare for their nurse aide certification skills exam and so much more. I highly recommend using our online CNA simulations as part of your classroom venue and for your students’ clinical skills study routine.
Enhancing Learning with CNA Simulations
Our online simulations are a great way to afford your students practical experience with the “hands-on” clinical skills required during their skills certification exam. By incorporating these simulations into your classroom and lab sessions, you’ll provide your students with an invaluable learning experience that will help them become more confident and competent during clinicals, testing, and in their future healthcare careers.
I started incorporating our simulations into my lesson plans and was blown away by the results. I saw amazing improvement in my students’ skills performances, communication, and interpersonal skills, and with the collection of supplies. And if not more important, they showed more confidence while performing their skills. My students were able to practice and perfect their skills, which made all the difference in the world when it came time for the actual exam.
My students’ skills and performance improved, and their overall confidence and professionalism skyrocketed. On test day, they approached the exam with a sense of calm and readiness that I had never seen before. One of my students remarked, “The sims helped me to better communicate with residents.” Another shared, “They aligned really well with testing.”
How CNA Simulations Help Prepare Students for Testing
CNA Simulations helps prepare your students for testing by:
Familiarizing your students with Indirect Care Skills, they will be observed, evaluated, and scored on throughout their skills exam:
Communication
Infection Control
Safety
Privacy
Dignity
Helping your students learn what supply items to collect for testable skills.
Allowing your students to use their critical and practical thinking skills.
My students found the simulations interesting and engaging. The pre-and post-test questions enhanced their practical and critical thinking skills and helped refine their nursing judgment. One student noted, “They helped teach us about making self-corrections if we make a mistake.”
Demonstrating and Practicing Individual Skill Step Actions
How to wash or sanitize hands
How to correctly place a knee-high elastic stocking
How to apply the transfer/gait belt around the resident’s waist
How to correctly stabilize the resident’s legs before standing to ambulate or transfer from the bed to a wheelchair
How to place a linen protector underneath the resident’s buttocks and peri areas
How to correctly place the bedpan
Where to secure the catheter during catheter care
How to clean, rinse, and dry the catheter without tugging on it
How to comfortably place the resident’s foot in the basin during foot care
Showing students in which direction to clean, rinse, and dry the resident’s genital, buttocks, and anal areas during perineal care
How to position the wheelchair against the bed during the testable skill transfer from bed to wheelchair
Before I incorporated CNA Simulations into my lesson plan, one of my students had difficulty remembering what supply items to collect for several testable skills, including perineal care. CNA Simulations empowered her competence and confidence with how it allowed her to view supply items and then decide which items she should select.
I was shocked but extremely proud of her when, during her evaluation of her performance with perineal care, she efficiently gathered all necessary supplies without a hitch to perform this skill proficiently. Another student said, “The simulations were helpful by showing us how to perform certain skills.”
Maximizing Student Performance with CNA Simulations
So, if you are willing and ready to offer your students an effective training modality that will help them thrive during their certification skills exam, incorporate and implement CNA Simulations into your training today. They’ll help you and your students feel more confident and prepared, ultimately leading to greater exam success.
By incorporating these innovative tools into your training regimen, you're not just helping your students pass exams – you're equipping them with the skills and confidence they need to excel in their future healthcare careers.
Stay tuned for more insightful articles that will continue to elevate your instructional methods and your students' learning experiences. Until next time, keep aiming for the stars!
We’d love to hear from you. After reading this blog, how do you think incorporating virtual simulations could enhance the learning experience and confidence of your CNA or HHA students? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
