Top 10 Essential Hard Skills for CNAs
Nursing assistants are the backbone of patient care. Mastering these ten clinical skills is not just about passing the exam—it's about ensuring dignity, safety, and recovery for the patients who rely on you every single day.
Basic Nursing Care
Foundational procedures to support daily living activities including bathing, dressing, and grooming. This ensures patients maintain dignity and comfort while allowing CNAs to recognize early signs of health changes.
Vital Signs Monitoring
Accurately checking temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration rates. These measurements provide crucial data about health status, indicating potential problems or recovery progress.
Hygiene & Personal Care
Central to the CNA role, this includes oral care, bathing, and toileting assistance. A respectful approach prevents infections and significantly impacts patient comfort and morale.
Infection Control
Applying protocols like proper hand hygiene, PPE usage, and disinfection techniques to protect patients, staff, and visitors from healthcare-associated infections.
Medical Documentation
Using precise medical terminology to document care and communicate conditions. clear documentation is vital for continuity of care and legal compliance in medical records.
Mobility & Transfers
Assisting patients with safe movement to prevent falls. This involves helping patients out of bed, walking support, and operating mechanical lifts (like Hoyer lifts) safely.
BLS and CPR
Responding to cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. These life-saving techniques stabilize patients in emergencies before specialized medical teams arrive.
Wound Care
Cleaning and dressing wounds to promote healing and prevent infection. Requires attention to detail and the ability to spot early signs of infection or necrosis.
Equipment Operation
Technical competence with devices like pulse oximeters, electronic beds, and digital patient records. Proficiency supports efficiency and data accuracy.
Nutrition & Feeding Assistance
Ensuring patients receive prescribed diets while monitoring intake to prevent malnutrition or dehydration. This includes understanding dietary restrictions (e.g., thickened liquids, low sodium) and physically assisting those unable to feed themselves.
State Exam Skills Checklist
These are the specific skills Prometric and Credentia evaluators will ask you to perform during your clinical test. You typically have to perform 3-5 of these randomly selected skills.
The "Soft Skills" That Get You Hired
Empathy & Patience
Patients are often scared, confused, or in pain. Your ability to remain calm and kind is your most valuable tool.
Observation
You see the patient more than anyone else. Noticing a small bruise or a change in mood can save a life.
Time Management
You will have multiple patients with conflicting needs. Prioritizing tasks efficiently is critical.
Tools of the Trade
⚠️ Common Rookie Mistakes
- × Forgetting to lock wheelchair brakes before a transfer.
- × Leaving the bed in the "high" position after care.
- × Not closing the privacy curtain (Automatic fail on exams).
- × Guessing on vitals instead of re-measuring if unsure.
🚀 Career Growth
Mastering CNA skills is just the beginning. Adding these certifications can boost your pay by $2-$5/hour.