Certified Nursing Exam Skills Checklist for Studying and Practice

Certified Nursing Exam Skills Checklist for Studying and Practice

Here’s a FREE printable CNA Skills Checklist you can use to study and practice. I’ll format it so you can easily print it and check items off as you master them:


📝 CNA Skills Checklist

Always Required Skills

  • Handwashing (before and after each skill)

  • Indirect care (introduce self, explain procedure, ensure safety, privacy, comfort)


🧼 Infection Control & Safety

  • Proper use of gloves and PPE

  • Disposing of soiled linens/materials safely


🛏 Basic Patient Care

  • Making an occupied bed

  • Positioning patient:

    • Side-lying

    • Supine

    • Fowler’s position

  • Transferring patient with gait belt (bed → wheelchair)

  • Ambulating patient with gait belt

  • Performing range of motion (ROM) exercises


🩺 Vital Signs

  • Measure blood pressure (manual cuff)

  • Measure pulse (radial)

  • Measure respirations

  • Measure temperature (oral, axillary, electronic)

  • Measure weight

  • Measure height


🍽 Feeding & Hydration

  • Assist with feeding (upright position, prevent choking)

  • Record food/fluid intake accurately

  • Offer water


🚽 Elimination Needs

  • Assist with bedpan/urinal

  • Provide perineal care (peri-care)

  • Catheter care (cleaning area, emptying bag, recording output)


🧑‍🦳 Personal Hygiene & Grooming

  • Oral care (conscious patient)

  • Oral care (unconscious patient)

  • Denture care

  • Partial bed bath (face, arms, hands, chest)

  • Hand and nail care

  • Hair care (brushing/combing)

  • Shaving with electric razor

  • Dressing a patient (weak or affected limb)


📝 Observation & Communication

  • Report and record changes in condition

  • Communicate clearly with patient and healthcare team

  • Respect patient dignity and privacy at all times


👉 How to use this checklist:

  • Print it and keep it with your study materials.

  • Practice each skill step-by-step (preferably with a classmate, friend, or family member).

  • Check off each box once you can perform the skill correctly and confidently.

admin Avatar

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Jess Stover

With over 10 years of medical experience, precepting, and instructing, I wanted to be able to help others purse their dreams and help them pass the Certified Nursing Assistant Exam. Good luck to you all!