Free Connecticut CNA Exam Flashcards

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) regulates nurse aide certification, and Prometric delivers the competency exam on the DPH's behalf. Note that the DPH (not a Board of Nursing) keeps the registry.

Connecticut requires at least 100 hours of DPH-approved training, which is 25 hours above the federal 75-hour minimum. It includes classroom or lab instruction plus supervised clinical practice in a facility.

The written test has 60 multiple-choice questions with a 90-minute limit. An oral version is available for candidates who need it. You must pass the knowledge test and the skills test to be listed.

Candidates perform five assigned skills scored against standardized checklists. Hand hygiene is always one of them; the other four are selected from the official skills list, so practice every skill.

Hand hygiene is mandatory on every Connecticut skills evaluation, not optional or random. A candidate who fails the hand-hygiene step typically fails the whole skills test, so it must be performed correctly.

After both parts are passed, Prometric reports results to the DPH and your name is added to the Connecticut Nurse Aide Registry. Finishing training alone does not place you on the registry.

Connecticut certification lasts 24 months (2 years). You must keep your registry status active to keep working as a nurse aide in the state.

To renew every 24 months you verify at least 8 paid hours of nursing or nursing-related work during that period. Connecticut charges no fee to renew an active certification.

Testing must be completed within 24 months of finishing the approved training program. Waiting too long can mean repeating training before you are allowed to test.

The combined Connecticut competency exam fee is $118 for the written and skills tests together. Candidates schedule and pay through Prometric.

If you pass one part but fail the other, you retake only the failed part, not both. Retakes are rescheduled through Prometric.

A resident may refuse any care. The CNA does not force or argue; ensure immediate safety, respect the choice, and report the refusal to the nurse so the care plan can be adjusted.

Close the door or privacy curtain, expose only the body part being cared for, and keep the resident covered otherwise. Privacy protects dignity and is part of every personal-care task.

Federal OBRA 1987 guarantees dignity, self-determination, privacy and confidentiality, freedom from abuse and unnecessary restraints, and the right to refuse care and voice grievances. These rights frame all CNA care.

Share resident information only with staff who need it for care. Do not discuss residents in hallways, elevators, on social media, or with unauthorized visitors, even if you use no names.

Connecticut uses MOLST (Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment), its version of POLST. A MOLST is a physician-signed medical order for CPR, hospitalization, and other end-of-life choices, and the CNA must honor it like any order.

Give only the help a resident actually needs and allow extra time for the parts they can safely do themselves. Doing everything for a capable resident reduces function and self-esteem.

Physical or chemical restraints require a physician order and are a last resort, never used for staff convenience or discipline. CNAs use the least restrictive approach and monitor and reposition any restrained resident frequently.

Standard precautions apply to every resident, every time. Treat all blood and body fluids as infectious: perform hand hygiene, wear PPE when exposure is likely, and handle linens and sharps safely.

Use soap and water, not alcohol-based hand rub, for visibly soiled hands and for spore-forming organisms such as C. diff and for norovirus. Alcohol gel does not reliably kill those.

Use contact precautions for MRSA and C. diff, droplet precautions for influenza and pertussis, and airborne precautions with an N95 for tuberculosis. PPE choice follows how the organism spreads.

Gloves are a barrier, not a substitute for clean hands. Perform hand hygiene before applying gloves when indicated and immediately after removing them, since hands can be contaminated during removal.

Put on PPE as gown, mask, goggles, then gloves. Remove it as gloves, goggles, gown, then mask, performing hand hygiene afterward. Gloves come off first because they are the most contaminated.

Hold soiled linens away from your uniform, never shake them, and roll dirty surfaces inward before bagging in the correct container. Shaking linens releases microorganisms into the air.

Keep a urinary drainage bag below bladder level and off the floor, with tubing free of kinks. Below-bladder placement promotes drainage and prevents backflow that can cause infection.

While bathing, protect privacy, keep the resident warm, wash and dry gently, and inspect the skin. Report redness, open areas, bruising, rashes, swelling, or pain to the nurse.

Dress the weak (affected) side first and undress the strong side first. This avoids forcing the weak limb through a sleeve and protects the joint and skin.

Turn the resident's head to the side so fluid drains out of the mouth, and use only a small amount of moisture. Side positioning lowers the risk of aspiration during mouth care.

Clean dentures over a towel or a basin of water to cushion a drop, and store them in a labeled cup with cool water or approved solution. Hot water can warp them.

Clean the perineal area front to back, away from the urethra, using a clean section of cloth for each stroke. This prevents moving organisms from the rectal area toward the urinary opening.

Provide prompt perineal care after each episode, dry thoroughly, and apply ordered barrier cream. Leaving skin wet until a scheduled change time leads to breakdown.

Sit the resident upright, offer small bites at the resident's pace, alternate solids and liquids, and verify each mouthful is swallowed. Report coughing, choking, pocketing food, or reduced intake.

Keep a resident upright during meals and for at least 30 minutes afterward. Feeding someone lying flat or rushing bites raises aspiration risk, which can cause pneumonia.

Record fluids taken in and urine or other fluids put out using the facility's measures in milliliters. Report low intake, very high or low output, or unusual color or odor to the nurse.

Offer fluids often and keep water within reach unless the resident is on a fluid restriction. Watch for dry mouth, dark urine, and confusion, which can signal dehydration in older adults.

Keep a wide base of support, bend your knees not your back, hold the load close, push rather than lift, and never twist. Get help or equipment when a move is unsafe alone.

A gait belt is used to steady and guide a resident during transfers or walking. It is not used to drag or lift a resident and does not replace a mechanical lift when one is ordered.

Position the wheelchair or chair on the resident's strong side and transfer toward it, with brakes locked and footrests moved. Moving toward the stronger side gives the resident more support and control.

Keep the bed low and locked, call light and personal items within reach, floor clear and dry, and non-slip footwear on. Report new dizziness, weakness, or unsafe wandering.

In a fire, follow RACE: Rescue anyone in danger, Activate the alarm, Contain it by closing doors, then Extinguish or Evacuate. For an extinguisher use PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.

Typical adult ranges are temperature about 97.6 to 99.6 F, pulse 60 to 100, respirations 12 to 20, and blood pressure around 90/60 to 120/80. Report readings outside these to the nurse.

Count respirations without telling the resident, often right after the pulse, so breathing stays natural. Note rate plus any noisy, shallow, or labored breathing.

Note rate, rhythm, and strength. Report a pulse that is irregular, very fast, very slow, or a clear change from the resident's usual, since it can signal a new problem.

Weigh on the same scale under similar conditions when possible. Report sudden gains or losses, because rapid weight change can signal fluid retention, dehydration, or poor nutrition.

Face the resident, use a calm tone, listen without interrupting, ask one clear question at a time, and respond to feelings. Avoid arguing, rushing, or giving false reassurance.

Use short simple sentences, a calm approach, familiar routines, and redirection. Do not argue with false beliefs; respond to the feeling behind the behavior and keep the resident safe.

ROM moves each joint through its normal range to prevent stiffness and contractures. Move slowly, support the joint above and below, stop at the point of resistance or pain, and never force a joint.

A CNA gives assigned care, observes, documents, and reports. A CNA does not assess or diagnose, give medications unless separately certified, change the care plan, or perform sterile or licensed nursing tasks.

Report objective facts you observed or measured and the resident's own words, not labels like 'difficult' or your guesses. Promptly report any change in condition such as confusion, chest pain, or a fall.

CNAs are mandatory reporters and must report suspected, not just confirmed, abuse, neglect, or exploitation to the nurse immediately. In Connecticut, facilities report allegations to the DPH within 24 hours, and a substantiated finding bars you from the registry.