Connecticut CNA study plan
Connecticut CNA · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Role of the Nurse Aide
State the nurse aide's scope of practice and list five tasks that must be deferred to a licensed nurse
Explain the aide's duty to report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation immediately to the charge nurse and describe what to document
Match eight resident rights to realistic care scenarios and identify the aide action that protects each right
Sequence the chain of infection and list the six steps of hand hygiene in the correct order
Your checkpoint
One-page personal cheat sheet covering scope of practice, reporting chain, and resident rights, plus a self-scored 20-question Domain 3 quiz at 80% or better
Role of the Nurse Aide & Physical Care Skills
Perform hand hygiene and don and doff gown, gloves, mask, and goggles in the correct sequence without cross-contamination
Differentiate standard precautions from transmission-based precautions and select the right equipment for three given scenarios
Demonstrate safe body mechanics and a two-person lift with a gait belt on a practice partner
Identify four resident changes that must be reported to the nurse before the end of shift
Your checkpoint
Timed run-through of five infection-control and safety skills scored against a step-by-step checklist, with every missed step written out and re-practiced
Physical Care Skills
Perform a complete bed bath, perineal care, and occupied bed change while preserving privacy and warmth
Provide oral care, including denture care and mouth care for an unresponsive resident
Measure and record temperature, radial pulse, respirations, and blood pressure accurately
Describe and demonstrate three range-of-motion exercises and two positioning techniques that prevent pressure injury
Your checkpoint
Practice log of ten vital-sign sets, each within 4 beats per minute for pulse and 10 mmHg for blood pressure of the instructor or partner reading, plus six skills practiced on a checklist
Physical Care Skills & Psychosocial Care Skills
Demonstrate a pivot transfer and a mechanical lift transfer using correct cueing and safety checks
List five fall-risk factors and the matching prevention action for each
Measure and record intake and output and calculate a 24-hour fluid balance
Identify psychosocial cues during a bath or transfer and respond with one supportive statement and one choice offered
Your checkpoint
Timed 50-question mixed practice test across Domains 1 and 2, scored at 75% or better, with every missed item rewritten as a corrected statement
Psychosocial Care Skills
Describe the stages of grief and match two supportive aide responses to each stage
Demonstrate therapeutic communication: open-ended questions, reflection, and avoiding false reassurance
Distinguish reality orientation from validation therapy and select the appropriate approach for a resident with dementia
Identify behavioral and physical signs of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation and state the required reporting step
Your checkpoint
Twelve written scenario cards, each with a chosen response and a one-sentence rationale citing a care principle
Psychosocial Care Skills & Physical Care Skills
Describe comfort care for a dying resident and the steps of postmortem care while honoring family and cultural preferences
Explain how to adapt a bed bath, feeding, and toileting for a resident with cognitive impairment
Describe restorative care and list three ways to promote independence during activities of daily living
Demonstrate feeding a resident with a swallowing precaution while maintaining dignity and safety
Your checkpoint
Written care plan for one hypothetical resident covering physical and psychosocial needs, checked against a 15-item completeness list
Role of the Nurse Aide & Physical Care Skills & Psychosocial Care Skills
Complete a full-length timed mock exam under test conditions
Categorize every missed item by domain and by error type (knowledge gap, misread, guessing)
Re-practice the six lowest-scoring skills from weeks 2 through 6
Memorize the normal ranges and safety numbers used on the exam, including temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure
Your checkpoint
Full 100-question timed mock exam scored at 80% or better and an error log listing every missed item with its correction
Role of the Nurse Aide & Psychosocial Care Skills & Physical Care Skills
Re-test the two weakest domains identified in the week 7 error log
Perform a timed dry run of the full skills set with a study partner calling each step
Recite the reporting chain and resident rights from memory without notes
Practice 20 rapid-fire scenario questions on prioritization and scope of practice
Your checkpoint
Final 100-question mock exam at 85% or better plus a completed skills checklist with every item signed off by a study partner
Milestones
Week 2: Hand hygiene and PPE sequence performed correctly twice in a row, and the reporting chain stated from memory
Week 4: Mixed 50-question practice test at 75% or better, and vital signs within tolerance on eight of ten attempts
Week 6: All twelve psychosocial scenario cards answered with rationale, and the resident care plan passes 13 of 15 completeness items
Week 8: Final mock exam at 85% or better, all skills checklist items signed off, and no domain below 75% on the last two practice tests