Michigan CNA study guide
Michigan CNA · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Michigan Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) competency examination is the assessment that nurse aide candidates in Michigan sit for as part of the certification process. It is intended for people preparing to work as nursing assistants - most often in nursing homes and long-term care settings - as well as for aides who need to demonstrate continued competence. The Michigan CNA study guide has 10 sections and about 3,512 words.
01Basic Nursing Skills: Measuring, Observing, Reporting
Vital signs are the backbone of this domain: temperature (oral, axillary, tympanic, temporal, rectal), pulse (rate, rhythm, force), respirations (rate, depth, rhythm, effort), blood pressure, and oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry. Know which route suits which resident - oral temperatures are unsafe for a resident who is confused, coughing, or likely to bite, and rectal temperatures are avoided with diarrhea or recent rectal surgery.
335 words, about 2 min02Personal Care Skills: Cleanliness, Dignity, and Skin Observation
Personal care covers bathing (bed bath, shower, tub), oral care including dentures, hair care, shaving, nail and foot care, perineal care, dressing, and toileting assistance. The purpose is cleanliness, comfort, circulation, and - most importantly - a head-to-toe look at the skin for redness, tears, rash, or breakdown, especially over bony prominences such as the heels, sacrum, hips, and elbows.
358 words, about 2 min03Infection Control: Breaking the Chain
The chain of infection has six links: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. Break any one link and infection stops.
319 words, about 2 min04Safety and Emergency Response
Fall prevention is the core of daily safety: bed in the lowest position, brakes locked, call light within reach, non-skid footwear, clear pathways, adequate lighting, a toileting schedule, and answering call lights promptly - most falls happen on the way to the bathroom. Restraints are a last resort, not a convenience.
370 words, about 2 min05Nutrition and Hydration: Safe Eating and Drinking
Know the diet orders you will see: regular, mechanical soft, pureed, clear and full liquid, NPO, and modifications such as low-sodium, low-fat, consistent-carbohydrate (diabetic), renal, high-fiber, and thickened liquids (nectar, honey, or spoon-thick). Thickened liquids are a safety order, not a preference - do not thin them.
363 words, about 2 min06Restorative Care and Range of Motion
Restorative care means helping residents keep or regain function and do as much for themselves as safely possible. It is a philosophy as much as a set of tasks: set up supplies, allow extra time, encourage effort, praise progress, and follow the care plan for adaptive equipment such as a long-handled sponge, reacher, or built-up utensils.
360 words, about 2 min07Mental Health and Psychosocial Needs
Maslow's hierarchy reminds you that physical needs - oxygen, food, water, elimination, safety - come before psychosocial ones. A resident who is hungry, in pain, or desperate to toilet cannot focus on conversation or activities.
323 words, about 2 min08Resident Rights and Independence
Federal law (the Nursing Home Reform Act, OBRA 1987) and Michigan rules guarantee residents dignity, self-determination, privacy, and freedom from abuse and neglect. Residents have the right to keep personal possessions, choose activities and schedules, receive visitors, voice grievances without retaliation, have their money protected, participate in care planning, and refuse care.
339 words, about 2 min09Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Communication has a sender, a message, a channel, a receiver, and feedback. Much of the message is nonverbal - tone, posture, facial expression, and touch - and it often outweighs the words.
362 words, about 2 min10Role of the Nurse Aide and Care Coordination
A nurse aide practices under the license and supervision of a registered nurse or practical nurse. You carry out delegated tasks and personal care; the nurse assesses, judges, teaches, medicates, and plans.
383 words, about 2 min