New Mexico CNA study plan

Demonstrate hand hygiene and the correct donning/doffing sequence for gloves, gown, mask, and eyewear without contaminating yourself

Apply Standard Precautions and transmission-based precautions to three written infection-control scenarios and state the correct PPE for each

Measure and record temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and pulse oximetry on a practice partner using correct technique and normal ranges

Set up a safe resident environment by adjusting bed height, locking wheels, positioning the call light, and clearing clutter before care

State the nurse aide's reporting duty for any change in condition, injury, or equipment failure, and identify who to tell and how quickly

Perform a complete bed bath and perineal care with correct draping, privacy, water temperature, and front-to-back cleansing order

Provide oral care, including denture care and mouth care for an unresponsive resident, without causing aspiration risk

Transfer a resident safely using a gait belt, pivot technique, and a mechanical lift, verbalizing each safety check before moving

Position a resident in good body alignment in supine, lateral, and Fowler's positions using pillows and supports

Carry out passive range-of-motion exercises for the upper and lower extremities while stopping at the point of resistance or pain

Measure and record fluid intake and output accurately, including how to convert between ounces and milliliters and what to report

Assist a resident with a bedpan, urinal, and indwelling catheter care while maintaining privacy, dignity, and sterile technique where required

Implement a repositioning schedule and skin inspection routine to prevent pressure injuries, and describe which areas to check first

Identify signs of urinary tract infection, constipation, and dehydration and state exactly what to report to the nurse

Document care objectively, using measurable facts rather than opinions, and correct an entry made in error per facility policy

Distinguish the nurse aide's scope of practice from the RN's and LPN's, and sort ten tasks into 'can do,' 'cannot do,' and 'must report' categories

Explain at least eight resident rights under federal law, including privacy, dignity, refusal of treatment, and freedom from restraint, and give one example of a violation of each

Describe the chain of command and demonstrate how to report an observation, an error, and a suspected problem using a clear, factual verbal report

Define negligence, malpractice, assault, battery, false imprisonment, and confidentiality, and match each term to a realistic scenario

Describe how to keep resident information confidential in conversation, on the phone, and on paper or screen

Demonstrate four therapeutic communication techniques (open-ended questions, reflection, restating, silence) in a role-played conversation and identify two blocking responses to avoid

Describe the physical, emotional, and social changes of aging and adjust an approach for a resident with hearing, vision, or speech changes

Apply redirection, validation, and routine-based approaches to three scenarios involving a resident with dementia who is agitated or wandering

Identify the stages of grief and list two supportive responses and two statements to avoid when a resident is grieving or dying

Recognize signs of depression, anger, fear, and withdrawal and state what to report to the nurse versus what to handle with supportive conversation

Recognize at least six physical and behavioral indicators of abuse, neglect, and misappropriation of property, and state the mandated reporting steps and timeframes

Explain advance directives, the resident's right to refuse care, and the nurse aide's role in end-of-life care including comfort measures and post-mortem care

Describe the nurse aide's tasks during admission, transfer, and discharge, including inventory of belongings and orientation to the new setting

Apply fire safety (RACE and PASS) and disaster response procedures to two written emergency scenarios

Describe restorative care and demonstrate three ways to promote independence during activities of daily living instead of doing the task for the resident

Complete a full-length timed practice exam under test-day conditions without notes or interruptions

Complete an error-analysis sheet that groups every missed question by domain and by cause (knowledge gap, misread, guessing)

Re-demonstrate the two weakest hands-on skills from weeks 1-3 with correct critical steps on the first attempt

Build and review a flashcard set of every missed concept, and recite the key numbers and norms that appear most often (vital sign ranges, intake/output conversions, repositioning intervals)

Explain in writing why the three most commonly confused answer pairs were wrong, using the underlying principle rather than memorized wording

Complete two timed full-length practice exams on separate days and compare scores to identify remaining weak areas

Re-run every critical skill in one continuous session, verbalizing safety, privacy, and reporting steps throughout

Recite from memory the vital sign ranges, intake/output conversions, and reporting timeframes without reference materials

Review the flashcard set from week 7 until every card is answered correctly on two consecutive passes

Write a one-page personal test-day plan covering arrival time, required documents, pacing, and how to handle a question you do not know