Rhode Island CNA study plan
Rhode Island CNA · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Physical Care Skills
Sequence the chain of infection and demonstrate hand hygiene plus glove donning/doffing aloud in under 2 minutes
Demonstrate three safe transfers (pivot, two-person lift, mechanical lift) while verbalizing body-mechanics cues
Identify fall, burn, scald, and restraint hazards across 10 written scenarios with at least 90% accuracy
Distinguish tasks a nurse aide may perform from tasks requiring a licensed nurse by sorting 20 task cards into two piles with no errors
Your checkpoint
Score at least 80% on a 25-question Domain 1 safety and infection-control quiz, and write a corrected rationale for every missed item.
Physical Care Skills
Perform a full bed bath, occupied bed change, and denture care in the correct order while narrating each step
Demonstrate upper- and lower-extremity range of motion and list the joints covered in each movement
Describe three repositioning schedules and select appropriate support surfaces to prevent pressure injuries
Explain intake-and-output measurement and fluid-thickness or diet-texture precautions for three assigned resident profiles
Your checkpoint
Complete a timed skills walkthrough of bed bath, occupied bed change, and denture care, self-scored against a 20-point checklist at 18/20 or better.
Physical Care Skills & Psychosocial Care Skills
Measure and record temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, weight, and height using correct technique
Collect and label urine, stool, and sputum specimens while stating the labeling and transport rules
Apply two communication techniques (open-ended questions, clarification) in a 5-minute role-play with a partner
Identify the aide's reporting obligations for abnormal vital signs by writing three sample reports in SBAR format
Your checkpoint
Record 10 complete sets of vital signs on practice partners and log each set with the correct value, unit, and route or site used.
Psychosocial Care Skills
State at least eight resident rights from the federal list and give a care example for each
Demonstrate communication adaptations for hearing, vision, aphasia, and cognitive impairment in four short role-plays
Explain how culture, religion, and personal preference affect bathing, diet, and daily routines for three sample cases
Identify three signs of emotional distress and script a supportive, non-judgmental response for each
Your checkpoint
Submit a one-page resident-rights quick-reference sheet with eight rights, one violation example, and the correct reporting channel for each.
Psychosocial Care Skills & Role of the Nurse Aide
Classify 15 scenarios as abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property and state the immediate reporting steps
Describe the ombudsman role and the process for a resident to file a grievance without retaliation
Adapt care for residents experiencing grief, depression, confusion, or sexual expression while preserving dignity
Document a fictional shift in objective, factual language without opinions or abbreviations
Your checkpoint
Complete a written abuse-and-neglect case analysis (one page) that names the type of mistreatment, the mandated reporter, and the reporting timeline.
Role of the Nurse Aide
Define scope of practice and refuse or redirect three out-of-scope requests in role-play
Explain the five rights of delegation and state what may and may not be delegated to an aide
List the elements of a complete end-of-shift report and deliver one verbally in under 3 minutes
Describe confidentiality, HIPAA, and the consequences of discussing residents outside of care
Your checkpoint
Deliver a 10-minute teach-back to a study partner on the nurse aide's scope of practice, scoring at least 8/10 on a self-made rubric.
Role of the Nurse Aide & Physical Care Skills
Sequence the aide's tasks for admission, transfer, and discharge, including inventory of belongings
Describe the aide's role in fire, disaster, and elopement response using the RACE and PASS sequences
Explain restorative care and demonstrate two techniques that promote resident independence in ADLs
Identify three work-ethic and time-management habits that reduce errors on a med-surg or long-term unit
Your checkpoint
Produce a two-page admission-to-discharge checklist that covers safety, belongings, documentation, and reporting for each phase.
Physical Care Skills & Psychosocial Care Skills & Role of the Nurse Aide
Complete two full-length practice tests under timed conditions and score at least 85% on each
Rank the five weakest missed objectives and re-study each for 20 minutes
Rehearse all tested manual skills with a partner using official-style checklists
Write and recite a personal test-day plan covering rest, arrival time, ID requirements, and anxiety control
Your checkpoint
Submit a final error log of every missed practice-test item with the correct answer and a one-line reason for the error, plus both practice scores.
Milestones
Week 2: Score 80% or higher on a 25-item Domain 1 quiz and complete three hands-on safety skills with a partner.
Week 4: Score 80% or higher on a 30-item mixed Domain 1 and 2 quiz and hand in the resident-rights quick-reference sheet.
Week 6: Pass a 40-item cumulative quiz with 80% or better and deliver the scope-of-practice teach-back at 8/10 or higher.
Week 8: Score 85% or higher on two timed full-length practice tests and complete the final error log for all missed items.