West Virginia CNA study guide
West Virginia CNA · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The West Virginia Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation is the assessment a candidate must pass to be listed on the West Virginia Nurse Aide Registry, which is what allows an aide to work in Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes and many other long-term care settings in the state. It is intended for people who have completed a state-approved nurse aide training program, for experienced aides from other states seeking West Virginia listing, and for other candidates who qualify under the state's equivalency pathways. The West Virginia CNA study guide has 9 sections and about 3,221 words.
01Communication and Interpersonal Skills
The nurse aide's job is to pass accurate information along and to make the resident feel understood. Know the difference between subjective information (what the resident tells you: "My back hurts") and objective information (what you observe or measure: "Resident grimaced when repositioned; pulse 92").
331 words, about 2 min02Infection Control
Every infection needs six links: a germ, a reservoir, a portal of exit, a mode of transmission, a portal of entry, and a susceptible host. Your hands are the most common mode of transmission, so hand hygiene is the single most important thing you do .
349 words, about 2 min03Safety and Emergency Procedures
Safety starts with the environment. Keep the bed in the lowest position with wheels locked, side rails used only as ordered (never as a restraint), the call light and personal items within reach, non-skid footwear on, and clutter cleared.
366 words, about 2 min04Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence
Federal law (OBRA) and state rules guarantee every resident dignity, privacy, self-determination, and freedom from abuse and unnecessary restraint. Residents have the right to be informed about and take part in their care plan, to refuse treatment, to choose activities, to keep and spend their own money, to receive and send mail unopened, to use the telephone privately, to have visitors, to keep personal possessions, to practice their religion, to voice grievances without retaliation, and to have their records kept confidential.
364 words, about 2 min05Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care
Vital signs (adult norms): temperature about 97.6–99.6°F orally, pulse 60–100 beats per minute, respirations 12–20 per minute, blood pressure under 120/80, and oxygen saturation at or above 95 percent. Pain is often called the fifth vital sign - ask and record it.
372 words, about 2 min06Nutrition and Hydration
Know the common diets: regular, NPO (nothing by mouth), clear liquid, full liquid, mechanical soft, puree, low-sodium, consistent-carbohydrate (diabetic), renal, and high-fiber. Serve the correct tray to the correct resident and check the name card - a wrong tray can be life-threatening to someone on a restricted diet or with allergies.
369 words, about 2 min07Elimination and Restorative Care
Elimination is a normal function that residents lose privacy over - protect it. Know each resident's usual pattern and record bowel movements, describing character objectively (color, consistency, amount, unusual odor), because the nurse depends on that record to catch constipation, impaction, or diarrhea.
364 words, about 2 min08Psychosocial and Mental Health Needs
Residents have the same basic needs as anyone: safety, food and fluids, elimination, sleep, love and belonging, esteem, and the chance to make choices. Illness and institutional life threaten the higher needs first, so plan care that preserves friendships, hobbies, privacy, and a sense of control.
341 words, about 2 min09Legal and Ethical Responsibilities and Role of the Nurse Aide
Your scope of practice is defined by state law and your training. You provide personal care, ambulation, positioning, feeding, vital signs, and observation, and you report to the licensed nurse.
365 words, about 2 min