I'm not gonna sugarcoat it — I really struggled with this exam. Failed it in January, failed again in March, and honestly considered just giving up. The clinical skills portion wrecked me both times, specifically infection control procedures and the proper way to document patient observations. I knew the material, or thought I did, but the actual test wording threw me off completely.
What finally clicked for me was finding a decent GNA practice test that mimicked the real format. I started doing timed practice sessions every morning before work — 45 minutes max — instead of cramming for three hours on weekends. I'd been studying the wrong way this whole time. Also grabbed a study guide that broke down the CNA/GNA competency categories separately, which helped me stop confusing state-specific GNA requirements with generic CNA stuff.
Passed with an 87% last week. If you're struggling, what's been the hardest part for you? Happy to share my full schedule and which exam tips actually made a difference.