The CNA skill of measuring weight will likely be tested on your state’s CNA exam. Properly measuring the weight of residents will be a critical daily task and this skill needs to be successfully mastered. The weight of resident’s is something that will be closely monitoring to ensure good health and diet.
To learn all the necessary steps for this skill, please watch this CNA Skill Measuring Weight for a complete demonstration of the skill.
CNA Skill – Measuring Weight
The process of performing the skill of measuring weight for a CNA skills exam is as follows:
- Perform the standard CNA beginning tasks. Knock before entering the patient’s room, greet the patient by name, introduce yourself, explain the task you are about to perform, close the privacy curtain, and wash your hands.
- Have residents place their shoes on and proceed to the scale.
- Make sure the scale is zeroed out before the resident steps on it.
- To zero the scale, move the larger weight to zero and then the smaller weight to zero
- Position yourself next to the scale and assist the resident to step onto the scale.
- Move the larger weight first into the proper groove within the 50 lb. increment.
- Move the smaller weight into the proper groove within the 10 lb. slot.
- Once the weight on the side of the scale is balanced in the center, you will have the proper weight.
- Stand next to the resident while having them step off the scale.
- Take the weight levels of the larger scale and the smaller scale to determine the weight of the patient by adding the amount of the two.
- Tell the resident that you are washing your hands and then record the resident’s weight.
- For purposes of testing for the CNA exam, you must show and taste that your measurement is within 2 pounds of what the examiner has for the proper weight.
- Perform your standard completion tasks – wash your hands, ensure the patient has a clean environment, ask if they are comfortable, give them their call light and close their privacy curtain.
