CNAs may be tested on a skill for how to ambulate with a walker. When dealing with elderly residents, it will be critical for CNAs to properly know how to work with a resident and ambulate with a walker. .
To learn all the necessary steps for this skill, please watch this CNA Skills How to Ambulate with a Walker for a complete demonstration of the skill.
CNA Skill – How to Ambulate with a Walker
The process for patient or resident ambulation with a cane or walker during the 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. .
- Lock the bed brakes to ensure resident safety.
- Lock the wheelchair.
- Lower the bed, then raise the head of the bed to a workable sitting position.
- Standing beside the bed, bend the resident’s knee that is farthest away from you and roll to you.
- Drop the resident’s feet and then push up.
- Make sure to ask the resident if they are light headed.
- Place a gait belt on the resident and then put their shoes on.
- Position the walker in front of the resident. Count out to three with the resident and then assist them to stand and stabilize themselves with the walker.
- Position yourself to the side of the resident and them in the the walker to their wheelchair
- Pivot and rotate resident so that they may be able to gently guide back into the wheel chair, making sure that the resident feels the chair at their knees as they guide back into it.
- Remove the resident’s gait belt.
- 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.
* Please be sure to consult the testing materials provided by the skills test provider in your state to ensure that these steps for CNA Skill Ambulation with a Walker are in compliance. The procedure in different states and from different test providers can vary slightly and greatly affect your score.
