Nurse Aide Written Test Candidate Directions

The Nurse Aide must register with NIACC (click to conceal/reveal...)
  1. If the candidate is employed by a nursing home at the time of testing, the student can call 641-422-4358 or 1-888-466-4222, ext. 4358 prior to coming to written testing. The test will be billed to the facility.
  2. If the candidate is not employed in a nursing home, i.e. still looking for a job, not working as a potential nurse aide in a facility, prepayment is required by NIACC before registration can be taken. Payment of $45.00 may be sent to Continuing Education, 500 College Drive, Mason City, Iowa 50401. You must include your name, address, phone number, and course number of the session you plan to attend.
  3. The written test will be given in the NIACC Independent Study Lab (ISL) in the Beem Center. The nurse aide may take the test anytime during ISL hours on the pre-arranged day.
  4. Refund Policy: In the event of a class cancellation, 100% of the tuition will be refunded. No refund will be issued if a person does not show up for a test. Withdrawals within one week of the class start date will result in a tuition refund minus a $5 processing fee. Withdrawals more than 7 days prior to start of test will result in 100% tuition refund.

Note (click to conceal/reveal...)
  1. The nurse aide is given two hours to take the test.
  2. A test can be read to the student by making prior arrangements with the North Iowa Area Community College, Student Learning Center and 641-422-42266
  3. Test scores will be sent to the Iowa Direct Care Worker Registry.
  4. Passing score is 70% or greater.
  5. Nurse aide will need to access the web site, www.dia-hfd.state.ia.us, to learn active (passed both written & skills tests)/inactive status.
  6. An individual letter with test score is only sent when test is failed.
  7. If a student fails the test, the test can be rescheduled no sooner than one week later. Students need sufficient time to review, prepare, and practice so that their testing does actually reflect their level of retention of information.

Nurse Aide Written Competency Test Consists Of: (click to conceal/reveal...)
  1. Introduction to role of nurse aide, overview of Nursing Facilities, Rules and Regulations, Resident Rights, Communication, Legal and Ethical Nurse Aide Responsibilities.
  2. Resident environment – safety- CDC Precautions – hand washing, bed making, range of motion, restraints.
  3. Assisting the resident with personal care and hygiene (baths, showers, nail care, grooming, positioning, ambulation, transferring).
  4. Nutritional needs, preparing resident for meals, diets, emergency care for choking residents.
  5. Routine care procedures. TPR, BP, height, weight, input & output, collection of specimen, catheter care.
  6. Special needs of residents, emotional, cognitive disorders, common medical disorders, death and dying.

Register with NIACC at 1-888 GO NIACC ext. 4358 or 422-4358


    NIACC Health Education Center
    500 College Drive
    Mason City, IA 50401
    641-422-4358 or 1-888-466-4222, ext. 4358 - cereg@niacc.edu