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New Mexico CNA Skills Test: Every Skill and Critical Step

New Mexico’s CNA skills test is given by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster). Below: the test format, every skill on the list, and one skill in full.

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The test

Tested by
D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster)
Skills on the test
3-4 tasks
Time allowed
30 minutes
Skills on the list
19
Critical steps marked
37

How it is scored: On every task: all critical (bold) steps plus 80% of non-key steps. Steps not order-dependent unless BEFORE/AFTER is stated; steps only said or simulated do not count.

Hand hygiene: The first task is always one of 4 mandatory tasks, each ending with scored soap-and-water hand washing; every other task starts and ends with scored hand-sanitizer hand hygiene.

The 19 skills on the list

  1. Assist a Resident with a Bedpan, with Hand Washing
  2. Catheter Care for a Female Resident, with Hand Washing
  3. Put On PPE (Gown and Gloves), Empty a Urinary Drainage Bag, Measure and Record Urine Output, Remove PPE, with Hand Washing
  4. Perineal Care for a Female Resident, with Hand Washing
  5. Apply a Knee-High Anti-Embolic (Elastic) Stocking to One Leg
  6. Assist a Resident to Ambulate Using a Gait Belt
  7. Denture Care: Clean an Upper or Lower Denture
  8. Dress a Resident with an Affected (Weak) Side in Bed
  9. Feed a Dependent Resident a Meal in Bed
  10. Foot Care for One Foot
  11. Make an Occupied Bed
  12. Modified Bed Bath: Face and One Arm, Hand and Underarm
  13. Mouth Care: Brush a Resident's Teeth
  14. Nail Care for One Hand
  15. Passive Range of Motion for a Resident's Hip and Knee
  16. Passive Range of Motion for a Resident's Shoulder
  17. Position a Resident in Bed on Their Side
  18. Transfer a Resident from Bed to Wheelchair Using a Gait Belt
  19. Vital Signs: Count and Record Radial Pulse and Respirations

One skill in full: Assist a Resident with a Bedpan, with Hand Washing

  1. Clean your hands with hand sanitizer: cover every surface and rub until completely dry.
  2. Tell the resident what you are going to do.
  3. Provide privacy.
  4. Put on gloves.
  5. Place the resident on the bedpan/fracture pan safely and correctly (centered, not upside down).
  6. Raise the head of the bed to a comfortable height.
  7. Leave tissue within the resident's reach.
  8. Leave the call light or signal device where the resident can easily reach it.
  9. Step behind the privacy curtain to give the resident privacy.
  10. Come back when the RN Test Observer signals.
  11. Lower the head of the bed.
  12. Gently remove the bedpan.
  13. Empty the equipment into the designated toilet.
  14. Rinse the equipment.
  15. Empty the rinse water into the designated toilet.
  16. Put the equipment away.
  17. Wash, or help the resident clean, their hands (soap and water, hand sanitizer, or disposable wipes).
  18. Dry, or help the resident dry, their hands (make sure they are dry if a wipe or sanitizer was used).
  19. Put soiled linen in the laundry hamper.
  20. Take off gloves inside out and throw them in the trash.
  21. Leave the call light or signal device where the resident can easily reach it.
  22. Stay respectful and courteous with the resident the whole time.
  23. Turn on the water.
  24. Wet your hands and wrists well BEFORE putting on soap.
  25. Put soap on your hands.
  26. Rub your hands together with friction, using soap.
  27. Scrub your hands together with soap for at least 20 seconds. (critical)
  28. Scrub with fingers laced together, fingertips pointing down.
  29. Wash every surface of your hands with soap.
  30. Wash your wrists with soap.
  31. Clean under your nails by rubbing your fingertips against the other palm.
  32. Rinse fingers, hands and wrists well under running water, fingers pointing down.
  33. Dry fingers, hands and wrists with clean paper towel(s), starting at the fingertips.
  34. Throw each paper towel in the trash as you finish with it.
  35. Turn the faucet off with a clean, dry paper towel, then throw that towel away.
  36. Never re-contaminate your hands while washing (for example, touching the sink sides, or crumpling the faucet towel with both hands before throwing it away). (critical)

Steps are written in our words from D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster)’s candidate handbook (New Mexico Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook, Version 6.1, effective October 1, 2026), in the same order, with critical steps as the handbook marks them. The handbook is the final word.

Also for the New Mexico exam

Practise the written part with the New Mexico CNA practice test, and check a certification on the New Mexico nurse aide registry.