Why Candidates Fail the Communication and Patient Rights (Indirect Care) Skill
Indirect care covers the communication and dignity behaviors that wrap every skill. These are often penalized silently — the evaluator marks you down without stopping you.
How this skill is evaluated
The evaluator scores each skill on a pass/fail checklist. You do not get partial credit. A single critical error — or several minor ones — will fail you on this skill entirely. You must pass all 5 randomly selected skills to pass the clinical exam.
The 5 Most Common Failure Points
Failing to explain the procedure before starting — always ask permission first.
Leaving without placing the call light within reach.
Forgetting to lower the bed to the lowest position at the end.
Talking over or around the resident rather than directly to them.
Not ensuring privacy before beginning a procedure.
Exactly What the Evaluator Is Watching
These are the specific checkpoints on the evaluator's score sheet for this skill.
- ✓
Candidate knocks and introduces themselves before beginning.
- ✓
Resident is addressed by name and treated with dignity throughout.
- ✓
Procedure is explained before it is started.
- ✓
Privacy is maintained with curtain, door, or draping.
- ✓
Call light is within resident's reach before leaving.
- ✓
Bed is returned to the lowest position before leaving.
How to Avoid These Mistakes on Exam Day
These tips come from the most common failure patterns in Communication and Patient Rights (Indirect Care).
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Think of indirect care as the "wrap" around every skill — it applies to all 25 procedures.
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Always state the resident's name, your name, and the procedure before touching anything.
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Memorize the ending: lower bed → call light within reach → thank resident → wash hands.
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A warm, respectful tone matters — evaluators observe your demeanor, not just your technique.
Practice the written exam too
The written NNAAP test covers the knowledge behind every clinical skill. 501 free questions.
Take the Practice Test →