Hale Makua is new nurse aide exam site

Replaces testing facility that closed

Hale Makua Health Services has become a testing site for the Nurse Aide Competency Exam, which must be passed to become a certified nurse aide.

When the only testing site closed its doors in February, Hale Makua stepped in and became a Prometric testing site. It is set to give its first Nurse Aide Competency Exam on Friday.

Prometric is the only company contracted with the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to develop and administer its Nurse Aide Competency Exam and to manage the Nurse Aide Registry, the Hale Makua news release said.

To become a certified nurse aide in Hawaii and a member of the Hawaii Nurse Aide Registry, an individual needs to complete the Hawaii Nurse Aide Examination Application and send it to Prometric. The application is available online at www.prometric.com/NurseAide/HI.

People receive their certificate and are added to the registry upon passing both the written and skills parts of the competency exam.

“CNAs provide essential care for over 300 residents and clients daily and are the foundation of the services we provide,” said Hale Makua CEO Wesley Lo. “With nearly 200 CNAs employed throughout our nursing homes, adult residential care home and adult day health center, ensuring that we are able to provide quality, compassionate care for our frail elders is crucial.”

He said that “having a pipeline of CNAs is vital to being able to provide around-theclock care for the frail elders who rely on us for assistance.” If Hale Makua did not step in, nurse aide candidates would have to fly to Oahu, in addition to paying the $200 testing fee, he said.