Prepare for your Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) state exam with these practice questions and answers. This guide covers personal care, vital signs, patient rights, infection control, and communication skills.
Q: Libel is?a. oral slanderb. written defamationc. criminal actd. written slander
Answer: b. written defamation
Q: When assisting Ellie, who has a disability, you should?a. pity her for her dysfunctionb. do everything for her to prevent frustrationc. discourage from her doing hard tasksd. encourage her to do as much as possible
Answer: d. encourage her to do as much as possible
Q: You need to wear gloves to?a. take a temperatureb. weigh and measurec. collect a urine specimend. take pulse and respiration
Answer: c. collect a urine specimen
Q: While having a conversation with Mrs. Ruby, you would maintain open communication by?a. crossing your arms across your chestb. nodding encouragingly as she speaksc. staring out of the windowd. finishing her sentences
Answer: b. nodding encouragingly as she speaks
Q: Mrs. Carpenter is sitting in her room watching TV. When leaving her alone the most important thing for the nursing assistance to do is to?a. shut the doorb. give her the call lightc. tidy up her roomd. turn on the light
Answer: b. give her the call light
Q: If the nursing assistant does not understand what a resident says, the nursing assistant should?a. pretend to understand what the resident saidb. ignore what the resident saidc. ask the resident to repeat what was saidd. talk about something else to avoid embarrassment
Answer: c. ask the resident to repeat what was said
Q: As you finish your shift, a patient with a history of bowel incontinence has a strong odor. Your responsibility is to?a. leave the building, your shift is overb. shout to the oncoming shift that they have a “Code Brown”c. provide peri-care in a dignified and private mannerd. none of the above
Answer: c. provide peri-care in a dignified and private manner
Q: Respirations are usually counted?a. after taking the pulseb. while the person is talkingc. only when the person is asleepd. when the person is aware you are counting them
Answer: a. after taking the pulse
Q: A principle of care for a resident in traction is?a. keep the weights on the floorb. remove the traction to give the resident a bathc. keep the resident in a good body alignmentd. perform range of motion on the casted extremity
Answer: c. keep the resident in a good body alignment
Q: If the CNA is confused about instructions of a task that the nurse told the CNA to do, the CNA should?a. do the best job possible and not bother co-workers with the misunderstandingb. ask the other CNA’s to do the jobc. ask the nurse to clarify the instructionsd. ask the patient what to do
Answer: c. ask the nurse to clarify the instructions
Q: After you have visited a client, learned some information about him/her, and feel you want to talk about it, you should?a. call a close relative of yoursb. call the client’s sister and tell her what happenedc. call your office and relate the information to your supervisord. discuss it during lunch in the diner with the waitress because she is a stranger
Answer: c. call your office and relate the information to your supervisor
Q: Mrs. Sparks is an 83-year-old female patient who suffers from the late effects of a CVA. she has left sided hemiplegia. This is?a. paralysis on the left side of the bodyb. a rash on the left armc. a left arm contractured. left arm and leg itching
Answer: a. paralysis on the left side of the body
Q: The rehabilitation patient is experiencing anger, depression, and hostility. What action should the CNA take?a. provide support and realistic reassuranceb. leave the patient alone to work through these personal feelingsc. tell the person to just work harder in therapyd. tell the person that he or she will never be totally independent again.
Answer: a. provide support and realistic reassurance
Q: What is the first thing that should be done if you discover a fire in a resident’s room?a. ring the fire alarmb. move the resident out of dangerc. hurry and get the nearest fire extinguisherd. close all doors and windows
Answer: b. move the resident out of danger
Q: A common physical change in the integumentary system as the body ages is an increase in?a. elasticity of skinb. fatty tissue layerc. number of nerve endingsd. sensitivity to cold
Answer: d. sensitivity to cold
Q: A common physical change in the male reproductive system as the body ages is an increase in?a. force of orgasmsb. length of erection timec. testosterone leveld. time between erections
Answer: d. time between erections
Q: The normal range for a pulse oximetry reading is?a. 80 to 90%b. 85 to 90%c. 90 to 100%d. 95 to 100%
Answer: d. 95 to 100%
Q: Residents are often admitted to long term care facilities because they?a. are independent and no longer need help with their ADL’sb. want to depend more on their familiesc. want the security of being around other peopled. no longer wish to pay their utility bills on their home
Answer: c. want the security of being around other people
Q: A nursing assistant may?a. photograph resident and text to resident’s family fat family requestb. post resident’s picture on social media if the name is removedc. read a resident’s care plan if the information is need to carry out nursing assistant dutiesd. record resident’s conversation and share with co-workers who also care for the resident
Answer: c. read a resident’s care plan if the information is need to carry out nursing assistant duties
Q: Reimbursement to a nursing assistant for training costs includes the cost of?a. cna pin given upon graduationb. gait belt required by programc. uniform including footweard. watch with a second hand
Answer: b. gait belt required by program
Q: Report?a. skin that is pinkb. skin that is bluec. skin that is warmd. skin that is intact
Answer: b. skin that is blue
Q: Signs and symptoms of dysphagia are?a. gargling sounds after swallowing, drooling, food avoidance, and choking/coughing while eatingb. drooling, gargling sounds after swallowing, preferring finger foods, and choking/coughing while eatingc. gargling sounds after swallowing, drooling, choking/coughing while eating and eating dessert firstd. drooling, gargling sounds after swallowing, drooling, sighs while eating choking/coughing while eating.
Answer: a. gargling sounds after swallowing, drooling, food avoidance, and choking/coughing while eating
Q: Failure to knock on the resident’s door and waiting to be asked in before entering a resident’s room is not respecting a resident’s?a. rightsb. privacyc. dignityd. space
Answer: b. privacy
Q: Glaucoma is a disease that causes?a. chest painb. hand tremorsc. vision lossd. seizures
Answer: c. vision loss
Q: When working with chemicals, the nursing assistant knows to?a. keep hazardous products in open accessible areab. mix hazardous products together to get better performancec. repackage hazardous products into smaller unmarked containersd. wear eye protection when spraying hazardous products
Answer: d. wear eye protection when spraying hazardous products
Q: The respiratory system consists of?a. the lungs, trachea and bronchib. heart, blood and blood vesselsc. kidneys, ureters and urethrad. mouth, esophagus and stomach
Answer: a. the lungs, trachea and bronchi
Q: While resident yells out in pain when the NA is providing Range of Motion exercises to the shoulder. The NA should?a. allow the resident a break then start again after notifying the nurseb. continue the exercises at a slower pacec. stop the exercise and notify the nursed. reposition the resident then start again.
Answer: c. stop the exercise and notify the nurse
Q: The CNA recognizes that common signs of Alzheimer’s Disease are?a. problems finding the right word, not recognizing objects, forgetting how to use simple, everyday objectsb. hearing voices, seeing things that are not there, not recognizing family membersc. having suicidal thoughts, having homicidal thoughts, agitation, poor judgmentd. having a great short term memory, forgetting long term memories, becoming more calm, withdrawn
Answer: a. problems finding the right word, not recognizing objects, forgetting how to use simple, everyday objects
Q: The CNA is working with a resident who is confused. The CNA understands confused residents?a. are easily distracted and enjoy a variety of activitiesb. follow complex directions by more than one personc. are restrained at night to keep them in bedd. could be a danger to self and others
Answer: d. could be a danger to self and others
Q: Mr. Brown has glaucoma. You would expect his vision to?a. be 20/20 with small correction of glassesb. have a loss of far away visionc. be able to be corrected with surgeryd. have a loss of peripheral vision
Answer: d. have a loss of peripheral vision
Q: Proper body mechanics are used to decrease injuries to the residents and staff. When transferring a resident from the bed to the wheelchair the CNA will?a. place the bed in the high position so the bed is at waist height of the CNAb. place the bed in the low position so the resident’s feet are flat on the floorc. have the resident wrap her arms around the CNA’s neck to be pulled up to a standing positiond. unlock the wheelchair brakes so the wheelchair can be moved once the resident is standing up
Answer: b. place the bed in the low position so the resident’s feet are flat on the floor
Q: The abbreviation AC means?a. after mealsb. before mealsc. 30 minutes after mealsd. 30 minutes before meals
Answer: b. before meals
Q: When working with a visually impaired resident the CNA should?a. touch the resident first and then tell the resident the CNA’s name and purpose of the visitb. try to avoid eye contact with the resident since the resident can’t see wellc. keep the lights turned off all the time so the resident’s eyes can adjust to the darknessd. use the face of an imaginary clock to orient the resident to new surroundings
Answer: d. use the face of an imaginary clock to orient the resident to new surroundings
Q: A resident with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease breathes best when the head of the bed is raised 45 to 60 degrees. The correct term for this position is?a. simsb. supinec. fowlersd. prone
Answer: c. fowlers
Q: A resident has a naso-gastric (NG) tube, this tube is inserted through the nose into the?a. small bowelb. stomachc. small intestined. esophagus
Answer: b. stomach
Q: Symptoms of MRSA infection include?a. drainage, increased fever, chills and rednessb. low fevers, chills and open sore drainagec. redness, edema, drainage and weight gaind. chills, drainage, weight gain and low fevers
Answer: a. drainage, increased fever, chills and redness
Q: When a resident repeats words, phrases, questions or activities over and over, it is called?a. validatingb. catastrophic reactionc. sundowningd. perseverating
Answer: d. perseverating
Q: The NA overhears the Social Worker and the Admission coordinator discussing a resident’s condition in the hallway. This is a violation of the Resident’s Right to?a. confidentialityb. dignityc. personal choiced. respect
Answer: a. confidentiality
Q: The suffix of oma refers to a?a. cellb. tumorc. conditiond. disease
Answer: b. tumor
Q: The CNA is caring for a resident who is NOP. The CNA understands the resident may have?a. mouth rinsesb. ice chipsc. clear liquid dietd. ice cream
Answer: a. mouth rinses
Q: As a nursing assistant you should refuse to perform a task when?a. the task is in your job description but the resident does not like youb. you do not like doing the taskc. a nurse is available for supervisiond. the resident’s condition has changed
Answer: d. the resident’s condition has changed
Q: Nurse Kathy ask nursing assistant pat to take mr. smith’s vital signs an hour and a half after he receives his morning medications. Mr. Smith usually receives his medications at 8am and 5pm every day. At 9am Nurse Kathy tells pat that she gave mr. smith his morning medications 15 minutes late. Pat should take mr. smith’s vital signs at?a. 930amb. 945amc. 815amd. 845am
Answer: b. 945am
Q: The most important characteristic you should bring to your job is?a. work accessoriesb. uniform and shoesc. personal hygiene and groomingd. attitude about self and others
Answer: d. attitude about self and others
Q: The CNA understands residents should be repositioned every?a. two hoursb. three hoursc. four hoursd. five hours
Answer: a. two hours
Q: The CNA reads in the care plan that the resident has a bed cradle. The CNA understands that?a. special cushions are used to raise the heels off of the bed to prevent pressure on the heelsb. there is a special foam pad on top of the mattress to prevent pressure on bony prominencesc. the elbows will be in soft elbow protectors to prevent pressure on the elbows due to the cradled. the linens are placed on top of the cradle of the cradle to prevent pressure on the legs and feet
Answer: d. the linens are placed on top of the cradle of the cradle to prevent pressure on the legs and feet
Q: You are working as a CNA and accidently get stuck with a used needle. Your next action will be to?a. finish the shift and stop by a local emergency room on the way homeb. ask the resident if they are current on their vaccinations and if they have any diseasesc. let your nurse know you are leaving and call 911 since you will need immediate treatment for the exposured. follow the facility policy and report the exposure to your supervisor immediately
Answer: d. follow the facility policy and report the exposure to your supervisor immediate
Q: A liberalized diet?a. considers the resident’s right to choose what they want to eatb. provides for resident choice for one meal a dayc. allows the dietary to prepare whatever they choose to served. encourages more selection than what is listed on My Plate
Answer: a. considers the resident’s right to choose what they want to eat
Q: You have been asked to perform a task by the RN which you realize is not within your scope. You should?a. perform the task since it was delegated to you by the RNb. refuse to complete the task and go on with other tasksc. ask another nursing assistant to show you how to do the taskd. speak with the RN and explain that the task is not in your scope
Answer: d. speak with the RN and explain that the task is not in your scope
Q: During an evacuation the residents moved first should require the?a. full assistance or staff for movementb. use of walkers and canesc. least amount of assistanced. use of wheelchairs
Answer: c. least amount of assistance
Q: When giving a partial bed bath, the nursing assistant should?a. gather supplies, wash the resident’s hands, torso and extremitiesb. place the overbed table within reach with a basin of warm water, provide privacy, allow the resident to wash him/herselfc. not provide a back massage as rubbing bony prominences may cause pressure injuriesd. raise the bed to a comfortable working position, raise the side rails and instruct the resident to wash each body part
Answer: b. place the overbed table within reach with a basin of warm water, provide privacy, allow the resident to wash him/herself
Q: Battery is?a. the actual touching of a person’s body without the person’s consentb. intentionally attempting or threatening to touch a person’s body without the person’s consentc. injuring the name and reputation of a person by making false statements to a third persond. an object used to provide electrical currents to power a device
Answer: a. the actual touching of a person’s body without the person’s consent
Q: The most common food that causes choking is?a. applesauceb. meatc. ice creamd. peas
Answer: b. meat
Q: Donning means to?a. waking a residentb. gather suppliesc. discard disposable itemsd. put something on
Answer: d. put something on
Q: You weighed Ms. Smith in her 23 pounds wheelchair, obtaining a total weight of 172 pounds. Ms. Smith weighs?a. 325 poundsb. 213 poundsc. 195 poundsd. 149 pounds
Answer: d. 149 pounds