2024 Edition

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Certification

To get certified as a nursing assistant, you will have to take an exam.

A CNA exam typically has two parts, a written part and a skills part. The written part of the test is typically in a multiple choice format and evaluates your knowledge of the subjects that CNAs are expected to know. Subjects that will be included in the test are: CNA Roles, Observation, Reporting and Abbreviations, Safety and Managing Behavior, Emergencies, Personal Care Skills, Infection Control and Blood Borne Pathogens, Caring for All Ages, Common Physical and Emotional Problems, Care of the Dying Person at the End of Life and Legal and Ethical Issues. All of these topics, or subjects, were covered in your CNA training program. The test will typically have 50 to 70 multiple choice questions, like the ones you will see in our CNA Practice Test.

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CNA Roles, Roles of Others and Teamwork

1.	Your patient has been confused for years. Your patient can be best described as a patient with a chronic ___________ disorder.
		a. physical
		b. psychotic
		c. thinking
		d. palliative
Patients who have long term confusion are suffering from a chronic thinking, or cognitive, disorder. Alzheimer's disease is an example of a disorder that leads to long term confusion and memory loss. CNAs and nursing assistants very often care for people with chronic thinking problems. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

2.	CNAs and nursing aides can work in home care__________________.
		a. only when the RN is also in the home.
		b. only when an RN or LPN is in the home.
		c. only with elderly patients or residents.
		d. only under the supervision of the nurse.
CNAs and nursing assistants can work in a home without the presence of a nurse, but always under the supervision of a nurse. They can also work with all age groups within the home. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

3.	A CNA cannot perform which of the following tasks?
		a. Blood pressure measurement
		b. Passive range of motion
		c. The application of an antibiotic cream
		d. The application of body lotion to the feet
The CNA CANNOT administer any medications. An antibiotic is a medication, therefore, the CNA cannot apply the antibiotic cream. No medicated creams, lotions or ointments can be applied by a CNA. All of the other tasks above can be done by the CNA. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Legal and Ethical Aspects of the CNA Role

4.	CNAs are personally responsible in terms of ________________.
		a. patient outcomes
		b. ethical actions
		c. the Nurse Practice Act
		d. the continuum of care
CNAs have personal responsibilities in respect to patient care. Some of these personal responsibilities are following the law, insuring patient safety and always acting in an ethical manner. These things must be done with ALL aspects of care at ALL times. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

5.	You are caring for a group of patients in the nursing home. The highest priority, greatest need for this group of patients is the need for which of the following?
		a. esteem and respect
		b. self determination
		c. justice
		d. safety
CNAs are personally accountable and responsible to maintain the safety of all patients. Safety takes priority over esteem, respect, self determination and justice, although these other needs are also important. Safety is a high priority. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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6.	You suspect that another CNA on your unit may have pushed a patient. What should you do?
		a. Do nothing because you are not sure.
		b. Immediately report this to the nurse.
		c. Tell that CNA that they should go home.
		d. Call the patient's family members.
All CNAs must immediately report any suspicions that another health care worker is abusing or neglecting a patient or resident. You do not need proof and you do not have to be certain about it. You must immediately report any suspicions. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Priorities and Priority Setting

7.	RACE is the acronym for the things you must do in the case of a fire. What is the FIRST thing that you do if a fire breaks out?
		a. Restore the patients
		b. Relate and report the fire
		c. Rescue the patients
		d. Run from the scene
RACE is Rescue, Alarm, Contain and Extinguish, if you can. The first thing you do is R. The first thing you do is to rescue all the people that are in immediate danger. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

You are taking care of 12 residents today. One of your residents wants water; another needs help walking to the bathroom; another just stated that they have chest pain; and another is crying because his daughter did not visit him today.

8.	Which patient care problem is your second priority?
		a. The water
		b. Help to the bathroom
		c. The chest pain
		d. The crying person
Your second priority is assisting the person to the bathroom. You have to prevent falls, and protect the resident's freedom from injury, Maslow's safety and security needs. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

9.	Physical bullying, among school aged children, threatens which of Maslow's needs?
		a. Physical needs
		b. Love and belonging needs
		c. Safety needs
		d. All of the above
Physical bullying can injury a person (physical needs). It can also threaten the child's psychological and physical safety and security, in addition to the fact that all bullying, including physical bullying, leads to a person feeling rejected, rather than loved and belonging to the group. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Observation, Reporting and Abbreviations

10.	You see a sign over Mary Jones' bed when you arrive at 7 am to begin your day shift. The sign says, "NPO". Ms. Jones is on a regular diet. The patient asks for milk and some crackers. You _____________.
		a. can give her the milk but not the crackers.
		b. can give her both the milk and the crackers.
		c. can give her the crackers but not the milk.
		d. cannot give her anything to eat or drink.
NPO is the acceptable abbreviation for nothing by mouth. Mary Jones can have nothing to eat or drink. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

11.	Match the abbreviation with the correct definition:
		a. bid: at bedtime
		b. tid: tomorrow
		c. ac: before meals
		d. pc: patient care
The abbreviation ac means before meals. Bid is twice a day; tid is three times a day and pc is after meals. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

12.	Which is NOT an acceptable abbreviation?
		a. D/C
		b. tid
		c. bid
		d. qid
D/C is not an acceptable abbreviation. It can be confused with both discharge and discontinue. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

13.	A loud crash at the end of the hall is coming from a room that you are not assigned to. What should you do first?
		a. Find the CNA who is assigned to the room.
		b. Yell for help.
		c. Ignore it. It is not your assigned room.
		d. Rush to the room and observe what has happened.
You must immediately rush to the room and use your senses to observe what has happened. If it is a life threatening emergency or an urgent matter, you must insure the safety of the patients and immediately report your observations to the nurse. If it is a minor accident, like a falling telephone, you can manage it yourself. You cannot ignore this because it is not one of your assigned rooms. It can be an emergency. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

You are taking Mr. D's blood pressure. The first sound that you hear is at 162 and the second sound that you hear is at 86.

14.	You should document and report that the blood pressure is _____________.
		a. 86/162
		b. irregular and high
		c. 162/86
		d. normal for people of all ages
You should document and report that the blood pressure measurement for Mr. D. is 162/86. The first sound that is heard is the systolic reading, or the top number; and the second sound that is heard is the diastolic reading, or the bottom number. Blood pressures are not observed as irregular; pulses can be irregular. This blood pressure is not normal for people of all ages. It is high. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

15.	Mrs. B. curses at you and tries to strike you after you knock on the door to greet her at the beginning of the shift. What should you do?
		a. Report this to the nurse because Mrs. B. is exhibiting dangerous behavior.
		b. Tell her to stop this behavior and walk out of the room until she calms down.
		c. Ignore it. Most patients and residents try to hit staff because they are angry.
		d. Restrain Mrs. B. She is a danger to staff and other residents in the area.
Report this to the nurse immediately. Mrs. B. is exhibiting dangerous, disturbed behavior and it must be addressed by the nurse. You cannot ignore this and you, as a CNA, cannot restrain a patient because the patient is a danger to staff. The nurse must assess Mrs. B. and intervene in terms of restraints, if they are needed. This is not part of the CNA role. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Safety and Managing Behavior

You are taking care of Mary Eden. She is an elderly and frail 91 year old resident. She gets confused during evening hours and at times she thinks that she hears her daughter calling her from the other side of the nursing home.

16.	What other preventive measure will prevent Mary Eden from falling from her bed?
		a. A low bed
		b. A gym mat
		c. Padded briefs
		d. Monitoring
		e. Both a and d
Monitoring patients on a frequent and regular basis is a very effective way to prevent falls among those who are at risk for falls. Low beds, gym mats and padded briefs lessen injuries from falls. However, they do not prevent falls. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

17.	You will be escorting a patient to the operating room on a stretcher. In order to prevent this patient from falling, you must do which of the following?
		a. make sure the locks are not locked as you move the patient onto the stretcher from the bed
		b. use a safety belt or strap on the patient throughout their escort to the operating room
		c. put the bed in low position as you move the patient onto the stretcher from the bed
		d. All of the above
The CNA must place a safety belt or strap on the patient throughout their escort to the operating room in order to prevent the patient from falling. This type of safety belt is not treated as a restraint because it is a routine part of care when using a stretcher. The bed must be in the high position so it is level with the stretcher when you are moving the patient from the bed to the stretcher. It is very important that you lock the wheels of a stretcher and a wheelchair before you transfer a patient into or onto it. Falls occur when CNAs fail to lock these pieces of equipment. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

18.	Restraints are sometimes used for what patient conditions or situations?
		a. Punishment when the patient is uncontrollable
		b. To prevent the patient from pulling their IV out
		c. When a patient is a danger to self and others
		d. All of the above
		e. Both b and c only
Restraints are sometimes used to prevent a patient from pulling their IV, or another life saving tube, out and when the person is a serious danger to themselves and/or others. Restraints are never used for punishment. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Disasters and Emergencies

19.	A grease fire breaks out in the nursing home kitchen. What type of fire extinguisher should you use?
		a. A
		b. B
		c. C
		d. D
Grease fires, oil fires and gas fires can be extinguished with a B fire extinguisher. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

20.	You are ready to use a fire extinguisher to put out a grease fire in your home care patient's kitchen. You should aim the fire extinguisher where?
		a. At the base of the fire.
		b. At the top of the flames.
		c. Near the kitchen entry.
		d. Near the ceiling.
You must aim the nozzle of the fire extinguisher at the base, or the bottom, of the fire in order to successfully extinguish the flames. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

21.	A cyclone is an example of a (n) _________________ disaster.
		a. natural
		b. nuclear
		c. artificial
		d. explosive
There are several types of internal and external disasters. A cyclone is an example of a natural, external disaster. It is an "act of God", not man. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Personal Care Skills

Your resident had a stroke, or CVA, five years ago. The resident still has right sided weakness. You are ready to transfer the resident from the bed to the wheelchair.

22.	The wheelchair should be positioned at the _______________.
		a. head of the bed on the patient's right side
		b. head of the bed on the patient's left side
		c. bottom of the bed on the patient's right side
		d. bottom of the bed on the patient's left side
The wheelchair should be positioned at the head on the bed on the resident's left side so the resident can assist with the transfer with their stronger left side. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

23.	You have measured the urinary output of your resident at the end of your 8 hour shift. The output is 25 ounces. You should do what next?
		a. Convert the number of ounces into cc s.
		b. Convert the number of ounces into cm s.
		c. Immediately report this poor output to the nurse.
		d. Know that 25 ounces of urine is too much in 8 hours.
You have to mathematically convert the ounces into cc s because cc s is the unit of measurement that is used to record intake and output. This urinary output is within normal limits so there is no reason to immediately report it to the nurse. You must report urinary outputs of less than 30 cc per hour. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

24.	Dried beans are part of the _________ group of foods.
		a. dairy
		b. vegetable
		c. meat
		d. grains
Dried beans are part of the meat group of foods. Dried beans are high in protein. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Infection Control and Blood Borne Pathogens

25.	One of the environmental risk factors associated with infection is ______________.
		a. noise
		b. interruptions
		c. close living
		d. antibiotic abuse
Close living in our hospital and nursing home environments place people at risk for infection. It also is a risk factor associated with the spread of infection. Noise and interruptions are environmental factors, but they have no impact on infections or the spread of infection. Antibiotic abuse has an impact on the severity and treatment of infections, but it is not an environmental risk factor associated with infection and the spread of infection. It is a patient related risk factor. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

26.	The SINGLE most important thing that all healthcare workers can do in order to prevent the spread of infection is ________________.
		a. following standard precautions
		b. proper hand washing
		c. using gloves
		d. isolating patients
Proper hand washing is the single most important thing that you can do in order to prevent the spread of infection. Standard precautions, the use of gloves when needed, and isolation when needed also prevent the spread of infection, but handwashing is the single most important thing that you can do to prevent the spread of infection. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

27.	The nurse has discontinued the patient's Foley catheter. You will dispose of this patient equipment by doing which of the following?
		a. Wearing gloves and then placing this equipment in the regular trash can after it is placed in a paper bag.
		b. Simply placing this equipment in the regular trash can after it is placed in a paper bag.
		c. Wearing gloves and then placing this equipment into a special hazardous waste container.
		d. Simply placing this equipment in the hazardous waste container after it is placed in a paper bag.
All used patient equipment that has come in contact with bodily fluids is considered hazardous waste. You must wear gloves and then place the Foley bag and tubing into the "hazardous waste" container. These containers are red and they are clearly marked as "Hazardous". Bags, rather than containers, can be used. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Caring for All Ages - Health Maintenance and Restoration

28.	Johnny Tate, a 2 year old boy, is hospitalized with pneumonia. This child will most likely _________.
		a. lie quietly as the nurse listens to his lung.
		b. ask many questions about what the CNA is doing
		c. fuss, cry and push the CNA away
		d. plays cheerfully with a stethoscope
Johnny will most likely fuss, cry and reject strangers. A 2 year old is considered a toddler. Toddlers typically demonstrate negative behavior. They are hesitant around strangers and they resist close contact with people they do not know. They react to separation anxiety when their parents are not close to them. They do not yet have good language skills so they often cry in order to communicate their distress. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

29.	Identify the age group with the correct range of years.
		a. Infancy: Up to 6 months of age
		b. Pre-School Child: 3 to 6 years of age
		c. Adolescent: 13 to 18 years of age
		d. Elderly: Over 60 years of age
The adolescent or teenage is 13 to 18 years of age. The neonate is a newborn up to 4 weeks of life; the infant is defined as up to one year. The toddler years are from 1 to 3 years of age. The preschool years are from 3 to 5 years of age and the school age child is from 6 to 12 years of age. The adolescent or teenage is 13 to 18 years of age. The young adult is 19 to 44 years of age; the middle age adult is from 45 to 65 and the elderly years are defined as over 65 years of age. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Mr. Flores is a 47 year-old man who notices that he has recently started to have difficultly reading and seeing clearly objects that are close to the his face. For example, he is not able to clearly read a newspaper.

30.	Mr. Flores' visual change is referred to as _________________.
		a. myopia
		b. presbyopia
		c. cataracts
		d. precosis
This visual change is called presbyopia. It usually occurs during the mid 40s years of age. It is a normal change. The near vision is affected, rather than distance sight. It is caused by a gradual decrease in the inability to focus due to a loss of lens flexibility. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Common Physical and Emotional Problems

31.	Which fact about diabetes is true?
		a. Only children get type 1 diabetes.
		b. Only adults get type 2 diabetes.
		c. Children and adults can have type 1 diabetes.
		d. Both a and b
Both children and adults can have type 1, or insulin dependent, diabetes. Although type 1 diabetes is also referred to as "childhood diabetes", it affects adults as well. Both children and adults can also have type 2 or "adult onset" diabetes, primarily due to the fact that some children are obese. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

32.	One of the complications of complete bed rest and immobility is which of the following?
		a. Plantar flexion.
		b. Dorsal flexion
		c. Extension contractures
		d. Adduction contractures
Plantar flexion, or foot drop, is a complication of complete bed rest and immobility. Dorsal flexion is when you move your foot upwards. Contractures can also occur as a complication of complete bed rest and immobility. However, these contractions are flexion, not extension or adduction contractures. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

33.	Your patient's face is grimacing. What do you think your nonverbal patient is communicating to you?
		a. Anxiety
		b. Fear
		c. Hatred
		d. Pain
Your patient is communicating that they are in pain. A grimace is a nonverbal cue or clue that a person is in pain. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Care of the Dying Person at End of Life

34.	Which of the factors impact on a person's grief?
		a. Culture and spiritual beliefs
		b. Age and gender
		c. Race and age
		d. Gender and culture
Spiritual beliefs and culture impact on one's grief and grieving. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

35.	At the end of life, many people have a fear of __________.
		a. insects
		b. rejection
		c. acceptance
		d. being alone
People at the end of life have special emotional needs. Many people have a fear of being alone. Some people may be also be very sad, or depressed. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

36.	People at the end of life still need mouth care. Your unconscious patient has a dry mouth. What should you do?:
		a. Give the person small sips water.
		b. Brush and rinse their mouth and teeth.
		c. Use swabs for oral care.
		d. Ask the nurse to provide oral care.
CNAs provide oral and mouth care to unconscious patients and people at the end of life. You use oral swabs and sponges for this mouth care. You do not rinse the mouth nor give an unconscious person any water. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Quality starts with who wrote the material.

Our practice exam writer

Alene Burke, RN, MSN

, is a multidisciplinary nursing educator and has taught nurses and CNAs for the last 25 years. She has developed curriculum for college level health care educational institutions and has served as a member of the American Nurses Association’s Credentialing Center Innovative Collaborative Initiative on healthcare education.

Dorothy Belding, RN, MSH

, is an instructor in the CNA program at Mitchell Community College in North Carolina. Dorothy has over 30 years of experience as an RN and has worked in the skilled nursing environment supervising CNAs.

Diane Hill, RN, BSN

, is an instructor in CNA studies at Cumberland Community College in New Jersey. Diane is a state-certified CNA educator and has worked as an assistant director and staff nurse in nursing homes.

National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) Exam Content Outline Review

I. Physical Care Skills

A. Daily Living Activities: