2025 Edition

CNA Practice Test

This free CNA Practice Test will give you an idea of what is on the actual CNA exam. Main practice test areas include: Physical Care Skills; Psychosocial Care Skills and Nurse Aide Roles.

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CNA Roles, Roles of Others and Teamwork

1.	You are working in a healthcare setting that cares for people with chronic, physical healthcare problems. Which type of healthcare facility are you MOST likely working in?
		a. A hospital
		b. A nursing home
		c. A health department
		d. A physical rehabilitation center
Nursing homes, or long term care facilities, provide care and services for mostly the elderly who have chronic, long term physical and emotional healthcare problems, such an inability to walk or confusion. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

2.	Tasks that can be legally done by a CNA are found in: ____________.
		a. federal laws and regulations.
		b. state laws and regulations.
		c. federal and state laws and regulations.
		d. in nursing home policies and procedures.
Both federal and state laws and regulations define what nursing assistants and CNAs can legally do. They may also list things that the CNA cannot do. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Legal and Ethical Aspects of the CNA Role

3.	A CNA has failed to leave the patient's bed in the low position after you having given care. The patient falls out of the bed and gets a concussion. Who is responsible for this fall?
		a. The CNA is personally responsible.
		b. The CNA's employer is fully responsible.
		c. Administration because of their policy
		d. The patient because they fell
The CNA is personally responsible. The CNA has not followed the policies and procedures of the employer regarding bed positions and the prevention of falls. The CNA has jeopardized the patient with the failure to lower the bed as part of their everyday routine Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

4.	Which of the following is an example of physical neglect?
		a. A slap to the person's hand
		b. Threatening the person
		c. Ignoring and isolating a person
		d. Leaving a patient soiled for hours
Leaving a soiled patient unclean for hours is an example of physical neglect. Physical neglect is defined as NOT meeting the physical needs of the patient. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Priorities and Priority Setting

5.	The need for safety is an example of a ___________ need according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
		a. physical
		b. security
		c. self actualization
		d. self esteem
The need for safety is an example of a security need according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

6.	Which of these needs is the GREATEST priority?
		a. A healthy and satisfying relationship
		b. Membership in a community group
		c. An award or a special recognition
		d. Reaching one's fullest potential
Healthy and satisfying relationships are safety and security needs, according to Maslow. The safety and security needs are a greater priority than the love and belonging (membership in a community group), esteem by others (an award or another form of recognition), and self actualization (reaching one's fullest potential). Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Observation, Reporting and Abbreviations

7.	You are the CNA caring for Mr. Charles Y. You see a notation on the nursing care plan that states, "remind the patient to use the incentive spirometer tid". This patient will be reminded at which of the following times?
		a. 10 am
		b. 10 am and 2 pm
		c. 10 am, 2 pm and 6 pm
		d. 10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm and 10 pm
Tid is the abbreviation for 3 times a day. These times are usually 10 am, 2 pm and 6 pm Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

8.	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.

9.	You are caring for a group of patients and you hear a loud crash at the end of the floor. Which of your senses allowed you to hear this loud crash?
		a. Auditory
		b. Visual
		c. Tactile
		d. Gustation
You hear with your auditory nerves, or your auditory senses. Visual senses allow you to see; tactile senses allow you to feel things like texture and temperature. Lastly gustation is the sense of taste. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

10.	Your elderly patient has a temperature of 98.5 degrees. Is there anything else that the CNA should do, in addition to documenting this temperature?
		a. No, this temperature is within normal limits.
		b. No, this temperature is normally hyperthermic.
		c. Yes, this temperature is highly hyperthermic.
		d. Yes, this temperature is highly hypothermic.
No, there is nothing else that the CNA should do. This temperature, for an elderly patient, is within normal limits. 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.

11.	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.

12.	There are different kinds of poor behaviors. Some of the types of poor behavior include __________________ behaviors.
		a. innate, intrinsic and extrinsic
		b. nosocomial and psychotic
		c. disruptive and dangerous
		d. legal and illegal
		e. Both a and c
There are many different kinds of poor behaviors. Some of the kinds of poor behavior include disruptive, dangerous, prohibited and illegal behaviors. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Disasters and Emergencies

13.	There are several different types of fire extinguishers. The best one to have in a private home is a class_____________ fire extinguisher.
		a. A
		b. B
		c. C
		d. ABC
All private homes should have at least one fire extinguisher even if this is not required by law. When homes do have a fire extinguisher, they typically have only one. An ABC fire extinguisher, then, is the best one to have because it fights all types of fires. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

14.	You are a home health aide. You are driving your patient to the grocery store and the drug store for shopping. As you are driving, you feel the earth shake. What is the first thing that you should do?
		a. Drive the car to an area surrounded by tall buildings so you can be protected and safe.
		b. Drive the car to the nearest police station for so the police officers can help your patient.
		c. Stop the car away from tall buildings and get the patient and yourself on the floor of the car.
		d. Stop the car regardless of where you are and call 911 about this emergency to insure safety.
An earthquake is likely occurring when you feel the car shake. You should stop the car in the nearest area that is not near tall buildings and then you should assist the patient to the floor of the car. You should also get on the floor of the car. You should not be near tall buildings because they may crumble and/or fall during an earthquake. Police stations offer no safe shelter for earthquakes. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Personal Care Skills

15.	You are ready to wash your patient's face. You would start by washing what area of the face?
		a. The forehead
		b. The eyes
		c. The ears
		d. The cheeks
The eyes are the first area to be cleaned. The eye area is considered the priority in terms of moving from an area that can be potentially infected to areas of the face and body that are least able to become infected with a washcloth. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

16.	You are getting the patient ready to eat. The patient is on complete bed rest. You will put the head of the bed up at ___________ degrees or more.
		a. 10
		b. 15
		c. 20
		d. 30
The head of the bed should be up at a 30 degree angle or more. This will prevent choking and aspiration of food while the patient is eating. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Infection Control and Blood Borne Pathogens

17.	The spread of infection in healthcare facilities occur for many reasons, including the fact that patients and residents are _______________.
		a. ambulatory
		b. Ill
		c. immobile
		d. minor
There are several reasons why infections spread throughout our healthcare facilities. Some of these reasons relate the condition of the patients and others are related to factors within the environment. One of the patient related risk factors associated with infection is the fact that many of our residents and patients are ill. Illness affects the person's ability to fight off infections that would be normally combated if the state of health was good. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

18.	Your AIDS/HIV patient has just died. Should you still use standard precautions as you provide post mortem care?
		a. Yes, because the virus is still transmissible
		b. Yes, because you must still treat them with respect
		c. No, because the virus is no longer transmissible
		d. No, because this is not respectful
You must still use standard precautions, even when a know HIV+ person is dead. The virus can still be transmitted. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Caring for All Ages - Health Maintenance and Restoration

19.	At what age does a child begin to accept the fact that death is permanent?
		a. Less than 5 years old
		b. 5-9 years old
		c. 9-12 years old
		d. 12-18 years old
Until about 5 years of age, children think that death is reversible. Between 5 and 9 years of age, the child realizes that death is permanent. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

20.	Select the age group that is coupled with an infectious disease that is most common in this age group.
		a. Infants: High billirubin
		b. Pre-School and School Age Children: Shingles
		c. Young Adults and Teenagers: Sexually transmitted diseases
		d. The Elderly: Malaria
Young adults and teenagers are at greatest risk for sexually transmitted diseases. High billirubin is a laboratory finding and not an infectious disease. Pre-school and school age children are not at great risk for shingles, the elderly are. Lastly, old age is not associated with malaria. It is associated with shingles. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Common Physical and Emotional Problems

21.	A sign of depression is ___________________.
		a. sleeping too much
		b. sleep loss
		c. aphasia
		d. Both a and b
Some people with depression sleep too much; others lose sleep. It varies with the person. Aphasia is trouble speaking. This may happen when a person has had a CVA. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

You are taking care of an 85 year old woman who has been complaining about "stiff joints" and pain in her joints.

22.	What kinds of exercise or therapy would be most helpful to the 85 year old woman discussed above?
		a. Speech therapy
		b. Range of motion exercises
		c. Gait training
		d. Balance training
Range of motion exercises would be most helpful to this 85 year old woman. The patient should perform active range of motion to maintain and improve joint mobility. Nothing in this patient scenario indicates that the patient has a balance or gait problem. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Care of the Dying Person at End of Life

23.	What type of care focuses on the support and comfort of the dying person and family, with the goal of facilitating a peaceful and dignified death?
		a. Hospice care
		b. Hospital care
		c. Rehabilitation care
		d. Restorative care
Hospice care is based on holistic concepts and it focuses on the quality of life and comfort, rather than a cure. It supports the client and family through the dying process. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

24.	You are taking care of Martin F. at the end of life. He is very worried about his funeral expenses. Martin will most likely benefit from the help of a ____________.
		a. psychiatrist
		b. psychologist
		c. social worker
		d. family aid worker
Martin will most likely benefit from the help of a social worker. Care in the home, hospital or nursing home costs a lot of money. During the end of life, many people worry about how they are going to pay for their funeral and their health care. Some need help from a social worker to meet these financial needs. 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: