The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) practice test is designed to help you become familiar with the essential skills required for providing quality care to patients. Take the quiz and find out how well you know basic nursing skills. The questions are based on the American Nurses Association (ANA) Standards for Basic Nursing Skills. After taking the quiz, read the explanation of each answer for better understanding. Use this information to improve your CNA skills.
This is a timed quiz. You will be given 60 seconds per question. Are you ready?
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?
Tid is the abbreviation for 3 times a day. These times are usually 10 am, 2 pm and 6 pm
You enter Ms. Diamond's room and observe she is having difficulty speaking after she awoke from a nap. You should next:
Any observed change in condition should be reported promptly to the nurse. Waiting or offering fluids when her speech or swallowing ability has been compromised could be dangerous. Pencil and paper may be helpful but the nurse must be notified immediately.
You wash Mrs. Gillette's hands before you feed her. The resident rarely feeds herself, so why should you wash her hands?
Although her routine is to be fed, she may be able to feed herself at times and should be encouraged to do so.
You have an annual contract with a home care patient. You should change the batteries in the smoke alarms _______________ so you do not forget to do it.
You should change the batteries at least two times a year on a date that is easy to remember. It is easy to remember the two times during the year that the clock moves ahead and moves back one hour. It is not necessary to do this every month.
Select the correct term and its definition or description.
Surgical asepsis is referred to as "sterile". Surgical, not medical, asepsis is the absence of all microorganisms, including spores. Medical asepsis is referred to as "clean" ; "dirty" is the term that is used when some microorganisms are present.
Which fact about diabetes is true?
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.
One of the complications of complete bed rest and immobility is which of the following?
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.
Many people, particularly older people, go to what kind of healthcare facility after they are discharged from a hospital after a stroke?
Many elderly people who have had a stroke go to a subacute care center after they are discharged from a hospital. Subacute care centers, or medical rehabilitation care centers, provide stroke patients with rehabilitation and restorative care and services after a stroke. CNAs work in subacute care and they can also work in the other healthcare settings that are above.
Which natural disaster is most likely to lead to a fire hazard?
Lava is a fire hazard. A volcano throws out lava, rock and ashes. You should wear safety goggles, remain indoors, and close all the windows and doors if you are affected by a volcano.
Which of the following procedures is correct during a fire?
Fire doors are engineered to withstand smoke and fire and is the first place residents should be moved if necessary. Never use an elevator or open windows for smoke to escape. Fire extinguishers are not effective on large uncontrollable fires.
Which of the following goals are not part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act?
The ACA goals are to ensure that people have access to health insurance. The law prohibits discrimination against those with expensive or chronic conditions.
Which of the following is not an example of a moist application?
A cooling blanket is a dry application.
The mother of a three-month old infant is concerned that her daughter has not begun crawling and asks your advice. You should tell her:
While some children develop slower and faster, normal milestones exist. In this case, the mother can be reassured that three months is too early to expect crawling and to continue to monitor development.
You are the CNA in a home health agency. You visit many elderly patients in their homes. Some have a history of falls. You have to identify environmental factors that place these home care patients at risk for new falls and repeated falls. Which of the following environmental factors should be corrected by the CNA in order to prevent falls in the home?
Although all of these factors are considered environmental factors, it is scatter rugs that are very hazardous in the home. Many people slip, slide and fall on them. The installation of no glare floors can prevent falls but is outside the ability of the CNA to correct. Ventilation and room temperature have nothing to do with falls.
You are a CNA working in an adult day care center. A woman brings her elderly mother in for the day. You notice bruising on the mother's wrists. She seems withdrawn and frightened when the daughter is there but is noticeably more relaxed when she leaves. What should you do?
You need to report your observation to your supervisor, who is then obligated to investigate. Answer A is incorrect because, if the mother is a victim of abuse, she may be reluctant to discuss it with you and may deny it. Answer D is incorrect because the situation requires more investigation before it needs to be reported.
A fire needs which of the following?
Fire needs three things to burn. It needs something to burn (a solid, a gas or a liquid), air and heat. A fire cannot happen if all of these three things are not present. You can prevent fires by making sure that these three things are not present. For example, you can prevent fires by keeping the patient's clothes (something that can burn) away from a damaged electrical wire (heat).
Rigor mortis occurs about________ hours after death.
Rigor mortis is the stiffening of the body that occurs about 3-4 hours after death
You are taking care of Martin F. at the end of life. He rarely has visitors and he has said, "I am of no use to anyone." Martin is expressing a _________ need with this comment.
Martin is expressing feelings of low self esteem. Sadly, many at the end of life do not see or hear from their family or friends as much as they did in the past. They may feel lonely, unloved, and not useful or important.
You notice the floor in the hall is wet from a food tray spill. Your next action should be to:
Safety is a major priority and wet floors are a hazard. Your job includes keeping residents safe. A towel can go unnoticed and be a tripping hazard, and not all residents will understand cautions. Remove the wet substance and the towel and housekeeping should complete the job.
Who is the most important member of the interdisciplinary health care team?
It is worth remembering that it is the needs and goals of the resident that are the focus of the team. Each professional contributes his or her own unique information and perspective.
Two female nursing assistants are caring for a male resident. While performing care they discuss dates with their boyfriends, including intimate details. This inappropriate action could be:
Discussing intimate details could be reasonable interpreted by the resident as tormenting, teasing or sexual abuse.
The total response to the loss experience is referred to as ______________.
Grief is total response to the loss experience. It is manifested with thoughts, feelings and behaviors associated with the state of overwhelming distress or sorrow
Dementia is a loss of ______________ function.
Dementia is a loss of cognitive, or mental, function. Alzheimer's disease is one form of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is a chronic, progressive disorder that is characterized by changes in memory, judgment, language, abstract reasoning and problem-solving ability.
You are a CNA at the hospital. The phlebotomist has left an uncapped needle on the bed and you have punctured your finger. What should you do first?
The proper order for your actions is as follows: pick up the needle and discard it in a sharps container; clean the puncture site; and report immediately to your supervisor for treatment and to fill out an incident report.
Supportive care to a dying resident includes all of the following except:
Supportive care includes those interventions that do not artificially prolong life and provide physical and emotional comfort. Ventilator support is a method of artificially prolonging life.
The first step in a bed bath is to wash:
The resident's face is washed first, beginning with the eyes. No soap is used on the face.
You received a new resident who has head lice. Head lice can be:
Antifungals have no effect on head lice, which can be seen with the naked eye. Special precautions must be initiated when caring for residents with head lice.
Mr. Gomez is a diabetic resident who has heavy stubble and cannot shave himself. He wants you to use a disposable safety razor to shave him instead of his electric razor. Can you use a disposable safety razor on this patient?
A CNA can shave a resident with a disposable safety razor. A proper skin prep may make the shave more acceptable for the resident, like use of a hot towel. Lather must be used. That Mr. Gomez is a diabetic does not require use of an electric razor, so Answer A is incorrect. Answer D is incorrect because you do not need the nurse's approval to shave a resident with a disposable safety razor.
Mr. Stewart has requested a back rub. Which of the following is true?
Back rubs provide therapeutic benefit when done properly and safety precautions observed.
Mrs. Kaplan tells you that she would never want to have artificial nutrition, having seen her roommate come back from the hospital with a tube feeding. She asks you if you can do something to make sure that does not happen. You should:
In most states, caregivers cannot be appointed to be the decision maker unless they are related to the patient. Following the CNA scope of practice, notify the nurse.
You are a male CNA working with an all-female staff. You are assigned your own residents just the same way the female CNAs are but you are frequently called upon by your coworkers to leave your residents to help them with a lift or heavy resident. How can you best handle this?
Discuss the problem with your coworkers. Let them know you will help them but that you need their assistance so you can get your work done as well as helping them when they need it. Answer A is incorrect because while It is good to be a team player and help, you may be unable to finish your work and this will reflect poorly on you. Answer C is incorrect because this answer defeats team building. Answer D is incorrect because going to the scheduler before you discuss it with your coworkers looks like you are whining about the assignments and asking for special consideration, which is not good for team morale.
Which of the following is not a normal age-related change in the cardiovascular system?
Myocardial ischemia is damage to the heart muscle due to lack of oxygen and circulation. This is not a normal result of aging.
Which of the following is an example of physical abuse?
Slapping, hitting, and punching are examples of physical abuse. Physical abuse is defined as doing something that can physically harm or injure a person.
You are the CNA working with Mrs. Xavier. She is an advanced Alzheimer's patient whom you must get out of bed and transfer to a wheelchair. You should do which of the following?
Alzheimer's patients can become fearful of everyday actions such as getting into a wheelchair. Explain to the patient what you are about to do. Have help from the start in the event that you need it. If you can perform the transfer by yourself, your coworker can remain by just in case you need help and then leave. This prevents the awkward and dangerous moment occurring when the patient is in process of transfer and you realize something is out of place or you cannot do this alone. Explain each step s you go to the patient. If may relieve fears and elicit her help in the transfer as much as she is able. Answer B is incorrect because you should always use a gait belt for transferring for the patient's and your safety. Explain to her what it is and talk her through her fears. Answer C is incorrect because if you feel your back straining and cannot safely complete the transfer, you should stop the transfer, explain to the patent that you are off balance or straining and you don't want to hurt her. Get help to do the transfer. Never continue a transfer when you are straining as you will hurt yourself and possibly your patient.
What kinds of things must the CNA immediately report to the nurse?
All significant physical, emotional and behavioral changes and problems must be immediately reported to the nurse.
Standard precautions are used to prevent the spread of infections that can be spread with bodily fluids. Which is an example of a bodily fluid?
All of the above are bodily fluids. Blood, nonetheless, is the riskiest of all the above choices in terms of infection risk Other bodily fluids include feces, wound drainage, nasal secretions, urine, vomitus, and other fluids that come from an internal structures, such as fluids that come from the abdomen and lungs.
You have been assigned as a sitter in the emergency room. What might this assignment entail?
You must: (a) observe the patient and document his behavior and level of consciousness every 15 minutes and (b) you may be required to loosen the restraints for toileting and skin checks every 2 hours. Answer C is incorrect because you may be called on to perform hands-on care but someone else must be the observer while you do this as you cannot do both adequately and safely at the same time.
Mr. Dale has insomnia. You can assist him in managing this condition by:
Reducing noise at night, limiting naps, increasing physical exercise and promoting sleep can help decrease episodes of insomnia.
CNAs and nursing assistants are permitted to work in which of the following areas as long as they stay within their scope of practice and NOT beyond their limitations?
CNAs and nursing assistants are permitted to work in intensive care units, emergency rooms and all other areas of a hospital, as long as they stay within their scope of practice and NOT beyond their limitations. Research, data analysis, environment research, statistics and public health are NOT within the scope of practice for a CNA.
The people who live in a long-term care facility are referred to as:
Because they reside, or live, in the facility, the term "residents" is used. Consumer is the overall term for those utilizing health care services. A client is receiving health care services in the home.
As a CNA, you are assisting the EMTs move a new resident from the stretcher to the bed. You notice a skin rash and pustules around the resident's scalp and ears. What should you do?
Report your observations to the nurse immediately as this may be head lice, pediculosis or an allergic erosion. Be sure to wear gloves and use excellent handwashing technique until the nurse has determined the cause of the rash. Answer B is not correct, because the EMTs probably do not know the patient. Answer C is incorrect because you are not to wait for the nurse to discover an infestation, as it may be too late to prevent the spread. Answer D is not the best answer because other CNAs will have to be involved in her care. However, you can alert the other CNAs involved in her care to be careful while working with her to prevent unintentional cross-contamination.
Which of the following does not mean clean enough to perform surgery?
Sterile and surgical asepsis are clean enough for surgery. Aseptic is clean and clean enough for medical procedures but not for surgery.
When CNAs do pulses, they should note which of the following?
When you do pulses, you should note all the characteristics of the pulse. These characteristics are rate (number of beats per minute), quality (is it regular or irregular?), and fullness (is it thread and weak or is it full and bounding?) .
You are assigned to give foot care to Mrs. James who is a diabetic and has not taken care of her feet and toenails before her admission to your facility. Which of the following must not be done as part this task?
A CNA must never trim or clip a diabetic's toenails. In most states it is out of the scope of practice. You should clean the feet and file the toenails. You should use lotion to prevent skin drying and cracking as long as you dry the excess but you should not use lotion between the toes.
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?
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.
What senses do nursing assistants use to observe patients and residents?
The five senses are sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. Nursing assistants use sight, hearing and touch to observe their patients and residents. They use sight to read blood pressures and to see if the person is sleeping. They use hearing when they listen to the patient and hear their concerns. They use touch when they touch the patient's skin and feel that it is warm or wet.
Plantar flexion can be prevented with ________________.
Plantar flexion, or foot drop, can be prevented with foot boards, special splints and range of motion exercises.
One of the environmental risk factors associated with infection is ______________.
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.
Your resident is a very skinny malnourished woman who refuses to eat and lies on her back all the time. When you give her a bath, you notice a reddened area on her coccyx. Your best action is to:
Pressure ulcer prevention requires teamwork and clear communication of methods of treatment and responsibilities of each team member.
You are doing home care and your client trips on an area rug and falls. She gets up and is apparently unhurt. This is the second time it's occurred. How should you handle this emergency?
If the client has gotten up and says she is uninjured, call your supervisor for a nurse to come assess her. After the client is attended to, move or remove the rug and let the family know you moved it because of the danger.
When performing post-mortem care:
Respect and care are shown to the body. Gloves must be worn as the body may continue to be infectious after death. Postmortem care is a skill that may be performed by a CNA either alone or assisted.
The major difference between a grand mal and petit mal seizure is that a person with a grand mal seizure will have _______________ and the person with a petit mal seizure will not.
Grand mal seizures are accompanied with convulsive movements. Petit mal seizures do not have convulsive movement, but usually only some eye blinking or staring. Sleep apnea is not associated with seizures. It is a separate disorder. Flaccidity and atonia are poor and absent tone.
The facility where you work has the policy of telling CNAs to clock out on time and then return to finish their work. Which of the following is not an accurate statement regarding this situation?
It is not proper to ask workers to clock out and then return to work as the worker may become personally liable and not be professionally covered for incidents that occur off the clock.
Johnny Tate, a 2 year old boy, is hospitalized with pneumonia. This child will most likely _________.
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.
Your patient has a number of physical and emotional needs. Some of these needs are the need for safety, the need for fluids and the need for mobility. Which of these needs must be addressed during all aspects of care?
The safety needs must be addressed at all times and during all aspects of care, including when you are addressing the nutrition, fluids, and mobility.
Your resident this morning asks you if she may rest for 15 minutes prior to her bath. You should:
Often 15 minutes of rest allows a resident to gain enough strength to proceed. Allow residents to set their own routine whenever possible.
Patients have a right to ______________.
Patients have a legal right to all of their health related information. CNAs must legally, ethically and morally uphold this patient's right.
The nurse has written a nursing order in John Taylor's nursing care plan. It states, "Assist the patient to the bedside commode prn". When will this patient get this assistance to the commode?
PRN is the acceptable abbreviation for whenever needed or whenever necessary.
CNAs are NOT permitted to do which of the following tasks?
CNAs are NOT permitted to do any sterile procedures. Dressing a wound is an example of a sterile procedure. CNAs can do all the other tasks listed above.
You observe that your resident's left eye is red around the lid, bloodshot inside and slightly puffy. What should you do or report?
You must report your observations to the nurse so clinical assessment can be performed and orders received. You do not call your observations "pink eye" as that is a diagnosis and outside your scope of practice. You should also alert your coworkers of the possibility of infection so they can heighten their awareness of infection control and be especially careful with handwashing.
