As a CNA student, you need to be sure that you are prepared for the final test. Taking our free practice test will ensure that you have a good understanding of what is expected on the exam and can go into the real exam confident knowing that you are well-prepared.
Our free CNA Practice Test includes 60 questions with similar formatting to what is seen on the actual CNA certification exam. The best way to prepare yourself for this difficult exam is by practicing! So take our free CNA Practice Test today and see if it helps improve your score!
This is a timed quiz. You will be given 60 seconds per question. Are you ready?
Your resident has died and the family wants to help clean her before the mortician arrives. What should you do?
It is acceptable to allow the family to clean the body. You should tidy up the area before you let the family in, get them soap, washcloths, towels and gloves. Remain with them until they are done and then apply the shroud and tags yourself. In addition, you can remain there in case they need your assistance or are unable to complete the task. You must do the shroud and tags as these are legal activities and you as well as your facility are responsible to see that they are done properly.
Which of the following is one basic safety guideline for bathing a resident?
You should always wash from cleanest to dirtiest so the clean areas are finished while equipment remains cleaner. Then wash the dirtiest areas so clean is not re-contaminated. ie. Face is first, perineum is last. Answer C is incorrect because you check and stabilize the water temperature before putting the resident in the shower. If the water is too cold, the resident may flinch and lose balance. If the water is too hot the resident may suffer scalding. Water should not exceed 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Answers B and D are incorrect because, while the need for privacy is important, a resident should not be left alone with the door closed. A curtain can be used for privacy but leaving a resident alone is dangerous.
Mrs. Jones has been diagnosed with C) Diff. Which of the following is a precaution that should be taken when performing personal care?
Clostridium difficile, or C. Diff, is a spore-forming bacteria in the digestive tract. When caring for a patient with C. Diff, you should wear gloves. A gown is needed in case you come in contact with contaminated linens or bed tables as spores live outside of the body for an extended time. You do not need a mask. Red bags indicating contaminated contents should be used for linens and meal utensils to indicate their contents is contaminated and need to be handled differently from other linen and utensils. Linens do not have to be disposed of. Hands must be decontaminated with vigorous soap and water hand washing. Hand sanitizer cannot be used as this is a spore-forming bacteria.
Plantar flexion can be prevented with ________________.
Plantar flexion, or foot drop, can be prevented with foot boards, special splints and range of motion exercises.
You are working the 8 am to 4 pm shift. You begin to vomit at 3 pm and you do not think that you are able to continue working. You decide to immediately go home without notifying your RN supervisor. You have _________________.
Patient abandonment is very serious and it can be grounds for disciplinary action and immediate termination of employment. It is defined as leaving the patients without getting the consent of the supervisor.
Routine oral hygiene for residents should be performed how frequently?
Three times a day is the standard of practice.
Patients in the hospital:
The unfamiliar environment as well as noise and lights often affects sleep patterns, including reducing REM sleep when dreaming occurs. Vital signs normally decrease during sleep.
You are emptying urinary drainage bags for patients that need their output recorded. Where are you most likely to document the amount of urinary output?
You are most likely to document the amount of urinary output, as well as oral fluid intake, on the Intake and Output (I and O) form that is used in your place of work.
Your patient has had a cardiopulmonary arrest and is being coded. After the code team arrives and you have given your report, what should you do for your other patient who is the roommate?
Try to work with other staff to find her another room and arrange a transfer. Returning to the room will be distressing and cleaning up and resettling the room could take hours. Answer A is incorrect because, after you give your report to the code team, you need to attend to your patient. Answers C and D are incorrect because even if you close the curtain you cannot block out the chaotic activity or sound. Taking her to the waiting room is good but leaving her there to return to the room after the code is not correct.
You are working as a valued member of the team on your nursing care unit. You are trying to figure out whether or not the team is doing well. Which of the following is a sign that your team is doing well?
Some of the signs that a team is successful include the existence of conflict and the belief that this conflict can be resolved and it can also lead to team growth and development. Other signs of a successful team include accepting mistakes as learning opportunities and the ability to express negative feelings when these feelings arise.
You see a resident lying on the floor of the bathroom. You are NOT assigned to this patient. What is the first thing that you should do?
You should observe the resident for any injuries and call out for help. This is an emergency and you must act immediately even if the resident is not part of your assignment. You did not see this resident before they fell so you do not know that the person has had a seizure.
Your patient has terminal cancer and wishes to make an advance directive quickly. The family requests you to sign as a witness. You should:
In some states, patient caregivers are not permitted to witness. Be aware of your facility policy for this.
You are holding a Class C fire extinguisher in your hand and you are ready to use it. What is the next step?
The steps to using a fire extinguisher follow the acronym of PASS: P- Pull the pin A- Aim at the base, or the bottom, of the fire or flame S- Squeeze the trigger while holding the extinguisher up straight and S- Sweep, or move the spray, from side to side to completely cover the fire
Your resident is actively dying. You want to stay with her but you have other residents and 2 call lights on. How should you handle this?
If you communicate with your coworkers you can solicit their assistance so you can stay with her as much as possible. Answer D is wrong because you cannot tell your coworkers to do your work no matter how you feel and you cannot just refuse to do your other work. Their help should be respectfully solicited, as this fosters teamwork.
All of the following are functions of a registered dietitian, except:
Managing the day-to-day operations of a dietary department is not the function of a registered dietitian. While some management duties my fall to an RD, it is not their primary professional function.
What does Full Code mean?
Full Code is the opposite of a DNR or DNI. Full Code tells you to perform all lifesaving measures. If a patient is DNR or DNI the procedures in the event of catastrophic illness are outlined as do not resuscitate or do not intubate. In the event that officially neither of these designations is in place, full emergency measures will be applied.
CNAs are responsible for observation and reporting. The primary purpose of observation is to _____________.
The primary purpose of observation is to help the CNA, the nurse and other members of the healthcare team to provide quality care. Care is modified according to these observations so that quality care, based on these observations, can be given.
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?
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.
The resident's vitals are 99 - 98 - 36. Which of these findings needs to be reported immediately to the nurse?
Vital signs are normally noted in the order of temperature, pulse, respirations. The normal range of respirations is 12- 24 breaths per minute. A respiratory rate of 36 should be reported to the nurse.
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.
In your facility, CNAs are assigned lunch hours so that patient's meals will not be affected by staff breaks. Your coworker Sue has been assigned 10:30 AM and you have been assigned 11:00 AM. Sue does not want to go that early and, if she asks you to switch, you would not want to, as it's too early for you too. Is there anything that could make this situation better?
For team building, you should let Sue know that you understand her situation and if it happens again you will switch. Answer option A is not correct as you cannot always change your assigned times for others. Answer C is incorrect, as it is not your job to instigate a conversation between Sue and the nurse. Answer d is incorrect because, even though not interfering is appropriate, you do it because scheduling is not your responsibility, not that you got what you want.
You are turning your patient in bed and you see that this confused and lethargic patient had loose car keys and lipstick in the bed and had been lying on them. What is this person at risk for because of all three of these factors: the confusion, lethargy and items in the bed?
This patient is at great risk for skin breakdown because this patient has three risk factors associated with skin breakdown. These three risk factors are confusion, lethargy and the presence of items in the bed. This patient is at risk for falls because of the confusion. The person is at risk for a lack of mobility because of the confusion and lethargy, but only skin breakdown is associated with all three of these risk factors.
You are caring for a resident who has been told she is dying. She has accepted this but her daughter says it is not true and that her mother is just confused. How should you help with this?
Allow the resident to discuss her feelings but suggest she might want to talk to her daughter as she is not accepting the resident's decision. If the resident does not want to do this, talk to the nurse and ask her to intervene with the daughter. Answers B and D are incorrect as both of these violate the resident's right to privacy and may be a HIPAA violation. Answer C is incorrect because a CNA is not qualified to perform this function (facilitate a discussion between a resident and her family). If it becomes necessary, ask the nurse to develop an intervention plan.
You are caring for an overweight 18-year-old who has broken her hip and is on bed rest during your shift. She complains that her buttocks are burning and she is uncomfortable. How can you assist her?
This option encourages the patient to assist with relieving the pressure so you can get your hand under to massage the area and straighten the sheets to prevent continued pressure. You should then inform the nurse so additional observation can be made to her skin. Answer A is incorrect because the patient moving herself holding the trapeze unsupervised may cause her to suffer skin sheering which will lead to breakdown. Answer C is incorrect because, while placing a small pillow is correct, she should be repositioned every two hours at least. Answer D is incorrect because stopping the pain does not solve the pressure area problem and may make things worse as the patient may not feel the breakdown starting and may not move herself if there is no discomfort.
You must wear gloves when you are _______________.
Breast milk is considered a bodily fluid, so you must wear gloves when you are transferring breast milk into a baby bottle. It is not necessary to wear gloves when you prepare infant formula because formula is not a bodily fluid. Lastly, you do not have to wear gloves when you knock on, or open, a patient door.
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.
CNAs are permitted to do which of the following tasks?
CNAs are permitted to do all of these tasks. However, they do NOT clip the toenails of diabetic patients.
You have been taught that it is easier for females to contract a urinary tract infection than for males. How can you be vigilant to help prevent this from happening?
All of the answers can be used to encourage a female patient to prevent urinary tract infections.
Which should you document, but not immediately report?
All of the choices above are documented by the CNA. The fact that the person drank 1000 cc of fluid during your 8 hour shift is normal and not a concern. It, therefore, does not have to be reported. All of the other choices are NOT normal so they must not only be documented, they must also be reported to the nurse.
Hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare settings are at risk for workplace violence because ______________.
Hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare settings are at greater risk for workplace violence than other workplaces because we allow patients, visitors, husbands, wives and total strangers to pass through our doors when we know little or nothing about the person and their past.
A patient has a goal of eating at least 50% of each meal. The patient refuses to eat so a CNA force feeds the patient in order for them to reach their goal of eating at least 50% of the meal. The CNA has committed __________ against this patient.
Battery happens when a person is actually touched without their permission. It is battery if a nursing assistant slaps or pushes a patient. This is also physical abuse.
You are doing Mrs. Kipp’s HS care. You know she wears bilateral hearing aids.You have just arrived for the night shift. In a report you were told that Mrs. Kipp kept her hearing aids in at bedtime. What action should you take?
If the resident takes the hearing aids out or if they fall out, the proper container should be available to put them in.
In relation to infections organisms, what does MDRO mean?
MDROs are multi drug resistant organisms most often caused by mutation that resist common treatment medications. The two most common examples are MDR-TB and MRSA, multi drug resistant tuberculosis and methicillin resistant staph aureus.
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?) .
The time following death is called the __________________ period
Postmortem means after death. Postictal means after a seizure; postoperative, after an operation; and postpartum, after birth.
What is the relationship between HIPPA and technological advances?
Technology places us at risk for HIPPA violations. For example, not logging off and having the computer screen in the view of others, can lead to HIPPA violations. Although computers do help us share information with others, this has nothing to do with HIPPA when they are used properly.
In an emergency, the power might go out in your building. How can you be sure most of your equipment will be powered by the emergency generator?
This will prevent chaos if the power goes off before the generators come on. This also assures minimal interruption of oxygen machines, beds, respirators, iv pumps and feeding machines. While many of these are not a CNA's responsibility, the machines being in the proper plug is certainly a place where you can make a difference. Answer C is incorrect because only specified plugs are attached to the emergency generator lines. These are usually marked or are red plugs.
You are caring for an advanced Alzheimer's resident whom you have just gotten up to the wheelchair. When you go to the back of the wheelchair to straighten her up and remove the gait belt, she screams that you are trying to choke her and strikes out hitting you in the arm and chest. How should you react to this outburst?
Go to the front of the chair where she can see you. Explain to her what you are trying to do and elicit her cooperation. If she remains agitated, be sure she is safe and step away to perform the remaining portion of the task when she is less agitated. Answer D is incorrect because you have agitated the patient and it is your duty to try to calm her down. You may just calm her down and not finish the positioning and gait belt removal until she is less agitated. Be sure she is safe if this is your action. Report the incident to the nurse as this needs to be placed on the daily report and in her daily activities file in the event that it happens again and needs to change her care plan. If you have been injured, an incident report needs to be filed as soon as possible. Answer A is incorrect because as long as she cannot see you and see what you are doing, the chances are lower that she will calm down and become cooperative. Answer B is incorrect because despite her dementia, she has a right to know what you are doing. You can calm her down and elicit her cooperation by taking time to explain what you are doing.
Mr. Golden has bilateral hand contractures. Contractures:
Contractures result from muscle shortening and cannot be reversed through normal range of motion. They are often painful and negatively impact resident's ability to perform ADLS.
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?
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.
For which of the following procedures is it not necessary to wear gloves?
Gloves are not required when passing trays. All other procedures carry a risk of contact with blood and body fluids. Following standard precautions in these instances requires the use of gloves.
You have taken the vital signs for your patient. They are normal for the patient. What should you do next?
CNAs document vital signs for their patients on a graphic VS form, not a scrap of paper. The vital signs are normal for your patient so you do not have to report these VS to the nurse. Simply document them.
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.
Mr. Gonzalez' care plan states he is to be out of bed using a Hoyer lift QOD. He was last out of bed on Monday. When is the next day he should be out of bed?
QOD is the abbreviation for "every other day." Therefore, he is to be out of bed Wednesday.
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. Which patient care problem is your second priority?
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.
People at the end of life still need mouth care. Your unconscious patient has a dry mouth. What should you do?
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.
The term used to describe the study of aging and older adults is ________________.
Gerontology is the study of aging and older adults. Many people in nursing, psychology, social work and other fields specialize in the area of gerontology.
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. What kind of preventive measures is MOST likely to be used to prevent Mary Eden from falling because of her muscular frailness?
Mary Eden will most likely benefit from physical therapy muscle strengthening exercises because of her muscular frailness. Range of motion may also be used, but muscle strengthening exercises will be the most beneficial. Occupational therapists do not treat confusion and sleeping medications add to falls risk, they do not prevent falls.
Your coworker is refusing to help with a resident's post mortem care. She says she is afraid of dead bodies. How should you handle this?
If you are able and there is no one else free to help, do the care yourself. Report her actions after as this is part of her job and she needs counseling. The fear of dead bodies is not uncommon and you cannot order someone to get over it nor can you delay the post mortem care
Mobility is an important human function. The hazards of immobility lead to many physical problems and emotional problems. Immobility can lead to detrimental cardiac, muscular, respiratory, skeletal, urinary, gastrointestinal, skin and emotional changes. Which of the following is an example of a skeletal hazard of immobility?
All of the above choices are hazards of immobility. However, only the calcium loss from the bones is a skeletal system impairment that results from immobility.
Mr. Golden is not able to ambulate independently. He keeps trying to get out of his wheelchair and the staff must repeatedly respond to his wheelchair alarm. What action would be appropriate?
The appropriate response to a resident's repeated restlessness is to ensure basic needs are being met. Exercise and the opportunity to use the toilet may reduce his restlessness. Applying a restraint without a physician's order and clinical indication is false imprisonment. Family and distraction techniques should be tried only after ensuring the resident's physiological needs have been met.
The abbreviation ac is defined as _____________.
The abbreviation ac is defined as before the meal.
Normal changes of aging in the integumentary system include:
Oil production and blood flow slows down, resulting in drier skin and hair and increased risk of bruising. Elderly typically are more sensitive to cold, so temperature control of environment and water for bathing must be considered for resident comfort.
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.
Which of the following statements about pain is false?
Phantom pain is actual pain sometimes caused by nerve endings remaining active following an amputation.
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?
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.
As a CNA you are working with 6-8 year old children with mental disabilities. What should you do to prevent injury to them?
Beds should be as low as possible to prevent falls. Safety mats next to the bed may prevent injury of a fall out of bed occurs. Answer A is incorrect because shampoo and soap should not be accessible to the children. They must be put up high enough, and under lock and key, to prevent accidental injury. Answer B is incorrect because 108F is too hot especially for a child's sensitive skin. The temperature should be a warm to tepid temperature not to exceed 105F. Answer D is incorrect because if all of the lights are out there is a greater chance a child will fall or become frightened and get up to find help.
Mrs. Sanchez is a slow eater who usually has a poor intake. The nursing assistant is running behind and decides not to feed her since she takes a long time to feed but eats very little. The dietary department reports the tray is returned untouched. What charge could this nursing assistant be found guilty?
Negligence is failure to provide reasonable care resulting from either an action or an omission. Aiding and abetting is witnessing a wrongdoing and not reporting it. Malpractice is improper, negligent or unethical conduct that results in loss or injury. Battery is touching without permission.
You work as a CNA in a hospital. A woman says she is the sister of a patient and asks you why she is there and how she is doing. What is your best response?
The statement in answer C is the best response. Answer A is incorrect because you have not properly identified the visitor and have given out key information like room number and invited her to visit. Answer B is incorrect because you have not identified the visitor but have given out key information. Answer D, referring her to the nurse without identifying her may be convenient but is not correct.
Mrs. Elliott's husband is visiting. You notice he is coughing and sneezing frequently. You should:
After correctly recognizing the infection control issue, the CNA should report the event to the nurse.
