Certified Nursing assistant sample test

Notice: The purpose of this Practice Test is to assist individuals in preparing for the nursing cna Competency Examination. Please be reminded that the results of this practice test do not reflect how well you will do on your actual examination.

Directions: This test is comprised of fifty (50) multiple-choice test questions. There are four suggested answers for each test question. Select the best answer for each test question.

practice test for certified nursing assistant

1. To prevent accidental pulling on the catheter when turning a male resident, the catheter tube must be taped securely to the resident’s:

(A) Hip
(B) Bed sheet
(C) Bed frame
(D) Upper thigh

2. When a resident has left-sided weakness, what part of a sweater is put on first?

(A) Left sleeve
(B) Client’s choice
(C) Both sleeves
(D) Right sleeve

3. Exercises for muscle and joint movement are called:

(A) Rotation
(B) Abduction
(C) Range of motion
(D) Adduction

4. Which of the following is the best reason to wash the resident’s hands before feeding him/her?

(A) The resident must follow meal routines.
(B) The resident may still touch his/her mouth or food.
(C) It is good for the resident’s morale and appetite.
(D) It prevents the spread of airborne diseases.

5. Which is the best way to communicate with a resident who is totally deaf?

(A) Smile a lot and talk very fast
(B) Avoid eye contact as much as possible
(C) Write out information
(D) Smile often and speak in a loud voice

6. Which of the following statements is correct about range of motion (ROM) exercises?

(A) Are usually done during ADLs such as dressing or bathing
(B) Wards off strokes and paralysis
(C) Performed only once a day
(D) Each exercise requires ten repetitions

7. What is the term for an artificial device used to replace a missing part of the body?

(A) Abduction
(B) Prosthesis
(C) External rotation
(D) Pronation

8. A nursing cna is required to wear gloves when:

(A) Giving a back rub
(B) Helping a resident perform range of motion exercises
(C) Doing peri-care
(D) Feeding a resident

9. Which of the following is a task of a nursing cna?

(A) Giving medications to assigned residents
(B) Changing sterile wound dressings
(C) Taking part in resident care planning conferences
(D) Taking verbal physician’s orders on the telephone

10. If there is fire in the client’s room, the first thing the nursing cna should do is:

(A) Try to put out the fire
(B) Get the resident out of the room safely
(C) Open a window
(D) Inform the nurse in charge

11. A confused resident asks a nursing cna what day it is. The nursing cna should:

(A) Ignore the resident’s request and switch to another topic
(B) Show the resident the date on a calendar and say the date
(C) Gently explain to the resident about how natural it is to have memory loss and say that the date is not important
(D) Say the date and then test the resident’s memory later

12. A resident always carries a doll with her everywhere she goes, treating it like her baby. One day, she wanders around the hallway crying and frantically searching for her lost baby. The nursing cna should:

(A) Go to the activity department and request for new dolls
(B) Comfort the resident and help her search for her baby
(C) Inform the other staff about the resident’s condition and instruct them to watch her closely
(D) Ask the resident if she remembers where she last placed her doll

13. When preparing to dress a resident, the nursing cna should:

(A) Select clothes that the nursing cna personally prefers
(B) Grab the first clothes that can be reached in the closet
(C) Ask the resident what he or she prefers to wear
(D) Use the clothes the resident wore the day before

14. A nursing cna can tend to the resident’s spiritual needs by:

(A) Letting residents talk freely and openly about their beliefs
(B) Bringing along residents to the nursing cna’s church
(C) Discussing the nursing cna’s own spiritual beliefs
(D) Avoiding the topic of religion

15. Which of the following emotional stages of dying is oftentimes the final stage?

(A) Depression
(B) Bargaining
(C) Acceptance
(D) Anger

16. The nursing cna discovers that new mail has been delivered to the resident’s room. The nursing cna should:

(A) Open the mail and read it to make sure it does not contain any news that will upset the resident
(B) Open the mail and read it to the resident
(C) Give the unopened mail to the resident and offer assistance as needed
(D) Open the mail and leave it on the table of the resident

17. If a resident says things like "Why does it have to be me?" or "Is God punishing me?" how should a nursing cna respond?

(A) Say "God does not punish people."
(B) Ignore the resident
(C) Listen quietly
(D) Joke around to lighten up the mood

18. What is the role of an ombudsman?

(A) Control the budget of the nursing home
(B) Prepare classes for nursing cnas regarding resident hygiene
(C) Manage a group of nursing homes
(D) Work with the nursing home for the protection of residents’ rights

19. What is the reason for padding side rails on the resident’s bed?

(A) Injury prevention for the resident
(B) Keep the resident warm
(C) Restrain the patient
(D) Provide a place to connect the call signal

20. What is the best way a nursing cna can help a resident who is having a difficult time accepting a loss?

(A) Convince the resident to accept the loss
(B) Give the resident some time alone
(C) Discourage individual activity
(D) Encourage the resident to open up and talk about his/her feelings

21. A nursing cna performs the Heimlich maneuver or abdominal thrust on a resident who has:

(A) an eyesight problem
(B) a bloody nose
(C) a blocked airway
(D) fallen out of bed

22. The resident offers a nursing cna a ten-dollar bill as a token of gratitude for all the help a nursing cna has given. The nursing cna should:

(A) Accept the money so as not to offend the resident
(B) Consult the nurse in charge on how to best handle the situation
(C) Politely turn down the offer
(D) Take the money and buy cleaning supplies for the resident’s room

23. According to the resident’s Bill of Rights, the nursing cna should:

(A) Prevent the resident from making any complaints about care
(B) Open the resident’s mail without seeking permission
(C) Always uphold a resident’s privacy when giving care
(D) Use the resident’s personal belongings to help out another resident

24. Which of the following is the last sense a dying resident will lose?

(A) Sight
(B) Taste
(C) Smell
(D) Hearing

25. A resident wakes up in the middle of the night asking for food. The nursing cna should:

(A) Tell the resident that breakfast is coming in three hours
(B) Explain to the resident that eating in the middle of the night is not allowed
(C) Tell the resident there is no food available at this time of the night
(D) Check the resident’s diet before offering any food

26. Which of the following is the correct multiplication formula when converting four ounces of juice to milliliters (ml)?

(A) 4 x 30 ml
(B) 4 x 5 ml
(C) 4 x 15 ml
(D) 4 x 10 ml

27. Which of the following situations is not considered an example of abuse or neglect?

(A) Leaving a resident in a wet and soiled bed
(B) Leaving a resident in the bathtub alone
(C) Restraining a resident according to the orders of a physician
(D) Making threats about withholding a resident’s meals if he or she does not follow instructions

28. A nursing cna hears a resident sobbing. The nursing cna should:

(A) Tell the resident to stop crying
(B) Tell the resident to lighten up
(C) Ask the resident about what is bothering him or her
(D) Contact the resident’s family at once

29. Which of the following is a right of a resident?

(A) Go to any area of the facility
(B) Smoke whenever and wherever a resident wants to
(C) Have telephone access
(D) View the medical reports of other residents

30. When changing an unsterile dressing, it is required of a nursing cna to wash hands:

(A) Before the procedure
(B) Before the procedure, after removing the soiled dressing, and after the procedure
(C) Before and after the procedure
(D) After a procedure

31. Before measuring the oral temperature of a resident who has just finished drinking something cold, the nursing cna should wait:

(A) 25 to 35 minutes
(B) 10 to 20 minutes
(C) At least 1 hour
(D) 45 to 55 minutes

32. When moving a resident, most of the resident’s weight should be supported by the cna:

(A) Shoulders
(B) Wrists
(C) Back
(D) Legs

33. Which of the following is the correct method of removing a dirty isolation gown?

(A) Letting it fall to the floor and step out of it
(B) Rolling it dirty side in and away from the body
(C) Pulling it off by the sleeve and shaking it out
(D) Pulling it over the head

34. Which of the following is the safety device used to assist a dependent resident from a bed to a chair?

(A) Foot board
(B) Transfer/gait belt
(C) Hand roll
(D) Posey vest

35. Which of the following is considered to be the most accurate temperature?

(A) Axillary
(B) Oral
(C) Rectal
(D) Groin

36. Which of the following is an early sign of a pressure sore?

(A) Numbness
(B) Coolness
(C) Swelling
(D) Discoloration

37. A resident who is resting in bed suddenly has hard time breathing. After calling for help, the next thing a nursing cna should do is to:

(A) Raise the head of the bed
(B) Elevate the feet of the resident
(C) Check the resident’s vital signs
(D) Instruct the resident to take long, deep breaths

38. When using a sink with hand-control faucets, the nursing cna should use:

(A) An elbow to turn the faucet controls on and off
(B) A paper towel to turn the faucet off
(C) Bare hands to turn the faucet controls on and off
(D) A paper towel to turn the faucet on

39. While eating at the dining room, a resident starts yelling and flings a spoon at the nursing cna. How does a cna best handle the situation?

(A) Reprimand the resident and ask the resident to leave the dining room at once
(B) Stay calm and ask the resident what is upsetting him or her
(C) Remove the resident’s fork, knife, plate and cup so there won’t be anything else to throw
(D) Ask other residents to leave the dining room for their safety

40. When providing care to a resident with a hearing aid, a nurse assistant should:

(A) Remove the hearing aid before bathing the resident
(B) Apply hairspray after the hearing aid is positioned properly
(C) Replace the batteries every week
(D) Clean the battery case and earmold with water every day and let it dry completely

41. Aside from increased activity and exercise, which of the following is helpful in preventing constipation?

(A) Low-fiber diet
(B) Regular mealtimes
(C) Sufficient fluid intake
(D) High-protein diet

42. Which of the following statements is true about residents suffering from stress incontinence?

(A) Must wear an incontinent brief every night
(B) Needs to visit the toilet every 1-2 hours throughout the day
(C) Will have an indwelling urinary catheter
(D) May suddenly urinate when coughing or laughing

43. What is the reason for using a slipknot to secure a restraint?

(A) It allows quick removal of the restraint when needed.
(B) The resident will not be able to remove the restraint.
(C) To maintain body alignment while wearing the restraint.
(D) A nursing cna can easily observe whether the restraint is applied properly.

44. Which of the following can help prevent resident falls?

(A) Encouraging residents to wear larger-sized, loose-fitting clothes
(B) Reminding residents who use call lights that they should wait patiently for staff to arrive
(C) Keeping residents’ beds at the lowest level after care is complete
(D) Always raising side rails when a resident is in his/her bed

45. A cna checks the resident’s weight routinely to assess the resident’s:

(A) Adjustment to the facility
(B) Health and nutrition
(C) Level of activity
(D) Growth and development

46. Considering the activity of the resident, which of the following sets of vital signs should a nursing cna report to the nurse in charge immediately?

(A) After eating: 97.0