NURSING ASSISTANT CARE BASICS EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | ELABORATED
VERIFIED PRACTICE TEST | LATEST
UPDATED SOLUTIONS 2026
• This practice test contains 200 verified questions and answers covering all core
Nursing Assistant Care Basics topics, designed to prepare you thoroughly for your
certification exam.
• Use this material by reading each question carefully, selecting your answer before
checking the highlighted correct option and EXPERT RATIONALE below it.
1. What is the primary role of a nursing assistant?
A. Diagnosing patient conditions
B. Prescribing medications
C. Administering anesthesia
D. Performing surgical procedures
E. Providing basic care and assisting patients with daily living activities
Correct Answer: E. Providing basic care and assisting patients with daily living
activities
EXPERT RATIONALE: Nursing assistants work under the supervision of licensed
nurses to provide hands-on basic care, helping patients with activities of daily living
such as bathing, dressing, feeding, and mobility.
2. When should a nursing assistant perform hand hygiene?
A. Only after handling soiled linen
B. Only before meals
C. Only when hands are visibly dirty
D. Only after patient contact
,E. Before and after every patient contact
Correct Answer: E. Before and after every patient contact
EXPERT RATIONALE: Hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent the
spread of infection. It must be performed before and after every patient contact,
after removing gloves, and whenever hands are visibly soiled.
3. Which of the following is a patient's right?
A. To demand any medication they choose
B. To refuse care from all staff permanently
C. To access other patients' medical records
D. To leave without informing anyone
E. To be treated with dignity and respect
Correct Answer: E. To be treated with dignity and respect
EXPERT RATIONALE: Patients have the legal and ethical right to be treated with
dignity and respect at all times. This is a fundamental patient right protected under
healthcare law and professional standards.
4. What does the term "ADL" stand for?
A. Advanced Directive Listing
B. Authorized Drug Licensing
C. Acute Disease Limitation
D. Assistive Device Log
E. Activities of Daily Living
Correct Answer: E. Activities of Daily Living
,EXPERT RATIONALE: ADL refers to Activities of Daily Living, which include basic
self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, toileting, and
transferring. Nursing assistants routinely assist patients with these activities.
5. A nursing assistant notices a patient has a red, broken skin area over the
coccyx. What should they do first?
A. Apply lotion and continue with care
B. Cover it with a bandage
C. Ignore it if the patient is not complaining
D. Reposition the patient and say nothing
E. Report it immediately to the supervising nurse
Correct Answer: E. Report it immediately to the supervising nurse
EXPERT RATIONALE: Any skin breakdown, redness, or pressure injury must be
reported to the supervising nurse immediately. Early detection and reporting
prevents worsening of pressure ulcers and ensures proper treatment is initiated.
6. What is the correct water temperature for a patient's bath?
A. 80°F (26.7°C)
B. 95°F (35°C)
C. 115°F (46.1°C)
D. 120°F (48.9°C)
E. 105°F (40.6°C)
Correct Answer: E. 105°F (40.6°C)
EXPERT RATIONALE: Safe bath water temperature for patients is approximately
105°F (40.6°C). Water that is too hot can cause burns, especially in elderly or
sensory-impaired patients. Always test the water before bathing.
, 7. Which position is used to prevent aspiration during feeding?
A. Supine position
B. Prone position
C. Trendelenburg position
D. Lithotomy position
E. Fowler's position (semi-upright)
Correct Answer: E. Fowler's position (semi-upright)
EXPERT RATIONALE: Fowler's or semi-Fowler's position elevates the head of the
bed to at least 30–45 degrees, which prevents aspiration during feeding by allowing
gravity to assist with swallowing and digestion.
8. What does "NPO" mean in patient care?
A. No Prescribed Oxygen
B. Normal Patient Observation
C. Neurological Patient Order
D. Nurse's Priority Objective
E. Nothing by mouth
Correct Answer: E. Nothing by mouth
EXPERT RATIONALE: NPO stands for "nil per os," a Latin term meaning nothing by
mouth. Patients placed on NPO status must not receive any food, water, or oral
medications unless otherwise specified by the physician.
9. When making an occupied bed, what should the nursing assistant do first?
A. Remove the pillow from under the patient's head
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | ELABORATED
VERIFIED PRACTICE TEST | LATEST
UPDATED SOLUTIONS 2026
• This practice test contains 200 verified questions and answers covering all core
Nursing Assistant Care Basics topics, designed to prepare you thoroughly for your
certification exam.
• Use this material by reading each question carefully, selecting your answer before
checking the highlighted correct option and EXPERT RATIONALE below it.
1. What is the primary role of a nursing assistant?
A. Diagnosing patient conditions
B. Prescribing medications
C. Administering anesthesia
D. Performing surgical procedures
E. Providing basic care and assisting patients with daily living activities
Correct Answer: E. Providing basic care and assisting patients with daily living
activities
EXPERT RATIONALE: Nursing assistants work under the supervision of licensed
nurses to provide hands-on basic care, helping patients with activities of daily living
such as bathing, dressing, feeding, and mobility.
2. When should a nursing assistant perform hand hygiene?
A. Only after handling soiled linen
B. Only before meals
C. Only when hands are visibly dirty
D. Only after patient contact
,E. Before and after every patient contact
Correct Answer: E. Before and after every patient contact
EXPERT RATIONALE: Hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent the
spread of infection. It must be performed before and after every patient contact,
after removing gloves, and whenever hands are visibly soiled.
3. Which of the following is a patient's right?
A. To demand any medication they choose
B. To refuse care from all staff permanently
C. To access other patients' medical records
D. To leave without informing anyone
E. To be treated with dignity and respect
Correct Answer: E. To be treated with dignity and respect
EXPERT RATIONALE: Patients have the legal and ethical right to be treated with
dignity and respect at all times. This is a fundamental patient right protected under
healthcare law and professional standards.
4. What does the term "ADL" stand for?
A. Advanced Directive Listing
B. Authorized Drug Licensing
C. Acute Disease Limitation
D. Assistive Device Log
E. Activities of Daily Living
Correct Answer: E. Activities of Daily Living
,EXPERT RATIONALE: ADL refers to Activities of Daily Living, which include basic
self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, toileting, and
transferring. Nursing assistants routinely assist patients with these activities.
5. A nursing assistant notices a patient has a red, broken skin area over the
coccyx. What should they do first?
A. Apply lotion and continue with care
B. Cover it with a bandage
C. Ignore it if the patient is not complaining
D. Reposition the patient and say nothing
E. Report it immediately to the supervising nurse
Correct Answer: E. Report it immediately to the supervising nurse
EXPERT RATIONALE: Any skin breakdown, redness, or pressure injury must be
reported to the supervising nurse immediately. Early detection and reporting
prevents worsening of pressure ulcers and ensures proper treatment is initiated.
6. What is the correct water temperature for a patient's bath?
A. 80°F (26.7°C)
B. 95°F (35°C)
C. 115°F (46.1°C)
D. 120°F (48.9°C)
E. 105°F (40.6°C)
Correct Answer: E. 105°F (40.6°C)
EXPERT RATIONALE: Safe bath water temperature for patients is approximately
105°F (40.6°C). Water that is too hot can cause burns, especially in elderly or
sensory-impaired patients. Always test the water before bathing.
, 7. Which position is used to prevent aspiration during feeding?
A. Supine position
B. Prone position
C. Trendelenburg position
D. Lithotomy position
E. Fowler's position (semi-upright)
Correct Answer: E. Fowler's position (semi-upright)
EXPERT RATIONALE: Fowler's or semi-Fowler's position elevates the head of the
bed to at least 30–45 degrees, which prevents aspiration during feeding by allowing
gravity to assist with swallowing and digestion.
8. What does "NPO" mean in patient care?
A. No Prescribed Oxygen
B. Normal Patient Observation
C. Neurological Patient Order
D. Nurse's Priority Objective
E. Nothing by mouth
Correct Answer: E. Nothing by mouth
EXPERT RATIONALE: NPO stands for "nil per os," a Latin term meaning nothing by
mouth. Patients placed on NPO status must not receive any food, water, or oral
medications unless otherwise specified by the physician.
9. When making an occupied bed, what should the nursing assistant do first?
A. Remove the pillow from under the patient's head
