CNA State Exam with this 2025/2026
updated practice questions guide!
Includes verified questions and detailed
answers.
**1. A resident tells the nurse aide, "I feel like killing myself." What is
the FIRST action the CNA should take?**
A) Tell the resident "Don't say that."
B) Report the statement to the nurse immediately.
C) Ask the resident why they feel that way.
D) Ignore the statement to avoid upsetting the resident.
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Suicidal ideation is a medical emergency. CNAs are not
trained counselors; the priority is to notify the supervising nurse
immediately to initiate a safety protocol .
**2. Which of the following is the BEST example of maintaining
professional boundaries?**
A) Sharing personal phone numbers to text the resident.
B) Providing compassionate care while keeping the relationship focused
on health needs.
C) Keeping a secret for a resident that violates facility rules.
,D) Accepting a small tip for "extra" work.
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Professional boundaries mean the relationship is
therapeutic, not personal. CNAs should be kind but not friends; secrets
that impact safety cannot be kept .
**3. A resident tries to give the CNA a $50 gift as a thank you for good
care. What should the CNA do?**
A) Politely refuse the gift and explain the facility policy.
B) Accept the gift to avoid hurting the resident's feelings.
C) Take the gift only if no other staff saw it.
D) Put the gift in the communal staff fund.
**Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Accepting cash or large gifts crosses professional
boundaries and is prohibited by most facility ethics policies to prevent
exploitation or favoritism .
**4. According to HIPAA, which of the following is a breach of
confidentiality?**
A) Logging out of the electronic health record after use.
B) Closing a resident's chart at the nurses' station.
C) Discussing a resident's diagnosis in the elevator with a friend.
,D) Lowering your voice when giving a report in the hallway.
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Discussing Protected Health Information (PHI) with
unauthorized individuals (friends/non-caregivers) in a public space
(elevator) is a direct violation of HIPAA privacy laws .
**5. A resident who is usually alert is suddenly confused. What should
the CNA do?**
A) Assume it is normal aging.
B) Ask the resident to focus harder.
C) Report the change to the nurse immediately.
D) Ignore it to avoid alarming the family.
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Sudden confusion often indicates a medical emergency
(e.g., UTI, dehydration, stroke). CNAs are the "eyes and ears" and must
report acute changes STAT .
**6. A CNA is asked to perform a task that is against facility policy and
outside their scope of practice. What should they do?**
A) Perform the task quietly.
B) Refuse to perform the task and explain why.
C) Do it but ask for a raise later.
, D) Ask the resident to perform it themselves.
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Practicing outside the scope of practice or against
facility policy is illegal, unsafe, and grounds for immediate termination
or license revocation .
**7. What is the primary purpose of the care plan?**
A) To list staff schedules and breaks.
B) To provide legal protection for the facility.
C) To outline specific care and approaches for each resident.
D) To track the facility's budget.
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The care plan is an individualized guide developed by
the interdisciplinary team (led by an RN) that directs the CNA on how to
provide consistent, goal-oriented care .
**8. Restraints may ONLY be applied when:**
A) The resident is wandering at night.
B) There is a specific doctor's order and less restrictive interventions
have failed.
C) The family requests them for safety.
updated practice questions guide!
Includes verified questions and detailed
answers.
**1. A resident tells the nurse aide, "I feel like killing myself." What is
the FIRST action the CNA should take?**
A) Tell the resident "Don't say that."
B) Report the statement to the nurse immediately.
C) Ask the resident why they feel that way.
D) Ignore the statement to avoid upsetting the resident.
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Suicidal ideation is a medical emergency. CNAs are not
trained counselors; the priority is to notify the supervising nurse
immediately to initiate a safety protocol .
**2. Which of the following is the BEST example of maintaining
professional boundaries?**
A) Sharing personal phone numbers to text the resident.
B) Providing compassionate care while keeping the relationship focused
on health needs.
C) Keeping a secret for a resident that violates facility rules.
,D) Accepting a small tip for "extra" work.
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Professional boundaries mean the relationship is
therapeutic, not personal. CNAs should be kind but not friends; secrets
that impact safety cannot be kept .
**3. A resident tries to give the CNA a $50 gift as a thank you for good
care. What should the CNA do?**
A) Politely refuse the gift and explain the facility policy.
B) Accept the gift to avoid hurting the resident's feelings.
C) Take the gift only if no other staff saw it.
D) Put the gift in the communal staff fund.
**Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Accepting cash or large gifts crosses professional
boundaries and is prohibited by most facility ethics policies to prevent
exploitation or favoritism .
**4. According to HIPAA, which of the following is a breach of
confidentiality?**
A) Logging out of the electronic health record after use.
B) Closing a resident's chart at the nurses' station.
C) Discussing a resident's diagnosis in the elevator with a friend.
,D) Lowering your voice when giving a report in the hallway.
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Discussing Protected Health Information (PHI) with
unauthorized individuals (friends/non-caregivers) in a public space
(elevator) is a direct violation of HIPAA privacy laws .
**5. A resident who is usually alert is suddenly confused. What should
the CNA do?**
A) Assume it is normal aging.
B) Ask the resident to focus harder.
C) Report the change to the nurse immediately.
D) Ignore it to avoid alarming the family.
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** Sudden confusion often indicates a medical emergency
(e.g., UTI, dehydration, stroke). CNAs are the "eyes and ears" and must
report acute changes STAT .
**6. A CNA is asked to perform a task that is against facility policy and
outside their scope of practice. What should they do?**
A) Perform the task quietly.
B) Refuse to perform the task and explain why.
C) Do it but ask for a raise later.
, D) Ask the resident to perform it themselves.
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Practicing outside the scope of practice or against
facility policy is illegal, unsafe, and grounds for immediate termination
or license revocation .
**7. What is the primary purpose of the care plan?**
A) To list staff schedules and breaks.
B) To provide legal protection for the facility.
C) To outline specific care and approaches for each resident.
D) To track the facility's budget.
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The care plan is an individualized guide developed by
the interdisciplinary team (led by an RN) that directs the CNA on how to
provide consistent, goal-oriented care .
**8. Restraints may ONLY be applied when:**
A) The resident is wandering at night.
B) There is a specific doctor's order and less restrictive interventions
have failed.
C) The family requests them for safety.
