Indiana CNA NCLEX-Style Exam Prep | Certified
Nursing Assistant Practice Questions & Answers
with Rationales | 2025/2026 Training &
Certification Review
Question 1:
What is the primary role of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)?
A) Administer medications
B) Assist with daily living activities
C) Perform surgeries
D) Diagnose medical conditions
Answer: B - Assist with daily living activities
Rationale: CNAs provide essential support in helping patients with daily activities such
as bathing, dressing, and eating.
Question 2:
Which of the following is a key responsibility of a CNA?
A) Monitoring patient vital signs
B) Prescribing medications
C) Developing care plans
D) Conducting physical therapy
Answer: A - Monitoring patient vital signs
Rationale: CNAs are trained to take and record vital signs as part of their
responsibilities.
Question 3:
What should a CNA do if they notice a significant change in a resident's condition?
A) Ignore it
B) Report it to the nurse immediately
C) Document it only at the end of the shift
D) Wait for the next scheduled assessment
Answer: B - Report it to the nurse immediately
Rationale: Prompt reporting of changes can lead to timely interventions and care.
Question 4:
When providing personal care, a CNA should always:
A) Respect the resident’s privacy
B) Discuss the resident's condition with others
C) Use a loud voice to communicate
D) Complete tasks quickly
,Answer: A - Respect the resident’s privacy
Rationale: Maintaining privacy and dignity is essential in providing personal care.
Question 5:
What is the proper way to lift a patient?
A) Lift with your back
B) Use your legs and keep the patient close to your body
C) Twist while lifting
D) Ask the patient to assist in lifting
Answer: B - Use your legs and keep the patient close to your body
Rationale: Proper lifting techniques help prevent injury to both the caregiver and the
patient.
Question 6:
Which of the following is considered a violation of patient confidentiality?
A) Discussing patient information with unauthorized individuals
B) Documenting patient care in the medical record
C) Speaking about a patient in a private setting
D) Using patient identifiers in research
Answer: A - Discussing patient information with unauthorized individuals
Rationale: Protecting patient confidentiality is a legal and ethical obligation.
Question 7:
What should a CNA do if a resident refuses to take their medication?
A) Respect their wishes and inform the nurse
B) Force the resident to take the medication
C) Ignore the refusal
D) Document the refusal without notifying anyone
Answer: A - Respect their wishes and inform the nurse
Rationale: Patient autonomy must be respected, and the nurse should be informed for
further action.
Question 8:
How should a CNA respond to a resident who is upset and crying?
A) Listen and offer comfort
B) Tell them to stop crying
C) Leave the room
D) Ignore their feelings
Answer: A - Listen and offer comfort
,Rationale: Providing emotional support is important in building trust and rapport with
residents.
Question 9:
What is the best way for a CNA to prevent the spread of infection?
A) Wear gloves only when necessary
B) Practice proper hand hygiene
C) Use hand sanitizer instead of washing hands
D) Limit contact with residents
Answer: B - Practice proper hand hygiene
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infections.
Question 10:
In the state of Indiana, what is the minimum training hours required for a CNA?
A) 75 hours
B) 100 hours
C) 105 hours
D) 50 hours
Answer: C - 105 hours
Rationale: Indiana requires a minimum of 105 training hours for CNAs, including both
classroom and clinical instruction.
Question 11:
What should a CNA do to ensure a safe environment for residents?
A) Keep walkways clear and report hazards
B) Leave equipment in the hallway
C) Ignore spills
D) Turn off all lights
Answer: A - Keep walkways clear and report hazards
Rationale: Maintaining a safe environment is essential for preventing falls and
accidents.
Question 12:
When assisting a resident with feeding, it is important for the CNA to:
A) Encourage independence as much as possible
B) Feed the resident quickly
C) Use a loud voice
D) Ignore the resident’s preferences
Answer: A - Encourage independence as much as possible
Rationale: Promoting independence helps maintain dignity and self-esteem.
, Question 13:
Which of the following actions should a CNA take when a resident is experiencing
shortness of breath?
A) Notify the nurse immediately
B) Provide oxygen without permission
C) Leave the resident alone
D) Tell the resident to relax
Answer: A - Notify the nurse immediately
Rationale: Shortness of breath can be a serious condition requiring prompt medical
attention.
Question 14:
What is the proper way to address a resident?
A) By their room number
B) By their preferred name or title
C) By their first name only
D) By their last name only
Answer: B - By their preferred name or title
Rationale: Using a resident’s preferred name shows respect and helps build rapport.
Question 15:
Which of the following is a sign of dehydration in a resident?
A) Dry mouth and lips
B) Increased appetite
C) Clear urine
D) Regular bowel movements
Answer: A - Dry mouth and lips
Rationale: Dry mouth and lips can indicate that a resident is not adequately hydrated.
Question 16:
What is the appropriate way to communicate with a resident who has difficulty hearing?
A) Speak slowly and clearly, and face the resident
B) Shout to get their attention
C) Speak only to their family members
D) Ignore their difficulty
Answer: A - Speak slowly and clearly, and face the resident
Rationale: Clear communication helps ensure that the resident understands what is
being said.
Nursing Assistant Practice Questions & Answers
with Rationales | 2025/2026 Training &
Certification Review
Question 1:
What is the primary role of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)?
A) Administer medications
B) Assist with daily living activities
C) Perform surgeries
D) Diagnose medical conditions
Answer: B - Assist with daily living activities
Rationale: CNAs provide essential support in helping patients with daily activities such
as bathing, dressing, and eating.
Question 2:
Which of the following is a key responsibility of a CNA?
A) Monitoring patient vital signs
B) Prescribing medications
C) Developing care plans
D) Conducting physical therapy
Answer: A - Monitoring patient vital signs
Rationale: CNAs are trained to take and record vital signs as part of their
responsibilities.
Question 3:
What should a CNA do if they notice a significant change in a resident's condition?
A) Ignore it
B) Report it to the nurse immediately
C) Document it only at the end of the shift
D) Wait for the next scheduled assessment
Answer: B - Report it to the nurse immediately
Rationale: Prompt reporting of changes can lead to timely interventions and care.
Question 4:
When providing personal care, a CNA should always:
A) Respect the resident’s privacy
B) Discuss the resident's condition with others
C) Use a loud voice to communicate
D) Complete tasks quickly
,Answer: A - Respect the resident’s privacy
Rationale: Maintaining privacy and dignity is essential in providing personal care.
Question 5:
What is the proper way to lift a patient?
A) Lift with your back
B) Use your legs and keep the patient close to your body
C) Twist while lifting
D) Ask the patient to assist in lifting
Answer: B - Use your legs and keep the patient close to your body
Rationale: Proper lifting techniques help prevent injury to both the caregiver and the
patient.
Question 6:
Which of the following is considered a violation of patient confidentiality?
A) Discussing patient information with unauthorized individuals
B) Documenting patient care in the medical record
C) Speaking about a patient in a private setting
D) Using patient identifiers in research
Answer: A - Discussing patient information with unauthorized individuals
Rationale: Protecting patient confidentiality is a legal and ethical obligation.
Question 7:
What should a CNA do if a resident refuses to take their medication?
A) Respect their wishes and inform the nurse
B) Force the resident to take the medication
C) Ignore the refusal
D) Document the refusal without notifying anyone
Answer: A - Respect their wishes and inform the nurse
Rationale: Patient autonomy must be respected, and the nurse should be informed for
further action.
Question 8:
How should a CNA respond to a resident who is upset and crying?
A) Listen and offer comfort
B) Tell them to stop crying
C) Leave the room
D) Ignore their feelings
Answer: A - Listen and offer comfort
,Rationale: Providing emotional support is important in building trust and rapport with
residents.
Question 9:
What is the best way for a CNA to prevent the spread of infection?
A) Wear gloves only when necessary
B) Practice proper hand hygiene
C) Use hand sanitizer instead of washing hands
D) Limit contact with residents
Answer: B - Practice proper hand hygiene
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infections.
Question 10:
In the state of Indiana, what is the minimum training hours required for a CNA?
A) 75 hours
B) 100 hours
C) 105 hours
D) 50 hours
Answer: C - 105 hours
Rationale: Indiana requires a minimum of 105 training hours for CNAs, including both
classroom and clinical instruction.
Question 11:
What should a CNA do to ensure a safe environment for residents?
A) Keep walkways clear and report hazards
B) Leave equipment in the hallway
C) Ignore spills
D) Turn off all lights
Answer: A - Keep walkways clear and report hazards
Rationale: Maintaining a safe environment is essential for preventing falls and
accidents.
Question 12:
When assisting a resident with feeding, it is important for the CNA to:
A) Encourage independence as much as possible
B) Feed the resident quickly
C) Use a loud voice
D) Ignore the resident’s preferences
Answer: A - Encourage independence as much as possible
Rationale: Promoting independence helps maintain dignity and self-esteem.
, Question 13:
Which of the following actions should a CNA take when a resident is experiencing
shortness of breath?
A) Notify the nurse immediately
B) Provide oxygen without permission
C) Leave the resident alone
D) Tell the resident to relax
Answer: A - Notify the nurse immediately
Rationale: Shortness of breath can be a serious condition requiring prompt medical
attention.
Question 14:
What is the proper way to address a resident?
A) By their room number
B) By their preferred name or title
C) By their first name only
D) By their last name only
Answer: B - By their preferred name or title
Rationale: Using a resident’s preferred name shows respect and helps build rapport.
Question 15:
Which of the following is a sign of dehydration in a resident?
A) Dry mouth and lips
B) Increased appetite
C) Clear urine
D) Regular bowel movements
Answer: A - Dry mouth and lips
Rationale: Dry mouth and lips can indicate that a resident is not adequately hydrated.
Question 16:
What is the appropriate way to communicate with a resident who has difficulty hearing?
A) Speak slowly and clearly, and face the resident
B) Shout to get their attention
C) Speak only to their family members
D) Ignore their difficulty
Answer: A - Speak slowly and clearly, and face the resident
Rationale: Clear communication helps ensure that the resident understands what is
being said.
