CNA SKILLS EXAM – PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
CORE DOMAINS
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Basic Nursing Skills
Restorative Care
Emotional and Mental Health Needs
Spiritual and Cultural Needs
Communication and Documentation
Client Rights and Ethics
Safety and Emergency Procedures
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this comprehensive assessment is to evaluate the competency and readiness of
Nursing Assistant candidates. This exam focuses on the essential skills and clinical knowledge
required to provide high-quality care in various healthcare settings. The questions are structured as
multiple-choice and scenario-based problems to reflect the complexities of the modern healthcare
environment. Candidates will be assessed on their ability to apply theoretical foundational
knowledge to real-world clinical decision-making, ensuring patient safety, dignity, and legal
compliance. This document serves as a rigorous tool for those seeking to master the professional
standards and ethical responsibilities inherent in the nursing assistant role.
1. When performing hand hygiene, what is the minimum duration a Nursing Assistant should
lather their hands with soap?
,A. 10 seconds
B. 15 seconds
C. 20 seconds
D. 60 seconds
🟢 20 seconds
🔴 RATIONALE: To effectively remove pathogens, the CDC and standard nursing protocols
require scrubbing all surfaces of the hands for at least 20 seconds.
2. A resident is experiencing difficulty breathing while lying flat. What is the first action the
CNA should take?
A. Call the doctor immediately
B. Administer oxygen at 2L per minute
C. Elevate the head of the bed to Fowler's position
D. Take the resident's blood pressure
🟢 Elevate the head of the bed to Fowler's position
🔴 RATIONALE: Raising the head of the bed allows for maximum lung expansion and is the
immediate nursing intervention for orthopnea.
3. Which of the following is an example of a subjective observation?
A. The resident’s skin is pale and cool to the touch.
B. The resident’s radial pulse is 88 beats per minute.
C. The resident states, "I feel like my heart is racing."
D. The resident consumed 50% of their breakfast.
🟢 The resident states, "I feel like my heart is racing."
🔴 RATIONALE: Subjective data consists of information reported by the patient that cannot be
directly measured or observed by the healthcare provider.
, 4. When moving a resident up in bed, which of the following is necessary to prevent skin
shearing?
A. Using a friction-reducing draw sheet
B. Pulling the resident by their underarms
C. Asking the resident to keep their legs straight
D. Keeping the bed in a high-Fowler's position
🟢 Using a friction-reducing draw sheet
🔴 RATIONALE: A draw sheet or lift sheet helps lift the resident off the bed surface, preventing
the skin from rubbing against the linens.
5. What is the correct procedure for weighing a resident who uses a wheelchair?
A. Weigh the resident while they are standing on the scale
B. Weigh the wheelchair first, then weigh the resident in the chair and subtract the chair's weight
C. Estimate the weight based on the last recorded entry
D. Ask the family what the resident’s current weight is
🟢 Weigh the wheelchair first, then weigh the resident in the chair and subtract the chair's weight
🔴 RATIONALE: For residents unable to stand, using a wheelchair scale and subtracting the "tare"
weight of the empty chair ensures accuracy.
6. A CNA is caring for a resident with a localized infection in their right foot. Which of the
following is a systemic sign that the infection has spread?
A. Redness at the site
B. Swelling of the toes
C. Warmth to the touch
D. Elevated body temperature
🟢 Elevated body temperature
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Fever is a systemic (whole-body) response to infection, whereas redness, warmth,
and swelling are localized symptoms.
7. Which of the following is a primary responsibility of the CNA during the admission
process?
A. Determining the resident's diagnosis
B. Orienting the resident to the room and call light system
C. Prescribing the resident's initial diet
D. Explaining the legal risks of the facility
🟢 Orienting the resident to the room and call light system
🔴 RATIONALE: The CNA’s role focuses on the resident's comfort, safety, and physical orientation
to the new environment.
8. A resident who is NPO is asking for a glass of water. What should the CNA do?
A. Give the resident a small sip of water
B. Provide the resident with ice chips instead
C. Explain that they cannot have anything by mouth
D. Check if the resident can have a thickened liquid
🟢 Explain that they cannot have anything by mouth
🔴 RATIONALE: NPO (nil per os) means nothing by mouth; providing any fluid or food violates a
direct medical order and poses a safety risk.
9. What is the most common site for taking an adult’s pulse?
A. Carotid artery
B. Brachial artery
C. Radial artery
D. Femoral artery
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
CORE DOMAINS
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Basic Nursing Skills
Restorative Care
Emotional and Mental Health Needs
Spiritual and Cultural Needs
Communication and Documentation
Client Rights and Ethics
Safety and Emergency Procedures
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this comprehensive assessment is to evaluate the competency and readiness of
Nursing Assistant candidates. This exam focuses on the essential skills and clinical knowledge
required to provide high-quality care in various healthcare settings. The questions are structured as
multiple-choice and scenario-based problems to reflect the complexities of the modern healthcare
environment. Candidates will be assessed on their ability to apply theoretical foundational
knowledge to real-world clinical decision-making, ensuring patient safety, dignity, and legal
compliance. This document serves as a rigorous tool for those seeking to master the professional
standards and ethical responsibilities inherent in the nursing assistant role.
1. When performing hand hygiene, what is the minimum duration a Nursing Assistant should
lather their hands with soap?
,A. 10 seconds
B. 15 seconds
C. 20 seconds
D. 60 seconds
🟢 20 seconds
🔴 RATIONALE: To effectively remove pathogens, the CDC and standard nursing protocols
require scrubbing all surfaces of the hands for at least 20 seconds.
2. A resident is experiencing difficulty breathing while lying flat. What is the first action the
CNA should take?
A. Call the doctor immediately
B. Administer oxygen at 2L per minute
C. Elevate the head of the bed to Fowler's position
D. Take the resident's blood pressure
🟢 Elevate the head of the bed to Fowler's position
🔴 RATIONALE: Raising the head of the bed allows for maximum lung expansion and is the
immediate nursing intervention for orthopnea.
3. Which of the following is an example of a subjective observation?
A. The resident’s skin is pale and cool to the touch.
B. The resident’s radial pulse is 88 beats per minute.
C. The resident states, "I feel like my heart is racing."
D. The resident consumed 50% of their breakfast.
🟢 The resident states, "I feel like my heart is racing."
🔴 RATIONALE: Subjective data consists of information reported by the patient that cannot be
directly measured or observed by the healthcare provider.
, 4. When moving a resident up in bed, which of the following is necessary to prevent skin
shearing?
A. Using a friction-reducing draw sheet
B. Pulling the resident by their underarms
C. Asking the resident to keep their legs straight
D. Keeping the bed in a high-Fowler's position
🟢 Using a friction-reducing draw sheet
🔴 RATIONALE: A draw sheet or lift sheet helps lift the resident off the bed surface, preventing
the skin from rubbing against the linens.
5. What is the correct procedure for weighing a resident who uses a wheelchair?
A. Weigh the resident while they are standing on the scale
B. Weigh the wheelchair first, then weigh the resident in the chair and subtract the chair's weight
C. Estimate the weight based on the last recorded entry
D. Ask the family what the resident’s current weight is
🟢 Weigh the wheelchair first, then weigh the resident in the chair and subtract the chair's weight
🔴 RATIONALE: For residents unable to stand, using a wheelchair scale and subtracting the "tare"
weight of the empty chair ensures accuracy.
6. A CNA is caring for a resident with a localized infection in their right foot. Which of the
following is a systemic sign that the infection has spread?
A. Redness at the site
B. Swelling of the toes
C. Warmth to the touch
D. Elevated body temperature
🟢 Elevated body temperature
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Fever is a systemic (whole-body) response to infection, whereas redness, warmth,
and swelling are localized symptoms.
7. Which of the following is a primary responsibility of the CNA during the admission
process?
A. Determining the resident's diagnosis
B. Orienting the resident to the room and call light system
C. Prescribing the resident's initial diet
D. Explaining the legal risks of the facility
🟢 Orienting the resident to the room and call light system
🔴 RATIONALE: The CNA’s role focuses on the resident's comfort, safety, and physical orientation
to the new environment.
8. A resident who is NPO is asking for a glass of water. What should the CNA do?
A. Give the resident a small sip of water
B. Provide the resident with ice chips instead
C. Explain that they cannot have anything by mouth
D. Check if the resident can have a thickened liquid
🟢 Explain that they cannot have anything by mouth
🔴 RATIONALE: NPO (nil per os) means nothing by mouth; providing any fluid or food violates a
direct medical order and poses a safety risk.
9. What is the most common site for taking an adult’s pulse?
A. Carotid artery
B. Brachial artery
C. Radial artery
D. Femoral artery
