CNA State Exam Practice Questions 2026 |
Certified Nursing Assistant Test Prep with
Verified Answers & Rationales
• This question CNA State Exam Practice Test features verified answers, full EXPERT
RATIONALE, and covers every major domain tested on the state exam — from
infection control and vital signs to residents' rights, end-of-life care, and anatomy.
• Study by reading each question carefully before checking the bold correct answer;
review every EXPERT RATIONALE even for questions you answer correctly, as the
explanations build the clinical reasoning you need to pass on exam day.
CNA STATE EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS 2026
Certified Nursing Assistant Test Prep | Questions with Verified Answers &
EXPERT RATIONALE
1. What is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection in a
healthcare setting?
A. Wearing gloves at all times
B. Wearing a mask when near residents
C. Using hand sanitizer after each resident contact
D. Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
E. Changing gloves between tasks
✓ Correct Answer: D. Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20
seconds
EXPERT RATIONALE: Handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is
the single most important and effective method of infection control. It physically
removes pathogens from the skin and is especially important before and after
resident contact, after handling body fluids, and after removing gloves.
2. When should a nursing assistant perform hand hygiene?
,A. Only before providing care
B. Only after removing gloves
C. Before and after each resident contact, after removing gloves, and after
contact with body fluids
D. Only when hands are visibly soiled
E. Once every hour during a shift
✓ Correct Answer: C. Before and after each resident contact, after removing
gloves, and after contact with body fluids
EXPERT RATIONALE: The CDC recommends hand hygiene at multiple critical
moments: before touching a patient, before a clean or aseptic procedure, after
body fluid exposure, after touching a patient, and after touching patient
surroundings. This is known as the "5 Moments of Hand Hygiene."
3. What type of precaution is used for residents with diseases spread by large
respiratory droplets?
A. Airborne precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Contact precautions
D. Standard precautions only
E. Reverse isolation
✓ Correct Answer: B. Droplet precautions
EXPERT RATIONALE: Droplet precautions are used for diseases transmitted by
large respiratory droplets such as influenza and meningitis. A surgical mask is worn
when within 3–6 feet of the resident. This differs from airborne precautions, which
require an N95 respirator for much smaller airborne particles.
,4. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) should be removed FIRST when
leaving an isolation room?
A. Mask
B. Gown
C. Gloves
D. Eye protection
E. Shoe covers
✓ Correct Answer: C. Gloves
EXPERT RATIONALE: Gloves are considered the most contaminated piece of PPE.
The correct order of removal (doffing) is: gloves → eye protection or face shield →
gown → mask or respirator. This sequence prevents self-contamination during
removal.
5. A resident has been placed on airborne precautions. What type of room
should this resident be in?
A. A semi-private room with curtains drawn
B. A room near the nurses' station
C. A negative pressure (airborne infection isolation) room
D. A positive pressure room
E. Any private room
✓ Correct Answer: C. A negative pressure (airborne infection isolation) room
EXPERT RATIONALE: Airborne precautions require a negative pressure room
where air flows inward to prevent infectious particles from escaping into the
corridor. This is used for diseases like tuberculosis, measles, and varicella. The door
must remain closed at all times.
, 6. Which of the following is an example of a reservoir in the chain of infection?
A. Sneezing
B. Broken skin
C. A contaminated bedpan
D. Touching a doorknob
E. Inhaling infected droplets
✓ Correct Answer: C. A contaminated bedpan
EXPERT RATIONALE: In the chain of infection, a reservoir is where the pathogen
lives and multiplies. A contaminated bedpan is an inanimate reservoir. Other
reservoirs include people, animals, soil, water, and food. Breaking the reservoir link
prevents infection from continuing its cycle.
7. Standard precautions should be used:
A. Only with residents known to have infections
B. Only when handling blood
C. Only when a resident is on isolation
D. With every resident, regardless of diagnosis
E. Only when the resident is coughing
✓ Correct Answer: D. With every resident, regardless of diagnosis
EXPERT RATIONALE: Standard precautions are the minimum infection prevention
practices applied to ALL patient care, regardless of suspected or confirmed
infection status. They include hand hygiene, use of PPE, proper handling of sharps,
and respiratory hygiene — protecting both healthcare workers and residents.
8. Which action by the CNA demonstrates proper infection control when
making an occupied bed?
Certified Nursing Assistant Test Prep with
Verified Answers & Rationales
• This question CNA State Exam Practice Test features verified answers, full EXPERT
RATIONALE, and covers every major domain tested on the state exam — from
infection control and vital signs to residents' rights, end-of-life care, and anatomy.
• Study by reading each question carefully before checking the bold correct answer;
review every EXPERT RATIONALE even for questions you answer correctly, as the
explanations build the clinical reasoning you need to pass on exam day.
CNA STATE EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS 2026
Certified Nursing Assistant Test Prep | Questions with Verified Answers &
EXPERT RATIONALE
1. What is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection in a
healthcare setting?
A. Wearing gloves at all times
B. Wearing a mask when near residents
C. Using hand sanitizer after each resident contact
D. Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
E. Changing gloves between tasks
✓ Correct Answer: D. Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20
seconds
EXPERT RATIONALE: Handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is
the single most important and effective method of infection control. It physically
removes pathogens from the skin and is especially important before and after
resident contact, after handling body fluids, and after removing gloves.
2. When should a nursing assistant perform hand hygiene?
,A. Only before providing care
B. Only after removing gloves
C. Before and after each resident contact, after removing gloves, and after
contact with body fluids
D. Only when hands are visibly soiled
E. Once every hour during a shift
✓ Correct Answer: C. Before and after each resident contact, after removing
gloves, and after contact with body fluids
EXPERT RATIONALE: The CDC recommends hand hygiene at multiple critical
moments: before touching a patient, before a clean or aseptic procedure, after
body fluid exposure, after touching a patient, and after touching patient
surroundings. This is known as the "5 Moments of Hand Hygiene."
3. What type of precaution is used for residents with diseases spread by large
respiratory droplets?
A. Airborne precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Contact precautions
D. Standard precautions only
E. Reverse isolation
✓ Correct Answer: B. Droplet precautions
EXPERT RATIONALE: Droplet precautions are used for diseases transmitted by
large respiratory droplets such as influenza and meningitis. A surgical mask is worn
when within 3–6 feet of the resident. This differs from airborne precautions, which
require an N95 respirator for much smaller airborne particles.
,4. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) should be removed FIRST when
leaving an isolation room?
A. Mask
B. Gown
C. Gloves
D. Eye protection
E. Shoe covers
✓ Correct Answer: C. Gloves
EXPERT RATIONALE: Gloves are considered the most contaminated piece of PPE.
The correct order of removal (doffing) is: gloves → eye protection or face shield →
gown → mask or respirator. This sequence prevents self-contamination during
removal.
5. A resident has been placed on airborne precautions. What type of room
should this resident be in?
A. A semi-private room with curtains drawn
B. A room near the nurses' station
C. A negative pressure (airborne infection isolation) room
D. A positive pressure room
E. Any private room
✓ Correct Answer: C. A negative pressure (airborne infection isolation) room
EXPERT RATIONALE: Airborne precautions require a negative pressure room
where air flows inward to prevent infectious particles from escaping into the
corridor. This is used for diseases like tuberculosis, measles, and varicella. The door
must remain closed at all times.
, 6. Which of the following is an example of a reservoir in the chain of infection?
A. Sneezing
B. Broken skin
C. A contaminated bedpan
D. Touching a doorknob
E. Inhaling infected droplets
✓ Correct Answer: C. A contaminated bedpan
EXPERT RATIONALE: In the chain of infection, a reservoir is where the pathogen
lives and multiplies. A contaminated bedpan is an inanimate reservoir. Other
reservoirs include people, animals, soil, water, and food. Breaking the reservoir link
prevents infection from continuing its cycle.
7. Standard precautions should be used:
A. Only with residents known to have infections
B. Only when handling blood
C. Only when a resident is on isolation
D. With every resident, regardless of diagnosis
E. Only when the resident is coughing
✓ Correct Answer: D. With every resident, regardless of diagnosis
EXPERT RATIONALE: Standard precautions are the minimum infection prevention
practices applied to ALL patient care, regardless of suspected or confirmed
infection status. They include hand hygiene, use of PPE, proper handling of sharps,
and respiratory hygiene — protecting both healthcare workers and residents.
8. Which action by the CNA demonstrates proper infection control when
making an occupied bed?
