CNA Certification Exam

A resident often carries a doll with her, treating it like her baby. One day she is wandering around crying that she can't find her baby. The nurse aide should

offer comfort to the resident and help her look for her baby.

A nurse aide is asked to change a urinary drainage bag attached to an indwelling urinary catheter. The nurse aide has never done this before. The best response by the nurse aide is to

ask a nurse to watch the nurse aide change the bag since it is the first time.

Before feeding a resident, which of the following is the best reason to wash the resident's hands?

The resident may still touch his/her mouth or food.

Which of the following is a job task performed by the nurse aide?

Participating in resident care planning conferences

Which of the following statements is true about range of motion (ROM) exercises?

Are often performed during ADLs such as bathing or dressing

While the nurse aide tries to dress a resident who is confused, the resident keeps trying to grab a hairbrush. The nurse aide should

give the resident the hairbrush to hold.

A resident who is lying in bed suddenly becomes short of breath. After calling for help, the nurse aide's next action should be to

raise the head of the bed.

A resident who has cancer is expected to die within the next couple of days. Nursing care for this resident should focus on

providing for the resident's comfort.

While giving a bed bath, the nurse aide hears the alarm from a nearby door suddenly go off. The nurse aide should

make the resident being bathed safe and go check the door right away.

Gloves should be worn for which of the following procedures?

Emptying a urinary drainage bag

When walking a resident, a gait or transfer belt is often

put around the resident's waist to provide a way to hold onto the resident.

Which of the following statements is true about residents who are restrained?

They are at greater risk for developing pressure sores.

A resident has diabetes. Which of the following is a common sign of a low blood sugar?

Shakiness

When providing foot care to a resident it is important for the nurse aide to

check the feet for skin breakdown.

When feeding a resident, frequent coughing can be a sign the resident is

having difficulty swallowing.

When a person is admitted to the nursing home, the nurse aide should expect that the resident will

experience a sense of loss related to the life change.

A resident gets dressed and comes out of his room wearing shoes that are from two different pairs. The nurse aide should

ask if the resident realizes that the shoes do not match.

A resident's wife recently died. The resident is now staying in his room all the time and eating very little. The best response by the nurse aide is to

understand the resident is grieving and give him chances to talk.

When a resident refuses a bed bath, the nurse aide should

wait awhile and then ask the resident again.

When a resident is combative and trying to hit the nurse aide, it is important for the nurse aide to

step back to protect self from harm while speaking in a calm manner.

During lunch in the dining room, a resident begins yelling and throws a spoon at the nurse aide. The best response by the nurse aide is to

remain calm and ask what is upsetting the resident.

Which of the following questions asked to the resident is most likely to encourage conversation?

What are your favorite foods?

When trying to communicate with a resident who speaks a different language than the nurse aide, the nurse aide should

use pictures and gestures.

While walking down the hall, a nurse aide looks into a resident's room and sees another nurse aide hitting a resident. The nurse aide is expected to

enter the room immediately to provide for the resident's safety.

Before touching a resident who is crying to offer comfort, the nurse aide should consider

the resident's cultural background.

When a resident is expressing anger, the nurse aide should

listen closely to the resident's concerns.

When giving a back rub, the nurse aide should

keep the resident covered as much as possible.

A nurse aide finds a resident looking in the refrigerator at the nurses' station at 5 a.m. The resident, who is confused, explains he needs breakfast before he leaves for work. The best response by the nurse aide is to

ask the resident about his job and if he is hungry.

Which of the following is true about caring for a resident who wears a hearing aid?

Remove the hearing aid before showering.

Residents with Parkinson's disease often require assistance with walking because they

have a shuffling walk and tremors.

A resident who is inactive is at risk of constipation. In addition to increased activity and exercise, which of the following actions helps to prevent constipation?

Adequate fluid intake

A resident has an indwelling urinary catheter. While making rounds, the nurse aide notices that there is no urine in the drainage bag. The nurse aide should first

check for kinks in the tubing.

A resident who is incontinent of urine has an increased risk of developing

Correct!

pressure sores.

When cleansing the genital area during perineal care, the nurse aide should

replace the foreskin when pushed back to cleanse an uncircumcised penis.

Which of the following is considered a normal age-related change?

Bladder holding less urine

A resident is on a bladder retraining program. The nurse aide can expect the resident to

have a schedule for toileting.

A resident who has stress incontinence

may leak urine when laughing or coughing.

The doctor has told the resident that his cancer is growing and that he is dying. When the resident tells the nurse aide that there is a mistake, the nurse aide should

understand that denial is a normal reaction.

A slipknot is used when securing a restraint so that

the restraint can be removed quickly when needed.

When using personal protective equipment (PPE) the nurse aide correctly follows Standard Precautions when wearing

gloves to remove a resident's bedpan.

To help prevent resident falls, the nurse aide should

leave residents' beds at the lowest level when care is complete.

As the nurse aide begins his/her assignment, which of the following should the nurse aide do first?

Assist a resident that has called for assistance to get off the toilet

Which of the following would affect a nurse aide's status on the state's nurse aide registry and also cause the nurse aide to be ineligible to work in a nursing home?

Having a finding for resident neglect

To help prevent the spread of germs between patients, nurse aides should

hold supplies and linens away from their uniforms.

When a sink has hand-control faucets, the nurse aide should use

a paper towel to turn the water off.

When moving a resident up in bed who is able to move with assistance, the nurse aide should

bend the resident's knees and ask the resident to push with his/her feet.

The resident's weight is obtained routinely as a way to check the resident's

nutrition and health.

Which of the following is a right that is included in the Resident's Bill of Rights?

To make decisions and participate in own care

Which of the following, if observed as a sudden change in the resident, is considered a possible warning sign of a stroke?

Slurred speech

Considering the resident's activity, which of the following sets of vital signs should be reported to the charge nurse immediately?

Resting: 98.6°-98-32

A CNA overhears a co-worker complaining about a nurse, "She actually told me to go toilet the patient when she was just in the room and could have done it herself! She treats me like I am her slave. I'm so over it!" Which of the following statements is correct regarding this scenario?

the nursing assistant doesn't truly understand her role in the heatlhcare system

A patient in bed needs mouth care. What is an important safety step?

ensure that the patient is in a sitting position

Which of the following is NOT considered a sign of a potential infection in a patient?

a temperature reading of 98.7 degrees Fahrenheit

Elderly persons often need special care and caution, requiring gentle handling, because of this age-related change

thinner, dryer skin

A patient asks for help getting to the bathroom. The care plan has indicated that the patient should use a bedpan. What is an appropriate action for the CNA to take?

offer a bedpan to the patient

A patient is crying in her room and turns her head away from you when you enter. What is an appropriate response?

Place a hand on her lower arm and say, "You seem troubled. Would you like to talk?"

You are sitting at the nurse's station, charting lunch intake, next to a nurse on the phone when a family member approaches. You continue to work and do not look up or make eye contact. After a few moments of silence, the family member says, "Excuse me…". What is an appropriate action?

Make eye contact, smile, apologize for the delay and ask how you can help

A patient you are caring for keeps getting out of bed. You decide to restrain the patient for their own safety. This is an example of:

Battery

Which of the following is a task the CNA should be prepared to perform?

reporting any changes in the patient to the nurse

A CNA is caring for an elderly patient who seems more confused today. What is an appropriate action?

report the change to the nurse

A female patient with a history of seizures is admitted to your unit. What is an appropriate action to take to ensure this patient's safety?

report changes in sleep, personality and signs of stress in the patient to the nurse immediately

Depression among the elderly:

is often overlooked or unrecognized

A patient has been in wrist restraints for 2 hours and you are assigned to remove the restraints to reposition the patient. Where should the restraints be secured after repositioning?

to a non-moving part of the bed (bed frame)

When you enter a patient's room, he throws a telephone at you and yells at you to get out. He is pacing, appears agitated and is mumbling to himself. As you retreat toward the door, he lunges at you, trying to grab your arm. What should the CNA do?

leave the room immediately and get the nurse's attention quickly

A patient who frequently screams, "Help me" begins screaming. You are charting vital signs at the nursing station and decide to check on her after you are done. As you complete your work, she is no longer crying for help, so you skip your hourly rounds and begin re-stocking the supply shelf instead. A half hour later, a nurse enters the patient's room and finds that the patient had fallen, becoming trapped between the bed and a chair, resulting in a sudden and unexpected death. She asks you when you last saw the patient and if you heard anything. What is an appropriate response?

"I heard her call out about 45 minutes ago. I did not see her after she called out. I was performing other tasks and delayed my hourly rounds."

Which of the following is a POSITIVE non-verbal communication technique?

nodding to show agreement, interest and acknowledgment when another is talking

You are caring for a patient who had a stroke several months ago that resulted in right side weakness. You have been helping this person dress for several months, when today she appears irritated and states, "Just let me do it myself! Don't touch me!" What is an appropriate response?

"I'm right here if you need me. Just tell me if you need help."

A patient is recently diagnosed with end-stage renal disease. The nurse has educated the patient on diet modifications. Later, he says he can't remember what the nurse said and asks you if he should have pretzels or a candy bar. What is your BEST response?

"The nurse is the best person to answer that question. Let me get her for you."

What is an important step to take before bathing a patient?

ask the patient to check the water temperature

Mrs. Hopkins was admitted to the nursing home last week after being told that she can no longer live alone. She has been seen frequently crying and stated that, "It just doesn't feel like home. I hate that people come in and out of my room all the time without notice. This is my bedroom. I miss my privacy." What is a measure you can take to help her adjust?

make sure her privacy is respected and knock before entering

A patient you are caring for is getting stronger and feels able to transfer himself from bed to chair without your assistance. Which of the following statements is correct?

the CNA should notify the nurse of the changes in the patient's level of ability

Which of the following actions helps to prevent skin tears?

dressing the resident in long sleeves

CNAs should promote safety in patient environments by removing:

throw rugs

When wearing gloves to perform a personal care skill that will expose the CNA to body fluids, when should the gloves be put on?

after preparing supplies but immediately before beginning the skill on the patient

A confused patient in a locked dementia unit repeatedly asks staff where to go for lunch and staff notices that he is constantly entering rooms and closets along the hallway. This patient is at risk for:

elopement

A patient with limited mobility has become bedbound for the last few days. When reviewing the log books, you notice that no bowel movements have been charted for the last 3 days. What should you do?

notify the nurse of your observation

A patient in your Assisted Living Facility (ALF) is receiving Hospice care while they continue to reside in the ALF. While in the dining room, the patient begins choking on a piece of meat. What is an appropriate action?

perform the Heimlich Maneuver, as you have been trained

A resident complains that something is wrong with his hearing aid and that it is not working as he hands it to you. What should you do?

inspect the hearing aid for cracks and make sure it is turned on

A resident wears a hand splint. Which observation should the nurse aide report to the nurse immediately?

the resident's fingers are cold and blue in color

According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which needs are the most vital and must be met before any other needs can be achieved?

Physical needs: oxygen, water, food, elimination and rest

A patient in your facility requests to be left alone in the mornings, as she is not an early riser and does not generally eat breakfast. One of the night shift CNAs insists on getting this patient up at 5 am, despite the patient's protests. The patient complains during the day. What is an appropriate action?

notify the nurse of the patient's wishes

Which of the following is not a factor that might affect your communication with the patient?

your knowledge of their disease process and treatment options

You are assigned to evacuate bedbound patients from your unit after a fire alarm is triggered. The fire doors have closed at the end of your hall. Which of the following is true?

The doors can be opened manually to remove patients, visitors and staff

You have just been convicted of a misdemeanor charge of petty theft from a retail store. During sentencing, you received a fine and community service, but neither will interfere with your work schedule. Who must be notified immediately of the conviction?

the Nurse Aide Registry in your state

Which item should you do FIRST?

assist room 101 patient with a bedpan

To help prevent burns to residents during meals, the CNA should

let residents know which foods and beverages are hot

The use of a physical restraint helps

protect the resident from injury

If a resident is lying in bed vomiting, why does the CNA need to help the resident to turn onto the resident's side quickly?

to help prevent aspiration

A CNA enters a room just as a resident's wife slaps the resident. The resident does not seem upset or hurt. What should the nurse aide do?

report the observation to the charge nurse immediately

A resident, who is on a toileting schedule, asks to go to the bathroom frequently. The nurse aide should response to the resident's requests by

Correct!

taking the resident to the bathroom as needed

When a resident's husband begins telling the nurse aide how to care for his wife, the nurse aide should

suggest that the husband participate in his wife's resident care conference

Which action is most helpful to help decrease a resident's incontinence?

answering the resident's call light quickly

A resident must stay in bed for long periods of time. Which of the following actions will best prevent the resident from developing pressure ulcers?

turn and position the resident according to schedule

Which of the following is an example of disinfection?

cleaning a shower chair with a chemical cleanser

A resident's hands shake when trying to drink liquids, causing the liquids to spill. What is the best response by the nurse aide?

suggest that the resident might do well with a cup with a lid

When counting a resident's pulse, the nurse aide should

notice if the rhythm of the heart-beat is regular

A resident with advance directions has a DNR order. This means that the resident

should not be resuscitated

When helping a resident transfer from a bed to a chair, which of the following best demonstrates appropriate safety techniques?

follow the transfer technique as described in the care plan