Nursing Assistant Practice Exam Notes

Exam Preparation Guidelines

Your physical condition affects your mental abilities. Before taking an exam, get plenty of sleep and watch what you eat and drink.
On the day of the exam, eat a healthy breakfast. It can be hard to think if you are hungry or did not eat a balanced breakfast.
Avoid foods that contain simple sugars (e.g., soda and doughnuts).
Being in good physical shape allows more blood to reach the brain. Regular physical exercise helps your body use oxygen more effectively, and even exercising a few days before an exam can noticeably improve thinking abilities.
When taking the exam, listen carefully to any instructions. Read directions and questions carefully. If material seems unfamiliar, stay calm and reread the questions slowly.
Try to eliminate obviously wrong answers for multiple-choice questions. Your first choice is usually correct, so do not change your answers unless you are sure of the correction.
Do not spend too much time on any one question. If you do not understand it, move on and return if time allows. If unsure, leave that question blank on your answer sheet and proceed to the next one in the proper space.
When finished, review your answers. For the skills portion, review the procedures in the book and any notes from lectures.
Testing logistics:
- Many testing companies have information on scheduling, required supplies for a skill, what to bring, and what to wear.
- You need to know which company performs the testing for your state.
- Example testing sites:
- Pearson VUE (pearsonvue.com)
- D&S Diversified Technologies/Headmaster (hdmaster.com)
- Prometric (prometric.com)
Nervousness is natural. A little stress can help you focus and stay alert. Do not let difficult questions harm your confidence. Take a few deep breaths to calm down. Remember that becoming a nursing assistant is valuable and rewarding, and the exam is your chance to show what you have learned to do.

Practice Exam Questions and Answers

When a resident refuses to let the nursing assistant take a blood pressure measurement, the nursing assistant should

A) Let the resident know that she must have it taken to prevent a serious illness
B) Take the resident's blood pressure anyway and agree to report the refusal afterward
C) Promise the resident a gift if she allows her blood pressure to be measured
D) Report this to the nurse
Answer: D
Rationale: If a resident refuses a blood pressure measurement, the NA should report the refusal to the supervising nurse for proper documentation and next steps.

One task commonly assigned to nursing assistants is

A) Inserting and removing tubes
B) Changing sterile dressings
C) Helping residents with elimination needs
D) Prescribing medications to residents
Answer: C
Rationale: Assisting with elimination needs is a typical NA responsibility; inserting/removing tubes, changing sterile dressings, and prescribing medications are not standard NA duties.

A nursing assistant may share a resident's medical information with which of the following?

A) The resident's family
B) Other members of the healthcare team
C) The nursing assistant's family
D) The resident's roommate
Answer: B
Rationale: Protected health information should be shared only with appropriate members of the healthcare team or with the resident’s consent as required by privacy rules.

To best communicate with a resident who has a hearing impairment, the nursing assistant should

A) Use short sentences and simple words
B) Shout the words slowly
C) Approach the resident from behind
D) Raise the pitch of her voice
Answer: A
Rationale: Speak clearly with simple language; face the resident, and avoid shouting or approaching from behind.

If a nursing assistant suspects that a resident is being abused, she should

A) Ask the resident if he thinks he is being abused
B) Call the resident's family immediately to report the possible abuse
C) Report it to the nurse immediately
D) Check with the resident's roommate to see if he has noticed anything
Answer: C
Rationale: Suspected abuse should be reported immediately to the supervising nurse to ensure resident safety and proper reporting procedures.

An ombudsman is a person who

A) Is in charge of hiring facility staff
B) Teaches nursing assistants how to perform range of motion exercises
C) Is a legal advocate for residents and helps protect their rights
D) Creates special diets for residents who are ill
Answer: C
Rationale: An ombudsman advocates for residents’ rights and helps protect their interests.

To best respond to a resident with Alzheimer’s disease who is repeating a question over and over again, the nursing assistant should

A) Answer questions each time they are asked, using the same words
B) Refuse to answer the question each time
C) Ask the resident to stop repeating
D) Explain to the resident that she just asked that question
Answer: A
Rationale: Gentle, consistent responses help reduce frustration; repeating the same answer acknowledges the resident’s need without escalating stress.

In general, with regard to a resident's toenails, a nursing assistant should

A) Not cut them
B) Cut them when the resident requests it
C) Cut them weekly
D) File them into rounded edges
Answer: A
Rationale: Toenail care should be performed by appropriate personnel; many facilities restrict toenail trimming due to risk of injury or infection; filing edges is often preferred if nails are handled.

When providing personal care, the nursing assistant should

A) Make sure the resident remains silent
B) Provide privacy for the resident
C) Tell the resident about other residents' conditions to distract him
D) Discuss her personal problems
Answer: B
Rationale: Privacy is essential during personal care to maintain dignity.

Generally speaking, the last sense to leave a dying person is the sense of

A) Sight
B) Taste
C) Smell
D) Hearing
Answer: D
Rationale: Hearing is typically the last sense to be lost in the dying process.

Which temperature site is considered the most accurate?

A) Rectum (rectal)
B) Mouth (oral)
C) Armpit (axillary)
D) Ear (tympanic)
Answer: A
Rationale: Rectal temperature is commonly the most accurate core measurement.

How should a standard bedpan be positioned?

A) It should be positioned however the resident prefers.
B) The wider end should be aligned with the resident's buttocks.
C) The smaller end should be aligned with the resident's buttocks.
D) The smaller end should be facing the resident's head.
Answer: B
Rationale: The wider end aligns with the buttocks to catch waste more effectively.

A resident tells a nursing assistant that she is scared of dying. Which would be the best response by the nursing assistant?

A) The NA can offer to call her minister to see if he can visit the resident.
B) The NA can listen quietly and ask questions when appropriate.
C) The NA can reassure the resident that she is not dying soon.
D) The NA can suggest other medications that might help with the resident's condition.
Answer: B
Rationale: Listening empathetically and asking appropriate questions supports emotional needs.

To prevent dehydration, a nursing assistant should

A) Discourage fluids before bedtime
B) Withhold fluids so the resident will be really thirsty
C) Offer fresh water and other fluids often
D) Wake the resident during the night to offer fluids
Answer: C
Rationale: Regular offering of fluids helps prevent dehydration.

When giving perineal care to a female resident, a nursing assistant should

A) Wipe from front to back
B) Wipe from back to front
C) Use the same section of the washcloth for cleaning each part
D) Wash the anal area before the perineal area
Answer: A
Rationale: Wiping front to back reduces the risk of introducing bacteria toward the urinary tract.

If a nursing assistant sees a resident masturbating, the nursing assistant should

A) Ask the charge nurse what she is legally allowed to do
B) Provide privacy for the resident
C) Suggest that nighttime might be better for masturbating
D) Ask the resident to stop masturbating
Answer: B
Rationale: Providing privacy is respectful and appropriate.

In what order should range of motion exercises be performed?

A) Start from the feet and work up.
B) Start from the shoulders and work down.
C) The arms and legs should be exercised first.
D) The arms and legs should be exercised last.
Answer: A
Rationale: ROM often starts with distal joints and progresses proximally to aid coordination and safety.

A nursing assistant must wear gloves when

A) Combing a resident's hair
B) Feeding a resident
C) Performing oral care
D) Performing range of motion exercises
Answer: C
Rationale: Gloves are worn to protect both resident and caregiver during care involving mucous membranes or potential exposure to bodily fluids.

To best communicate with a resident who has a visual impairment, the nursing assistant should

A) Rearrange furniture without telling the resident
B) Identify herself when she enters the room
C) Keep the lighting low at all times
D) Touch the resident before identifying herself
Answer: B
Rationale: Identifying yourself helps orientation and safety for the resident.

The first stage of a pressure injury may have skin that is this color:

A) Yellow
B) Freckled
C) Red
D) Blue
Answer: C
Rationale: Non-blanchable redness is typical of early pressure injury (Stage 1).

Which one of the following statements is generally true of the normal aging process and late adulthood (65 years and older)?

A) People become helpless and lonely.
B) People become incontinent.
C) People develop Alzheimer's disease.
D) People remain active and engaged.
Answer: D
Rationale: Many older adults remain active and engaged; the other statements are not universally true.

Abdominal thrusts help

A) Stop bleeding
B) Remove a blockage from an airway
C) Reduce the risk of falls
D) Stop a heart attack
Answer: B
Rationale: Abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) assist in dislodging an airway blockage.

Which of the following is a way to prevent unintended weight loss?

A) Insisting that residents eat whatever food is offered to them
B) Asking residents to swallow more quickly
C) Offering gifts to residents who finish their meals
D) Honoring food likes and dislikes
Answer: D
Rationale: Respecting preferences supports adequate intake and nutrition.

Which of the following is a way for a nursing assistant to use proper body mechanics while working?

A) Bending his knees while lifting
B) Standing with his feet close together while lifting
C) Holding objects far away from his body when carrying them
D) Twisting at the waist when he is moving an object
Answer: A
Rationale: Bending the knees lowers center of gravity and reduces back strain.

What would be the best way for a nursing assistant to promote a resident's dignity during bowel or bladder retraining?

A) Rushing the resident during elimination
B) Providing privacy for elimination
C) Criticizing a resident when he has a setback to help keep him motivated
D) Withholding fluids when the resident is incontinent
Answer: B
Rationale: Privacy supports dignity during elimination.

A resident tells a nursing assistant that he wants to wear his gray sweater. The nursing assistant should

A) Tell him that she has already picked out his clothes for the day
B) Assist him in getting dressed in his gray sweater
C) Tell him that his gray sweater does not match his pants and ask him to pick something else
D) Tell him that she likes his blue sweater better
Answer: B
Rationale: Respect resident preferences and support autonomy in choices.

When donning personal protective equipment, which of the following should be donned first?

A) Mask
B) Gown
C) Gloves
D) Goggles
Answer: B
Rationale: Gown typically goes on first to protect clothing and skin, followed by mask, goggles, and gloves as needed.

How should soiled bed linens be handled?

A) By carrying them away from the nursing assistant's body
B) By shaking them in the air to get rid of contaminants
C) By taking them into another resident's room to put them in a hamper
D) By rolling them dirty side out
Answer: A
Rationale: Handle soiled linens to prevent contamination and maintain body protection.

What is the purpose of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?

A) To monitor quality of care in facilities
B) To reduce incidents of abuse in facilities
C) To keep protected health information private and secure
D) To provide training for facility staff
Answer: C
Rationale: HIPAA protects patient privacy and secures PHI.

One safety device that helps transfer residents is called a

A) Waist restraint
B) Posey vest
C) Transfer belt
D) Geriatric chair
Answer: C
Rationale: A transfer belt aids in safe transfers and reduces injury risk.

At which site is body temperature measured via the forehead?

A) Axillary
B) Tympanic
C) Temporal artery
D) Rectal
Answer: C
Rationale: Temporal artery thermometer reads the temperature across the forehead.

A nursing assistant should encourage a resident's independence and self-care because doing this

A) Promotes body function
B) Decreases blood flow
C) Lowers self-esteem
D) Increases anxiety
Answer: A
Rationale: Encouraging independence supports functional ability and well-being.

A restraint can be applied

A) When a resident is being rude to staff
B) When a nursing assistant does not have time to watch the resident
C) With a doctor's order
D) When a resident keeps pressing his call light
Answer: C
Rationale: Restraints require a medical order and must be used with caution.

A nursing assistant can show she is listening carefully to a resident by

A) Looking away when the resident talks
B) Changing the subject often
C) Interrupting the resident to finish what he is saying
D) Focusing on the resident and giving feedback
Answer: D
Rationale: Active listening involves attention and feedback.

How many milliliters equal one ounce?

A) 40
B) 30
C) 60
D) 20
Answer: B
Rationale: 1 fluid ounce equals 30 milliliters. 1 ext{ oz} = 30 ext{ mL}

With urinary catheters, it is important for a nursing assistant to remember that

A) Tubing should remain kinked and clean
B) Perineal care does not need to be performed
C) The drainage bag should be kept lower than the hips or the bladder
D) The tubing should be placed underneath the resident's body
Answer: C
Rationale: Keeping the drainage bag below the bladder helps prevent backflow and infection.

When assisting a resident who has had a stroke, a nursing assistant should

A) Do everything for the resident
B) Lead with the stronger side when transferring
C) Dress the stronger side first
D) Place food in the weaker side of the mouth
Answer: B
Rationale: For safety during transfers, lead with the stronger side; for dressing, typically support the affected side first (context-dependent). The best general guidance in many exams is to lead with the stronger side when transferring.

In which stage of grief would a dying resident be if he insists that a mistake was made on his blood test and he is not really dying?

A) Denial
B) Bargaining
C) Acceptance
D) Depression
Answer: A
Rationale: Denial is characterized by disbelief about the reality of illness or death.

The process of helping to restore a person to her highest level of functioning is called

A) Positioning
B) Rehabilitation
C) Elimination
D) Retention
Answer: B
Rationale: Rehabilitation aims to restore function and independence.

A nursing assistant overhears other nursing assistants discussing a resident. One of them says that she does not like taking care of this resident because "he is rude and smells funny." The nursing assistant should

A) Join in the conversation and tell the others her opinion of this resident
B) Let the resident know so that he will be nicer to the nursing assistants
C) Suggest to the nursing assistants that this is not the place to have this discussion
D) Ask another resident's opinion about how she should respond
Answer: C
Rationale: Inappropriate discussion about residents should be stopped and redirected to protect confidentiality and respect.

An oral temperature should not be taken on a resident who has eaten or had fluids in the last

A) 25-35
B) 10-20
C) 40-50
D) 50-60 minutes.
Answer: B
Rationale: Wait about 15-20 minutes after eating or drinking before taking an oral temperature to avoid skewed results.

How many feet does a quad cane have?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
Answer: D
Rationale: A quad cane has four points (feet) for stability.

A nursing assistant can assist residents with their spiritual needs by

A) Trying to convince residents to convert to the nursing assistant's religion
B) Listening to residents talk about their beliefs
C) Insisting residents participate in religious services
D) Expressing judgments about residents' religious groups
Answer: B
Rationale: Respectful listening supports spiritual needs without imposing beliefs.

When is it acceptable for a nursing assistant to hit a resident?

A) When the resident becomes combative
B) When the resident threatens to hit the nursing assistant or someone else
C) Only if the resident hits the nursing assistant first
D) Never
Answer: D
Rationale: Physical violence against residents is never acceptable; de-escalation and protective measures should be used.

When a resident has right-sided weakness, how should clothing be applied first?

A) On the left side
B) On the right side
C) On whichever side is closer to the nursing assistant
D) On whichever side the resident prefers
Answer: A
Rationale: Dress the stronger (left) side first to promote independence and safety.

A resident offers a nursing assistant a gift for being so helpful and kind. The nursing assistant should

A) Politely refuse the gift
B) Politely accept the gift
C) Accept the gift but donate it
D) Ask the resident for money instead
Answer: A
Rationale: Policies may require refusal of gifts to avoid coercion or favoritism, though some situations may allow modest, appropriate gifts with supervisor guidance.

According to the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA), nursing assistants must complete at least. hours of training before they can be employed.

A) 100
B) 250
C) 50
D) 75
Answer: D
Rationale: OBRA sets core training hour requirements; 75 hours is the commonly cited minimum.

Call lights should be placed

A) High on the wall over the head of the bed
B) Inside the bedside stand
C) On the floor
D) Within the resident's reach
Answer: D
Rationale: Call lights must be easily reachable by residents for safety and autonomy.

How long should nursing assistants use friction when lathering and washing their hands?

A) 2 minutes
B) 5 seconds
C) 18 seconds
D) 20 seconds
Answer: D
Rationale: Effective handwashing requires at least 20 seconds of friction with soap.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal government agency that protects workers from

A) Hazards on the job
B) Lawsuits
C) Verbal abuse from residents
D) Unfair employment practices
Answer: A
Rationale: OSHA protects workers from workplace hazards and sets safety standards.

Note: If you are using these notes for study, verify answers against your course materials or instructor guidance, as slight policy or guideline variations may exist between programs.