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CNA Certification practice questions and answers

20 free questions from our 300-question CNA Certification bank, each with the correct answer and a cited explanation. The real exam: 70 questions (60 scored) · must pass written + skills · 2-hour limit.

Questions last updated September 13, 2026 · Questions written from the 2024 NNAAP Content Outline and Candidate Handbook (Credentia) and verified against its domains.

1. Basic Nursing Skills

   1. A nursing assistant is about to help a resident with morning care. When should the assistant perform hand hygiene?

   1. AOnly if her hands look visibly soiled
   2. BBefore and after contact with the resident
   3. COnly at the beginning and end of the shift
   4. DOnly after touching the resident, not before

   Answer: B. Correct — hand hygiene before and after every resident contact breaks the chain of infection in both directions. Option A is wrong because hands carry germs even when they look clean. Option C is wrong because germs spread between every task, not just at shift change. Option D is wrong because clean hands must also protect the resident before contact.

   Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Basic Nursing Skills: Infection Control (35%)

2. Basic Nursing Skills

   2. While providing care, a nursing assistant notices a tear in one of her gloves. What should she do?

   1. ARemove the gloves, wash hands, and apply new gloves
   2. BSeal the tear with tape and continue giving resident care
   3. CFinish giving care now and change the torn gloves later
   4. DRemove the gloves and finish the task with bare hands

   Answer: A. Correct — a torn glove no longer protects anyone, so the assistant must remove the gloves, perform hand hygiene, and apply new gloves. Option B is wrong because tape does not restore a protective barrier. Option C is wrong because continuing with a torn glove spreads germs. Option D is wrong because working bare-handed after body-fluid contact risks infection.

   Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Basic Nursing Skills: Infection Control (35%)

3. Basic Nursing Skills

   3. A nursing assistant is removing soiled bed linens. How should the linens be handled?

   1. AShake the soiled linens out in the room, then roll them for the hamper
   2. BPlace the soiled linens on the floor beside the bed temporarily
   3. CRoll linens inward, keep off uniform, and hamper them unshaken
   4. DCarry the soiled linens pressed against the uniform to the hamper

   Answer: C. Correct — rolling linens inward contains contaminants, holding them away keeps the uniform clean, and skipping shaking keeps germs out of the air. Option A is wrong because shaking spreads microorganisms through the air. Option B is wrong because the floor is contaminated and linens must go straight into the hamper. Option D is wrong because pressing soiled linen against the uniform soils it and carries germs onward.

   Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Basic Nursing Skills: Infection Control (35%)

4. Basic Nursing Skills

   4. A nursing assistant gets a resident's blood on her hands through a torn glove. What is the best immediate action?

   1. AWipe the blood off with a dry towel and keep working without washing
   2. BRub hand lotion over the exposed skin and continue giving care
   3. CFinish the entire current task first, then wash hands afterward
   4. DRemove gloves, wash hands well, and report the exposure to the nurse

   Answer: D. Correct — immediate thorough washing removes the exposure and prompt reporting lets the nurse start follow-up per facility policy. Option A is wrong because a dry wipe does not decontaminate skin. Option B is wrong because lotion seals germs in rather than removing them. Option C is wrong because delaying washing prolongs exposure and continuing to work spreads contamination.

   Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Basic Nursing Skills: Infection Control (35%)

5. Basic Nursing Skills

   5. A resident with an infected wound is on contact precautions. Which action by the nursing assistant is correct?

   1. AWear only a mask into the room without other protective equipment
   2. BWear gloves and a gown, with hand hygiene before and after
   3. CSkip all protective equipment since the visit will be brief
   4. DKeep wearing the same gloves from room to room to save supplies

   Answer: B. Correct — contact precautions require gloves and a gown plus hand hygiene before and after, blocking transfer by touch. Option A is wrong because a mask alone does not block contact transmission. Option C is wrong because even brief contact can transfer wound pathogens. Option D is wrong because wearing the same gloves between rooms carries germs to other residents.

   Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Basic Nursing Skills: Infection Control (35%)

6. Basic Nursing Skills

   6. A nursing assistant finds a resident lying on the floor next to the bed. What should the assistant do first?

   1. AMove the resident back into bed immediately without calling
   2. BLift the resident into a chair first, then go check the care plan
   3. CStay with the resident and call for the nurse; do not move them
   4. DLeave the fallen resident alone to go find the nurse for help

   Answer: C. Correct — staying with the resident prevents further harm, and calling for the nurse gets assessment before any movement that could worsen an injury. Option A is wrong because moving the resident could worsen fractures or spinal injuries. Option B is wrong because helping the resident up skips needed assessment. Option D is wrong because leaving a fallen resident alone is unsafe and abandons care.

   Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Basic Nursing Skills: Safety/Prevention/Emergency (35%)

7. Basic Nursing Skills

   7. A nursing assistant smells smoke coming from a resident's room. What should the assistant do first?

   1. AMove the resident to a safe area away from the smoke
   2. BOpen all the windows to let the smoke out of the room
   3. CGather the resident's belongings before leaving the room
   4. DSearch for the source of the smoke before helping anyone

   Answer: A. Correct — rescue comes first in a fire: moving the resident away from smoke and flames saves a life before anything else. Option B is wrong because opening windows can feed the fire with oxygen. Option C is wrong because gathering belongings wastes rescue time. Option D is wrong because searching for the fire delays getting the resident to safety.

   Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Basic Nursing Skills: Safety/Prevention/Emergency (35%)

8. Basic Nursing Skills

   8. A confused resident is at risk for falls. What should the nursing assistant try first?

   1. AApply a soft restraint to keep the confused resident in bed
   2. BKeep all four side rails raised on the bed at all times for safety
   3. CKeep the resident in a chair all day with a lap tray table
   4. DCheck often, keep the bed low, and place the call light in reach

   Answer: D. Correct — frequent checks, a low bed, and a reachable call light prevent falls without restricting the resident. Option A is wrong because restraints require a physician order and reduce freedom. Option B is wrong because raising all rails can trap or injure a confused resident who tries to climb over. Option C is wrong because sedating or confining measures violate the least-restrictive principle.

   Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Basic Nursing Skills: Safety/Prevention/Emergency (35%)

9. Basic Nursing Skills

   9. A resident in the dining room is choking on food but is coughing forcefully. What should the assistant do first?

   1. AStrike the coughing resident firmly on the back repeatedly
   2. BStay with the resident, urge coughing, and call for help
   3. CPerform abdominal thrusts on the coughing resident at once
   4. DOffer the resident a glass of water to wash the food down now

   Answer: B. Correct — a forceful cough is the body's best clearing mechanism, so the assistant should stay, encourage coughing, and call for help in case it worsens. Option A is wrong because striking the back during effective coughing can disrupt it and lodge food deeper. Option C is wrong because abdominal thrusts are for a person who cannot cough, speak, or breathe. Option D is wrong because giving water can worsen the obstruction.

   Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Basic Nursing Skills: Safety/Prevention/Emergency (35%)

10. Basic Nursing Skills

    10. A resident suddenly begins having a seizure. What should the nursing assistant do?

    1. AForce a spoon into the resident's mouth to stop the tongue being bitten
    2. BHold the seizing resident's arms and legs tightly still throughout
    3. CEase the resident down, protect the head, clear the area, get the nurse
    4. DLeave the seizing resident alone in the room to run for help right away

    Answer: C. Correct — protecting the head prevents injury, giving space avoids harm from uncontrolled movements, and the nurse manages assessment and documentation. Option A is wrong because placing anything in the mouth can break teeth or block the airway. Option B is wrong because restraining limbs can cause fractures or dislocations. Option D is wrong because leaving a seizing resident alone risks serious injury.

    Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Basic Nursing Skills: Safety/Prevention/Emergency (35%)

11. Basic Nursing Skills

    11. A nursing assistant weighs a resident every week. What practice keeps the weights accurate?

    1. AUse the same scale, same time of day, and similar clothing
    2. BWeigh on whichever scale happens to be closest each week
    3. CWeigh the resident right after a large meal for consistency
    4. DLeave shoes and the heavy blanket on the resident for weighing

    Answer: A. Correct — the same scale, time of day, and clothing remove variables so weight changes reflect the resident's true condition. Option B is wrong because different scales are calibrated differently and give inconsistent readings. Option C is wrong because weighing after large meals adds temporary food weight. Option D is wrong because heavy blankets and shoes add false pounds.

    Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Basic Nursing Skills: Technical Procedures (35%)

12. Basic Nursing Skills

    12. A nursing assistant is helping a resident with range-of-motion exercises. Which technique is correct?

    1. APush the exercising joint slowly past the point of pain felt
    2. BMove the resident's limb quickly without supporting the joint
    3. CExercise the joint until the resident feels tired, ignoring the pain
    4. DSupport above and below the joint, move slowly, stop with pain

    Answer: D. Correct — supporting above and below the joint protects it, slow movement prevents strain, and stopping at pain avoids injury. Option A is wrong because pushing past pain can tear tissue. Option B is wrong because fast, unsupported movement strains joints. Option C is wrong because exercising only until fatigue ignores pain, the true stop signal.

    Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Basic Nursing Skills: Technical Procedures (35%)

13. Basic Nursing Skills

    13. How should a nursing assistant position a resident's urinary drainage bag?

    1. AHang the drainage bag level with the bladder for better flow
    2. BKeep the drainage bag below bladder level and off the floor
    3. CLay the drainage bag on the bed beside the resident for now
    4. DDisconnect the tubing before helping the resident walk around

    Answer: B. Correct — gravity keeps urine draining away from the bladder, and keeping the bag off the floor prevents contamination. Option A is wrong because a bag at bladder level lets urine flow back toward the bladder, risking infection. Option C is wrong because placing the bag on the bed beside the resident invites spills and backflow. Option D is wrong because disconnecting the tubing breaks the closed system and introduces germs.

    Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Basic Nursing Skills: Technical Procedures (35%)

14. Basic Nursing Skills

    14. While taking a radial pulse, a nursing assistant notices the rhythm feels irregular. What should the assistant do?

    1. ACount the irregular pulse 15 seconds and multiply the rate by 4
    2. BRecord the rate as normal without mentioning the irregularity
    3. CCount a full minute and report the irregular rhythm to the nurse
    4. DReassure the resident the irregular rhythm is nothing to worry about

    Answer: C. Correct — an irregular rhythm cannot be judged from a short count, so a full minute plus a report to the nurse captures the abnormality. Option A is wrong because a 15-second count multiplied out can miss skipped or extra beats. Option B is wrong because ignoring an irregular pulse withholds important clinical information. Option D is wrong because a nursing assistant must report, not interpret or diagnose, the finding.

    Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Basic Nursing Skills: Technical Procedures (35%)

15. Basic Nursing Skills

    15. Which of these observations is objective data?

    1. AOral temperature of 101°F
    2. BComplaint of sharp stomach pain
    3. CFeeling nauseated after breakfast
    4. DFeeling anxious about a procedure

    Answer: A. Correct — a thermometer reading is measured objectively and can be verified by anyone. Option B is wrong because pain level is felt only by the resident and cannot be measured directly. Option C is wrong because nausea is a personal sensation the assistant cannot observe. Option D is wrong because feeling anxious is a subjective experience reported by the resident.

    Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Basic Nursing Skills: Data Collection and Reporting (35%)

16. Basic Nursing Skills

    16. A resident's urine looks dark and smells foul, and the resident seems newly confused. What should the assistant do?

    1. AWait and watch until the next shift to see if symptoms improve
    2. BTell the resident she probably has a bladder infection today
    3. COffer the resident extra water but report nothing to the nurse today
    4. DReport the changes to the nurse promptly, giving the details

    Answer: D. Correct — dark foul-smelling urine with new confusion can signal infection, and the nurse must assess promptly. Option A is wrong because waiting for the next shift delays needed assessment. Option B is wrong because the assistant must report, not diagnose, the cause. Option C is wrong because simply offering water ignores a potentially serious change in condition.

    Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Basic Nursing Skills: Data Collection and Reporting (35%)

17. Basic Nursing Skills

    17. A resident drinks 4 ounces of milk. Using 1 ounce = 30 mL, how many milliliters should the assistant record as intake?

    1. A60 mL
    2. B120 mL
    3. C90 mL
    4. D240 mL

    Answer: B. Correct — 4 ounces times 30 mL per ounce equals 120 mL, the value the nurse expects. Option A is wrong because 60 mL equals only 2 ounces. Option C is wrong because 90 mL equals 3 ounces. Option D is wrong because 240 mL equals 8 ounces, double what was consumed.

    Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Basic Nursing Skills: Data Collection and Reporting (35%)

18. Activities of Daily Living

    18. What is the correct way for a nursing assistant to clean a resident's dentures?

    1. AScrub the dentures daily with hot water over the bare sink
    2. BLeave the dentures in the mouth and brush them in place each day
    3. CRemove them, brush gently with cool water over a towel in the basin
    4. DSoak the dentures overnight in undiluted bleach to fully clean them

    Answer: C. Correct — a towel-lined basin cushions dentures if dropped, cool water avoids warping, and gentle brushing cleans without damage. Option A is wrong because hot water can warp dentures and bare porcelain can crack them if dropped. Option B is wrong because dentures must be removed for proper cleaning and gum care. Option D is wrong because bleach damages dentures and burns oral tissues.

    Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Activities of Daily Living: Hygiene/Dressing/Grooming (22%)

19. Activities of Daily Living

    19. A nursing assistant is giving perineal care to a female resident. Which technique is correct?

    1. AWipe front to back, using a clean area of the cloth each time
    2. BWipe from back to front to clean the whole area more fully
    3. CKeep using the same area of the washcloth for the entire cleaning
    4. DScrub the delicate area vigorously with a rough washcloth

    Answer: A. Correct — wiping front to back carries germs away from the urinary opening, preventing infection. Option B is wrong because wiping back to front drags bowel germs toward the urethra. Option C is wrong because one cloth reused spreads germs across areas. Option D is wrong because harsh scrubbing injures delicate tissue.

    Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Activities of Daily Living: Hygiene/Dressing/Grooming (22%)

20. Activities of Daily Living

    20. Before giving a bed bath, how should the nursing assistant check the bathwater temperature?

    1. AJudge the hot bathwater using only the back of the hand
    2. BAsk the resident to guess whether the water feels safe
    3. CPour some hot water on the resident and ask if it feels fine
    4. DTest the water on the inner wrist; confirm about 105°F

    Answer: D. Correct — the inner wrist is sensitive to heat, and about 105°F is comfortably warm without scalding fragile skin. Option A is wrong because the back of the hand is less sensitive and a poor judge of bathwater heat. Option B is wrong because asking alone ignores residents who cannot feel or judge heat safely. Option C is wrong because pouring hot water directly on skin risks burns before the temperature is known.

    Source: NNAAP Content Outline — Activities of Daily Living: Hygiene/Dressing/Grooming (22%)