CNA Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: B

Give him a small sip of plain water so he is not thirsty: Even small sips of thin liquid can go into the lungs of a resident with swallowing problems and cause pneumonia.

Offer him water thickened as the care plan says: Correct. Thickened liquids are easier to control and less likely to go into the airway. The aide meets his thirst safely by following the care plan.

Tell him he cannot have anything to drink today: He still needs fluids. Refusing all drinks puts him at risk of dehydration.

Give plain water through a straw so it goes slowly: A straw can make thin liquid flow too fast. Changing how liquids are given is a care plan decision, not the aide's.

Follow the care plan liquid thickness exactly; never give thin liquids to a resident ordered thickened liquids.

Answer: A

The right (weak) arm: Correct. Dressing the weak arm first is easier and puts less strain on the weak side. When undressing, the strong arm comes out first.

The left (strong) arm: Putting the strong arm in first leaves too little slack to get the weak arm in without pulling on it.

Either arm, since the order does not matter: The order matters. Dressing the weak side first prevents pulling and hurting the weak arm.

Neither arm; slip it over her head only: The shirt still has to go on both arms. Leaving the arms out is not dressing her properly.

Dress the weak side first; undress the strong side first.

Answer: B

From back to front: Wiping from back to front moves germs from the anal area toward the urethra and can cause a urinary tract infection.

From front to back: Correct. Wiping from front to back keeps germs from the anal area away from the urethra and vagina. This helps prevent infection.

In small circles over the whole area: Circling spreads germs around instead of moving them away from the urethra.

Back and forth with the same part of the cloth: Using the same part of the cloth back and forth spreads germs. Use a clean area of the cloth for each stroke.

Perineal care: front to back, using a clean area of the washcloth for each stroke.

Answer: B

Add bath oil so the resident's skin stays soft: Bath oil makes the tub slippery and raises the risk of a fall. It also does nothing to prevent burns.

Check the water temperature with a bath thermometer: Correct. Older skin burns easily and some residents cannot feel heat well. Checking the water first prevents burns.

Ask the resident to step in and say if it is too hot: The resident may not feel heat well, so they could be burned before they notice. The aide must check first.

Fill the tub as full as possible to keep the resident warm: A very full tub is a drowning and spill risk and does not make sure the water is a safe temperature.

Always check water temperature before a resident gets into a bath or shower to prevent burns.

Answer: A

60 to 100 beats per minute: Correct. This is the normal resting pulse range for adults.

40 to 60 beats per minute: A pulse below 60 is slow for most adults and should be reported to the nurse.

100 to 140 beats per minute: A resting pulse above 100 is fast and should be reported to the nurse.

12 to 20 beats per minute: This is the normal adult respiration rate (breaths per minute), not the pulse rate.

A resting adult pulse of 60 to 100 beats per minute is normal; report readings outside this range to the nurse.

Answer: B

300 mL: The liquid is above the 300 mark. The level is one short mark higher, at 350 mL.

350 mL: Correct. The level sits on the short mark halfway between the 300 and 400 labels. Each short mark is 50 mL, so the amount is 350 mL.

400 mL: The liquid has not reached the 400 label. Rounding up to the next label records too much output.

450 mL: This is the short mark between 400 and 500. The liquid is well below it.

Read a graduate on a flat surface at eye level, and count the small marks between the labels.

Answer: A

Stay, protect his head and call for help: Correct. Staying with him and keeping his head from hitting hard objects prevents injury. Calling for help brings the nurse.

Put a spoon in his mouth: Objects in the mouth can break teeth or block the airway.

Hold his arms and legs still: Holding him down can injure his muscles or bones.

Leave to get his medicine: The aide does not give medicine and should never leave him alone.

During a seizure, stay, protect the head, do not restrain or put anything in the mouth, and call for help.

Answer: B

Activate the fire alarm: Activating the alarm is the second step. The resident in danger is moved first.

Rescue the resident: Correct. In RACE, R stands for Rescue. Moving the resident away from the fire protects his life first.

Use the extinguisher on the fire: Extinguishing is the last step, only if the fire is small and people are safe.

Close all the windows on the unit: Closing doors and windows is part of Contain, which comes after Rescue and Alarm.

RACE: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish.

Answer: A

Stay with the resident and call for the nurse: Correct. The resident may have an injury the aide cannot see. Staying and calling for help keeps the resident safe until the nurse checks him.

Lift the resident back into bed: Moving the resident before the nurse checks him could make a broken bone or other injury worse.

Go find the nurse and come right back: Leaving the resident alone is unsafe. He may try to get up and fall again.

Ask the resident if he wants to get up: The aide cannot judge whether he is injured. The nurse must check him first.

After a fall, do not move the resident; stay with him and call for the nurse.

Answer: A

Gown: Correct. The gown goes on first, then the mask, then goggles, and gloves last. Gloves go last so their cuffs can cover the gown sleeves.

Gloves: Gloves go on last so they can be pulled over the gown cuffs and stay clean.

Goggles: Goggles go on after the mask, not first.

Mask: The mask goes on after the gown is tied.

Put on PPE in this order: gown, mask, goggles, gloves.

Answer: B

Button the shirt for her so that she does not get tired or frustrated: Doing the task for her takes away a skill she still has. Over time she may lose it.

Give her the time she needs to button it herself: Correct. Letting her do what she can keeps her skills, builds her confidence and respects her independence.

Pick a pullover shirt for her without asking her first: Choosing clothes for her without asking takes away her right to make choices.

Ask a family member to come in and dress her each morning: Dressing is part of the aide’s care, and she can already do much of it herself.

Let residents do as much as they safely can for themselves, even if it takes longer.

Answer: C

"Your mother died many years ago.": Telling her this again can make her grieve as if for the first time. It does not meet her need for comfort.

"You have already asked me that three times.": This can embarrass her. She cannot remember asking.

"Tell me about your mother. What was she like?": Correct. This accepts her feelings and lets her talk about someone she loves, which can calm her.

"Stop worrying about that and go back to your room.": This ignores her feelings and can make her more upset.

Validation: respond to the feelings behind what a person with dementia says instead of arguing about facts.

Answer: D

Tell him he may pray only in the chapel during set hours: He has the right to practice his religion in his own room.

Plan his care at those times so that he stays on schedule: Doing care during prayer times does not respect his beliefs.

Stay in the room while he prays to make sure he is safe: He asked for privacy. Staying in the room does not respect his wishes.

Plan care around his prayer times and give him privacy: Correct. Arranging care around his prayers respects his religion and his privacy.

Plan care around religious practices and give privacy when asked.

Answer: A

"Ate 25% of lunch. Drank 240 mL of milk.": Correct. It is factual and measurable. Anyone reading it knows exactly what the resident ate and drank.

"Ate 25% of lunch. Did not seem thirsty.": The meal amount is measured, but "did not seem thirsty" is a guess about how the resident felt, and fluid intake is not recorded.

"Ate a small amount. Drank 240 mL of milk.": The fluid amount is measured, but "a small amount" is vague. Meal intake should be recorded as a percentage.

"Ate 25% of lunch. Drank most of the milk.": "Most of the milk" cannot be measured or compared. Fluid intake should be recorded in mL.

Document facts you can see or measure, such as percentages and mL, not opinions.

Answer: C

"Don't worry. I'm sure your family still loves you.": This gives false comfort and closes the topic instead of listening to the resident's feelings.

"Everyone feels that way sometimes.": This brushes off the resident's feelings as unimportant.

"You sound lonely. Tell me more about that.": Correct. It reflects the feeling the resident shared and invites them to keep talking.

"Let's talk about something happier.": Changing the subject tells the resident their feelings are not welcome.

Active listening means reflecting the person's feelings and inviting them to say more, not giving advice or changing the subject.

Answer: A

Respect her choice and report it to the nurse: Correct. Residents have the right to refuse care. The nurse needs to know so the care plan can be followed up.

Tell her the shower must be done today no matter what: Pressuring her ignores her right to refuse.

Give the shower anyway since it is scheduled: Giving care she has refused could be considered abuse.

Skip the shower and not tell anyone: The refusal must be reported so the nurse knows care was not given.

A resident may refuse care; the aide respects the choice and reports it to the nurse.

Answer: D

Write down the temperature the resident usually has: Writing a reading that was never taken is falsifying a record.

Copy the reading from yesterday: This is also false documentation and could hide a fever.

Leave the space blank and say nothing: Staying silent means the missed task may never be done.

Tell the nurse the temperature was not taken: Correct. Being honest lets the nurse make sure the temperature is checked. Records must be true.

Never record care or readings you did not do; tell the nurse about any missed task.

Answer: B

Talk to the coworker about it later in private: Talking to the coworker does not protect the resident, and abuse must be reported, not handled privately.

Make sure the resident is safe and tell the nurse now: Correct. Suspected abuse must be reported right away, and the resident must be protected.

Wait to see if it happens again before reporting: Abuse must be reported the first time it is seen. Waiting puts the resident at risk.

Report it to the nurse at the end of the shift: Waiting until the end of the shift is too late. Abuse is reported right away.

Report any abuse you see or suspect to the nurse immediately; never wait or handle it yourself.