CNA State Certification Practice Exam (2026
Latest Edition) | National Nurse Aide
Assessment Program (NNAAP) Aligned .
SECTION 1: ROLE OF THE NURSE AIDE
Q1: A nurse aide is asked by a resident's family member to change the resident's medication
dosage because the resident seems uncomfortable. What is the appropriate response?
A. Change the dosage slightly and document the family request.
B. Refuse and explain that nurse aides cannot alter medication orders. [CORRECT]
C. Call the physician directly to request the change.
D. Ask the family member to speak with the nurse and then change it yourself.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nurse aides work under the supervision of licensed nurses and cannot
independently alter medication orders; this protects resident safety and maintains legal scope
of practice.
Q2: During a conversation, a resident tells the nurse aide they feel worthless and have been
giving away prized possessions. What is the nurse aide's responsibility?
A. Respect the resident's privacy and keep the information confidential.
B. Report the statement immediately to the nurse in charge. [CORRECT]
C. Advise the resident that suicide is not the answer.
D. Tell other staff members so they can watch the resident closely.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Statements indicating possible self-harm must be reported immediately to the
nurse; this is part of mandatory reporting and resident safety obligations.
Q3: A nurse aide observes bruising in various stages of healing on a resident's arms and legs.
The resident says they fell. What should the nurse aide do?
A. Accept the explanation and document the fall.
B. Report the observation to the nurse immediately. [CORRECT]
,C. Confront the suspected abuser directly.
D. Wait to see if more bruises appear before reporting.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bruising in various stages of healing is a potential indicator of abuse and must be
reported immediately; nurse aides are mandatory reporters.
Q4: Which of the following is an example of objective data?
A. The resident states they are in pain.
B. The resident's blood pressure is 142/88 mmHg. [CORRECT]
C. The resident says they feel nauseated.
D. The resident reports feeling anxious.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Objective data is measurable and observable, such as vital signs; subjective data is
based on what the resident reports feeling.
Q5: A nurse aide is running late for their shift. What is the most professional action to take?
A. Arrive as soon as possible without notifying anyone.
B. Call the unit supervisor as soon as possible to report the delay. [CORRECT]
C. Ask a coworker to clock in for you.
D. Skip the morning report and start with resident care.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Professional behavior includes communicating delays promptly to ensure adequate
staffing coverage and resident safety.
Q6: A resident asks the nurse aide to look up their medical diagnosis online because the
doctor did not explain it well. What should the nurse aide do?
A. Look up the information and explain it to the resident.
B. Encourage the resident to ask the nurse or physician for clarification. [CORRECT]
C. Tell the resident their diagnosis is confidential.
D. Provide general medical information without specifics.
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nurse aides should not provide medical explanations beyond their scope; referring
the resident to appropriate licensed staff ensures accurate information and maintains
boundaries.
Q7: Which action by a nurse aide demonstrates appropriate maintenance of professional
boundaries?
A. Accepting a $100 gift from a grateful resident's family.
B. Sharing personal problems with a resident to build rapport.
C. Declining to care for a relative who is admitted to the facility. [CORRECT]
D. Visiting a former resident at home after they are discharged.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Caring for relatives creates dual relationships and conflicts of interest; maintaining
professional boundaries protects both the resident and the nurse aide.
Q8: A nurse aide overhears another aide discussing a resident's HIV status in the dining room.
What should the nurse aide do?
A. Ignore it because the other aide is more experienced.
B. Report the breach of confidentiality to the nurse. [CORRECT]
C. Join the conversation to learn more about the resident.
D. Tell the resident what was overheard.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Discussing protected health information in public areas violates HIPAA; all breaches
of confidentiality must be reported to protect resident rights.
Q9: The chain of command in a long-term care facility typically follows which order?
A. Nurse aide → Licensed practical nurse → Registered nurse → Physician [CORRECT]
B. Nurse aide → Physician → Registered nurse → Administrator
C. Nurse aide → Administrator → Registered nurse → Physician
D. Nurse aide → Registered nurse → Physician → Licensed practical nurse
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale: The chain of command ensures proper communication flow and accountability,
with nurse aides reporting to licensed nurses who report upward.
Q10: A resident refuses their morning bath. What is the nurse aide's best response?
A. Insist on giving the bath because it is scheduled.
B. Respect the refusal and report it to the nurse. [CORRECT]
C. Give a partial bath without telling the resident.
D. Tell the resident they have no choice in the matter.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Residents have the right to refuse care; the nurse aide must respect autonomy
while reporting the refusal so the care team can assess and address concerns.
Q11: A nurse aide finds a resident's wallet open on the nightstand with money visible. What
should the nurse aide do?
A. Close the wallet and put it in the resident's drawer without mentioning it.
B. Report the unsecured valuables to the nurse and document the observation. [CORRECT]
C. Count the money to ensure nothing is missing.
D. Move the wallet to the nurse's station for safekeeping without telling anyone.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reporting unsecured valuables protects both the resident and staff from potential
theft allegations and promotes risk management.
Q12: Which of the following best describes the nurse aide's role in observing and reporting?
A. Making diagnostic conclusions about changes in condition.
B. Noting and reporting factual observations to the licensed nurse. [CORRECT]
C. Prescribing treatments for minor changes.
D. Deciding whether changes are significant enough to report.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nurse aides observe and report factual data without interpretation or diagnosis;
clinical judgment belongs to licensed personnel.
Latest Edition) | National Nurse Aide
Assessment Program (NNAAP) Aligned .
SECTION 1: ROLE OF THE NURSE AIDE
Q1: A nurse aide is asked by a resident's family member to change the resident's medication
dosage because the resident seems uncomfortable. What is the appropriate response?
A. Change the dosage slightly and document the family request.
B. Refuse and explain that nurse aides cannot alter medication orders. [CORRECT]
C. Call the physician directly to request the change.
D. Ask the family member to speak with the nurse and then change it yourself.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nurse aides work under the supervision of licensed nurses and cannot
independently alter medication orders; this protects resident safety and maintains legal scope
of practice.
Q2: During a conversation, a resident tells the nurse aide they feel worthless and have been
giving away prized possessions. What is the nurse aide's responsibility?
A. Respect the resident's privacy and keep the information confidential.
B. Report the statement immediately to the nurse in charge. [CORRECT]
C. Advise the resident that suicide is not the answer.
D. Tell other staff members so they can watch the resident closely.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Statements indicating possible self-harm must be reported immediately to the
nurse; this is part of mandatory reporting and resident safety obligations.
Q3: A nurse aide observes bruising in various stages of healing on a resident's arms and legs.
The resident says they fell. What should the nurse aide do?
A. Accept the explanation and document the fall.
B. Report the observation to the nurse immediately. [CORRECT]
,C. Confront the suspected abuser directly.
D. Wait to see if more bruises appear before reporting.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bruising in various stages of healing is a potential indicator of abuse and must be
reported immediately; nurse aides are mandatory reporters.
Q4: Which of the following is an example of objective data?
A. The resident states they are in pain.
B. The resident's blood pressure is 142/88 mmHg. [CORRECT]
C. The resident says they feel nauseated.
D. The resident reports feeling anxious.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Objective data is measurable and observable, such as vital signs; subjective data is
based on what the resident reports feeling.
Q5: A nurse aide is running late for their shift. What is the most professional action to take?
A. Arrive as soon as possible without notifying anyone.
B. Call the unit supervisor as soon as possible to report the delay. [CORRECT]
C. Ask a coworker to clock in for you.
D. Skip the morning report and start with resident care.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Professional behavior includes communicating delays promptly to ensure adequate
staffing coverage and resident safety.
Q6: A resident asks the nurse aide to look up their medical diagnosis online because the
doctor did not explain it well. What should the nurse aide do?
A. Look up the information and explain it to the resident.
B. Encourage the resident to ask the nurse or physician for clarification. [CORRECT]
C. Tell the resident their diagnosis is confidential.
D. Provide general medical information without specifics.
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nurse aides should not provide medical explanations beyond their scope; referring
the resident to appropriate licensed staff ensures accurate information and maintains
boundaries.
Q7: Which action by a nurse aide demonstrates appropriate maintenance of professional
boundaries?
A. Accepting a $100 gift from a grateful resident's family.
B. Sharing personal problems with a resident to build rapport.
C. Declining to care for a relative who is admitted to the facility. [CORRECT]
D. Visiting a former resident at home after they are discharged.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Caring for relatives creates dual relationships and conflicts of interest; maintaining
professional boundaries protects both the resident and the nurse aide.
Q8: A nurse aide overhears another aide discussing a resident's HIV status in the dining room.
What should the nurse aide do?
A. Ignore it because the other aide is more experienced.
B. Report the breach of confidentiality to the nurse. [CORRECT]
C. Join the conversation to learn more about the resident.
D. Tell the resident what was overheard.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Discussing protected health information in public areas violates HIPAA; all breaches
of confidentiality must be reported to protect resident rights.
Q9: The chain of command in a long-term care facility typically follows which order?
A. Nurse aide → Licensed practical nurse → Registered nurse → Physician [CORRECT]
B. Nurse aide → Physician → Registered nurse → Administrator
C. Nurse aide → Administrator → Registered nurse → Physician
D. Nurse aide → Registered nurse → Physician → Licensed practical nurse
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale: The chain of command ensures proper communication flow and accountability,
with nurse aides reporting to licensed nurses who report upward.
Q10: A resident refuses their morning bath. What is the nurse aide's best response?
A. Insist on giving the bath because it is scheduled.
B. Respect the refusal and report it to the nurse. [CORRECT]
C. Give a partial bath without telling the resident.
D. Tell the resident they have no choice in the matter.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Residents have the right to refuse care; the nurse aide must respect autonomy
while reporting the refusal so the care team can assess and address concerns.
Q11: A nurse aide finds a resident's wallet open on the nightstand with money visible. What
should the nurse aide do?
A. Close the wallet and put it in the resident's drawer without mentioning it.
B. Report the unsecured valuables to the nurse and document the observation. [CORRECT]
C. Count the money to ensure nothing is missing.
D. Move the wallet to the nurse's station for safekeeping without telling anyone.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reporting unsecured valuables protects both the resident and staff from potential
theft allegations and promotes risk management.
Q12: Which of the following best describes the nurse aide's role in observing and reporting?
A. Making diagnostic conclusions about changes in condition.
B. Noting and reporting factual observations to the licensed nurse. [CORRECT]
C. Prescribing treatments for minor changes.
D. Deciding whether changes are significant enough to report.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nurse aides observe and report factual data without interpretation or diagnosis;
clinical judgment belongs to licensed personnel.
