CNA Exam 2026 Practice Questions and Answers with
Detailed Rationales – Certified Nursing Assistant Prep
1. A CNA enters a resident’s room and finds the resident lying on the floor. What should
the CNA do FIRST?
A. Help the resident back into bed
B. Assess the resident for obvious injury and call the nurse
C. Give the resident water
D. Leave the room to find the resident’s family
Answer: B
Rationale: The CNA should not move the resident until the resident has been assessed
and the nurse has been notified. Moving a person with a possible injury can worsen the
condition.
2. Which action is most effective for preventing the spread of infection?
A. Wearing a gown at all times
B. Performing proper hand hygiene
C. Keeping residents in their rooms
D. Using antibiotics routinely
Answer: B
Rationale: Proper hand hygiene is one of the most important measures for preventing
transmission of microorganisms.
3. When should a CNA wash their hands?
A. Only after providing personal care
B. Before and after resident contact
C. Only when hands appear dirty
D. At the beginning and end of the shift only
Answer: B
Rationale: Hand hygiene should be performed before and after resident contact and
whenever contamination is possible.
,4. Which PPE is generally appropriate when there is a risk of contact with blood or body
fluids?
A. Gloves
B. Shoe covers only
C. Hairnet only
D. No PPE
Answer: A
Rationale: Gloves provide a barrier against blood and body-fluid exposure. Additional
PPE may be required depending on the situation.
5. A resident with dementia repeatedly asks when lunch will be served. What is the
BEST response?
A. “I already told you.”
B. “Stop asking the same question.”
C. “Lunch will be served soon. Let’s look at today’s activities while we wait.”
D. Ignore the resident.
Answer: C
Rationale: Calm reassurance and redirection are appropriate approaches when caring
for a person with dementia.
6. Which action promotes a resident’s independence during bathing?
A. Doing everything for the resident
B. Allowing the resident to perform the tasks they can safely perform
C. Completing the bath as quickly as possible
D. Refusing to assist
Answer: B
Rationale: CNA care should encourage independence while providing assistance where
needed.
7. A resident is choking and cannot speak, cough, or breathe. What should the CNA do?
A. Give the resident water
B. Encourage the resident to lie down
, C. Activate emergency assistance and provide appropriate choking first aid within the
CNA’s training
D. Leave the resident alone
Answer: C
Rationale: Complete airway obstruction is an emergency. The CNA should immediately
activate emergency assistance and follow trained emergency procedures.
8. Which observation should be reported to the nurse immediately?
A. Resident requests a different television channel
B. Resident has new difficulty breathing
C. Resident wants to sleep later
D. Resident dislikes the meal
Answer: B
Rationale: New difficulty breathing can indicate a serious medical problem and requires
prompt assessment.
9. When transferring a resident from bed to wheelchair, the CNA should FIRST:
A. Lock the wheelchair brakes
B. Remove the resident’s shoes
C. Pull the resident by the arms
D. Raise the bed as high as possible
Answer: A
Rationale: Locking the wheelchair brakes helps prevent movement and reduces the risk
of falls during transfer.
10. Which device is commonly used to help prevent falls when a resident is walking?
A. Stethoscope
B. Gait belt
C. Thermometer
D. Bedpan
Answer: B
Detailed Rationales – Certified Nursing Assistant Prep
1. A CNA enters a resident’s room and finds the resident lying on the floor. What should
the CNA do FIRST?
A. Help the resident back into bed
B. Assess the resident for obvious injury and call the nurse
C. Give the resident water
D. Leave the room to find the resident’s family
Answer: B
Rationale: The CNA should not move the resident until the resident has been assessed
and the nurse has been notified. Moving a person with a possible injury can worsen the
condition.
2. Which action is most effective for preventing the spread of infection?
A. Wearing a gown at all times
B. Performing proper hand hygiene
C. Keeping residents in their rooms
D. Using antibiotics routinely
Answer: B
Rationale: Proper hand hygiene is one of the most important measures for preventing
transmission of microorganisms.
3. When should a CNA wash their hands?
A. Only after providing personal care
B. Before and after resident contact
C. Only when hands appear dirty
D. At the beginning and end of the shift only
Answer: B
Rationale: Hand hygiene should be performed before and after resident contact and
whenever contamination is possible.
,4. Which PPE is generally appropriate when there is a risk of contact with blood or body
fluids?
A. Gloves
B. Shoe covers only
C. Hairnet only
D. No PPE
Answer: A
Rationale: Gloves provide a barrier against blood and body-fluid exposure. Additional
PPE may be required depending on the situation.
5. A resident with dementia repeatedly asks when lunch will be served. What is the
BEST response?
A. “I already told you.”
B. “Stop asking the same question.”
C. “Lunch will be served soon. Let’s look at today’s activities while we wait.”
D. Ignore the resident.
Answer: C
Rationale: Calm reassurance and redirection are appropriate approaches when caring
for a person with dementia.
6. Which action promotes a resident’s independence during bathing?
A. Doing everything for the resident
B. Allowing the resident to perform the tasks they can safely perform
C. Completing the bath as quickly as possible
D. Refusing to assist
Answer: B
Rationale: CNA care should encourage independence while providing assistance where
needed.
7. A resident is choking and cannot speak, cough, or breathe. What should the CNA do?
A. Give the resident water
B. Encourage the resident to lie down
, C. Activate emergency assistance and provide appropriate choking first aid within the
CNA’s training
D. Leave the resident alone
Answer: C
Rationale: Complete airway obstruction is an emergency. The CNA should immediately
activate emergency assistance and follow trained emergency procedures.
8. Which observation should be reported to the nurse immediately?
A. Resident requests a different television channel
B. Resident has new difficulty breathing
C. Resident wants to sleep later
D. Resident dislikes the meal
Answer: B
Rationale: New difficulty breathing can indicate a serious medical problem and requires
prompt assessment.
9. When transferring a resident from bed to wheelchair, the CNA should FIRST:
A. Lock the wheelchair brakes
B. Remove the resident’s shoes
C. Pull the resident by the arms
D. Raise the bed as high as possible
Answer: A
Rationale: Locking the wheelchair brakes helps prevent movement and reduces the risk
of falls during transfer.
10. Which device is commonly used to help prevent falls when a resident is walking?
A. Stethoscope
B. Gait belt
C. Thermometer
D. Bedpan
Answer: B
