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PA NURSE AIDE COMPETENCY EXAMINATION (CNA) 2026
COMPLETE (110) CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.
NURSE AIDE
Prepare for the PA Nurse Aide Competency Examination (CNA) with this
comprehensive practice resource designed to support your certification preparation.
It features exam-style questions covering basic nursing skills, patient care, infection
control, safety procedures, communication, resident rights, and daily living
assistance. Use it to reinforce essential concepts, assess your knowledge, and build
confidence before test day. An excellent study aid for candidates preparing for the
Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Competency Examination.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
DOMAIN 1: ROLE, RESPONSIBILITIES, & RESIDENT RIGHTS (Questions 1–
20)
Question 1: The geometric formula for the area of a triangle is:
A. (1/2)bh
B. πr²
C. 2πr
D. l × w
Correct answer: A. (1/2)bh
Rationale: The area of a triangle is calculated using (1/2) × base × height.
Question 2: The primary role of the nurse aide is to:
A. Diagnose medical conditions
B. Prescribe medications
C. Provide direct personal care and assist with activities of daily living
D. Perform surgical procedures
Correct answer: C. Provide direct personal care and assist with activities
of daily living
Rationale: The nurse aide's primary role is to provide hands-on personal care,
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including bathing, toileting, feeding, and mobility assistance, under the
supervision of licensed nursing staff.
Question 3: A resident refuses to take a bath. The nurse aide should:
A. Force the resident to bathe
B. Document the refusal and try again later or offer alternatives
C. Call the resident's family to complain
D. Report the resident to the nursing supervisor as non-compliant
Correct answer: B. Document the refusal and try again later or offer
alternatives
Rationale: Residents have the right to refuse care. The aide should respect
the refusal, document it, and attempt again later or offer alternatives (e.g., a
bed bath or sponge bath) later.
Question 4: Which of the following is a violation of a resident's rights?
A. Knocking before entering the resident's room
B. Closing the resident's privacy curtain during care
C. Reading a resident's mail without permission
D. Addressing the resident by their preferred name
Correct answer: C. Reading a resident's mail without permission
Rationale: Residents have the right to privacy and confidentiality, which
includes the right to send and receive mail unopened. Reading a resident's
mail without permission is a violation.
Question 5: The nurse aide notices a coworker is rough and impatient when
transferring a resident. The aide should:
A. Ignore it if no one else saw it
B. Report the observation to the charge nurse immediately
C. Talk to the coworker privately and threaten to report them
D. Do nothing because the resident did not complain
Correct answer: B. Report the observation to the charge nurse
immediately
Rationale: The nurse aide has a legal and ethical duty to report any suspected
abuse, neglect, or mistreatment immediately to the supervisor.
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Question 6: A resident tells the nurse aide, "Please don't tell anyone, but I feel
like hurting myself." The aide should:
A. Keep the secret to maintain trust
B. Report the statement to the charge nurse immediately
C. Tell the resident that feelings like that are normal
D. Ignore the statement and change the subject
Correct answer: B. Report the statement to the charge nurse immediately
Rationale: Suicide threats and self-harm statements must be reported
immediately for resident safety. Confidentiality is not absolute when there is a
risk of harm.
Question 7: The role of the nurse aide when a resident is dying includes:
A. Providing emotional support and maintaining comfort measures
B. Avoiding the resident and family members
C. Telling the family that death is imminent
D. Stopping all cares except feeding
Correct answer: A. Providing emotional support and maintaining comfort
measures
Rationale: End-of-life care includes providing comfort, dignity, and emotional
support to the resident and family. The nurse aide continues personal care
and comfort measures.
Question 8: A resident requests to see their medical record. The nurse aide
should:
A. Show the record to the resident immediately
B. Tell the resident they are not allowed to see it
C. Refer the request to the nurse or facility policy
D. Read the record aloud to the resident
Correct answer: C. Refer the request to the nurse or facility policy
Rationale: Residents have a right to access their medical records, but the
nurse aide should refer the request to the nurse or facility administration to
ensure proper procedures are followed.
Question 9: A resident repeatedly calls the nurse aide for assistance. The aide
should:
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A. Ignore the call light
B. Ask the resident to stop calling so often
C. Answer the call and determine the resident's needs
D. Tell the resident they are too busy
Correct answer: C. Answer the call and determine the resident's needs
Rationale: The nurse aide must respond to call lights promptly and
courteously to assess and meet the resident's needs.
Question 10: Which of the following is an example of neglect?
A. Closing the resident's door for privacy
B. Leaving a dependent resident alone without a call light
C. Providing oral care daily
D. Assisting with ambulation
Correct answer: B. Leaving a dependent resident alone without a call light
Rationale: Neglect is failure to provide necessary care. Leaving a dependent
resident alone without a way to call for help is neglect and a safety hazard.
Question 11: A resident's family member asks the nurse aide for information
about the resident's condition. The aide should:
A. Provide detailed information about the resident's care
B. Refer the family member to the charge nurse
C. Show the family member the resident's chart
D. Discuss the information only if the resident is present
Correct answer: B. Refer the family member to the charge nurse
Rationale: Sharing resident information with family members without
authorization is a violation of confidentiality. The nurse aide should refer these
requests to the charge nurse or supervisor.
Question 12: An advanced directive is a:
A. Document that outlines a resident's wishes for medical treatment if they
cannot speak for themselves
B. A daily care plan written by the nurse
C. A diet order from the physician
D. A medication administration record
PA NURSE AIDE COMPETENCY EXAMINATION (CNA) 2026
COMPLETE (110) CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.
NURSE AIDE
Prepare for the PA Nurse Aide Competency Examination (CNA) with this
comprehensive practice resource designed to support your certification preparation.
It features exam-style questions covering basic nursing skills, patient care, infection
control, safety procedures, communication, resident rights, and daily living
assistance. Use it to reinforce essential concepts, assess your knowledge, and build
confidence before test day. An excellent study aid for candidates preparing for the
Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Competency Examination.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
DOMAIN 1: ROLE, RESPONSIBILITIES, & RESIDENT RIGHTS (Questions 1–
20)
Question 1: The geometric formula for the area of a triangle is:
A. (1/2)bh
B. πr²
C. 2πr
D. l × w
Correct answer: A. (1/2)bh
Rationale: The area of a triangle is calculated using (1/2) × base × height.
Question 2: The primary role of the nurse aide is to:
A. Diagnose medical conditions
B. Prescribe medications
C. Provide direct personal care and assist with activities of daily living
D. Perform surgical procedures
Correct answer: C. Provide direct personal care and assist with activities
of daily living
Rationale: The nurse aide's primary role is to provide hands-on personal care,
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including bathing, toileting, feeding, and mobility assistance, under the
supervision of licensed nursing staff.
Question 3: A resident refuses to take a bath. The nurse aide should:
A. Force the resident to bathe
B. Document the refusal and try again later or offer alternatives
C. Call the resident's family to complain
D. Report the resident to the nursing supervisor as non-compliant
Correct answer: B. Document the refusal and try again later or offer
alternatives
Rationale: Residents have the right to refuse care. The aide should respect
the refusal, document it, and attempt again later or offer alternatives (e.g., a
bed bath or sponge bath) later.
Question 4: Which of the following is a violation of a resident's rights?
A. Knocking before entering the resident's room
B. Closing the resident's privacy curtain during care
C. Reading a resident's mail without permission
D. Addressing the resident by their preferred name
Correct answer: C. Reading a resident's mail without permission
Rationale: Residents have the right to privacy and confidentiality, which
includes the right to send and receive mail unopened. Reading a resident's
mail without permission is a violation.
Question 5: The nurse aide notices a coworker is rough and impatient when
transferring a resident. The aide should:
A. Ignore it if no one else saw it
B. Report the observation to the charge nurse immediately
C. Talk to the coworker privately and threaten to report them
D. Do nothing because the resident did not complain
Correct answer: B. Report the observation to the charge nurse
immediately
Rationale: The nurse aide has a legal and ethical duty to report any suspected
abuse, neglect, or mistreatment immediately to the supervisor.
, Page 3 of 35
Question 6: A resident tells the nurse aide, "Please don't tell anyone, but I feel
like hurting myself." The aide should:
A. Keep the secret to maintain trust
B. Report the statement to the charge nurse immediately
C. Tell the resident that feelings like that are normal
D. Ignore the statement and change the subject
Correct answer: B. Report the statement to the charge nurse immediately
Rationale: Suicide threats and self-harm statements must be reported
immediately for resident safety. Confidentiality is not absolute when there is a
risk of harm.
Question 7: The role of the nurse aide when a resident is dying includes:
A. Providing emotional support and maintaining comfort measures
B. Avoiding the resident and family members
C. Telling the family that death is imminent
D. Stopping all cares except feeding
Correct answer: A. Providing emotional support and maintaining comfort
measures
Rationale: End-of-life care includes providing comfort, dignity, and emotional
support to the resident and family. The nurse aide continues personal care
and comfort measures.
Question 8: A resident requests to see their medical record. The nurse aide
should:
A. Show the record to the resident immediately
B. Tell the resident they are not allowed to see it
C. Refer the request to the nurse or facility policy
D. Read the record aloud to the resident
Correct answer: C. Refer the request to the nurse or facility policy
Rationale: Residents have a right to access their medical records, but the
nurse aide should refer the request to the nurse or facility administration to
ensure proper procedures are followed.
Question 9: A resident repeatedly calls the nurse aide for assistance. The aide
should:
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A. Ignore the call light
B. Ask the resident to stop calling so often
C. Answer the call and determine the resident's needs
D. Tell the resident they are too busy
Correct answer: C. Answer the call and determine the resident's needs
Rationale: The nurse aide must respond to call lights promptly and
courteously to assess and meet the resident's needs.
Question 10: Which of the following is an example of neglect?
A. Closing the resident's door for privacy
B. Leaving a dependent resident alone without a call light
C. Providing oral care daily
D. Assisting with ambulation
Correct answer: B. Leaving a dependent resident alone without a call light
Rationale: Neglect is failure to provide necessary care. Leaving a dependent
resident alone without a way to call for help is neglect and a safety hazard.
Question 11: A resident's family member asks the nurse aide for information
about the resident's condition. The aide should:
A. Provide detailed information about the resident's care
B. Refer the family member to the charge nurse
C. Show the family member the resident's chart
D. Discuss the information only if the resident is present
Correct answer: B. Refer the family member to the charge nurse
Rationale: Sharing resident information with family members without
authorization is a violation of confidentiality. The nurse aide should refer these
requests to the charge nurse or supervisor.
Question 12: An advanced directive is a:
A. Document that outlines a resident's wishes for medical treatment if they
cannot speak for themselves
B. A daily care plan written by the nurse
C. A diet order from the physician
D. A medication administration record
