VIRGINIA NURSE AIDE CERTIFICATION EXAM 2026 PRACTICE CURRENT
QUESTIONS AND RELIABLE ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
(100% CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS)
1. A Virginia nurse aide is caring for an older adult who is recovering from a
stroke and has weakness on the right side. When assisting the resident from
the bed to a wheelchair, which action is most appropriate to promote safety
and preserve the resident's independence?
A. Pull the resident upward by both arms
B. Ask the resident to stand without assistance
C. Place the wheelchair on the resident's weak side and lock the wheels
D. Position the wheelchair appropriately, lock the brakes, and assist
according to the resident's ability
Answer: D
2. A resident tells the nurse aide that she has severe chest pressure, is short of
breath, and feels as though she may faint while walking to the dining room.
What should the nurse aide do first?
A. Help the resident sit or lie safely and immediately report the symptoms
to the nurse
B. Encourage the resident to continue walking slowly
C. Give the resident water and reassess after the meal
D. Document the complaint at the end of the shift
Answer: A
3. A resident with dysphagia is receiving a meal according to a prescribed
swallowing plan. Which action by the nurse aide is most appropriate to
reduce the risk of aspiration?
A. Encourage the resident to eat while lying in bed
B. Position the resident upright and follow the prescribed diet and
swallowing precautions
C. Offer large bites so the meal can be completed quickly
D. Give thin liquids regardless of the prescribed consistency
Answer: B
pg. 1
, 4. A resident has been incontinent of urine and the skin around the perineum
is damp and reddened. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Leave the area exposed without cleaning it
B. Apply powder to the reddened area without washing it
C. Cleanse the area gently, dry thoroughly, and report persistent redness to
the nurse
D. Scrub the skin vigorously to remove microorganisms
Answer: C
5. While assisting a resident with morning care, the nurse aide notices a new
darkened area on the resident's heel that does not blanch when gently
pressed. What should the nurse aide do?
A. Massage the area vigorously to restore circulation
B. Report the finding promptly to the nurse and avoid placing pressure on
the area
C. Apply lotion and cover it without reporting it
D. Assume it is a normal finding in older adults
Answer: B
6. A resident with dementia repeatedly asks where her daughter is even after
being told that her daughter will visit later. Which response by the nurse
aide is most appropriate?
A. “I already told you that, so you need to remember.”
B. “Your daughter is never coming today.”
C. “You seem worried about your daughter. Let's look at the activity
calendar together.”
D. “Stop asking the same question.”
Answer: C
7. A resident refuses a shower because she says she is embarrassed to undress
in front of staff. What is the best response by the nurse aide?
A. Respect the refusal, ask about her concerns, and report the refusal
according to facility policy
B. Tell the resident that bathing is mandatory
pg. 2
, C. Threaten to document noncompliance
D. Proceed with the shower without further discussion
Answer: A
8. A nurse aide enters a resident's room and finds the resident lying on the
floor beside the bed. What should the aide do first?
A. Immediately lift the resident back into bed
B. Ask the resident to stand
C. Leave the room to find another resident
D. Stay with the resident, call for assistance, and avoid moving the resident
unless there is immediate danger
Answer: D
9. A resident who is normally alert suddenly becomes confused and has
difficulty following simple instructions. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Assume the resident is developing dementia
B. Report the acute change in mental status promptly to the nurse
C. Allow the resident to sleep without reporting the change
D. Restrict fluids until the confusion resolves
Answer: B
10. A nurse aide is preparing to provide perineal care to a female resident.
Which technique is appropriate?
A. Wipe from the anus toward the urinary opening
B. Use the same area of the washcloth repeatedly
C. Clean from front to back using a clean portion of the cloth for each stroke
D. Scrub the area aggressively to remove all bacteria
Answer: C
11. A resident has an indwelling urinary catheter. Which action by the nurse
aide is appropriate?
A. Keep the drainage bag below bladder level and avoid placing it on the
floor
B. Disconnect the tubing whenever the resident walks
C. Place the drainage bag on the resident's bed
pg. 3
, D. Clamp the catheter routinely during meals
Answer: A
12. A resident's urinary drainage bag has been empty for several hours, and the
resident reports increasing lower abdominal discomfort. What should the
nurse aide do?
A. Irrigate the catheter independently
B. Remove the catheter
C. Encourage the resident to ignore the discomfort
D. Check for obvious kinks or dependent loops and promptly report the
finding to the nurse
Answer: D
13. A resident has a prescription for oxygen therapy. Which action should the
nurse aide take?
A. Increase the oxygen flow rate whenever the resident appears anxious
B. Keep oxygen equipment away from flames and follow the prescribed flow
rate
C. Allow smoking if the resident turns the oxygen off temporarily
D. Apply petroleum-based products around the oxygen equipment
Answer: B
14. A resident using oxygen complains of nasal dryness. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Apply petroleum jelly inside the nostrils
B. Increase the oxygen flow rate
C. Report the discomfort and follow facility-approved measures for oxygen-
related dryness
D. Remove the oxygen without notifying the nurse
Answer: C
15. A nurse aide is assisting a resident who has weakness and uses a walker.
Which technique is safest?
A. Have the resident pull on the walker to stand
B. Move the walker far ahead before taking each step
pg. 4
QUESTIONS AND RELIABLE ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
(100% CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS)
1. A Virginia nurse aide is caring for an older adult who is recovering from a
stroke and has weakness on the right side. When assisting the resident from
the bed to a wheelchair, which action is most appropriate to promote safety
and preserve the resident's independence?
A. Pull the resident upward by both arms
B. Ask the resident to stand without assistance
C. Place the wheelchair on the resident's weak side and lock the wheels
D. Position the wheelchair appropriately, lock the brakes, and assist
according to the resident's ability
Answer: D
2. A resident tells the nurse aide that she has severe chest pressure, is short of
breath, and feels as though she may faint while walking to the dining room.
What should the nurse aide do first?
A. Help the resident sit or lie safely and immediately report the symptoms
to the nurse
B. Encourage the resident to continue walking slowly
C. Give the resident water and reassess after the meal
D. Document the complaint at the end of the shift
Answer: A
3. A resident with dysphagia is receiving a meal according to a prescribed
swallowing plan. Which action by the nurse aide is most appropriate to
reduce the risk of aspiration?
A. Encourage the resident to eat while lying in bed
B. Position the resident upright and follow the prescribed diet and
swallowing precautions
C. Offer large bites so the meal can be completed quickly
D. Give thin liquids regardless of the prescribed consistency
Answer: B
pg. 1
, 4. A resident has been incontinent of urine and the skin around the perineum
is damp and reddened. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Leave the area exposed without cleaning it
B. Apply powder to the reddened area without washing it
C. Cleanse the area gently, dry thoroughly, and report persistent redness to
the nurse
D. Scrub the skin vigorously to remove microorganisms
Answer: C
5. While assisting a resident with morning care, the nurse aide notices a new
darkened area on the resident's heel that does not blanch when gently
pressed. What should the nurse aide do?
A. Massage the area vigorously to restore circulation
B. Report the finding promptly to the nurse and avoid placing pressure on
the area
C. Apply lotion and cover it without reporting it
D. Assume it is a normal finding in older adults
Answer: B
6. A resident with dementia repeatedly asks where her daughter is even after
being told that her daughter will visit later. Which response by the nurse
aide is most appropriate?
A. “I already told you that, so you need to remember.”
B. “Your daughter is never coming today.”
C. “You seem worried about your daughter. Let's look at the activity
calendar together.”
D. “Stop asking the same question.”
Answer: C
7. A resident refuses a shower because she says she is embarrassed to undress
in front of staff. What is the best response by the nurse aide?
A. Respect the refusal, ask about her concerns, and report the refusal
according to facility policy
B. Tell the resident that bathing is mandatory
pg. 2
, C. Threaten to document noncompliance
D. Proceed with the shower without further discussion
Answer: A
8. A nurse aide enters a resident's room and finds the resident lying on the
floor beside the bed. What should the aide do first?
A. Immediately lift the resident back into bed
B. Ask the resident to stand
C. Leave the room to find another resident
D. Stay with the resident, call for assistance, and avoid moving the resident
unless there is immediate danger
Answer: D
9. A resident who is normally alert suddenly becomes confused and has
difficulty following simple instructions. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Assume the resident is developing dementia
B. Report the acute change in mental status promptly to the nurse
C. Allow the resident to sleep without reporting the change
D. Restrict fluids until the confusion resolves
Answer: B
10. A nurse aide is preparing to provide perineal care to a female resident.
Which technique is appropriate?
A. Wipe from the anus toward the urinary opening
B. Use the same area of the washcloth repeatedly
C. Clean from front to back using a clean portion of the cloth for each stroke
D. Scrub the area aggressively to remove all bacteria
Answer: C
11. A resident has an indwelling urinary catheter. Which action by the nurse
aide is appropriate?
A. Keep the drainage bag below bladder level and avoid placing it on the
floor
B. Disconnect the tubing whenever the resident walks
C. Place the drainage bag on the resident's bed
pg. 3
, D. Clamp the catheter routinely during meals
Answer: A
12. A resident's urinary drainage bag has been empty for several hours, and the
resident reports increasing lower abdominal discomfort. What should the
nurse aide do?
A. Irrigate the catheter independently
B. Remove the catheter
C. Encourage the resident to ignore the discomfort
D. Check for obvious kinks or dependent loops and promptly report the
finding to the nurse
Answer: D
13. A resident has a prescription for oxygen therapy. Which action should the
nurse aide take?
A. Increase the oxygen flow rate whenever the resident appears anxious
B. Keep oxygen equipment away from flames and follow the prescribed flow
rate
C. Allow smoking if the resident turns the oxygen off temporarily
D. Apply petroleum-based products around the oxygen equipment
Answer: B
14. A resident using oxygen complains of nasal dryness. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Apply petroleum jelly inside the nostrils
B. Increase the oxygen flow rate
C. Report the discomfort and follow facility-approved measures for oxygen-
related dryness
D. Remove the oxygen without notifying the nurse
Answer: C
15. A nurse aide is assisting a resident who has weakness and uses a walker.
Which technique is safest?
A. Have the resident pull on the walker to stand
B. Move the walker far ahead before taking each step
pg. 4
