PA Nurse Aide Competency
Examination (CNA) Practice Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
With Rationales
1. A resident tells you they are in pain. What should you do first?
a) Give them pain medication immediately
b) Document the complaint
c) Report it to the nurse
d) Ignore it if it is mild
Rationale: The nurse aide should always report pain to the nurse,
who can assess and administer appropriate treatment.
2. When assisting a resident with walking, you notice they are unsteady.
What should you do?
a) Let them continue walking alone
, b) Stay close and provide support
c) Stop the activity immediately without explanation
d) Encourage them to walk faster
Rationale: The aide must provide physical support to prevent falls
and ensure safety.
3. A resident refuses to eat their meal. How should you respond?
a) Force the resident to eat
b) Respect their choice and report it
c) Leave the meal and ignore it
d) Take the food away immediately
Rationale: Residents have the right to refuse food; the aide should
respect their choice and inform the nurse.
4. Hand hygiene is required before:
a) Taking a break
b) Leaving the facility
c) Contact with a resident
d) Restocking supplies
Rationale: Hand hygiene prevents the spread of infection and must
be performed before resident contact.
5. Which of the following is an example of a subjective observation?
a) Rash on the arm
b) Complaints of pain
c) Temperature 101°F
, d) Blood pressure 120/80 mmHg
Rationale: Subjective observations are based on what the resident
reports, such as pain or nausea.
6. When repositioning a resident in bed, you should:
a) Lift them without assistance
b) Use proper body mechanics
c) Pull them quickly to save time
d) Ask them to move entirely by themselves
Rationale: Proper body mechanics prevent injury to both the aide
and the resident.
7. A resident’s call light is on. You should:
a) Wait until you finish your task
b) Respond as soon as possible
c) Ask a co-worker to ignore it
d) Tell the resident to wait
Rationale: Prompt response to call lights is essential for resident
safety and care.
8. When providing oral care to an unconscious resident, you should:
a) Use a regular toothbrush
b) Position them on their side and use a sponge swab
c) Brush their teeth while they are lying flat on their back
d) Skip oral care to avoid choking
, Rationale: Positioning the resident on their side prevents aspiration
during oral care.
9. Which of the following is a sign of dehydration?
a) Clear urine
b) Normal skin turgor
c) Dry mucous membranes
d) Low heart rate
Rationale: Dry mouth and mucous membranes are common
indicators of dehydration.
10. To prevent pressure ulcers, a resident should be repositioned at
least every:
a) 6 hours
b) 4 hours
c) 2 hours
d) 30 minutes
Rationale: Repositioning at least every 2 hours relieves pressure and
reduces the risk of skin breakdown.
11. Which of the following is a normal vital sign for an adult?
a) Temperature 105°F
b) Pulse 120 bpm
c) Blood pressure 120/80 mmHg
d) Respirations 30 per minute
Examination (CNA) Practice Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
With Rationales
1. A resident tells you they are in pain. What should you do first?
a) Give them pain medication immediately
b) Document the complaint
c) Report it to the nurse
d) Ignore it if it is mild
Rationale: The nurse aide should always report pain to the nurse,
who can assess and administer appropriate treatment.
2. When assisting a resident with walking, you notice they are unsteady.
What should you do?
a) Let them continue walking alone
, b) Stay close and provide support
c) Stop the activity immediately without explanation
d) Encourage them to walk faster
Rationale: The aide must provide physical support to prevent falls
and ensure safety.
3. A resident refuses to eat their meal. How should you respond?
a) Force the resident to eat
b) Respect their choice and report it
c) Leave the meal and ignore it
d) Take the food away immediately
Rationale: Residents have the right to refuse food; the aide should
respect their choice and inform the nurse.
4. Hand hygiene is required before:
a) Taking a break
b) Leaving the facility
c) Contact with a resident
d) Restocking supplies
Rationale: Hand hygiene prevents the spread of infection and must
be performed before resident contact.
5. Which of the following is an example of a subjective observation?
a) Rash on the arm
b) Complaints of pain
c) Temperature 101°F
, d) Blood pressure 120/80 mmHg
Rationale: Subjective observations are based on what the resident
reports, such as pain or nausea.
6. When repositioning a resident in bed, you should:
a) Lift them without assistance
b) Use proper body mechanics
c) Pull them quickly to save time
d) Ask them to move entirely by themselves
Rationale: Proper body mechanics prevent injury to both the aide
and the resident.
7. A resident’s call light is on. You should:
a) Wait until you finish your task
b) Respond as soon as possible
c) Ask a co-worker to ignore it
d) Tell the resident to wait
Rationale: Prompt response to call lights is essential for resident
safety and care.
8. When providing oral care to an unconscious resident, you should:
a) Use a regular toothbrush
b) Position them on their side and use a sponge swab
c) Brush their teeth while they are lying flat on their back
d) Skip oral care to avoid choking
, Rationale: Positioning the resident on their side prevents aspiration
during oral care.
9. Which of the following is a sign of dehydration?
a) Clear urine
b) Normal skin turgor
c) Dry mucous membranes
d) Low heart rate
Rationale: Dry mouth and mucous membranes are common
indicators of dehydration.
10. To prevent pressure ulcers, a resident should be repositioned at
least every:
a) 6 hours
b) 4 hours
c) 2 hours
d) 30 minutes
Rationale: Repositioning at least every 2 hours relieves pressure and
reduces the risk of skin breakdown.
11. Which of the following is a normal vital sign for an adult?
a) Temperature 105°F
b) Pulse 120 bpm
c) Blood pressure 120/80 mmHg
d) Respirations 30 per minute
