Ohio STNA State Test Practice Exam
180 Questions with Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales
Exam Overview
The Ohio STNA (State Tested Nurse Aide) competency examination consists of a 79-question
written knowledge test (90 minutes) and a skills test (35 minutes). Candidates must score 70%
or better (approximately 56 correct out of 79) to pass the written exam.
Content Categories
Category Questions
Basic Nursing Skills 9
Personal Care 9
Safety 8
Infection Control 7
Mental Health 7
Role and Responsibility 7
Care Impaired 6
Communication 6
Data Collection 5
Disease Process 5
Older Adult Growth & Development 5
Residential Rights 5
,SECTION 1: INFECTION CONTROL (12 Questions)
Question 1
Which of the following is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection in a
healthcare setting?
A. Wearing gloves for all resident contact
B. Washing hands before and after resident care
C. Using hand sanitizer instead of soap and water
D. Changing gloves between tasks
Answer: B
Rationale: Proper hand hygiene is the single most effective method for preventing infection
transmission. While gloves, sanitizer, and glove changes are important, they are not substitutes
for proper handwashing. Handwashing must be performed before and after every resident
contact, after removing gloves, and between tasks. According to CDC guidelines and Ohio
Department of Health standards, proper handwashing with soap and water for at least 20
seconds remains the gold standard for infection prevention.
Question 2
A resident has a urinary tract infection and is on contact precautions. What should the STNA do
when entering the resident's room?
A. Wear gloves only
B. Wear a gown and gloves
C. Wear a mask, gown, and gloves
D. Wash hands and wear gloves if contact with body fluids is anticipated
Answer: D
Rationale: Contact precautions require gloves and a gown if contact with the resident or their
environment is anticipated. However, for routine tasks where contact with body fluids is not
expected, standard precautions (hand hygiene + gloves if contact is anticipated) may be
sufficient. The STNA should always review the isolation precautions posted outside the
resident's room and follow facility-specific policies.
Question 3
When removing personal protective equipment (PPE) after providing care to a resident on
isolation precautions, which item should be removed first?
,A. Mask
B. Gown
C. Gloves
D. Eye protection
Answer: C
Rationale: Gloves are considered the most contaminated piece of PPE and should be removed
first to prevent contaminating other PPE or the skin. The correct sequence for PPE removal is:
(1) gloves, (2) eye protection (if worn), (3) gown, (4) mask. Hands should be washed
immediately after removing all PPE. This sequence minimizes the risk of self-contamination.
Question 4
The single most important practice for preventing the spread of infection is:
A. Wearing gloves
B. Handwashing
C. Wearing a mask
D. Using disinfectant
Answer: B
Rationale: Handwashing is the most important and effective infection control practice. It
removes transient microorganisms and reduces the risk of transmitting pathogens between
residents and healthcare workers. While gloves, masks, and disinfectants are important
components of infection control, none is as universally effective as proper hand hygiene.
Question 5
How long should an STNA wash their hands with soap and water?
A. At least 5 seconds
B. At least 10 seconds
C. At least 20 seconds
D. At least 60 seconds
Answer: C
Rationale: According to CDC guidelines, handwashing with soap and water should last at least
20 seconds. This duration allows sufficient time to create friction, loosen dirt and
microorganisms, and rinse them away effectively. The STNA should wash all surfaces of the
hands, including between fingers and under nails.
, Question 6
When should an STNA perform hand hygiene? (Select all that apply.)
A. Before touching a resident
B. After touching a resident
C. After removing gloves
D. Before eating
Answer: A, B, C, D
Rationale: Hand hygiene should be performed: before and after touching a resident, after
removing gloves, before eating, after using the restroom, before and after performing a
procedure, after touching contaminated surfaces, and between tasks with the same resident to
prevent cross-contamination.
Question 7
Which of the following is a bloodborne pathogen that healthcare workers are at risk of exposure
to?
A. Influenza
B. Hepatitis B
C. Tuberculosis
D. Common cold
Answer: B
Rationale: Hepatitis B is a bloodborne pathogen transmitted through contact with infected
blood and body fluids. Healthcare workers are at risk through needlestick injuries and exposure
to blood. Influenza and the common cold are respiratory viruses, and tuberculosis is an airborne
pathogen. Standard precautions and proper disposal of sharps help prevent bloodborne
pathogen transmission.
Question 8
The most common type of infection occurring in residents in long-term care facilities is:
A. Respiratory infection
B. Urinary tract infection
C. Skin infection
D. Gastrointestinal infection
Answer: B
Rationale: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common healthcare-associated infections
in long-term care facilities. They are often associated with indwelling urinary catheters,
180 Questions with Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales
Exam Overview
The Ohio STNA (State Tested Nurse Aide) competency examination consists of a 79-question
written knowledge test (90 minutes) and a skills test (35 minutes). Candidates must score 70%
or better (approximately 56 correct out of 79) to pass the written exam.
Content Categories
Category Questions
Basic Nursing Skills 9
Personal Care 9
Safety 8
Infection Control 7
Mental Health 7
Role and Responsibility 7
Care Impaired 6
Communication 6
Data Collection 5
Disease Process 5
Older Adult Growth & Development 5
Residential Rights 5
,SECTION 1: INFECTION CONTROL (12 Questions)
Question 1
Which of the following is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection in a
healthcare setting?
A. Wearing gloves for all resident contact
B. Washing hands before and after resident care
C. Using hand sanitizer instead of soap and water
D. Changing gloves between tasks
Answer: B
Rationale: Proper hand hygiene is the single most effective method for preventing infection
transmission. While gloves, sanitizer, and glove changes are important, they are not substitutes
for proper handwashing. Handwashing must be performed before and after every resident
contact, after removing gloves, and between tasks. According to CDC guidelines and Ohio
Department of Health standards, proper handwashing with soap and water for at least 20
seconds remains the gold standard for infection prevention.
Question 2
A resident has a urinary tract infection and is on contact precautions. What should the STNA do
when entering the resident's room?
A. Wear gloves only
B. Wear a gown and gloves
C. Wear a mask, gown, and gloves
D. Wash hands and wear gloves if contact with body fluids is anticipated
Answer: D
Rationale: Contact precautions require gloves and a gown if contact with the resident or their
environment is anticipated. However, for routine tasks where contact with body fluids is not
expected, standard precautions (hand hygiene + gloves if contact is anticipated) may be
sufficient. The STNA should always review the isolation precautions posted outside the
resident's room and follow facility-specific policies.
Question 3
When removing personal protective equipment (PPE) after providing care to a resident on
isolation precautions, which item should be removed first?
,A. Mask
B. Gown
C. Gloves
D. Eye protection
Answer: C
Rationale: Gloves are considered the most contaminated piece of PPE and should be removed
first to prevent contaminating other PPE or the skin. The correct sequence for PPE removal is:
(1) gloves, (2) eye protection (if worn), (3) gown, (4) mask. Hands should be washed
immediately after removing all PPE. This sequence minimizes the risk of self-contamination.
Question 4
The single most important practice for preventing the spread of infection is:
A. Wearing gloves
B. Handwashing
C. Wearing a mask
D. Using disinfectant
Answer: B
Rationale: Handwashing is the most important and effective infection control practice. It
removes transient microorganisms and reduces the risk of transmitting pathogens between
residents and healthcare workers. While gloves, masks, and disinfectants are important
components of infection control, none is as universally effective as proper hand hygiene.
Question 5
How long should an STNA wash their hands with soap and water?
A. At least 5 seconds
B. At least 10 seconds
C. At least 20 seconds
D. At least 60 seconds
Answer: C
Rationale: According to CDC guidelines, handwashing with soap and water should last at least
20 seconds. This duration allows sufficient time to create friction, loosen dirt and
microorganisms, and rinse them away effectively. The STNA should wash all surfaces of the
hands, including between fingers and under nails.
, Question 6
When should an STNA perform hand hygiene? (Select all that apply.)
A. Before touching a resident
B. After touching a resident
C. After removing gloves
D. Before eating
Answer: A, B, C, D
Rationale: Hand hygiene should be performed: before and after touching a resident, after
removing gloves, before eating, after using the restroom, before and after performing a
procedure, after touching contaminated surfaces, and between tasks with the same resident to
prevent cross-contamination.
Question 7
Which of the following is a bloodborne pathogen that healthcare workers are at risk of exposure
to?
A. Influenza
B. Hepatitis B
C. Tuberculosis
D. Common cold
Answer: B
Rationale: Hepatitis B is a bloodborne pathogen transmitted through contact with infected
blood and body fluids. Healthcare workers are at risk through needlestick injuries and exposure
to blood. Influenza and the common cold are respiratory viruses, and tuberculosis is an airborne
pathogen. Standard precautions and proper disposal of sharps help prevent bloodborne
pathogen transmission.
Question 8
The most common type of infection occurring in residents in long-term care facilities is:
A. Respiratory infection
B. Urinary tract infection
C. Skin infection
D. Gastrointestinal infection
Answer: B
Rationale: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common healthcare-associated infections
in long-term care facilities. They are often associated with indwelling urinary catheters,
