Ohio STNA Exam 2026/2027 • State Tested Nursing Assistant • Unofficial Study Aid
Ohio STNA Exam 2026/2027 | 110 Practice Questions with
Answers & Detailed Rationales
State Tested Nursing Assistant — Ohio Department of Health • 110 Practice Questions with Rationales
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This is an independent, original PRACTICE exam aligned to current Ohio STNA standards, Ohio Department of
Health regulations, and nursing assistant best practices for 2026/2027. It is NOT affiliated with, endorsed by, or sourced from ODH or
any testing vendor, and does NOT contain actual STNA exam questions. Use solely for study and self-assessment. Verify current
requirements from Ohio Department of Health and your training program.
The Ohio State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA) exam, regulated by the Ohio Department of Health and
administered by approved vendors, evaluates competence in safe, person-centered care. This 2026/2027
practice exam mirrors the Ohio STNA blueprint, covering basic nursing skills, ADLs, safety, communication,
patient rights, and Ohio-specific regulations to focus your preparation.
Instructions: Select the single best answer for each scenario. The correct answer is highlighted in bold cyan. Each rationale
cites STNA principles, Ohio regulations, or best practice and explains why distractors are incorrect. Simulate exam
conditions (timed, no aids) and review rationales thoroughly.
Section 1: Introduction
Section 2: The Complete Exam
Domains covered: Basic Nursing Skills • Patient Care Procedures • Safety & Emergency • Communication & Interpersonal • ADLs •
Mental Health & Social Services • Patient Rights • Ohio Regulations (ODH) • Care of Elderly & Disabled • Nutrition & Hydration | Time:
Simulate 2–3 hours | Guidance: Review rationales citing Ohio STNA standards, ODH, HIPAA, and nursing assistant principles, not just
scores.
1. When taking a resident's temperature with an electronic oral thermometer, the STNA should
ensure:
A. No waiting needed
B. Use rectal probe orally
C. Resident has not had hot/cold food, drink, or smoked within 15-30 minutes
D. Take immediately after hot coffee for accuracy
Rationale: Hot/cold intake and smoking alter oral temperature for 15-30 minutes, causing false
readings. Using rectal probe orally or taking immediately after hot coffee violates infection control
and accuracy.
2. Hand hygiene per CDC and Ohio STNA standards: When should an STNA use alcohol-based hand
rub vs soap and water?
A. Never wash hands
B. Use soap and water when hands are visibly soiled or after caring for C.
difficile/norovirus; otherwise alcohol rub is appropriate
C. Always alcohol rub even when visibly soiled
D. Only wash once per shift
Rationale: Visible soil, C. diff spores, and norovirus require soap and water; alcohol does not remove
spores/soil. Alcohol rub is otherwise effective per standard precautions.
Confidential Study Use Only — Not Affiliated with or Endorsed by ODH — Does Not Contain Actual Exam Content — Verify Current Requirements
, Ohio STNA Exam 2026/2027 • State Tested Nursing Assistant • Unofficial Study Aid
3. Applying standard precautions means the STNA treats:
A. Only blood as infectious
B. Only when resident looks sick
C. Only known HIV-positive residents as infectious
D. All blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat), nonintact skin, and
mucous membranes as potentially infectious
Rationale: Standard precautions apply to all residents and all potentially infectious materials, not
just known infections or blood. Looking sick does not determine infectivity.
4. Active listening when a resident is speaking includes:
A. Interrupting to give advice immediately
B. Finishing their sentences for them
C. Looking at phone
D. Maintaining eye contact, not interrupting, and reflecting back what was heard
Rationale: Active listening shows respect and ensures understanding via attention and reflection.
Interrupting, phone use, or finishing sentences are non-therapeutic and disrespectful.
5. Measuring radial pulse: The STNA should count for:
A. No timing needed
B. 30 seconds and multiply by 2 (or 60 seconds if irregular)
C. 5 seconds and multiply
D. Only 10 seconds always
Rationale: 30 seconds ×2 is accurate for regular pulses; 60 seconds for irregular per pulse
measurement standards. Short counts without doubling or no timing are inaccurate.
6. Pericare for a female resident after incontinence should be performed:
A. Front to back (urethra to rectum) with clean technique, changing wipe each stroke
B. Back to front
C. Only once per week
D. No cleaning needed after incontinence
Rationale: Front-to-back prevents UTIs by avoiding fecal contamination of urethra. Back-to-front or
infrequent cleaning increases infection risk.
7. The STNA notices a resident's skin on the sacrum is reddened but not broken, blanches with
pressure. This is:
A. Normal skin without action
B. No concern
Confidential Study Use Only — Not Affiliated with or Endorsed by ODH — Does Not Contain Actual Exam Content — Verify Current Requirements
, Ohio STNA Exam 2026/2027 • State Tested Nursing Assistant • Unofficial Study Aid
C. Stage 1 pressure injury – non-blanchable would be more advanced, but blanchable
redness is warning and requires repositioning and reporting
D. Stage 4
Rationale: Blanchable redness is a warning (pre-stage 1) or Stage 1 if non-blanchable; it requires
offloading, skin care, and reporting. Stage 4 involves muscle/bone.
8. Range of motion (ROM) exercises are performed to:
A. Maintain joint mobility and prevent contractures
B. Cause pain intentionally
C. Replace ambulation
D. Only for fun
Rationale: ROM preserves flexibility and prevents contractures, especially in immobile residents.
Intentional pain, fun-only, or replacement for ambulation are incorrect.
9. When assisting a resident with ambulation who is unsteady, the STNA should:
A. Walk slightly behind and to the weaker side, using a gait belt secured at the waist over
clothing
B. Walk in front and pull them
C. Run ahead
D. No gait belt needed
Rationale: Gait belt provides control, positioning behind/weak side allows support. Pulling from
front, no belt, or running are unsafe.
10. Standard precautions require wearing gloves when:
A. Contacting blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, nonintact skin, or contaminated
items
B. Only for charting
C. Never with pericare
D. Only when giving medications
Rationale: Gloves are required for exposure to infectious materials. Medications/charting/pericare-
never are incorrect scope.
11. An 88-year-old resident reports dizziness when standing. The STNA should first:
A. Ignore dizziness
B. Tell them to stand quickly without help
C. Force ambulation
D. Assist slowly, measure orthostatic vital signs per nurse direction, and report to nurse
for evaluation
Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension is common in older adults; slow assist, vitals, and prompt
reporting protect safety. Quick standing/ignoring/forcing risk falls.
Confidential Study Use Only — Not Affiliated with or Endorsed by ODH — Does Not Contain Actual Exam Content — Verify Current Requirements
Ohio STNA Exam 2026/2027 | 110 Practice Questions with
Answers & Detailed Rationales
State Tested Nursing Assistant — Ohio Department of Health • 110 Practice Questions with Rationales
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This is an independent, original PRACTICE exam aligned to current Ohio STNA standards, Ohio Department of
Health regulations, and nursing assistant best practices for 2026/2027. It is NOT affiliated with, endorsed by, or sourced from ODH or
any testing vendor, and does NOT contain actual STNA exam questions. Use solely for study and self-assessment. Verify current
requirements from Ohio Department of Health and your training program.
The Ohio State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA) exam, regulated by the Ohio Department of Health and
administered by approved vendors, evaluates competence in safe, person-centered care. This 2026/2027
practice exam mirrors the Ohio STNA blueprint, covering basic nursing skills, ADLs, safety, communication,
patient rights, and Ohio-specific regulations to focus your preparation.
Instructions: Select the single best answer for each scenario. The correct answer is highlighted in bold cyan. Each rationale
cites STNA principles, Ohio regulations, or best practice and explains why distractors are incorrect. Simulate exam
conditions (timed, no aids) and review rationales thoroughly.
Section 1: Introduction
Section 2: The Complete Exam
Domains covered: Basic Nursing Skills • Patient Care Procedures • Safety & Emergency • Communication & Interpersonal • ADLs •
Mental Health & Social Services • Patient Rights • Ohio Regulations (ODH) • Care of Elderly & Disabled • Nutrition & Hydration | Time:
Simulate 2–3 hours | Guidance: Review rationales citing Ohio STNA standards, ODH, HIPAA, and nursing assistant principles, not just
scores.
1. When taking a resident's temperature with an electronic oral thermometer, the STNA should
ensure:
A. No waiting needed
B. Use rectal probe orally
C. Resident has not had hot/cold food, drink, or smoked within 15-30 minutes
D. Take immediately after hot coffee for accuracy
Rationale: Hot/cold intake and smoking alter oral temperature for 15-30 minutes, causing false
readings. Using rectal probe orally or taking immediately after hot coffee violates infection control
and accuracy.
2. Hand hygiene per CDC and Ohio STNA standards: When should an STNA use alcohol-based hand
rub vs soap and water?
A. Never wash hands
B. Use soap and water when hands are visibly soiled or after caring for C.
difficile/norovirus; otherwise alcohol rub is appropriate
C. Always alcohol rub even when visibly soiled
D. Only wash once per shift
Rationale: Visible soil, C. diff spores, and norovirus require soap and water; alcohol does not remove
spores/soil. Alcohol rub is otherwise effective per standard precautions.
Confidential Study Use Only — Not Affiliated with or Endorsed by ODH — Does Not Contain Actual Exam Content — Verify Current Requirements
, Ohio STNA Exam 2026/2027 • State Tested Nursing Assistant • Unofficial Study Aid
3. Applying standard precautions means the STNA treats:
A. Only blood as infectious
B. Only when resident looks sick
C. Only known HIV-positive residents as infectious
D. All blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat), nonintact skin, and
mucous membranes as potentially infectious
Rationale: Standard precautions apply to all residents and all potentially infectious materials, not
just known infections or blood. Looking sick does not determine infectivity.
4. Active listening when a resident is speaking includes:
A. Interrupting to give advice immediately
B. Finishing their sentences for them
C. Looking at phone
D. Maintaining eye contact, not interrupting, and reflecting back what was heard
Rationale: Active listening shows respect and ensures understanding via attention and reflection.
Interrupting, phone use, or finishing sentences are non-therapeutic and disrespectful.
5. Measuring radial pulse: The STNA should count for:
A. No timing needed
B. 30 seconds and multiply by 2 (or 60 seconds if irregular)
C. 5 seconds and multiply
D. Only 10 seconds always
Rationale: 30 seconds ×2 is accurate for regular pulses; 60 seconds for irregular per pulse
measurement standards. Short counts without doubling or no timing are inaccurate.
6. Pericare for a female resident after incontinence should be performed:
A. Front to back (urethra to rectum) with clean technique, changing wipe each stroke
B. Back to front
C. Only once per week
D. No cleaning needed after incontinence
Rationale: Front-to-back prevents UTIs by avoiding fecal contamination of urethra. Back-to-front or
infrequent cleaning increases infection risk.
7. The STNA notices a resident's skin on the sacrum is reddened but not broken, blanches with
pressure. This is:
A. Normal skin without action
B. No concern
Confidential Study Use Only — Not Affiliated with or Endorsed by ODH — Does Not Contain Actual Exam Content — Verify Current Requirements
, Ohio STNA Exam 2026/2027 • State Tested Nursing Assistant • Unofficial Study Aid
C. Stage 1 pressure injury – non-blanchable would be more advanced, but blanchable
redness is warning and requires repositioning and reporting
D. Stage 4
Rationale: Blanchable redness is a warning (pre-stage 1) or Stage 1 if non-blanchable; it requires
offloading, skin care, and reporting. Stage 4 involves muscle/bone.
8. Range of motion (ROM) exercises are performed to:
A. Maintain joint mobility and prevent contractures
B. Cause pain intentionally
C. Replace ambulation
D. Only for fun
Rationale: ROM preserves flexibility and prevents contractures, especially in immobile residents.
Intentional pain, fun-only, or replacement for ambulation are incorrect.
9. When assisting a resident with ambulation who is unsteady, the STNA should:
A. Walk slightly behind and to the weaker side, using a gait belt secured at the waist over
clothing
B. Walk in front and pull them
C. Run ahead
D. No gait belt needed
Rationale: Gait belt provides control, positioning behind/weak side allows support. Pulling from
front, no belt, or running are unsafe.
10. Standard precautions require wearing gloves when:
A. Contacting blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, nonintact skin, or contaminated
items
B. Only for charting
C. Never with pericare
D. Only when giving medications
Rationale: Gloves are required for exposure to infectious materials. Medications/charting/pericare-
never are incorrect scope.
11. An 88-year-old resident reports dizziness when standing. The STNA should first:
A. Ignore dizziness
B. Tell them to stand quickly without help
C. Force ambulation
D. Assist slowly, measure orthostatic vital signs per nurse direction, and report to nurse
for evaluation
Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension is common in older adults; slow assist, vitals, and prompt
reporting protect safety. Quick standing/ignoring/forcing risk falls.
Confidential Study Use Only — Not Affiliated with or Endorsed by ODH — Does Not Contain Actual Exam Content — Verify Current Requirements
