The Ultimate and Complete Ohio State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA) Exam Study
Guide 2026–2027, Covering Ohio Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation
Requirements, Basic Nursing Skills, Activities of Daily Living, Personal Care and
Hygiene, Infection Prevention and Standard Precautions, Hand Hygiene and PPE, Vital
Signs, Nutrition and Hydration, Feeding Assistance, Elimination and Toileting, Mobility
and Safe Transfers, Positioning and Body Mechanics, Range-of-Motion Exercises, Skin
Integrity and Pressure Injury Prevention, Resident Rights and Abuse Prevention,
Communication and Dementia Care, Safety and Emergency Procedures, Measuring
Intake and Output, Documentation and Reporting, Professional Responsibilities,
Clinical Skills Demonstration, Written Examination Preparation, Practice Questions
With Detailed Rationales, Scenario-Based Exercises, and Proven Strategies for
Successfully Preparing for the Ohio STNA State Nurse Aide Examination
Question 1: A nursing assistant is preparing to transfer a resident who has left-
sided weakness from a bed to a wheelchair. Which action best demonstrates
proper body mechanics and safety for both the assistant and the resident?
A. Position the wheelchair on the resident's left side, lock the brakes, and pivot the
resident toward the stronger side.
B. Position the wheelchair on the resident's right side, lock the brakes, and use a gait
belt to pivot the resident toward the stronger side.
C. Position the wheelchair at the foot of the bed and have the resident walk backward
into it.
D. Position the wheelchair on the resident's left side and have the resident use the
wheelchair armrests to pull themselves up.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Position the wheelchair on the resident's right side, lock the
brakes, and use a gait belt to pivot the resident toward the stronger side.
Rationale: The wheelchair should be placed on the resident's stronger (right) side to
allow them to pivot toward their strength. Locking the brakes ensures stability, and a
gait belt provides a secure grip for the assistant to control the transfer, reducing injury
risk.
,Question 2: A resident with dementia is pacing in the hallway and appears
agitated. What is the most appropriate initial response by the nursing assistant?
A. Tell the resident firmly to sit down and stop pacing.
B. Take the resident to their room and close the door for quiet time.
C. Approach the resident calmly, use a soft voice, and ask if they need to use the
bathroom or would like to walk with you.
D. Ignore the behavior and continue with other tasks to avoid reinforcing it.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Approach the resident calmly, use a soft voice, and ask if
they need to use the bathroom or would like to walk with you.
Rationale: Pacing and agitation are common in dementia and may indicate an unmet
need (e.g., pain, toileting, boredom). Redirection with calm, person-centered
communication is the safest, most therapeutic approach.
Question 3: When measuring a resident's radial pulse, the nursing assistant counts
20 beats in 30 seconds. What should the assistant document as the pulse rate?
A. 40 beats per minute
B. 60 beats per minute
C. 80 beats per minute
D. 100 beats per minute
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 40 beats per minute
Rationale: To calculate beats per minute (BPM) from a 30-second count, multiply by 2
(20 x 2 = 40 BPM). This is an abnormally low rate (bradycardia) and should be reported
to the nurse.
,Question 4: A nursing assistant is caring for a resident who is on strict intake and
output (I&O) monitoring. Which of the following should the assistant record as
output?
A. Ice chips melted
B. Liquid from a bowl of soup
C. Chest tube drainage
D. Fluid from a continuous bladder irrigation
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Chest tube drainage
Rationale: Output includes measurable fluids lost from the body, such as urine, vomitus,
diarrhea, and drainage from tubes (e.g., chest tubes, NG tubes). Ice chips and soup are
intake, and bladder irrigation fluid is not counted as output as it is instilled.
Question 5: While making an occupied bed, the nursing assistant notices that the
bed rail is broken. What is the assistant's priority action?
A. Complete the bed change quickly to avoid leaving the resident unattended.
B. Place a pillow on the floor under the broken rail in case the resident falls.
C. Do not use the rail, report the broken equipment to the maintenance department,
and place a "do not use" sign on the bed.
D. Use the rail carefully and document the issue in the resident's chart after the shift.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Do not use the rail, report the broken equipment to the
maintenance department, and place a "do not use" sign on the bed.
Rationale: Broken equipment poses a serious safety hazard. The assistant must
immediately remove it from use, report it, and ensure a fall-prevention strategy is in
place while the repair is pending.
, Question 6: Which of the following is the correct procedure for performing
perineal care (peri-care) for a female resident?
A. Clean from the anal area toward the pubic area.
B. Clean the labia from front to back, using a clean section of the washcloth for each
stroke.
C. Use a circular motion starting at the urethra and moving outward.
D. Clean the vaginal area first, then the perineal area, using the same cloth section.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Clean the labia from front to back, using a clean section of
the washcloth for each stroke.
Rationale: Cleaning from front to back prevents the spread of fecal bacteria to the
urethra and vagina, reducing the risk of urinary tract infections. Each stroke should use a
clean area of the cloth.
Question 7: A resident is prescribed a clear liquid diet. Which of the following
items is appropriate to serve?
A. Orange juice with pulp
B. Cream of chicken soup
C. Gelatin (Jell-O)
D. Milk
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Gelatin (Jell-O)
Rationale: A clear liquid diet includes items that are liquid at room temperature and
transparent, such as broth, apple juice, gelatin, and popsicles. Orange juice with pulp,
cream soup, and milk are not considered clear liquids.
Guide 2026–2027, Covering Ohio Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation
Requirements, Basic Nursing Skills, Activities of Daily Living, Personal Care and
Hygiene, Infection Prevention and Standard Precautions, Hand Hygiene and PPE, Vital
Signs, Nutrition and Hydration, Feeding Assistance, Elimination and Toileting, Mobility
and Safe Transfers, Positioning and Body Mechanics, Range-of-Motion Exercises, Skin
Integrity and Pressure Injury Prevention, Resident Rights and Abuse Prevention,
Communication and Dementia Care, Safety and Emergency Procedures, Measuring
Intake and Output, Documentation and Reporting, Professional Responsibilities,
Clinical Skills Demonstration, Written Examination Preparation, Practice Questions
With Detailed Rationales, Scenario-Based Exercises, and Proven Strategies for
Successfully Preparing for the Ohio STNA State Nurse Aide Examination
Question 1: A nursing assistant is preparing to transfer a resident who has left-
sided weakness from a bed to a wheelchair. Which action best demonstrates
proper body mechanics and safety for both the assistant and the resident?
A. Position the wheelchair on the resident's left side, lock the brakes, and pivot the
resident toward the stronger side.
B. Position the wheelchair on the resident's right side, lock the brakes, and use a gait
belt to pivot the resident toward the stronger side.
C. Position the wheelchair at the foot of the bed and have the resident walk backward
into it.
D. Position the wheelchair on the resident's left side and have the resident use the
wheelchair armrests to pull themselves up.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Position the wheelchair on the resident's right side, lock the
brakes, and use a gait belt to pivot the resident toward the stronger side.
Rationale: The wheelchair should be placed on the resident's stronger (right) side to
allow them to pivot toward their strength. Locking the brakes ensures stability, and a
gait belt provides a secure grip for the assistant to control the transfer, reducing injury
risk.
,Question 2: A resident with dementia is pacing in the hallway and appears
agitated. What is the most appropriate initial response by the nursing assistant?
A. Tell the resident firmly to sit down and stop pacing.
B. Take the resident to their room and close the door for quiet time.
C. Approach the resident calmly, use a soft voice, and ask if they need to use the
bathroom or would like to walk with you.
D. Ignore the behavior and continue with other tasks to avoid reinforcing it.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Approach the resident calmly, use a soft voice, and ask if
they need to use the bathroom or would like to walk with you.
Rationale: Pacing and agitation are common in dementia and may indicate an unmet
need (e.g., pain, toileting, boredom). Redirection with calm, person-centered
communication is the safest, most therapeutic approach.
Question 3: When measuring a resident's radial pulse, the nursing assistant counts
20 beats in 30 seconds. What should the assistant document as the pulse rate?
A. 40 beats per minute
B. 60 beats per minute
C. 80 beats per minute
D. 100 beats per minute
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 40 beats per minute
Rationale: To calculate beats per minute (BPM) from a 30-second count, multiply by 2
(20 x 2 = 40 BPM). This is an abnormally low rate (bradycardia) and should be reported
to the nurse.
,Question 4: A nursing assistant is caring for a resident who is on strict intake and
output (I&O) monitoring. Which of the following should the assistant record as
output?
A. Ice chips melted
B. Liquid from a bowl of soup
C. Chest tube drainage
D. Fluid from a continuous bladder irrigation
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Chest tube drainage
Rationale: Output includes measurable fluids lost from the body, such as urine, vomitus,
diarrhea, and drainage from tubes (e.g., chest tubes, NG tubes). Ice chips and soup are
intake, and bladder irrigation fluid is not counted as output as it is instilled.
Question 5: While making an occupied bed, the nursing assistant notices that the
bed rail is broken. What is the assistant's priority action?
A. Complete the bed change quickly to avoid leaving the resident unattended.
B. Place a pillow on the floor under the broken rail in case the resident falls.
C. Do not use the rail, report the broken equipment to the maintenance department,
and place a "do not use" sign on the bed.
D. Use the rail carefully and document the issue in the resident's chart after the shift.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Do not use the rail, report the broken equipment to the
maintenance department, and place a "do not use" sign on the bed.
Rationale: Broken equipment poses a serious safety hazard. The assistant must
immediately remove it from use, report it, and ensure a fall-prevention strategy is in
place while the repair is pending.
, Question 6: Which of the following is the correct procedure for performing
perineal care (peri-care) for a female resident?
A. Clean from the anal area toward the pubic area.
B. Clean the labia from front to back, using a clean section of the washcloth for each
stroke.
C. Use a circular motion starting at the urethra and moving outward.
D. Clean the vaginal area first, then the perineal area, using the same cloth section.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Clean the labia from front to back, using a clean section of
the washcloth for each stroke.
Rationale: Cleaning from front to back prevents the spread of fecal bacteria to the
urethra and vagina, reducing the risk of urinary tract infections. Each stroke should use a
clean area of the cloth.
Question 7: A resident is prescribed a clear liquid diet. Which of the following
items is appropriate to serve?
A. Orange juice with pulp
B. Cream of chicken soup
C. Gelatin (Jell-O)
D. Milk
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Gelatin (Jell-O)
Rationale: A clear liquid diet includes items that are liquid at room temperature and
transparent, such as broth, apple juice, gelatin, and popsicles. Orange juice with pulp,
cream soup, and milk are not considered clear liquids.
