CNA CHAPTER 7 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026-2027 |
COMPLETE STUDYGUIDE WITH PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS| ALL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PLUS DETAILED
RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS | DOWNLOAD INSTANT
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1. A nursing assistant is helping a resident who has difficulty swallowing during breakfast.
Which action is most appropriate?
A. Encourage the resident to eat quickly before the food becomes cold
B. Have the resident sit upright and take small bites
C. Offer thin liquids between every bite
D. Place the resident flat after each bite
Answer: B
Rationale: An upright position and small bites reduce the risk of aspiration and allow the
resident greater control while swallowing.
2. Which observation should a nursing assistant report immediately when assisting a
resident with meals?
A. The resident prefers eating slowly
B. The resident requests a different beverage
C. The resident coughs repeatedly while swallowing
D. The resident leaves vegetables uneaten
Answer: C
Rationale: Repeated coughing during swallowing may indicate dysphagia and an increased
risk of aspiration.
3. A resident is on a fluid restriction. What should the nursing assistant do before offering
the resident an additional glass of water?
A. Check the care plan for the prescribed fluid allowance
B. Give the water because hydration is always the priority
C. Ask another resident whether the water is permitted
D. Remove all beverages from the resident's room
Answer: A
Rationale: The care plan identifies the resident's ordered restrictions and must be followed
when providing fluids.
,4. Which food choice is generally appropriate for a resident who has been prescribed a low-
sodium diet?
A. Canned soup
B. Salted crackers
C. Processed luncheon meat
D. Fresh apple slices
Answer: D
Rationale: Fresh fruits such as apples are naturally low in sodium, whereas many processed
foods contain substantial amounts of added salt.
5. During lunch, a resident says, “I do not want this food because it violates my religious
dietary practices.” What should the nursing assistant do first?
A. Tell the resident that the meal was prescribed by the facility
B. Respect the concern and report it according to facility policy
C. Tell the resident to eat only the foods that look acceptable
D. Remove the tray without documenting anything
Answer: B
Rationale: Dietary preferences and religious practices should be respected, and concerns
about the meal should be communicated through the appropriate care team.
6. A resident with diabetes becomes shaky, sweaty, and unusually confused before lunch.
What should the nursing assistant do?
A. Encourage the resident to walk around
B. Wait until the next scheduled meal
C. Report the symptoms promptly according to the care plan
D. Give the resident medication independently
Answer: C
Rationale: Shakiness, sweating, and confusion may indicate hypoglycemia and require
prompt reporting and appropriate intervention by authorized staff.
7. Why is adequate fluid intake important for many older adults?
A. It prevents all chronic diseases
B. It eliminates the need for dietary fiber
C. It guarantees normal blood pressure
D. It helps maintain hydration and supports normal body functions
Answer: D
Rationale: Adequate fluids support circulation, digestion, temperature regulation, and kidney
function and help prevent dehydration.
,8. Which finding is most suggestive of dehydration?
A. Increased urination with clear urine
B. Moist oral mucosa
C. Dark, concentrated urine and dry mouth
D. Increased appetite
Answer: C
Rationale: Dark urine and dry oral mucosa are common signs that a person may not be
receiving enough fluid.
9. A resident refuses breakfast. What is the best initial response by the nursing assistant?
A. Force the resident to eat
B. Ask whether something is wrong and report persistent refusal
C. Tell the resident that meals cannot be skipped
D. Hide the meal so the resident will eat later
Answer: B
Rationale: The nursing assistant should determine whether there is an underlying concern and
report significant or persistent changes in intake.
10. Which action best promotes independence during mealtime?
A. Feeding the resident as quickly as possible
B. Cutting every resident's food automatically
C. Allowing the resident to use adaptive utensils when appropriate
D. Completing all tasks even when the resident can perform them
Answer: C
Rationale: Adaptive equipment can enable residents with physical limitations to participate in
eating independently.
11. A resident has weakness in the right hand but can feed himself using the left hand.
Which approach is best?
A. Encourage use of the stronger hand
B. Feed the resident entirely
C. Restrict the resident from feeding himself
D. Place the tray outside the resident's reach
Answer: A
Rationale: Supporting the resident's ability to use the stronger hand promotes independence
while maintaining safety.
, 12. A nursing assistant notices that a resident has consumed very little food for two
consecutive meals. What should the assistant do?
A. Ignore the pattern because one resident may eat less
B. Record the intake accurately and report the change as required
C. Give the resident food from another resident's tray
D. Promise the resident a preferred meal without authorization
Answer: B
Rationale: Accurate intake monitoring helps identify nutritional problems and provides useful
information to the healthcare team.
13. Which action is appropriate when positioning a resident for a meal?
A. Place the resident flat in bed
B. Keep the resident's head lower than the stomach
C. Position the resident upright whenever possible
D. Ask the resident to eat while lying on the side
Answer: C
Rationale: Upright positioning promotes safer swallowing and decreases aspiration risk.
14. A resident begins choking while eating and cannot speak or cough effectively. What is
the priority?
A. Leave the room to document the event
B. Provide appropriate emergency assistance immediately
C. Offer the resident water
D. Continue feeding slowly
Answer: B
Rationale: Inability to speak or cough effectively may indicate severe airway obstruction and
requires immediate emergency action according to training and facility protocol.
15. Which statement about aspiration is correct?
A. Aspiration occurs only when a person is unconscious
B. Aspiration means food or fluid enters the airway
C. Aspiration always causes immediate fever
D. Aspiration is prevented by drinking rapidly
Answer: B
Rationale: Aspiration occurs when food, fluid, saliva, or other material enters the respiratory
tract rather than the esophagus.
COMPLETE STUDYGUIDE WITH PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS| ALL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PLUS DETAILED
RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS | DOWNLOAD INSTANT
PDF 2026/2027
1. A nursing assistant is helping a resident who has difficulty swallowing during breakfast.
Which action is most appropriate?
A. Encourage the resident to eat quickly before the food becomes cold
B. Have the resident sit upright and take small bites
C. Offer thin liquids between every bite
D. Place the resident flat after each bite
Answer: B
Rationale: An upright position and small bites reduce the risk of aspiration and allow the
resident greater control while swallowing.
2. Which observation should a nursing assistant report immediately when assisting a
resident with meals?
A. The resident prefers eating slowly
B. The resident requests a different beverage
C. The resident coughs repeatedly while swallowing
D. The resident leaves vegetables uneaten
Answer: C
Rationale: Repeated coughing during swallowing may indicate dysphagia and an increased
risk of aspiration.
3. A resident is on a fluid restriction. What should the nursing assistant do before offering
the resident an additional glass of water?
A. Check the care plan for the prescribed fluid allowance
B. Give the water because hydration is always the priority
C. Ask another resident whether the water is permitted
D. Remove all beverages from the resident's room
Answer: A
Rationale: The care plan identifies the resident's ordered restrictions and must be followed
when providing fluids.
,4. Which food choice is generally appropriate for a resident who has been prescribed a low-
sodium diet?
A. Canned soup
B. Salted crackers
C. Processed luncheon meat
D. Fresh apple slices
Answer: D
Rationale: Fresh fruits such as apples are naturally low in sodium, whereas many processed
foods contain substantial amounts of added salt.
5. During lunch, a resident says, “I do not want this food because it violates my religious
dietary practices.” What should the nursing assistant do first?
A. Tell the resident that the meal was prescribed by the facility
B. Respect the concern and report it according to facility policy
C. Tell the resident to eat only the foods that look acceptable
D. Remove the tray without documenting anything
Answer: B
Rationale: Dietary preferences and religious practices should be respected, and concerns
about the meal should be communicated through the appropriate care team.
6. A resident with diabetes becomes shaky, sweaty, and unusually confused before lunch.
What should the nursing assistant do?
A. Encourage the resident to walk around
B. Wait until the next scheduled meal
C. Report the symptoms promptly according to the care plan
D. Give the resident medication independently
Answer: C
Rationale: Shakiness, sweating, and confusion may indicate hypoglycemia and require
prompt reporting and appropriate intervention by authorized staff.
7. Why is adequate fluid intake important for many older adults?
A. It prevents all chronic diseases
B. It eliminates the need for dietary fiber
C. It guarantees normal blood pressure
D. It helps maintain hydration and supports normal body functions
Answer: D
Rationale: Adequate fluids support circulation, digestion, temperature regulation, and kidney
function and help prevent dehydration.
,8. Which finding is most suggestive of dehydration?
A. Increased urination with clear urine
B. Moist oral mucosa
C. Dark, concentrated urine and dry mouth
D. Increased appetite
Answer: C
Rationale: Dark urine and dry oral mucosa are common signs that a person may not be
receiving enough fluid.
9. A resident refuses breakfast. What is the best initial response by the nursing assistant?
A. Force the resident to eat
B. Ask whether something is wrong and report persistent refusal
C. Tell the resident that meals cannot be skipped
D. Hide the meal so the resident will eat later
Answer: B
Rationale: The nursing assistant should determine whether there is an underlying concern and
report significant or persistent changes in intake.
10. Which action best promotes independence during mealtime?
A. Feeding the resident as quickly as possible
B. Cutting every resident's food automatically
C. Allowing the resident to use adaptive utensils when appropriate
D. Completing all tasks even when the resident can perform them
Answer: C
Rationale: Adaptive equipment can enable residents with physical limitations to participate in
eating independently.
11. A resident has weakness in the right hand but can feed himself using the left hand.
Which approach is best?
A. Encourage use of the stronger hand
B. Feed the resident entirely
C. Restrict the resident from feeding himself
D. Place the tray outside the resident's reach
Answer: A
Rationale: Supporting the resident's ability to use the stronger hand promotes independence
while maintaining safety.
, 12. A nursing assistant notices that a resident has consumed very little food for two
consecutive meals. What should the assistant do?
A. Ignore the pattern because one resident may eat less
B. Record the intake accurately and report the change as required
C. Give the resident food from another resident's tray
D. Promise the resident a preferred meal without authorization
Answer: B
Rationale: Accurate intake monitoring helps identify nutritional problems and provides useful
information to the healthcare team.
13. Which action is appropriate when positioning a resident for a meal?
A. Place the resident flat in bed
B. Keep the resident's head lower than the stomach
C. Position the resident upright whenever possible
D. Ask the resident to eat while lying on the side
Answer: C
Rationale: Upright positioning promotes safer swallowing and decreases aspiration risk.
14. A resident begins choking while eating and cannot speak or cough effectively. What is
the priority?
A. Leave the room to document the event
B. Provide appropriate emergency assistance immediately
C. Offer the resident water
D. Continue feeding slowly
Answer: B
Rationale: Inability to speak or cough effectively may indicate severe airway obstruction and
requires immediate emergency action according to training and facility protocol.
15. Which statement about aspiration is correct?
A. Aspiration occurs only when a person is unconscious
B. Aspiration means food or fluid enters the airway
C. Aspiration always causes immediate fever
D. Aspiration is prevented by drinking rapidly
Answer: B
Rationale: Aspiration occurs when food, fluid, saliva, or other material enters the respiratory
tract rather than the esophagus.
