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Wisconsin Nurse Aide Competency
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
___________________________________________________________________
1. A nurse aide enters a resident’s room and finds the resident sitting on the
floor beside the bed. What should the aide do first?
A. Help the resident back into bed
B. Ask the resident why they fell
C. Assess the resident for immediate injury and remain with the resident
D. Obtain a wheelchair
Answer: Assess the resident for immediate injury and remain with the resident
Rationale: After a suspected fall, the aide should not move the resident until
injury has been assessed and appropriate licensed staff have been notified.
Remaining with the resident promotes safety.
2. A resident with dysphagia begins coughing repeatedly while eating and
develops a wet, gurgling voice. What is the priority action?
A. Encourage the resident to drink water
B. Continue feeding more slowly
C. Stop feeding and notify the nurse
D. Ask the resident to lie down
Answer: Stop feeding and notify the nurse
,Rationale: Coughing and a wet or gurgling voice can indicate aspiration.
Feeding should stop immediately while the nurse evaluates the resident.
3. A resident has a prescription for thickened liquids. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Add thickener only when the resident coughs
B. Prepare liquids according to the ordered consistency
C. Substitute thin water if the resident dislikes thickened liquids
D. Dilute the thickened liquid to improve taste
Answer: Prepare liquids according to the ordered consistency
Rationale: Ordered dietary and swallowing precautions must be followed
consistently because the prescribed consistency helps reduce aspiration risk.
4. A resident suddenly becomes confused, has slurred speech, and cannot
raise one arm normally. What should the nurse aide do?
A. Allow the resident to rest
B. Offer a snack
C. Immediately report the changes to the nurse
D. Reassure the resident that confusion is normal
Answer: Immediately report the changes to the nurse
Rationale: Sudden neurological changes may indicate a stroke or another
medical emergency. Prompt reporting is essential.
5. Which finding during morning care requires prompt reporting?
A. Resident requests a different breakfast
B. New redness and warmth over the sacral area
C. Resident prefers a shower instead of a bath
D. Resident wants to sleep longer
Answer: New redness and warmth over the sacral area
,Rationale: New redness and warmth over a pressure-prone area may indicate
early skin breakdown or inflammation and should be reported promptly.
6. A resident with diabetes becomes sweaty, shaky, and unusually confused
before lunch. What should the aide do?
A. Tell the resident to walk around
B. Immediately report the symptoms to the nurse
C. Give insulin
D. Encourage the resident to sleep
Answer: Immediately report the symptoms to the nurse
Rationale: Sweating, shakiness, and confusion can be signs of hypoglycemia.
Nurse aides should recognize and promptly report these changes rather than
administer medications.
7. A resident refuses a scheduled shower and becomes upset when the aide
insists. What is the best response?
A. Force the resident to shower
B. Threaten to report the resident
C. Respect the refusal and report it according to facility procedure
D. Tell another resident to persuade the resident
Answer: Respect the refusal and report it according to facility procedure
Rationale: Residents have the right to participate in decisions about their care
and to refuse care. The refusal should be communicated to the appropriate
staff.
8. A resident asks the aide to keep a serious change in their condition secret
from the nurse. What should the aide do?
A. Promise confidentiality
B. Agree if the resident signs a form
C. Explain that the change must be reported to the nurse
D. Tell the resident's roommate
, Answer: Explain that the change must be reported to the nurse
Rationale: A nurse aide must report significant changes in a resident's condition
even when the resident asks the aide not to do so.
9. Which practice best prevents the spread of infection when providing
perineal care?
A. Cleaning from the anus toward the urethra
B. Using the same area of a washcloth repeatedly
C. Cleaning from the cleaner area toward the dirtier area
D. Reusing gloves between residents
Answer: Cleaning from the cleaner area toward the dirtier area
Rationale: Moving from clean to dirty areas helps prevent contamination of the
urinary and genital areas with microorganisms from the anal region.
10.When should a nurse aide perform hand hygiene?
A. Only after removing gloves
B. Before and after resident contact and whenever contamination may occur
C. Only before meals
D. Once at the beginning of the shift
Answer: Before and after resident contact and whenever contamination may
occur
Rationale: Hand hygiene is one of the most important measures for preventing
transmission of infection. Gloves do not replace hand hygiene.
11.A resident's hearing aid is not working. What should the aide do first?
A. Place it under running water
B. Check that it is inserted correctly and switched on
C. Throw it away
D. Increase the television volume
Wisconsin Nurse Aide Competency
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
___________________________________________________________________
1. A nurse aide enters a resident’s room and finds the resident sitting on the
floor beside the bed. What should the aide do first?
A. Help the resident back into bed
B. Ask the resident why they fell
C. Assess the resident for immediate injury and remain with the resident
D. Obtain a wheelchair
Answer: Assess the resident for immediate injury and remain with the resident
Rationale: After a suspected fall, the aide should not move the resident until
injury has been assessed and appropriate licensed staff have been notified.
Remaining with the resident promotes safety.
2. A resident with dysphagia begins coughing repeatedly while eating and
develops a wet, gurgling voice. What is the priority action?
A. Encourage the resident to drink water
B. Continue feeding more slowly
C. Stop feeding and notify the nurse
D. Ask the resident to lie down
Answer: Stop feeding and notify the nurse
,Rationale: Coughing and a wet or gurgling voice can indicate aspiration.
Feeding should stop immediately while the nurse evaluates the resident.
3. A resident has a prescription for thickened liquids. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Add thickener only when the resident coughs
B. Prepare liquids according to the ordered consistency
C. Substitute thin water if the resident dislikes thickened liquids
D. Dilute the thickened liquid to improve taste
Answer: Prepare liquids according to the ordered consistency
Rationale: Ordered dietary and swallowing precautions must be followed
consistently because the prescribed consistency helps reduce aspiration risk.
4. A resident suddenly becomes confused, has slurred speech, and cannot
raise one arm normally. What should the nurse aide do?
A. Allow the resident to rest
B. Offer a snack
C. Immediately report the changes to the nurse
D. Reassure the resident that confusion is normal
Answer: Immediately report the changes to the nurse
Rationale: Sudden neurological changes may indicate a stroke or another
medical emergency. Prompt reporting is essential.
5. Which finding during morning care requires prompt reporting?
A. Resident requests a different breakfast
B. New redness and warmth over the sacral area
C. Resident prefers a shower instead of a bath
D. Resident wants to sleep longer
Answer: New redness and warmth over the sacral area
,Rationale: New redness and warmth over a pressure-prone area may indicate
early skin breakdown or inflammation and should be reported promptly.
6. A resident with diabetes becomes sweaty, shaky, and unusually confused
before lunch. What should the aide do?
A. Tell the resident to walk around
B. Immediately report the symptoms to the nurse
C. Give insulin
D. Encourage the resident to sleep
Answer: Immediately report the symptoms to the nurse
Rationale: Sweating, shakiness, and confusion can be signs of hypoglycemia.
Nurse aides should recognize and promptly report these changes rather than
administer medications.
7. A resident refuses a scheduled shower and becomes upset when the aide
insists. What is the best response?
A. Force the resident to shower
B. Threaten to report the resident
C. Respect the refusal and report it according to facility procedure
D. Tell another resident to persuade the resident
Answer: Respect the refusal and report it according to facility procedure
Rationale: Residents have the right to participate in decisions about their care
and to refuse care. The refusal should be communicated to the appropriate
staff.
8. A resident asks the aide to keep a serious change in their condition secret
from the nurse. What should the aide do?
A. Promise confidentiality
B. Agree if the resident signs a form
C. Explain that the change must be reported to the nurse
D. Tell the resident's roommate
, Answer: Explain that the change must be reported to the nurse
Rationale: A nurse aide must report significant changes in a resident's condition
even when the resident asks the aide not to do so.
9. Which practice best prevents the spread of infection when providing
perineal care?
A. Cleaning from the anus toward the urethra
B. Using the same area of a washcloth repeatedly
C. Cleaning from the cleaner area toward the dirtier area
D. Reusing gloves between residents
Answer: Cleaning from the cleaner area toward the dirtier area
Rationale: Moving from clean to dirty areas helps prevent contamination of the
urinary and genital areas with microorganisms from the anal region.
10.When should a nurse aide perform hand hygiene?
A. Only after removing gloves
B. Before and after resident contact and whenever contamination may occur
C. Only before meals
D. Once at the beginning of the shift
Answer: Before and after resident contact and whenever contamination may
occur
Rationale: Hand hygiene is one of the most important measures for preventing
transmission of infection. Gloves do not replace hand hygiene.
11.A resident's hearing aid is not working. What should the aide do first?
A. Place it under running water
B. Check that it is inserted correctly and switched on
C. Throw it away
D. Increase the television volume
