CNA Chapter 5 Exam Questions and
Revised Answers () 100%
Guarantee Pass
Exam Title: CNA Chapter 5 Exam Questions and Revised Answers () 100% Guarantee
Pass
Subject Area: Certified Nursing Assistant – Chapter 5: Infection Control, Safety, and Resident Care
Concepts
Instructions: Choose the one best answer for each question. Each question has four options (A–D).
Correct answers and rationales are provided after each question.
Section 1: Infection Control and Hand Hygiene
Q1. A CNA enters a resident's room to provide morning care. Before touching the resident, the CNA
must perform hand hygiene. What is the minimum recommended duration for effective
handwashing with soap and water?
A. 10 seconds
B. 15 seconds
C. 20 seconds
D. 30 seconds
Correct Answer: C. 20 seconds
Rationale: The CDC and WHO recommend washing hands with soap and water for at least 20
seconds to effectively remove germs, dirt, and organic material. This duration ensures adequate
mechanical friction and chemical action to reduce microbial load. Ten and 15 seconds are insufficient
for proper decontamination. Thirty seconds exceeds minimum requirements but is not harmful;
however, 20 seconds is the evidence-based standard.
Q2. A CNA finishes providing perineal care to an incontinent resident. The hands are visibly soiled
with fecal material. Which hand hygiene method is most appropriate?
A. Alcohol-based hand rub for 15 seconds
B. Soap and water handwashing for at least 20 seconds
C. Wiping hands with a paper towel followed by alcohol-based hand rub
D. Rinsing hands under warm water without soap
Correct Answer: B. Soap and water handwashing for at least 20 seconds
Rationale: Soap and water handwashing is required when hands are visibly soiled or contaminated
with proteinaceous material such as blood, feces, vomit, or wound drainage. Alcohol-based hand
rubs are not effective against Clostridioides difficile spores, norovirus, or when organic material is
pg. 1
,present—they cannot physically remove debris. Proper technique includes wetting hands, applying
soap, scrubbing all surfaces for 20 seconds, rinsing, and drying with a clean towel.
Q3. When is hand hygiene required according to the WHO 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene?
A. Only before and after direct resident contact
B. Before touching a resident, after touching a resident, after touching resident surroundings, before
aseptic procedures, and after body fluid exposure
C. Only when the nurse supervisor is observing
D. At the beginning and end of each shift only
Correct Answer: B. Before touching a resident, after touching a resident, after touching resident
surroundings, before aseptic procedures, and after body fluid exposure
Rationale: The WHO 5 Moments are evidence-based indications for hand hygiene: before touching a
resident, before clean/aseptic procedures, after body fluid exposure risk, after touching a resident,
and after touching resident surroundings. This comprehensive approach prevents cross-
contamination between residents, protects the CNA, and maintains aseptic technique. Hand hygiene
is required throughout care activities, not just at shift changes or when observed.
Q4. A CNA removes gloves after providing wound care. What is the next required step before leaving
the room?
A. Apply hand lotion to prevent dryness
B. Perform hand hygiene immediately
C. Document the procedure first
D. Remove other PPE before hand hygiene
Correct Answer: B. Perform hand hygiene immediately
Rationale: Hand hygiene must be performed immediately after glove removal because gloves may
have micro-perforations or become contaminated during removal. Gloves are not a substitute for
hand hygiene. The sequence for PPE removal generally ends with hand hygiene. Delaying hand
hygiene to document or apply lotion allows potential pathogens to remain on the skin.
Q5. Which technique demonstrates proper handwashing according to CDC guidelines?
A. Using hot water to kill germs more effectively
B. Scrubbing hands palm-to-palm, interlacing fingers, scrubbing backs of hands, thumbs, and
fingertips
C. Washing only the palms and backs of hands
D. Rinsing hands briefly without friction
Correct Answer: B. Scrubbing hands palm-to-palm, interlacing fingers, scrubbing backs of hands,
thumbs, and fingertips
Rationale: Proper handwashing technique involves wetting hands, applying soap, and scrubbing all
surfaces—palms, backs of hands, between fingers, and under nails—using friction for at least 20
seconds. Friction is essential to physically remove microorganisms. Hot water can irritate skin and is
not necessary for decontamination. Brief rinsing without friction is inadequate.
Q6. A CNA is caring for a resident with a known C. difficile infection. Which hand hygiene method is
required after providing care?
pg. 2
, A. Alcohol-based hand rub only
B. Soap and water handwashing
C. Either method is equally effective
D. No hand hygiene is needed if gloves were worn
Correct Answer: B. Soap and water handwashing
Rationale: Clostridioides difficile produces spores that are resistant to alcohol-based hand rubs. Soap
and water handwashing is required because the mechanical action of washing physically removes
spores from the hands. Alcohol-based products do not kill C. difficile spores. Gloves do not eliminate
the need for hand hygiene after removal.
Q7. Under Standard Precautions, which substances are considered potentially infectious body fluids?
A. Sweat and tears only
B. Blood, urine, feces, wound drainage, and vomit
C. Saliva and nasal secretions only
D. All body fluids except sweat
Correct Answer: B. Blood, urine, feces, wound drainage, and vomit
Rationale: Standard Precautions apply to blood, all body fluids, secretions, and excretions except
sweat, regardless of whether they contain visible blood. Non-intact skin and mucous membranes are
also covered. This includes urine, feces, wound drainage, vomit, semen, vaginal secretions, and
saliva in certain contexts. Sweat is not considered a risk for bloodborne pathogen transmission.
Q8. A CNA needs to sneeze while providing resident care and does not have a tissue available. What
is the correct action?
A. Sneeze into the hands and then perform hand hygiene
B. Sneeze into the upper sleeve or elbow
C. Sneeze freely and step away from the resident
D. Sneeze into a gloved hand
Correct Answer: B. Sneeze into the upper sleeve or elbow
Rationale: When a tissue is not available, the CDC recommends sneezing or coughing into the upper
sleeve or elbow rather than the hands. This practice, sometimes called the "Dracula cough,"
prevents respiratory droplets from contaminating the hands and reduces transmission risk. Sneezing
into hands contaminates them and can spread pathogens to surfaces and residents.
Q9. How many times can disposable gloves be worn?
A. Only once
B. Twice if not visibly soiled
C. Until they tear
D. For an entire shift if performing similar tasks
Correct Answer: A. Only once
Rationale: Disposable gloves must never be washed, reused, or worn for more than one procedure
or resident contact. Gloves can develop micro-perforations during use that are not visible. Wearing
gloves for extended periods also promotes bacterial growth on the skin. Gloves must be changed
between residents and between procedures on the same resident.
pg. 3
Revised Answers () 100%
Guarantee Pass
Exam Title: CNA Chapter 5 Exam Questions and Revised Answers () 100% Guarantee
Pass
Subject Area: Certified Nursing Assistant – Chapter 5: Infection Control, Safety, and Resident Care
Concepts
Instructions: Choose the one best answer for each question. Each question has four options (A–D).
Correct answers and rationales are provided after each question.
Section 1: Infection Control and Hand Hygiene
Q1. A CNA enters a resident's room to provide morning care. Before touching the resident, the CNA
must perform hand hygiene. What is the minimum recommended duration for effective
handwashing with soap and water?
A. 10 seconds
B. 15 seconds
C. 20 seconds
D. 30 seconds
Correct Answer: C. 20 seconds
Rationale: The CDC and WHO recommend washing hands with soap and water for at least 20
seconds to effectively remove germs, dirt, and organic material. This duration ensures adequate
mechanical friction and chemical action to reduce microbial load. Ten and 15 seconds are insufficient
for proper decontamination. Thirty seconds exceeds minimum requirements but is not harmful;
however, 20 seconds is the evidence-based standard.
Q2. A CNA finishes providing perineal care to an incontinent resident. The hands are visibly soiled
with fecal material. Which hand hygiene method is most appropriate?
A. Alcohol-based hand rub for 15 seconds
B. Soap and water handwashing for at least 20 seconds
C. Wiping hands with a paper towel followed by alcohol-based hand rub
D. Rinsing hands under warm water without soap
Correct Answer: B. Soap and water handwashing for at least 20 seconds
Rationale: Soap and water handwashing is required when hands are visibly soiled or contaminated
with proteinaceous material such as blood, feces, vomit, or wound drainage. Alcohol-based hand
rubs are not effective against Clostridioides difficile spores, norovirus, or when organic material is
pg. 1
,present—they cannot physically remove debris. Proper technique includes wetting hands, applying
soap, scrubbing all surfaces for 20 seconds, rinsing, and drying with a clean towel.
Q3. When is hand hygiene required according to the WHO 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene?
A. Only before and after direct resident contact
B. Before touching a resident, after touching a resident, after touching resident surroundings, before
aseptic procedures, and after body fluid exposure
C. Only when the nurse supervisor is observing
D. At the beginning and end of each shift only
Correct Answer: B. Before touching a resident, after touching a resident, after touching resident
surroundings, before aseptic procedures, and after body fluid exposure
Rationale: The WHO 5 Moments are evidence-based indications for hand hygiene: before touching a
resident, before clean/aseptic procedures, after body fluid exposure risk, after touching a resident,
and after touching resident surroundings. This comprehensive approach prevents cross-
contamination between residents, protects the CNA, and maintains aseptic technique. Hand hygiene
is required throughout care activities, not just at shift changes or when observed.
Q4. A CNA removes gloves after providing wound care. What is the next required step before leaving
the room?
A. Apply hand lotion to prevent dryness
B. Perform hand hygiene immediately
C. Document the procedure first
D. Remove other PPE before hand hygiene
Correct Answer: B. Perform hand hygiene immediately
Rationale: Hand hygiene must be performed immediately after glove removal because gloves may
have micro-perforations or become contaminated during removal. Gloves are not a substitute for
hand hygiene. The sequence for PPE removal generally ends with hand hygiene. Delaying hand
hygiene to document or apply lotion allows potential pathogens to remain on the skin.
Q5. Which technique demonstrates proper handwashing according to CDC guidelines?
A. Using hot water to kill germs more effectively
B. Scrubbing hands palm-to-palm, interlacing fingers, scrubbing backs of hands, thumbs, and
fingertips
C. Washing only the palms and backs of hands
D. Rinsing hands briefly without friction
Correct Answer: B. Scrubbing hands palm-to-palm, interlacing fingers, scrubbing backs of hands,
thumbs, and fingertips
Rationale: Proper handwashing technique involves wetting hands, applying soap, and scrubbing all
surfaces—palms, backs of hands, between fingers, and under nails—using friction for at least 20
seconds. Friction is essential to physically remove microorganisms. Hot water can irritate skin and is
not necessary for decontamination. Brief rinsing without friction is inadequate.
Q6. A CNA is caring for a resident with a known C. difficile infection. Which hand hygiene method is
required after providing care?
pg. 2
, A. Alcohol-based hand rub only
B. Soap and water handwashing
C. Either method is equally effective
D. No hand hygiene is needed if gloves were worn
Correct Answer: B. Soap and water handwashing
Rationale: Clostridioides difficile produces spores that are resistant to alcohol-based hand rubs. Soap
and water handwashing is required because the mechanical action of washing physically removes
spores from the hands. Alcohol-based products do not kill C. difficile spores. Gloves do not eliminate
the need for hand hygiene after removal.
Q7. Under Standard Precautions, which substances are considered potentially infectious body fluids?
A. Sweat and tears only
B. Blood, urine, feces, wound drainage, and vomit
C. Saliva and nasal secretions only
D. All body fluids except sweat
Correct Answer: B. Blood, urine, feces, wound drainage, and vomit
Rationale: Standard Precautions apply to blood, all body fluids, secretions, and excretions except
sweat, regardless of whether they contain visible blood. Non-intact skin and mucous membranes are
also covered. This includes urine, feces, wound drainage, vomit, semen, vaginal secretions, and
saliva in certain contexts. Sweat is not considered a risk for bloodborne pathogen transmission.
Q8. A CNA needs to sneeze while providing resident care and does not have a tissue available. What
is the correct action?
A. Sneeze into the hands and then perform hand hygiene
B. Sneeze into the upper sleeve or elbow
C. Sneeze freely and step away from the resident
D. Sneeze into a gloved hand
Correct Answer: B. Sneeze into the upper sleeve or elbow
Rationale: When a tissue is not available, the CDC recommends sneezing or coughing into the upper
sleeve or elbow rather than the hands. This practice, sometimes called the "Dracula cough,"
prevents respiratory droplets from contaminating the hands and reduces transmission risk. Sneezing
into hands contaminates them and can spread pathogens to surfaces and residents.
Q9. How many times can disposable gloves be worn?
A. Only once
B. Twice if not visibly soiled
C. Until they tear
D. For an entire shift if performing similar tasks
Correct Answer: A. Only once
Rationale: Disposable gloves must never be washed, reused, or worn for more than one procedure
or resident contact. Gloves can develop micro-perforations during use that are not visible. Wearing
gloves for extended periods also promotes bacterial growth on the skin. Gloves must be changed
between residents and between procedures on the same resident.
pg. 3
