CNA Chapter 4 Exam: Basic Patient Care Skills
– Actual Questions with Revised Answers
(2026/2027 Edition) | 100% Pass Guarantee
Section 1: Personal Care & Hygiene
Key Concepts for This Section:
● Oral care: conscious patient upright, unconscious patient side-lying with head
turned
● Denture care: labeled, stored in water, handle carefully, clean over towel
● Bathing: cleanest area first (eyes, face), dirtiest last (perineal area), water
temperature 105°F
● Dressing: weak side first, strong side last; undressing: strong side first, weak side
last
● Skin assessment: report redness, breakdown, tears, rashes immediately
Q1: A nursing assistant is providing oral care for an unconscious patient. What is the
correct position for this procedure?
A. Supine with head flat
B. Fowler's position with head turned to the side
C. Side-lying (lateral) position with head turned to the side
D. Prone position
Correct Answer: C. Side-lying (lateral) position with head turned to the side [CORRECT]
,Rationale:
● Correct: C is correct. For an unconscious patient, the side-lying position with
head turned allows fluids to drain out of the mouth rather than pooling in the
throat, preventing aspiration.
● A is incorrect: Supine with head flat allows fluids to pool in the back of the throat,
increasing aspiration risk.
● B is incorrect: Fowler's position is appropriate for conscious patients but doesn't
provide the drainage needed for unconscious care.
● D is incorrect: Prone position is unsafe for oral care and restricts airway access.
● Clinical note: Never put fingers in an unconscious patient's mouth – could trigger
bite reflex. Use padded tongue blade if needed.
Guarantee Pass Tip: "Unconscious = side-lying" – fluids must drain out, not down.
Q2: A patient has dentures that need cleaning. Which of the following is CORRECT
denture care procedure?
A. Clean dentures over a towel or basin filled with water
B. Store dentures in dry container when not in use
C. Use hot water to sterilize dentures
D. Clean dentures with regular toothpaste
Correct Answer: A. Clean dentures over a towel or basin filled with water [CORRECT]
Rationale:
● Correct: A is correct. Always clean dentures over a towel or water-filled basin to
prevent breakage if dropped.
● B is incorrect: Dentures must be stored in water or denture solution to prevent
warping and drying out.
● C is incorrect: Hot water can warp dentures; use cool or lukewarm water.
● D is incorrect: Regular toothpaste is abrasive and can scratch dentures; use
denture cleaner or mild soap.
, ● Additional steps: Label denture container with patient's name, handle carefully,
clean all surfaces, rinse thoroughly.
Guarantee Pass Tip: "Dentures = damp" – always keep them moist; clean over
towel/damp surface.
Q3: When assisting a patient with a bath, in which order should the nursing assistant
wash the body?
A. Arms, chest, legs, feet, perineal area
B. Perineal area, legs, chest, arms, face
C. Face, arms, chest, legs, perineal area
D. Legs, feet, chest, arms, face
Correct Answer: C. Face, arms, chest, legs, perineal area [CORRECT]
Rationale:
● Correct: C is correct. Always wash from cleanest to dirtiest areas to prevent
spreading bacteria:
1. Face (cleanest)
2. Arms and upper body
3. Chest and abdomen
4. Legs and feet
5. Perineal area (dirtiest, last)
● A is incorrect: Arms before face is wrong; face is cleanest and should be first.
● B is incorrect: Perineal area should be LAST, not first.
● D is incorrect: Legs before face is wrong order.
● Clinical note: Change water when it becomes soapy or cool; use separate
washcloth for perineal area.
Guarantee Pass Tip: "Face first, privates last" – always cleanest to dirtiest.
, Q4: A patient has weakness on the left side from a stroke. When assisting with dressing,
which arm should be put into the sleeve FIRST?
A. Left arm (weaker side)
B. Right arm (stronger side)
C. Either arm, doesn't matter
D. Both arms at the same time
Correct Answer: A. Left arm (weaker side) [CORRECT]
Rationale:
● Correct: A is correct. When dressing a patient with weakness on one side, always
dress the WEAK or AFFECTED side first. This prevents unnecessary movement of
the weak side and makes dressing easier.
● B is incorrect: Dressing the strong side first would require manipulating the weak
side later, which is harder and may cause discomfort.
● C is incorrect: Order absolutely matters for patient comfort and safety.
● D is incorrect: Both arms at once is not possible with a weak patient.
● Undressing rule: Reverse order – remove strong side first, then weak side.
Guarantee Pass Tip: "Dress the weak side first, undress the strong side first" –
remember "DW" for Dress Weak.
Q5: When providing perineal care for a female patient, which direction should the
nursing assistant clean?
A. From back to front (toward vagina)
B. From front to back (away from vagina)
C. In a circular motion
– Actual Questions with Revised Answers
(2026/2027 Edition) | 100% Pass Guarantee
Section 1: Personal Care & Hygiene
Key Concepts for This Section:
● Oral care: conscious patient upright, unconscious patient side-lying with head
turned
● Denture care: labeled, stored in water, handle carefully, clean over towel
● Bathing: cleanest area first (eyes, face), dirtiest last (perineal area), water
temperature 105°F
● Dressing: weak side first, strong side last; undressing: strong side first, weak side
last
● Skin assessment: report redness, breakdown, tears, rashes immediately
Q1: A nursing assistant is providing oral care for an unconscious patient. What is the
correct position for this procedure?
A. Supine with head flat
B. Fowler's position with head turned to the side
C. Side-lying (lateral) position with head turned to the side
D. Prone position
Correct Answer: C. Side-lying (lateral) position with head turned to the side [CORRECT]
,Rationale:
● Correct: C is correct. For an unconscious patient, the side-lying position with
head turned allows fluids to drain out of the mouth rather than pooling in the
throat, preventing aspiration.
● A is incorrect: Supine with head flat allows fluids to pool in the back of the throat,
increasing aspiration risk.
● B is incorrect: Fowler's position is appropriate for conscious patients but doesn't
provide the drainage needed for unconscious care.
● D is incorrect: Prone position is unsafe for oral care and restricts airway access.
● Clinical note: Never put fingers in an unconscious patient's mouth – could trigger
bite reflex. Use padded tongue blade if needed.
Guarantee Pass Tip: "Unconscious = side-lying" – fluids must drain out, not down.
Q2: A patient has dentures that need cleaning. Which of the following is CORRECT
denture care procedure?
A. Clean dentures over a towel or basin filled with water
B. Store dentures in dry container when not in use
C. Use hot water to sterilize dentures
D. Clean dentures with regular toothpaste
Correct Answer: A. Clean dentures over a towel or basin filled with water [CORRECT]
Rationale:
● Correct: A is correct. Always clean dentures over a towel or water-filled basin to
prevent breakage if dropped.
● B is incorrect: Dentures must be stored in water or denture solution to prevent
warping and drying out.
● C is incorrect: Hot water can warp dentures; use cool or lukewarm water.
● D is incorrect: Regular toothpaste is abrasive and can scratch dentures; use
denture cleaner or mild soap.
, ● Additional steps: Label denture container with patient's name, handle carefully,
clean all surfaces, rinse thoroughly.
Guarantee Pass Tip: "Dentures = damp" – always keep them moist; clean over
towel/damp surface.
Q3: When assisting a patient with a bath, in which order should the nursing assistant
wash the body?
A. Arms, chest, legs, feet, perineal area
B. Perineal area, legs, chest, arms, face
C. Face, arms, chest, legs, perineal area
D. Legs, feet, chest, arms, face
Correct Answer: C. Face, arms, chest, legs, perineal area [CORRECT]
Rationale:
● Correct: C is correct. Always wash from cleanest to dirtiest areas to prevent
spreading bacteria:
1. Face (cleanest)
2. Arms and upper body
3. Chest and abdomen
4. Legs and feet
5. Perineal area (dirtiest, last)
● A is incorrect: Arms before face is wrong; face is cleanest and should be first.
● B is incorrect: Perineal area should be LAST, not first.
● D is incorrect: Legs before face is wrong order.
● Clinical note: Change water when it becomes soapy or cool; use separate
washcloth for perineal area.
Guarantee Pass Tip: "Face first, privates last" – always cleanest to dirtiest.
, Q4: A patient has weakness on the left side from a stroke. When assisting with dressing,
which arm should be put into the sleeve FIRST?
A. Left arm (weaker side)
B. Right arm (stronger side)
C. Either arm, doesn't matter
D. Both arms at the same time
Correct Answer: A. Left arm (weaker side) [CORRECT]
Rationale:
● Correct: A is correct. When dressing a patient with weakness on one side, always
dress the WEAK or AFFECTED side first. This prevents unnecessary movement of
the weak side and makes dressing easier.
● B is incorrect: Dressing the strong side first would require manipulating the weak
side later, which is harder and may cause discomfort.
● C is incorrect: Order absolutely matters for patient comfort and safety.
● D is incorrect: Both arms at once is not possible with a weak patient.
● Undressing rule: Reverse order – remove strong side first, then weak side.
Guarantee Pass Tip: "Dress the weak side first, undress the strong side first" –
remember "DW" for Dress Weak.
Q5: When providing perineal care for a female patient, which direction should the
nursing assistant clean?
A. From back to front (toward vagina)
B. From front to back (away from vagina)
C. In a circular motion
