CNA EXAM STUDY GUIDE |100% VERIFIED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (2026/2027)
1.Which duties would be performed by a CNA in team nursing?
a. Assessment of the heart and lungs
b. Teaching physical therapy exercises
c. Taking Vital Signs and Blood Sugars Readings
d. All of the above.
Taking vital signs and blood sugars readings would fall under a CNA's scope
of practice and responsibilities in a team nursing setting.
Assessments can only be performed by an RN or LPN. Physical therapy
exercise teaching should be performed by a physical therapist.
2 A patient requires a dressing change for the first time after surgery. Which
of the following staff cannot legally change the patient's dressing
immediately after surgery?
a. CNA
b. LPN
c. RN
d. MD
A CNA cannot change a patient's dressing immediately after surgery as this
requires an assessment of the condition of the wound.
A physician, RN or LPN can legally make an assessment of the patient's
incision and complete the dressing change.
3 A CNA, MA, and RN all provide care for 10 patients in a sub-acute facility.
What is the term for this collaborative approach to patient care?
a. Group Care
b. Primary Care
c. Team Nursing
d. Rehab
Team nursing involves multiple staff members providing different tasks in
the care of the same group of patients. CNAs work in the team nursing
setting, such as a sub-acute setting. The nurse and medical assistant would
be necessary to provide some tasks such as medication administration and
assessment, which are not within the CNA scope of practice.
,Primary care involves one staff member caring for all the needs of the
patient. Primary care nursing is usually implemented in a hospital floor
setting. Group Care and Rehab are terms that usually indicate the location
where a patient or resident may reside.
4 A CNA is covering another CNA's lunch break on another floor. She answers
the light for a patient who complains of chest pain. Who should the CNA
report this finding to?
a. Nurse
b. Provider
c. Director of Nursing
d. The other CNA when back from lunch break
The finding should be reported to the nurse as the next step in the chain of
command. The nurse will be able to assess the patient and report the
findings to the provider.
The nurse should be notified prior to the provider. The CNA should not go
directly to the provider as this does not demonstrate good teamwork or
appropriate action. The Director of Nursing may be involved later if
necessary, but the finding should currently be reported to the patient's
nurse. It would not be appropriate to report the finding to the other CNA or
delay the finding to report it after the CNA comes back from lunch. The nurse
should be notified immediately as the patient may be having a heart attack.
5 You are asked to complete a bed change for a 300 lb. patient who is
immobile and difficult to turn. You feel uncomfortable changing the bed
yourself. What is your next course of action?
a. Schedule a time with another nurse or CNA to have assistance during the
bed change.
b. Complete the bed change yourself even though you are uncomfortable.
c. Wait until shift change to let the next shift take care of it.
d. Tell the patient that they do not need a bed change.
If you are uncomfortable making a bed change, it is appropriate to ask for
assistance, especially with an obese or immobile patient. If there is a risk of
improper body mechanics, it would be appropriate to consider a two-person
bed change.
If you attempt to change the bed yourself, you may be at risk to strain your
back or use other improper body mechanics. The patient may also be put in
, improper positions to accommodate trying to change the bed. If possible, it
is best not to push off tasks onto the next shift. If the patient has requested a
bed change, they may be incontinent. The CNA should change the bed when
asked within a reasonable time frame.
6 Nursing assistants work in a lot of different places. One place that CNAs
work is a skilled nursing facility. This type of facility is also called a
______________.
a. hospital
b. rehab center
c. hospice
d. nursing home
A skilled nursing facility is also called a nursing home or long term care
facility.
A hospital, while having skilled nursing positions, is not considered a skilled
nursing facility, or SNF. A rehab center would be a short term facility where
patients can go to recover strength after surgeries. Hospice is the term for
when a patient does not wish for any life-saving measures to be performed,
such as CPR or intubation. A patient can be on hospice while residing in a
hospital, rehab center, or nursing home.
7 The CNA can legally ____________.
a. supervise other CNAs
b. teach other CNAs
c. mentor other CNAs
d. None of the above
While it is appropriate for a CNA to orient another CNA to the responsibilities
of the job, a CNAs cannot legally supervise, teach or mentor other CNAs. This
is the role of the nurse, not the CNA.
8 The director of nursing at your long term care nursing home has assigned
you to be in charge of the nursing home for the weekend because she is
going away on a cruise vacation to the Caribbean. What should you do?
a. Refuse to do the assignment
b. Do the best you can do
c. Ask about the details
d. Call the owner
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (2026/2027)
1.Which duties would be performed by a CNA in team nursing?
a. Assessment of the heart and lungs
b. Teaching physical therapy exercises
c. Taking Vital Signs and Blood Sugars Readings
d. All of the above.
Taking vital signs and blood sugars readings would fall under a CNA's scope
of practice and responsibilities in a team nursing setting.
Assessments can only be performed by an RN or LPN. Physical therapy
exercise teaching should be performed by a physical therapist.
2 A patient requires a dressing change for the first time after surgery. Which
of the following staff cannot legally change the patient's dressing
immediately after surgery?
a. CNA
b. LPN
c. RN
d. MD
A CNA cannot change a patient's dressing immediately after surgery as this
requires an assessment of the condition of the wound.
A physician, RN or LPN can legally make an assessment of the patient's
incision and complete the dressing change.
3 A CNA, MA, and RN all provide care for 10 patients in a sub-acute facility.
What is the term for this collaborative approach to patient care?
a. Group Care
b. Primary Care
c. Team Nursing
d. Rehab
Team nursing involves multiple staff members providing different tasks in
the care of the same group of patients. CNAs work in the team nursing
setting, such as a sub-acute setting. The nurse and medical assistant would
be necessary to provide some tasks such as medication administration and
assessment, which are not within the CNA scope of practice.
,Primary care involves one staff member caring for all the needs of the
patient. Primary care nursing is usually implemented in a hospital floor
setting. Group Care and Rehab are terms that usually indicate the location
where a patient or resident may reside.
4 A CNA is covering another CNA's lunch break on another floor. She answers
the light for a patient who complains of chest pain. Who should the CNA
report this finding to?
a. Nurse
b. Provider
c. Director of Nursing
d. The other CNA when back from lunch break
The finding should be reported to the nurse as the next step in the chain of
command. The nurse will be able to assess the patient and report the
findings to the provider.
The nurse should be notified prior to the provider. The CNA should not go
directly to the provider as this does not demonstrate good teamwork or
appropriate action. The Director of Nursing may be involved later if
necessary, but the finding should currently be reported to the patient's
nurse. It would not be appropriate to report the finding to the other CNA or
delay the finding to report it after the CNA comes back from lunch. The nurse
should be notified immediately as the patient may be having a heart attack.
5 You are asked to complete a bed change for a 300 lb. patient who is
immobile and difficult to turn. You feel uncomfortable changing the bed
yourself. What is your next course of action?
a. Schedule a time with another nurse or CNA to have assistance during the
bed change.
b. Complete the bed change yourself even though you are uncomfortable.
c. Wait until shift change to let the next shift take care of it.
d. Tell the patient that they do not need a bed change.
If you are uncomfortable making a bed change, it is appropriate to ask for
assistance, especially with an obese or immobile patient. If there is a risk of
improper body mechanics, it would be appropriate to consider a two-person
bed change.
If you attempt to change the bed yourself, you may be at risk to strain your
back or use other improper body mechanics. The patient may also be put in
, improper positions to accommodate trying to change the bed. If possible, it
is best not to push off tasks onto the next shift. If the patient has requested a
bed change, they may be incontinent. The CNA should change the bed when
asked within a reasonable time frame.
6 Nursing assistants work in a lot of different places. One place that CNAs
work is a skilled nursing facility. This type of facility is also called a
______________.
a. hospital
b. rehab center
c. hospice
d. nursing home
A skilled nursing facility is also called a nursing home or long term care
facility.
A hospital, while having skilled nursing positions, is not considered a skilled
nursing facility, or SNF. A rehab center would be a short term facility where
patients can go to recover strength after surgeries. Hospice is the term for
when a patient does not wish for any life-saving measures to be performed,
such as CPR or intubation. A patient can be on hospice while residing in a
hospital, rehab center, or nursing home.
7 The CNA can legally ____________.
a. supervise other CNAs
b. teach other CNAs
c. mentor other CNAs
d. None of the above
While it is appropriate for a CNA to orient another CNA to the responsibilities
of the job, a CNAs cannot legally supervise, teach or mentor other CNAs. This
is the role of the nurse, not the CNA.
8 The director of nursing at your long term care nursing home has assigned
you to be in charge of the nursing home for the weekend because she is
going away on a cruise vacation to the Caribbean. What should you do?
a. Refuse to do the assignment
b. Do the best you can do
c. Ask about the details
d. Call the owner
