Activities of Daily Living CNA Practice Test 2 with Answers

Question 1

The resident is drowsy and cannot sit upright. Which is the safest position for oral care?

Accepted Answer

Side-lying. C (correct): The side-lying position prevents aspiration by allowing fluids to drain from the mouth rather than pool in the airway, making it the safest position when upright positioning is not possible. A (incorrect): The supine position (lying flat on the back) increases the risk of aspiration because fluids can flow into the airway. B (incorrect): The resident is described as unable to sit upright, so High Fowler's position is not possible. D (incorrect): The prone position (lying face down) is inappropriate for oral care and increases aspiration risk.

Question 2

A resident can brush their own hair but needs setup. What should the nurse aide do?

Accepted Answer

Provide the brush and encourage independence. B (correct): Providing setup assistance while encouraging the resident to complete the task independently supports both dignity and functional independence. A (incorrect): Since the resident is capable of brushing their own hair, doing it for them unnecessarily reduces independence and self-esteem. C (incorrect): This is not a professional response. If the nurse aide is too busy, they should suggest a time when they can return to help with setup. D (incorrect): Elderly residents need more time to complete ADLs and should never be rushed or have care skipped because of the pace at which they work.

Question 3

A resident coughs frequently during meals. What should the nurse aide do?

Accepted Answer

Place them in High Fowler's position and notify the nurse. D (correct): Frequent coughing during meals can be a sign of aspiration. Sitting the resident upright in High Fowler's position helps food enter the esophagus more easily and reduces aspiration risk. The nurse should be notified immediately to assess the resident. A, C (incorrect): Cutting the food into smaller pieces or providing clear liquids could actually worsen aspiration in some cases and does not address the underlying concern. These changes to a resident's diet must be ordered by a licensed provider. B (incorrect): The cough is occurring during eating and is likely related to a swallowing issue, not a respiratory problem. The nurse needs to assess the resident — a cough medication order is not the appropriate response.

Question 4

Which resident should NOT receive nail care from a nurse aide?

Accepted Answer

A resident with diabetes. B (correct): Diabetic residents have reduced circulation and slower wound healing, so nail care carries a high risk of injury or infection. Nail care for residents with diabetes must be performed by a nurse or podiatrist. A (incorrect): Nurse aides can assist residents with arthritis with nail care, taking extra care due to joint sensitivity. C (incorrect): Nurse aides can provide nail care to residents with limited vision with appropriate care and communication. D (incorrect): Nurse aides can assist residents with mild dementia with nail care, using a calm approach and clear step-by-step communication.

Question 5

A nurse aide is assisting a resident with their bath. Which action by the nurse aide will maintain the resident's dignity?

Accepted Answer

Using a bath blanket to cover areas not being washed. B (correct): Covering exposed body parts with a bath blanket during bathing maintains the resident's privacy and dignity and also prevents them from getting cold. A (incorrect): Leaving the door open is disrespectful and violates the resident's privacy. The door should always be closed during personal care. C (incorrect): Elderly residents need more time to complete tasks. If timing is a concern, the nurse aide should schedule the bath earlier so the resident can be ready for breakfast without being rushed. D (incorrect): Telling a resident they should be bathing without assistance is disrespectful and can cause unnecessary stress. Independence should be encouraged in a supportive and dignified way.

Question 6

The nurse aide is caring for a resident with limited hand strength who needs help drinking. Which action by the nurse aide will help the resident?

Accepted Answer

Offer a cup that has a lid and a straw. A (correct): Adaptive equipment such as a cup with a lid and a straw promotes independence and safety by allowing the resident to drink without requiring strong hand grip. B (incorrect): Holding the cup to the resident's mouth removes independence and increases the risk of aspiration, as the nurse aide controls the flow of liquid. C (incorrect): Withholding fluids is a form of neglect. Hydration is a basic need and should not be delayed. D (incorrect): Tube feedings are a medical intervention used only when a patient cannot swallow and is medically indicated. This situation does not warrant a tube feeding order.

Question 7

When assisting a patient to stand from a bed, the nurse aide should:

Accepted Answer

Lower the bed so the patient's feet touch the floor. C (correct): Lowering the bed so the patient's feet touch the floor provides a stable base of support and allows the patient to push up safely. A (incorrect): Raising the bed to its highest position makes it unsafe for the patient to stand — their feet cannot reach the floor and a fall from that height would cause serious injury. B (incorrect): Telling the patient to roll sideways out of the bed is not the correct technique and could result in a fall or injury. D (incorrect): Walkers are intended to assist with ambulation once standing, not to be used as a device to pull oneself upright. Using a walker to pull up risks tipping the walker and causing a fall.

Question 8

Where should dentures be stored when not in use?

Accepted Answer

In a labeled denture cup with water. D (correct): Storing dentures in a labeled cup with water prevents them from drying out and warping, and ensures they are properly identified as belonging to the resident. A (incorrect): Wrapping dentures in a paper towel significantly increases the chance they will be thrown away by mistake, and the paper towel does not keep them moist. B (incorrect): Leaving dentures on the bedside table is unsanitary and increases the risk of them being broken or lost. C (incorrect): Storing dentures in the resident's pocket is unsanitary and poses a risk of damage or loss.

Question 9

A resident becomes short of breath while walking. What should the nurse aide do?

Accepted Answer

Have the resident sit and rest. A (correct): Having the resident sit down reduces physical exertion, decreases fall risk, and allows them to recover. The nurse aide should stay with the resident and call for help if symptoms do not improve. B (incorrect): Encouraging the resident to continue ambulating when short of breath is unsafe and could worsen their condition. C (incorrect): Shortness of breath alone is not an indication for CPR. CPR is performed when a patient has no pulse and is not breathing. D (incorrect): The resident should never be left alone, as they are at risk of falling. The nurse aide should call for help while remaining with the resident.

Question 10

Which position is safest for a resident who is eating in bed?

Accepted Answer

High Fowler's. C (correct): High Fowler's position, in which the head of the bed is raised to 60 to 90 degrees, is the safest position for eating because it uses gravity to help food and liquids travel down the esophagus and reduces the risk of aspiration. A (incorrect): Supine means lying flat on the back. Eating in this position greatly increases aspiration risk. B (incorrect): Prone means lying face down, which makes eating impossible and safe swallowing impossible. D (incorrect): Trendelenburg position has the patient lying flat with their feet elevated and head lowered, which is the opposite of what is needed for safe eating and would cause food and liquid to flow toward the airway.

Question 11

A resident is unsteady when standing at the sink to brush their teeth. What should the nurse aide do to help the resident?

Accepted Answer

Have the resident sit in a chair at the sink. A (correct): Having the resident sit in a chair at the sink eliminates the fall risk while still allowing the resident to perform oral care independently, supporting both safety and dignity. B (incorrect): Holding a resident upright by their elbows is an unstable and unsafe technique that does not provide adequate support. C (incorrect): Leaving an unsteady resident alone at the sink is a fall risk. The nurse aide should never leave an at-risk resident unsupported. D (incorrect): Sinks are not stable support surfaces and were not designed to bear a person's weight. Instructing the resident to lean on the sink could result in the sink detaching or the resident losing their balance.

Question 12

What is the BEST way for a nurse aide to communicate with a resident who has mild hearing loss?

Accepted Answer

Face the resident and speak clearly. B (correct): Facing the resident allows them to see the nurse aide's facial expressions and lip movements, which significantly aids understanding. Speaking clearly at a normal pace — rather than shouting — improves comprehension without startling or overwhelming the resident. A (incorrect): Speaking loudly from the doorway is impersonal and unclear. Increased volume without proximity or visual cues is rarely helpful for residents with hearing loss. C (incorrect): Completing care without speaking is disrespectful and may increase the resident's anxiety. Residents have the right to understand and participate in their own care. D (incorrect): Sign language is a specialized communication method used by individuals who are deaf or have significant hearing impairment. It would not be appropriate or helpful for a resident with mild hearing loss, and the resident would also need to understand sign language for it to be effective.

Question 13

A resident's oral temperature is 101.2°F (38.4°C). What should the nurse aide do next?

Accepted Answer

Report it to the nurse promptly. C (correct): A temperature of 101.2°F is above the normal adult range of approximately 97.6 to 99.6°F and may indicate infection or another medical problem. This finding must be reported to the nurse immediately so the resident can be assessed. A (incorrect): A temperature of 101.2°F is not normal and must never be documented as such. Accurate documentation is a legal and professional responsibility. B (incorrect): Waiting until the end of the shift to recheck an elevated temperature delays care and could allow a resident's condition to worsen. D (incorrect): While residents experiencing a fever may feel chilled and shiver, adding extra blankets may actually worsen the fever by trapping heat. Temperature management should be directed by the nurse.

Question 14

The nurse aide is caring for a resident who is on a strict intake and output (I&O) order. Which action by the nurse aide is correct?

Accepted Answer

Measure urine in a graduated container. B (correct): Accurate measurement of urine requires a calibrated graduated container. Strict I&O orders are prescribed when precise fluid balance is critical to a resident's care plan and must be followed exactly. A (incorrect): Estimating output by looking in the toilet is inaccurate and does not meet the requirements of a strict I&O order. C (incorrect): Intake and output must be recorded each time the resident voids or consumes fluids, not summarized once per shift. D (incorrect): Asking the resident how many times they urinated does not provide the volume of urine voided, which is the essential data point in an I&O order.

Question 15

A resident with dementia is wandering and says, 'I need to go to work right now!' The best response is:

Accepted Answer

'Tell me about your job -- what did you do?'. C (correct): This response uses validation therapy by acknowledging the resident's feelings and redirecting them to a conversation about their work, which reduces anxiety and agitation without confrontation. Engaging the resident's long-term memories is a safe and therapeutic technique for residents with dementia. A (incorrect): Forcing reality orientation on a resident with dementia can increase agitation and distress. It does not address their emotional state and is generally counterproductive. B (incorrect): This response is authoritative and may be perceived as aggressive, which can escalate the behavior. It is non-therapeutic and disrespectful. D (incorrect): Threatening a resident with security will increase fear and agitation, which is the opposite of the goal. Residents with dementia cannot be managed through threats.

Question 16

A resident refuses to eat and pushes the tray away. What should the nurse aide do?

Accepted Answer

Ask the resident why they don't want to eat. C (correct): Asking the resident why they are not eating respects their right to make decisions about their care and may reveal an underlying issue such as pain, nausea, food preference, or a change in condition. This information should also be reported to the nurse or nutritionist for further evaluation. A (incorrect): Documenting a refusal without any follow-up is incomplete care. A food refusal may signal a medical or emotional concern that needs to be investigated. B (incorrect): Threatening or confining the resident to the table until they eat is a violation of their rights and is never acceptable. D (incorrect): Offering a treat as a reward for eating is condescending and disrespectful. Residents are adults, not children, and their autonomy must be honored.

Question 17

A resident tells the nurse aide, 'I don't want a male aide helping me shower.' What is the nurse aide's BEST response?

Accepted Answer

'I understand. I'll report your preference to the nurse/supervisor.'. C (correct): This response respects the resident's dignity, autonomy, and right to privacy while appropriately escalating the preference through the chain of command to find a solution. A (incorrect): While staffing may be a real constraint, using it to dismiss the resident's preference is manipulative and does not respect their rights. Accommodations should be attempted before telling the resident their preference cannot be honored. B (incorrect): Withholding bathing as a consequence of the resident's preference violates their rights and constitutes neglect. D (incorrect): Dismissing the resident's feelings as 'silly' is disrespectful and invalidating. Personal care preferences, especially around gender, are meaningful and must be honored whenever possible.

Question 18

A resident with dementia repeatedly tries to stand up without assistance. What should the nurse aide do?

Accepted Answer

Use a calm voice, stay with the resident, and notify the nurse about repeated unsafe attempts. B (correct): Staying with the resident and communicating calmly is both safe and therapeutic. Repeated unsafe attempts should be reported to the nurse so that a care plan intervention can be developed to address the behavior. A (incorrect): Moving the resident to their room alone increases fall risk and social isolation, which can worsen agitation in residents with dementia. C (incorrect): Threatening or shaming the resident is unethical, non-therapeutic, and violates the resident's rights. D (incorrect): Restraints require a physician's order and are considered a last resort after all other interventions have been exhausted. A nurse aide cannot independently apply a restraint.

Question 19

A resident is on a mechanical soft diet. Which food item is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Scrambled eggs. C (correct): Scrambled eggs are soft, moist, and require minimal chewing, making them an appropriate food for a resident on a mechanical soft diet. A (incorrect): Raw carrots are hard and crunchy and require significant chewing. They are not appropriate for a mechanical soft diet and pose a choking risk. B (incorrect): A whole apple has a firm texture and skin that requires biting and chewing. It is not appropriate for a mechanical soft diet. D (incorrect): Peanuts are hard, small, and difficult to chew, making them a choking hazard and inappropriate for a mechanical soft diet.

Question 20

The nurse aide has taken the resident's oxygen saturation (SpO2) with a result of 89% on room air. The resident's baseline is usually in the mid-90s. What should the nurse aide do?

Accepted Answer

Report it to the nurse promptly. B (correct): An SpO2 of 89% is below the normal range of 95 to 100% for healthy adults and is significantly below this resident's established baseline of the mid-90s. This drop requires immediate reporting to the nurse for assessment. A (incorrect): Low oxygen saturation can be clinically serious even when the resident does not appear to be in obvious distress. Relying on outward symptoms alone is not safe practice. C (incorrect): Oxygen is a medication and must never be applied or adjusted without a direct order from a licensed provider. D (incorrect): Abnormal vital signs must be reported immediately, not held until the nurse makes rounds. A delay in care could allow the resident's condition to deteriorate.

Activities of Daily Living CNA Practice Test 2 with Answers

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This Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) Practice Test Is Built for Real CNA Judgment

Michele J. McCarthy

Molly W.

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