Free CNA Basic Nursing Skills Practice Test

Question 1

What are the implications of a low diastolic reading?

Accepted Answer

It can indicate poor blood flow and insufficient oxygen delivery to the heart. While a low diastolic pressure might seem beneficial, if it is too low, it can mean that the heart is not receiving enough blood and oxygen between beats, which can be harmful.

Question 2

What methods can a CNA use to measure a patient's output accurately?

Accepted Answer

Using a graduated container to measure all liquid output. Accurate measurement of patient output is as important as intake measurement. This includes all liquid outputs, such as urine, vomit, blood, and diarrhea, and should be measured using a graduated container. Insensible losses like sweating are also considered but are harder to measure directly.

Question 3

How can falls particularly affect older clients?

Accepted Answer

Falls in older clients can lead to serious injuries, prolonged hospitalization, and decreased independence. Falls in older clients can result in severe consequences, such as fractures, a fear of falling again, and a reduction in their ability to care for themselves, leading to a decreased quality of life and independence.

Question 4

What does a diastolic blood pressure reading indicate about a patient's health?

Accepted Answer

The pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between contractions. Diastolic blood pressure is a measure of the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats. It reflects the minimum pressure to which the arteries are exposed.

Question 5

A patient with a history of HIV gets a small cut on their finger. What is the appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Don gloves and apply a bandage to the cut. HIV is transmitted through blood and body fluids. Standard precautions are sufficient to prevent the spread of HIV through a small cut. For large wounds or potential splashing of body fluids, a gown, mask, and goggles should be worn.

Question 6

How can a CNA identify if a systolic reading is abnormally high or low?

Accepted Answer

By checking if the reading falls outside the normal range of 90 to 120 mmHg for systolic pressure. A normal systolic blood pressure is typically between 90 and 120 mmHg. Readings above or below this range can be considered abnormally high or low, respectively, indicating potential health concerns. A patient may have high or low blood pressure without any obvious symptoms.

Question 7

How should a CNA respond upon detecting abnormal vital signs in a patient?

Accepted Answer

Report the findings to a nurse or licensed healthcare provider immediately. CNAs are not authorized to diagnose or treat conditions. Upon detecting abnormal vital signs, they should promptly report the findings to a nurse or licensed healthcare provider so that appropriate action can be taken.

Question 8

What specific measures should be taken when providing direct care to a patient under contact precautions?

Accepted Answer

Use of gloves and gowns for all patient interactions. When caring for a patient under contact precautions, CNAs should wear gloves and gowns to prevent the spread of infections that can be transmitted through direct contact with the patient or the patient's environment. This is crucial to protect both the healthcare worker and other patients.

Question 9

What are the signs that a patient may be having difficulty swallowing during feeding?

Accepted Answer

Coughing or choking during meals. Coughing or choking while eating indicates that food might be going down the wrong way, into the airway instead of the esophagus, which can lead to aspiration pneumonia. This is a key sign of dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing.

Question 10

How is a rectal temperature reading different from an oral temperature reading?

Accepted Answer

Rectal readings are generally considered more accurate and slightly higher than oral readings. Rectal temperatures are usually considered more accurate reflections of the body's core temperature and are typically a little higher than oral temperatures, due to the close proximity to the core and less exposure to external factors that might cool the mouth. Rectal readings are considered the most invasive type of temperature measurement.

Question 11

How can a CNA ensure the client's comfort and safety while making an occupied bed?

Accepted Answer

Keeping the client covered as much as possible and checking for any signs of distress. Keeping the client covered maintains their dignity and warmth, while monitoring for distress ensures the procedure doesn't negatively affect their well-being. Quick changes (A) and adjusting bed height (D) are important but secondary to client comfort and safety, and using a mechanical lift (C) is situation-specific.

Question 12

A nurse aide is caring for a resident who is on bed rest. How often should the nurse aide assist the resident with repositioning?

Accepted Answer

At least every 2 hours. C (Correct): Residents on bedrest should be repositioned at least every 2 hours to prevent pressure injuries. Prolonged pressure on any area of the body restricts blood flow and causes tissue damage. Regular repositioning is essential for skin integrity. Incorrect: A. Repositioning once per shift allows 8 or more hours of pressure on the same body areas, which will result in serious pressure injuries. B. Repositioning every 4 hours is not frequent enough to prevent pressure injury development. Tissue damage can begin in as little as 2 hours of constant pressure. D. Relying on resident requests is inadequate because some residents may not feel discomfort due to decreased sensation, cognitive impairment, or inability to communicate.

Question 13

The nurse aide is preparing to apply a gait belt to a resident. Where should the belt be positioned?

Accepted Answer

Around the resident's natural waist over clothing. B (Correct): A gait belt should be applied around the resident's natural waist, over clothing, and secured snugly. This position provides optimal support and control during transfers and ambulation. Incorrect: A. Placing a gait belt around the chest could restrict breathing and does not provide secure support for transfers. C. Placing the belt at hip level does not provide adequate control and could slip down during movement. D. A belt around the thighs would not provide support for the trunk and could restrict leg movement.

Question 14

How can CNAs help to maintain essential medical equipment functionality during a power outage?

Accepted Answer

Assist in connecting critical devices to backup power sources like generators or battery backups. During a power outage, maintaining the functionality of essential medical equipment is crucial for client care. CNAs can assist by ensuring that critical devices are connected to alternative power sources such as generators or battery backups to keep them operational until the main power is restored.

Question 15

A nurse aide is assisting a resident with eating. The resident suddenly grasps at the throat and cannot speak or cough. What should the nurse aide do first?

Accepted Answer

Perform abdominal thrusts. A (Correct): Grasping at the throat and inability to speak or cough are universal signs of choking. The nurse aide should immediately perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) to attempt to dislodge the obstruction. This is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate action. Incorrect: B. Giving water to a choking person can push the obstruction further into the airway and does not clear the blockage. C. Blind finger sweeps are not recommended and could push the object deeper into the airway. Finger sweeps are only performed if the object is visible. D. Telling the resident to relax does nothing to clear the obstruction. Complete airway obstruction prevents any air movement and will result in death if not corrected immediately.

Question 16

A resident with a history of left-sided weakness and who had a fall yesterday insists that they do not need help ambulating to the dining room. What is the best strategy for keeping this resident safe?

Accepted Answer

Offer alternative assistive devices such as a walker or wheelchair. The first priority of any caregiver is safety. It is not safe for the resident to walk to the dining room alone. The patient should not be kept from food or isolated in their room due to mobility issues. Offering an alternative that provides safety and autonomy is the best option in this scenario.

Question 17

Another CNA coming on shift approaches you in the crowded dining hall and asks you what cares you have already completed for Mrs. Smith. What is the most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Ask them to accompany you to a private area before discussing patient care information. Patient care should not be discussed in open areas. While the chart may give some information, getting an in-person report ensures that nothing gets missed. While residents should be informed of their own care, caregivers should communicate with each other about what tasks or cares have been or still need to be completed for the day.

Question 18

A nurse aide is caring for a resident who uses a wheelchair. Which action is correct when transporting the resident down a ramp?

Accepted Answer

Walk backward, pulling the wheelchair behind, going down the ramp back-first. B (Correct): When going down a ramp with a wheelchair, the nurse aide should walk backward, pulling the wheelchair down the ramp with the large wheels going first. This provides better control and prevents the wheelchair from rolling too fast down the incline. Incorrect: A. Going forward down a ramp puts the resident at risk of tipping forward out of the wheelchair and reduces the nurse aide's control. C. A resident can be pushed in a wheelchair down a ramp, but it must be done safely. D. Having someone push from behind while you hold the resident in place is not safe for the resident or yourself. The resident could fall forward onto you, and both of you could be injured.

Question 19

How should CNAs apply droplet precautions differently than airborne precautions when caring for patients?

Accepted Answer

Droplet precautions require the use of a surgical mask, whereas airborne precautions require the use of an N95 respirator. Droplet precautions are used for diseases spread through large respiratory droplets, requiring a surgical mask. Airborne precautions are for diseases that are spread through smaller aerosols, requiring the use of an N95 respirator to protect against inhalation of infectious particles. A gown and gloves are also required for both airborne and droplet precautions.

Question 20

How can CNAs ensure they are informed about each client's current code status?

Accepted Answer

Checking the client's medical chart regularly. The client's medical chart contains up-to-date medical orders, including code status. Regularly checking it ensures CNAs are informed about any changes to a client's code status. Checking a client's code status should be part of a CNA's daily check, as code status may be updated at any time.

Test Details

What This Basic Nursing Skills Test Helps You Practice

Michele J. McCarthy

Jessica Cutler

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