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CNAMB practice questions

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Question 1Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

Which action is the single most effective way for a nursing assistant to prevent the spread of infection?

  1. Keep the resident's door closed
  2. Wear gloves whenever entering the room
  3. Change the bed linen every day
  4. Clean the hands before and after care Correct answer.

Explanation

Hand hygiene removes organisms picked up from residents and equipment and is the single most effective step in breaking the chain of infection. It is performed before and after every resident contact, whether or not gloves are worn.

Question 2Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

When counting a resident's respirations, the nursing assistant should:

  1. Ask the resident to take deep breaths during the count
  2. Count for 30 seconds and multiply by two
  3. Tell the resident to breathe normally and count for 15 seconds
  4. Count for a full minute without telling the resident Correct answer.

Explanation

Respirations are counted for a full minute while the resident is unaware, usually while the pulse is still being taken. Telling the resident or asking for deep breaths changes the rate and depth, so the count would not reflect normal breathing.

Question 3Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A resident who cannot move independently in bed should be repositioned at least:

  1. Every 3 hours
  2. Every 2 hours Correct answer.
  3. Every 4 hours
  4. Every 30 minutes

Explanation

Residents who cannot shift their own weight need a position change at least every 2 hours to relieve pressure over bony areas. More frequent turning may be ordered for very high-risk residents, and less frequent turning allows tissue damage to begin.

Question 4Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

How should a nursing assistant store dentures that are not in the resident's mouth?

  1. In a cup of very hot water
  2. In a labeled cup of cool water Correct answer.
  3. Dry, in the bedside drawer
  4. Wrapped in a dry tissue in the nightstand drawer

Explanation

Dentures are kept moist in a labeled container of cool water so the material does not dry out and warp, and the label prevents loss or mix-ups. Hot water can distort the plastic.

Question 5Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

When giving perineal care to a female resident, the nursing assistant should wash:

  1. From the rectum toward the urinary opening
  2. From the urinary meatus toward the rectum Correct answer.
  3. With the same cloth used for the buttocks
  4. In a circular motion, starting at the anus and working outward

Explanation

Perineal care always moves from the cleanest area to the dirtiest, which means front to back in a female resident. This keeps stool organisms away from the urinary meatus and reduces the risk of urinary tract infection.

Question 6Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

When assisting a resident to walk with a gait belt, the nursing assistant should:

  1. Attach the belt under the resident's arms
  2. Hold the belt loosely to avoid pressure
  3. Place the belt around the resident's chest
  4. Apply the belt snugly around the waist Correct answer.

Explanation

A gait belt is fastened snugly around the waist so the assistant can control the resident's center of gravity if balance is lost. It must not be placed over the chest, ribs, or under the arms, where it can cause injury.

Question 7Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A resident drinks 4 ounces of juice and 240 mL of water. What is the total fluid intake in milliliters?

  1. 360 mL Correct answer.
  2. 480 mL
  3. 240 mL
  4. 180 mL

Explanation

One ounce equals 30 mL, so 4 ounces of juice is 120 mL. Adding 120 mL and 240 mL of water gives a total intake of 360 mL.

Question 8Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

How should the nursing assistant give mouth care to an unconscious resident?

  1. Use a toothbrush and paste with the head of the bed flat
  2. Pour water into the mouth to rinse it well
  3. Wait until the resident is awake to give mouth care
  4. Turn the head to the side and use a swab Correct answer.

Explanation

An unconscious resident cannot swallow or protect the airway, so the head is turned to the side and a swab or suction toothbrush is used. Little or no fluid is used, and the mouth is checked for debris afterward.

Question 9Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A clean-catch midstream urine specimen requires the nursing assistant to:

  1. Take urine from the catheter drainage bag
  2. Collect the first urine of the morning from a bedpan
  3. Have the resident void briefly first Correct answer.
  4. Ask the resident to limit fluids for 12 hours

Explanation

A midstream specimen is obtained by having the resident start to void into the toilet or bedpan and then collect the middle portion of the stream in the sterile container. This flushes organisms from the urethra so the sample reflects the bladder.

Question 10Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

Which action is correct when caring for a resident who has an indwelling urinary catheter?

  1. Rinse the drainage bag with tap water daily
  2. Disconnect the tubing to measure the urine
  3. Keep the bag below the level of the bladder Correct answer.
  4. Hang the drainage bag on the side rail above the bladder

Explanation

The drainage bag is kept below bladder level so urine flows by gravity and does not back up into the bladder, where it could cause infection. Tubing is kept free of kinks and the bag is never hung on a side rail.

Question 11Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

When applying elastic anti-embolism stockings, the nursing assistant should:

  1. Roll them down to the ankle to check the skin
  2. Apply lotion to the legs before putting them on
  3. Apply them at bedtime and remove them in the morning
  4. Smooth out wrinkles and check for proper fit Correct answer.

Explanation

Wrinkles and folds in elastic stockings create pressure points that can reduce circulation or damage skin, so the fabric is smoothed over the leg. Skin and circulation are checked at intervals as directed by the care plan.

Question 12Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A resident has a cold pack applied to the knee. How often should the nursing assistant check the skin?

  1. Only when the resident complains
  2. Every 30 minutes
  3. Every 5 to 10 minutes Correct answer.
  4. Every 20 minutes

Explanation

Cold application numbs the skin, so a resident may not feel damage developing. The skin is checked every 5 to 10 minutes and the pack removed promptly if the area becomes pale, white, or painful.

Question 13Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A resident is physically restrained. Which action meets the requirements of safe care?

  1. Release and reposition the resident regularly Correct answer.
  2. Leave the restraint on during meals to prevent falls
  3. Use a knot that tightens when the resident pulls
  4. Tie the restraint straps to the side rails

Explanation

Restraints must be released and the resident repositioned and checked at regular intervals, with circulation, skin, and needs assessed. Restraints are never tied to side rails and must be removed for meals and toileting.

Question 14Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

When shaving a resident with a disposable razor, the nursing assistant should:

  1. Shave against the direction of hair growth
  2. Stretch the skin tightly and shave quickly
  3. Use soap lather that has dried on the skin
  4. Soften the beard with a warm washcloth Correct answer.

Explanation

Warm, moist heat softens the beard so the razor glides and the skin is less likely to be cut. The razor is used in the direction of hair growth with the skin held gently.

Question 15Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

Which action is correct when changing the linen of an occupied bed?

  1. Leave the bed raised when the change is finished
  2. Place the soiled linen on the floor during the change
  3. Raise the far side rail before turning the resident Correct answer.
  4. Shake the sheets in the air to remove crumbs

Explanation

The far side rail is raised before turning the resident so the resident cannot roll out of bed during the change. Soiled linen goes directly into the linen hamper, never on the floor, and the bed is lowered when the work is done.

Question 16Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

When dressing a resident who has weakness on one side, the nursing assistant puts the shirt on:

  1. By sliding both sleeves on at the same time
  2. Over the weak arm first Correct answer.
  3. Over the stronger arm first
  4. After the resident is standing

Explanation

Clothing is applied to the weak or affected side first, because that side is harder to reach and maneuver once the garment is partly on. When undressing, the unaffected side is removed first.

Question 17Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A resident who cannot bear weight must be moved from the bed to a chair. The nursing assistant should:

  1. Pull the resident toward the chair by the gait belt
  2. Lift the resident under the arms with a co-worker
  3. Use a mechanical lift with a second staff member Correct answer.
  4. Ask the resident to pivot with one hand on the chair

Explanation

A resident who cannot bear weight is transferred with a mechanical lift and enough staff to operate it safely. Manual lifting of a dependent adult risks injury to both the resident and the assistant.

Question 18Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A resident is weighed daily. To get the most accurate weight, the nursing assistant should:

  1. Weigh the resident at a different time each day
  2. Use the same scale at the same time daily Correct answer.
  3. Weigh the resident right after a large meal
  4. Estimate the weight when the resident cannot stand on the scale

Explanation

Using the same scale at the same time each day controls for differences in clothing, meals, and fluid intake so changes reflect the resident's actual condition. Weight is recorded and reported as directed.

Question 19Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

To reduce the risk of choking during a meal, the nursing assistant should:

  1. Offer fluids through a straw to speed the meal
  2. Feed the resident quickly so the food stays warm
  3. Sit the resident upright and offer small bites Correct answer.
  4. Have the resident lie flat while eating

Explanation

An upright position and small, well-paced bites allow the resident to chew and swallow safely and keep the airway protected. The assistant sits at eye level and watches for signs of difficulty.

Question 20Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

When a resident removes a hearing aid, the nursing assistant should:

  1. Turn it off and keep it in a labeled case Correct answer.
  2. Leave the battery in and place it in sunlight
  3. Store the hearing aid in the resident's pocket
  4. Wash the hearing aid in warm, soapy water

Explanation

Hearing aids are switched off, the battery is removed or the door opened, and the aid is stored in a labeled case away from heat and moisture. This protects the device and keeps it from being lost.

Question 21Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

When giving eye care to an unconscious resident, the nursing assistant should:

  1. Wipe both eyes with the same moistened pad, outer to inner
  2. Hold the eyelids open and flush with tap water
  3. Use a separate pad for each eye, from inner to outer Correct answer.
  4. Use dry cotton balls so no moisture remains

Explanation

A separate pad is used for each eye and the stroke goes from the inner corner outward, which keeps drainage from one eye from reaching the other. This prevents spreading infection between the eyes.

Question 22Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

Where does the nursing assistant place the fingers to count a radial pulse?

  1. On the little-finger side of the inner wrist
  2. In the groove behind the knee
  3. On the thumb side of the inner wrist Correct answer.
  4. At the side of the neck below the ear

Explanation

The radial artery runs along the thumb side of the inner wrist, where it can be felt with two or three fingertips. Light pressure is used so the pulse is not obliterated.

Question 23Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A nursing assistant obtains a blood pressure of 150/94 mm Hg. What is the appropriate action?

  1. Record it and report the reading to the nurse Correct answer.
  2. Wait 15 minutes and record only the diastolic value
  3. Retake the pressure with the resident standing
  4. Record it and recheck it in 4 hours without reporting

Explanation

A reading this high is well above the normal range and must be recorded and reported promptly so the nurse can assess the resident. The assistant does not decide on treatment or delay reporting.

Question 24Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A resident has just finished a cup of hot coffee. How long should the nursing assistant wait before taking an oral temperature?

  1. 1 to 2 minutes
  2. Right away, before the coffee cools
  3. 15 to 30 minutes Correct answer.
  4. 5 minutes

Explanation

Hot or cold food and drink, smoking, and chewing gum change the temperature inside the mouth. Waiting 15 to 30 minutes allows the oral reading to reflect the body's actual temperature.

Question 25Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

When providing foot care to a resident with diabetes, the nursing assistant should:

  1. Soak the feet in hot water for 20 minutes
  2. Cut the corners of the toenails back deeply
  3. Report redness or broken skin to the nurse Correct answer.
  4. Apply lotion between the toes

Explanation

Residents with diabetes often have reduced sensation and poor circulation, so any redness, blister, or break in the skin needs prompt nursing assessment. Nails are cut straight across and only if allowed by the care plan.

Question 26Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A nursing assistant is about to provide care and sees that her hands are visibly soiled with stool. She should clean her hands with:

  1. a damp washcloth
  2. a disinfecting household wipe
  3. an alcohol-based hand rub
  4. soap and running water Correct answer.

Explanation

Alcohol-based hand rubs are not reliable when hands are visibly dirty or contaminated with body fluids such as stool. In that situation hands must be washed with soap and running water, using friction for at least 20 seconds.

Question 27Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A resident is receiving oxygen through a nasal cannula. Which item should the nursing assistant keep out of the resident's room?

  1. A cotton blanket
  2. A foam pillow
  3. A plastic water pitcher
  4. A petroleum-based ointment Correct answer.

Explanation

Oxygen supports combustion, and petroleum-based products are flammable and can also injure skin near oxygen delivery. Such products are kept away from residents receiving oxygen, along with open flames and smoking materials.

Question 28Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

When giving perineal care to a female resident, the nursing assistant washes:

  1. only the outer skin folds of the vulva
  2. in circles around the anal area only
  3. from the rectum toward the urethra
  4. from the urethra toward the rectum Correct answer.

Explanation

Washing from the front toward the back moves organisms away from the urethral opening and reduces the risk of urinary tract infection. The washcloth is changed with each stroke and a clean area is used each time.

Question 29Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

When giving a complete bed bath, which body part should the nursing assistant wash first?

  1. The back
  2. The hands
  3. The feet
  4. The face Correct answer.

Explanation

Bathing proceeds from the cleanest areas to the dirtiest, so the face and eyes are washed first with clear water before the washcloth moves to the rest of the body. The perineal area and feet come last.

Question 30Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A nursing assistant is counting a resident's respirations, which are even and regular. The assistant should:

  1. count for 30 seconds and multiply by 2 Correct answer.
  2. count for 10 seconds and multiply by 6
  3. count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4
  4. count for a full 2 minutes

Explanation

When the rhythm is regular, respirations are counted for 30 seconds and doubled to get the rate per minute. If the rhythm is irregular, the count is taken for a full minute.

Question 31Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

After finishing care, the nursing assistant removes personal protective equipment. Which item is removed first?

  1. The gloves Correct answer.
  2. The mask
  3. The gown
  4. The goggles

Explanation

Gloves are the most contaminated item, so they come off first and hand hygiene follows. The goggles and gown are removed next, and the mask is removed last by the ties or loops without touching the front.

Question 32Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A resident is at risk for pressure injuries and stays in bed most of the day. The nursing assistant should reposition the resident at least every:

  1. 8 hours
  2. 2 hours Correct answer.
  3. 4 hours
  4. 30 minutes

Explanation

Repositioning at least every 2 hours limits the time that pressure is applied to any one area of skin. Residents on special surfaces or with existing injury may need more frequent turns based on the care plan.

Question 33Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

While performing passive range-of-motion exercises, a resident says, "That hurts." The nursing assistant should:

  1. continue the exercise at a slower pace
  2. stop the exercise and report the pain Correct answer.
  3. tell the resident the pain will pass quickly
  4. push a little further to increase the range

Explanation

Exercise is stopped when the resident reports pain, and the finding is reported to the nurse. Joints are never forced past the point of resistance, because doing so can cause injury.

Question 34Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A resident must provide a sputum specimen for testing. The best time to collect the specimen is:

  1. just before the resident goes to sleep
  2. in the middle of the afternoon
  3. right after the evening meal
  4. on awakening, before breakfast Correct answer.

Explanation

Sputum collects in the airways overnight, so an early-morning specimen obtained before eating is richest in the material needed for testing. The resident rinses the mouth with water first and coughs deeply into the container.

Question 35Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

Before giving a cleansing enema to an adult resident, the nursing assistant positions the resident:

  1. face down with the head turned to one side
  2. on the right side with the knees straight
  3. on the left side with the upper knee flexed Correct answer.
  4. flat on the back with both legs flat

Explanation

The left side-lying position with the upper knee bent follows the natural curve of the colon and helps the solution flow in. The resident stays in this position while the solution is given.

Question 36Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A nursing assistant is going to clean a resident's dentures. To reduce the risk of breaking them, the assistant should:

  1. line the sink with a towel and hold them over the sink Correct answer.
  2. wrap them in a paper towel and set them on the table
  3. clean them with hot water and a stiff brush
  4. leave them in the mouth and brush them with toothpaste

Explanation

Dentures are handled over a basin or a sink lined with a towel so they will not break if dropped, and cool water is used because hot water warps them. They are stored in a labeled cup when out of the mouth.

Question 37Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A nursing assistant empties a resident's urinary drainage bag to measure output. To read the amount accurately, the assistant should:

  1. read the measuring container while it rests on the bed
  2. estimate the amount from the drainage bag markings
  3. add rinse water to the measuring container before reading
  4. set the container on a flat surface at eye level Correct answer.

Explanation

Output is measured in a calibrated container placed on a level surface and read at eye level to avoid errors from the angle. The drainage bag itself is not used to measure amounts.

Question 38Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A nursing assistant uses a blood pressure cuff that is too small for a resident's arm. The reading obtained is likely to be:

  1. falsely high Correct answer.
  2. impossible to obtain
  3. unaffected by cuff size
  4. falsely low

Explanation

A cuff that is too small squeezes a narrower band of tissue and requires more pressure to occlude the artery, so the reading comes out higher than the true value. Cuff size must match the arm circumference.

Question 39Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A nursing assistant finds a reddened area over a resident's hip. The redness does not fade when pressed. This finding most likely indicates:

  1. a normal reaction that needs no follow-up
  2. a bruise from a recent fall
  3. a stage 1 pressure injury Correct answer.
  4. a skin tear that is healing

Explanation

Non-blanchable redness over a bony prominence is the defining sign of a stage 1 pressure injury and must be reported. The area is kept off pressure and never massaged.

Question 40Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care

A resident has an irregular apical pulse. To measure the pulse deficit, the nursing assistant should:

  1. have two staff count apical and radial pulses at the same time Correct answer.
  2. count the radial pulse for 30 seconds and multiply by 2
  3. count the radial pulse at both wrists at once
  4. subtract a radial rate taken 5 minutes earlier from the apical rate

Explanation

A pulse deficit is the difference between the apical and radial rates, and both must be counted at the same time by two people. Sequential counts do not reflect the same beats and give a false result.

Question 41Safety, Infection Control, and Emergency Response

When must a nursing assistant perform hand hygiene?

  1. Only after gloves are removed
  2. Before and after each resident contact Correct answer.
  3. At the start and end of every scheduled work shift
  4. Only when the hands are visibly dirty

Explanation

Hand hygiene is required before and after every contact with a resident or the resident's environment, whether or not gloves are worn, because transient organisms are picked up and transferred during care.

Question 42Safety, Infection Control, and Emergency Response

Standard precautions apply to which group of residents?

  1. Only residents with a diagnosed bloodborne infection
  2. Every resident, no matter what the diagnosis is Correct answer.
  3. Only residents who have visible blood or body fluids
  4. Only residents who are on the isolation unit

Explanation

Standard precautions treat all blood, body fluids, secretions and non-intact skin as potentially infectious, so they are applied to every resident regardless of diagnosis or setting.

Question 43Safety, Infection Control, and Emergency Response

Which PPE item is removed first after completing resident care?

  1. Isolation gown
  2. Goggles or face shield
  3. Gloves Correct answer.
  4. Surgical mask or respirator

Explanation

PPE is removed from the most contaminated item to the least, so gloves come off first, followed by eye protection and gown, with the mask or respirator removed last by its ties or straps.

Question 44Safety, Infection Control, and Emergency Response

In the RACE fire response, what does the letter R stand for?

  1. Rescue Correct answer.
  2. Contain
  3. Run
  4. Report

Explanation

RACE stands for Rescue, Alarm, Contain and Extinguish/Evacuate; the first action is to move anyone in immediate danger out of the fire area.

Question 45Safety, Infection Control, and Emergency Response

A resident begins to fall while walking to the bathroom and the nursing assistant cannot support the full weight. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Lower the resident gently to the floor, protecting the head Correct answer.
  2. Call for help and wait to touch the resident until others arrive
  3. Step away so the resident does not pull the assistant down too
  4. Grab the resident under the arms and try to lift them upright

Explanation

When a fall cannot be prevented, the resident is eased to the floor with the head guarded, which limits injury to both the resident and the assistant's back.

Question 46Safety, Infection Control, and Emergency Response

Which item should be kept away from a resident who is receiving oxygen?

  1. A plastic water pitcher
  2. A foam mattress pad
  3. A cotton blanket
  4. A petroleum-based ointment Correct answer.

Explanation

Oxygen supports combustion, and oil-based products such as petroleum jelly can ignite or burn fiercely in an oxygen-rich environment, so water-based lubricants are used instead.

Question 47Safety, Infection Control, and Emergency Response

What is the correct way to dispose of a used needle or lancet?

  1. Wrap it in a paper towel and place it in a red biohazard bag
  2. Bend or break the needle before throwing it away
  3. Recap it carefully and place it in the regular trash
  4. Drop it into a puncture-resistant sharps container Correct answer.

Explanation

Used sharps go directly into a puncture-resistant, closable sharps container at the point of use, without recapping, bending or breaking.

Question 48Safety, Infection Control, and Emergency Response

How should the nursing assistant verify a resident's identity before giving care?

  1. Match the name on the meal tray ticket to the room
  2. Use two identifiers, such as name and date of birth Correct answer.
  3. Check the name card posted on the outside of the door
  4. Ask the charge nurse to confirm the room number

Explanation

Care is verified with two identifiers, typically the resident's stated name and date of birth checked against the identification band, because room numbers and door cards can change and confused residents may answer to any name.

Question 49Safety, Infection Control, and Emergency Response

A resident is placed on contact precautions for an infected wound. What should the nursing assistant do before entering the room?

  1. Wear gloves only, since the infection is in a wound
  2. Put on a surgical mask and stay 3 feet from the resident
  3. Put on a fit-tested N95 respirator and keep the door closed
  4. Wear gloves and a gown and use dedicated equipment Correct answer.

Explanation

Contact precautions require gown and gloves for every contact with the resident or the resident's environment, along with dedicated or cleaned equipment; a mask is not needed because transmission occurs by touch.

Question 50Safety, Infection Control, and Emergency Response

A resident has active C. difficile diarrhea. Which hand hygiene method should staff use?

  1. Alcohol-based hand rub, rubbed until dry
  2. Antibacterial hand wipes, used twice in a row
  3. Alcohol-based rub first, followed by a soap-and-water wash
  4. Soap and water for at least 20 seconds Correct answer.

Explanation

C. difficile forms spores that alcohol does not kill, so soap and water with friction is required to physically remove the spores from the hands.