CNAMB study guide
CNAMB · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
CNAMB is a certification exam for nursing assistants who take on medication-related responsibilities in long-term care, assisted living, and similar settings. It is intended for aides who want to document that they can safely assist with medications under a licensed nurse's delegation, and it assumes a foundation in basic bedside care. The CNAMB study guide has 7 sections and about 2,512 words.
01Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care
Basic nursing skills questions test whether you can perform routine care safely, in the correct order, and with the resident's preferences built in. Know the sequence of a bed bath: eyes first with plain water (wipe inner to outer corner, use a different part of the cloth each stroke), then face, neck, arms, chest, abdomen, legs, back, and perineal care last.
371 words, about 2 min02Safety, Infection Control, and Emergency Response
This domain combines medical asepsis with emergency action. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds - and always with soap and water, not alcohol rub, when caring for a resident with C.
360 words, about 2 min03Resident Rights, Ethics, and Communication
Resident rights under federal nursing home law include dignity, privacy, confidentiality, choice, freedom from abuse and neglect, freedom from unnecessary restraints, the right to refuse treatment, the right to complain without retaliation, the right to see visitors, the right to participate in one's own care plan, and the right to contact the ombudsman. Informed consent is obtained by the provider or nurse - never by the assistant.
354 words, about 2 min04Medication Administration and Pharmacological Assisting
Medication questions test the rights of administration and your scope. Know the right resident (verified with two identifiers - name and date of birth, never the room number), right medication, right dose, right route, right time, right documentation, and the resident's right to refuse.
388 words, about 2 min05Anatomy, Physiology, and Medical Terminology
You need enough anatomy to reason about what you observe, and enough terminology to read an order or a care plan correctly. Learn directional terms in pairs: anterior/posterior, superior/inferior, medial/lateral, proximal/distal (proximal is closer to the point of attachment), superficial/deep.
304 words, about 2 min06Observation, Documentation, and Reporting
Documentation must be factual, objective, accurate, complete, timely, and legible. Objective data is what you observe or measure - "temperature 101.2°F, skin warm and flushed, resident reports chills." Subjective data is what the resident tells you, and it is best recorded in their own words inside quotation marks.
360 words, about 2 min07Legal and Regulatory Scope of Practice
The state nurse practice act defines nursing scope and delegation; your facility job description defines your role. Perform only tasks you are trained for, currently competent in, and authorized to do by state law and facility policy - and you may refuse a task outside that boundary, reporting the refusal to the nurse.
375 words, about 2 min