CNA study guide
CNA · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The CNA credential - the Certified Nursing Assistant, also called a nurse aide, nursing assistant, or home health aide depending on the state - is the entry-level license to provide direct patient care under the supervision of a licensed nurse. It is the credential most people need before working in a nursing home, hospital med-surg floor, assisted living community, rehabilitation unit, or home care agency, and it is usually the first rung on a longer healthcare career ladder. The CNA study guide has 5 sections and about 1,814 words.
01Role of the Nurse Aide: Scope, Communication, Documentation, and Legal-Ethical Boundaries
A nurse aide provides direct, hands-on care under the supervision and delegation of a licensed nurse. Your scope is set by state law, facility policy, and your training.
366 words, about 2 min02Promotion of Safety: Infection Control, Body Mechanics, Environmental Hazards, and Emergencies
Break the chain of infection at its weakest link. Hand hygiene is the single most important action - soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or an alcohol-based rub, before and after every resident contact, after gloves, after the restroom, and before eating.
352 words, about 2 min03Physical Care Skills: Hygiene, Nutrition, Elimination, Mobility, and Vital Signs
Expose only the area you are washing and keep the rest covered. Wash eyes from inner to outer corner, use a clean part of the cloth each stroke, wash the perineum front to back, and give perineal care last.
354 words, about 2 min04Psychosocial Care Skills: Rights, Dignity and Privacy, Mental Health, and Family Interaction
OBRA guarantees each resident dignity, privacy, self-determination, freedom from abuse and unnecessary restraint, the right to refuse treatment, to voice grievances without retaliation, to keep personal possessions, to receive visitors, to be called by the name they prefer, and to have information kept confidential. Knowing the list is half the work - questions test whether your action honors the right.
369 words, about 2 min05Basic Restorative Care and Observation: ROM, Devices, Skin, and Reporting Changes
Restorative care keeps residents as independent as possible: encourage self-care, set up supplies, allow time, and praise effort. Range of motion is active when the resident moves the joint, passive when you move it, and assistive when they help.
373 words, about 2 min