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Indiana CNA practice questions

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Question 1Role of the Nurse Aide

Which task is within a nurse aide's scope of practice?

  1. Assisting a resident with a shower Correct answer.
  2. Inserting an indwelling urinary catheter
  3. Administering oral medications
  4. Changing a sterile surgical dressing

Explanation

Nurse aides provide basic personal care and assist with activities of daily living such as bathing, grooming, feeding, and mobility. Sterile procedures, invasive procedures, and medication administration require a licensed nurse. An aide who performs these tasks is acting outside the legal scope of the role.

Question 2Role of the Nurse Aide

A visitor stops a nurse aide in the hallway and asks what is wrong with the resident in room 204. What is the best response?

  1. Give the visitor the resident's diagnosis
  2. Read the visitor the resident's care plan
  3. Suggest the visitor look at the resident's chart
  4. Explain that resident information is confidential Correct answer.

Explanation

Resident health information may be shared only with those who need it to provide care or as the resident authorizes. A nurse aide must not confirm or discuss a resident's diagnosis, condition, or records with visitors. The aide should politely decline and direct the visitor to the nurse.

Question 3Role of the Nurse Aide

A nurse aide sees a coworker speak harshly and roughly jerk a resident's arm during a transfer. What should the aide do first?

  1. Say nothing because the coworker is more experienced
  2. Wait until the end of the shift to mention it
  3. Ask other aides whether they saw the same thing
  4. Report what was seen to the charge nurse right away Correct answer.

Explanation

Rough handling and harsh speaking may be abuse, and suspected abuse must be reported promptly to the nurse in charge so the resident can be protected. The aide reports facts observed, not opinions. Delaying the report or investigating personally puts the resident at continued risk.

Question 4Role of the Nurse Aide

Which action best protects a resident's right to dignity during a bath?

  1. Leaving the room door open during the bath
  2. Rushing the resident through the bath
  3. Talking about the bath where others can hear
  4. Closing the door and draping the resident Correct answer.

Explanation

Residents have the right to privacy and to be treated with respect during personal care. Closing the door, covering the resident, and exposing only the body part being washed preserve dignity. Care should never be rushed or discussed where others can overhear.

Question 5Role of the Nurse Aide

Which change in a resident should the nurse aide report to the nurse right away?

  1. A desire to wear blue slacks instead of gray
  2. Sudden weakness on one side of the body Correct answer.
  3. A request for a different brand of shampoo
  4. A preference to eat meals in the dining room

Explanation

Sudden one-sided weakness is a warning sign that may indicate a stroke or other serious problem and requires immediate nursing evaluation. Nurse aides are the eyes and ears of the care team and must report acute changes promptly. Personal preferences are not emergencies and can be noted in the usual way.

Question 6Role of the Nurse Aide

What is the nurse aide's role in the resident's care plan?

  1. Deciding which nursing diagnoses apply
  2. Revising the plan without telling the nurse
  3. Writing new goals for the resident each week
  4. Following the plan and reporting changes Correct answer.

Explanation

The care plan is developed by the licensed nurse with the interdisciplinary team and the resident. The aide carries out the assigned interventions and reports observations that may require the plan to be updated. Aides do not write diagnoses or change the plan independently.

Question 7Role of the Nurse Aide

Who is trained to advocate for residents and help them resolve complaints about a nursing home?

  1. The facility's activities volunteer
  2. The long-term care ombudsman Correct answer.
  3. The resident's roommate
  4. The facility's maintenance director

Explanation

The long-term care ombudsman program is established by law to advocate for residents and investigate complaints about care and residents' rights. Ombudsmen are independent of the facility. Aides should help residents contact the ombudsman when requested.

Question 8Role of the Nurse Aide

It is ten minutes before the end of the shift and a resident's call light goes on. What should the aide do?

  1. Tell the next shift it is their responsibility now
  2. Turn the light off from the hallway and leave
  3. Answer the light and meet the resident's needs Correct answer.
  4. Finish the shift report first and hope someone else answers

Explanation

The aide is responsible for residents' needs for the entire assigned shift, including the last minutes. The light should be answered promptly and care provided or handed off to the next shift. Turning off a light without checking on the resident is unsafe.

Question 9Role of the Nurse Aide

A nurse asks the aide to perform a task the aide has not been trained to do. What is the best action?

  1. Refuse to help the nurse for the rest of the shift
  2. Perform the task and hope nothing goes wrong
  3. Ask another aide to do it without telling the nurse
  4. Tell the nurse you are not trained for that task Correct answer.

Explanation

An aide may only perform tasks for which they have been trained and that fall within the role. The safe response is to tell the nurse clearly and ask for instruction or reassignment of the task. Accepting an unfamiliar task endangers the resident.

Question 10Role of the Nurse Aide

Which situation is an example of false imprisonment?

  1. Threatening to strike a resident who is shouting
  2. Keeping an alert resident from leaving a room Correct answer.
  3. Bathing a resident without explaining the care
  4. Telling others that a resident is a thief

Explanation

False imprisonment is restricting a person's freedom of movement without lawful justification. An alert resident who is not a danger has the right to move about freely. Threatening harm is assault, false statements are defamation, and care given without consent is battery.

Question 11Role of the Nurse Aide

Which situation is an example of neglect?

  1. Calling a resident a cruel nickname in the hallway
  2. Hitting a resident while helping with a transfer
  3. Borrowing money from a resident without asking
  4. Leaving a resident in a wet brief for hours Correct answer.

Explanation

Neglect is the failure to provide the care and services a resident needs, such as leaving a resident in soiled briefs or without food, fluids, or supervision. Hitting is physical abuse, name-calling is verbal abuse, and taking money is misappropriation of property.

Question 12Role of the Nurse Aide

Which action by a nurse aide violates a resident's privacy?

  1. Closing the privacy curtain during care
  2. Keeping the resident's chart closed in the hallway
  3. Knocking before entering a resident's room
  4. Posting a photo of a resident online without consent Correct answer.

Explanation

Resident information and images may not be shared without written permission, and posting a photo online discloses both identity and health information. Closing curtains, knocking, and keeping records closed all protect privacy. Aides should never discuss or photograph residents on personal devices.

Question 13Role of the Nurse Aide

The aide is unsure how to complete an assigned task and the charge nurse is unavailable. What should the aide do?

  1. Guess at the steps and complete the task quickly
  2. Skip the task and say nothing to anyone
  3. Ask the supervising nurse before doing the task Correct answer.
  4. Ask a visitor who seems to know about care

Explanation

When unsure, the aide follows the chain of command and seeks direction from the nurse who is supervising care on the unit. Guessing, skipping care silently, or asking laypeople all place the resident at risk. The concern should be reported so the nurse can act.

Question 14Role of the Nurse Aide

A resident has a do-not-resuscitate order in the record. If the resident stops breathing, the aide should:

  1. Call the nurse and follow the care plan Correct answer.
  2. Begin CPR right away if the resident stops breathing
  3. Ignore the order during the night shift
  4. Ask the family what they want done

Explanation

Advance directives such as a DNR order must be honored; the aide does not start CPR but summons the nurse immediately and follows facility policy and the care plan. Decisions about resuscitation are never made by the aide or by family members at the moment of an emergency.

Question 15Role of the Nurse Aide

A resident refuses a scheduled morning bath. What should the aide do?

  1. Tell the resident they will be punished
  2. Document that the resident is uncooperative
  3. Respect the refusal and tell the nurse Correct answer.
  4. Give the bath anyway because it is on the schedule

Explanation

Residents have the right to refuse care, and an aide must honor that refusal without arguing or threatening. The refusal and its reason are reported to the nurse so the team can address concerns and offer care later. Labeling the resident uncooperative is judgmental and inaccurate.

Question 16Role of the Nurse Aide

A resident hands the aide $50 and asks the aide to keep it a secret. What should the aide do?

  1. Split the money with the aide on the next shift
  2. Thank the resident and tell the charge nurse Correct answer.
  3. Keep the money and tell no one about it
  4. Use the money to buy snacks for the whole unit

Explanation

Accepting gifts or money from residents can be exploitation and creates a conflict of interest, so facility policy usually requires declining and reporting. The aide thanks the resident kindly and informs the nurse so the resident's intent can be addressed appropriately. Secrecy is never acceptable.

Question 17Role of the Nurse Aide

Which agency keeps the official record of certified nurse aides in Indiana?

  1. The Indiana State Department of Health Correct answer.
  2. The nursing home's activities department
  3. The resident's physician's office
  4. The local police department

Explanation

The Indiana State Department of Health maintains the nurse aide registry, which lists certified aides and any documented findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation. Employers verify certification through the registry. Other agencies and departments play no role in certification.

Question 18Role of the Nurse Aide

A resident's religious practice means care routines must occur at certain times. What is the best response by the aide?

  1. Ask the resident what would make care comfortable Correct answer.
  2. Explain that all residents get the same care
  3. Tell the resident the bath schedule cannot change
  4. Skip the resident's bath permanently

Explanation

Care must be individualized and respectful of each resident's culture, religion, and preferences. Asking the resident how care can be adapted supports person-centered practice, and the nurse is informed so the care plan reflects the preference. Rigid routines and avoiding care altogether both fail the resident.

Question 19Role of the Nurse Aide

Which statement is appropriate for the aide to write in the resident's record?

  1. Resident ate 75% of lunch and drank 200 mL Correct answer.
  2. Resident was very difficult again today
  3. Resident seems depressed and needs medication
  4. Resident probably has another urinary infection

Explanation

Documentation by the aide should be objective, specific, and measurable, describing what was observed and done. Diagnoses, treatment recommendations, and judgmental labels belong to the licensed nurse. Accurate facts allow the care team to evaluate the resident.

Question 20Role of the Nurse Aide

The aide has several tasks to complete. Which should be done first?

  1. Filing the resident menus in the office
  2. Helping a resident who needs to use the toilet Correct answer.
  3. Making an unoccupied bed in room 12
  4. Restocking the linen closet before the next shift

Explanation

Tasks are prioritized by resident need and safety; a resident's request for help to the toilet prevents falls and incontinence and comes before housekeeping duties. Non-urgent tasks such as bed making and filing can wait. The aide plans care around resident needs, not staff convenience.

Question 21Role of the Nurse Aide

While providing care, a resident says, "I have chest pain." Which action shows the aide working within the role?

  1. Tell the resident to wait and see if the pain goes away
  2. Stop care, stay with the resident, and call the nurse Correct answer.
  3. Ask the resident to describe and rate the pain for the record
  4. Finish the bath and report the pain at the end of the shift

Explanation

Chest pain may signal a life-threatening emergency, so the aide stops care, remains with the resident, and notifies the nurse immediately. Detailed pain assessment and interpretation are nursing responsibilities, and reporting cannot be delayed. Advising the resident to wait is dangerous.

Question 22Role of the Nurse Aide

An aide reports suspected abuse to the state agency and is then reassigned to less desirable shifts. This is best described as:

  1. Proper delegation by the charge nurse
  2. A question for the ethics committee
  3. Retaliation, which is illegal Correct answer.
  4. A routine staffing decision by the facility

Explanation

Federal and state law protect individuals who report suspected abuse or neglect in good faith from retaliation, including punishment through scheduling or assignments. Retaliation should itself be reported. Reporting abuse is a mandatory duty, not misconduct.

Question 23Role of the Nurse Aide

An alert resident who uses a walker insists on walking to the bathroom alone at night. What is the best action?

  1. Take the walker away to prevent falls
  2. Ask the nurse to apply a restraint at bedtime
  3. Offer to walk beside the resident and stay nearby Correct answer.
  4. Tell the resident the bathroom is off limits at night

Explanation

Residents retain the right to make choices, and the aide promotes both autonomy and safety by offering supervision without restraint. Restraints require a physician's order for a specific condition, and taking away an assistive device or forbidding bathroom use is unsafe and restrictive. The plan is reported to the nurse.

Question 24Role of the Nurse Aide

An aide tells a resident, "If you do not get into bed, I will tie you down." This is an example of:

  1. An example of defamation of character
  2. An example of assault Correct answer.
  3. An example of neglect of the resident
  4. An example of false imprisonment

Explanation

Assault is a threat that causes a person to fear imminent harmful or offensive contact, even if no contact occurs. Threatening to restrain a resident in this way is a threat of harm. Neglect is a failure to provide care, defamation is a false statement damaging reputation, and false imprisonment is unlawful restriction of movement.

Question 25Role of the Nurse Aide

The nurse asks the aide to share observations for the resident's care plan review. Why is this appropriate?

  1. Aides are not allowed to discuss resident care
  2. Aides write the final care plan alone
  3. Aides observe residents and report changes Correct answer.
  4. Aides decide which medications residents need

Explanation

Nurse aides spend more direct time with residents than any other team member, so their observations are valuable when the team evaluates and revises the care plan. The aide contributes information, while the licensed nurse leads planning and writes the final plan.

Question 26Role of the Nurse Aide

Which of these tasks is within the nurse aide's scope of practice?

  1. Changing a sterile dressing on a surgical wound
  2. Giving a prescribed oral pain medication
  3. Applying lotion to dry, intact skin Correct answer.
  4. Inserting a urinary catheter into the bladder

Explanation

Nurse aides perform personal care and comfort measures, such as applying lotion to intact skin, under the direction of a licensed nurse. Medications, sterile procedures, and invasive tasks such as catheter insertion are nursing responsibilities that must not be performed by an aide.

Question 27Role of the Nurse Aide

The aide notices that a resident's urine is cloudy and has a strong odor. Whom should the aide tell?

  1. The dietary aide
  2. Another nurse aide
  3. The resident's family
  4. The charge nurse Correct answer.

Explanation

Changes in a resident's condition are reported to the licensed nurse who is responsible for the resident's care. The aide observes and reports, but does not decide what the change means or what treatment is needed.

Question 28Role of the Nurse Aide

At the grocery store, a neighbor asks the aide how a resident at the facility is doing. What is the best response?

  1. Share a few details, since the neighbor knows the resident well
  2. Say that you are not able to discuss residents outside of work Correct answer.
  3. Suggest that the neighbor call the facility's front desk for an update
  4. Tell the neighbor the resident's diagnosis but ask them not to repeat it

Explanation

Resident information is confidential and may not be shared with people who are not involved in that resident's care, even if they know the resident. The aide should politely refuse to discuss the resident and may redirect the conversation.

Question 29Role of the Nurse Aide

While giving a bath, the aide sees bruises in the shape of fingertips on a resident's upper arm. What should the aide do?

  1. Call the resident's family to ask how the bruises happened
  2. Wait a few days to see whether more bruises appear
  3. Report what was seen to the charge nurse right away Correct answer.
  4. Ask the resident's roommate whether anything happened

Explanation

Suspicious injuries must be reported immediately to the nurse so the resident can be protected and the required investigation begun. The aide reports observations and does not investigate or question others.

Question 30Role of the Nurse Aide

A resident's family member hands the aide an extra pain pill and asks the aide to give it because the resident is hurting. What should the aide do?

  1. Refuse and report the request to the nurse Correct answer.
  2. Give the medication because the family member is present
  3. Give half a dose so the resident gets some relief
  4. Leave the pill in the resident's drawer for the nurse to give later

Explanation

Administering medication in any form is outside the aide's scope, even when a family member requests it. The aide should decline and tell the nurse, who can assess the resident's pain and act within the care plan.

Question 31Role of the Nurse Aide

A resident asks the aide for a personal phone number so they can call when the aide is off duty. What is the best response?

  1. Give the number but ask the resident to call only in an emergency
  2. Write down a made-up number so the resident stops asking
  3. Give the number and ask the resident not to tell the supervisor
  4. Politely explain that personal contact information cannot be shared Correct answer.

Explanation

Maintaining professional boundaries means keeping a personal life separate from the resident relationship. The aide should kindly decline and can offer to help the resident contact family or use facility-approved ways to reach staff.

Question 32Role of the Nurse Aide

Nurse aides are required to complete at least how many hours of in-service education each year?

  1. 12 hours Correct answer.
  2. 4 hours
  3. 8 hours
  4. 20 hours

Explanation

Nurse aides must complete at least 12 hours of in-service education per year to keep their certification active. This training keeps skills current and covers required topics such as abuse prevention and infection control.

Question 33Role of the Nurse Aide

A resident's family brings in a new pair of eyeglasses. What should the aide do?

  1. Place them in the bedside drawer without marking them in any way
  2. Label the glasses with the resident's name Correct answer.
  3. Keep them at the nurses' station until the family asks about them
  4. Leave them on the overbed table for the roommate to watch

Explanation

Residents have a right to their personal belongings, and items should be identified with the resident's name so they are not lost or mixed up. Facility policy usually also calls for new items to be recorded on the resident's belongings list.

Question 34Role of the Nurse Aide

A resident who had a stroke can feed themselves slowly with the tray set up. What should the aide do at mealtime?

  1. Give the resident a straw and leave the room to let them manage
  2. Feed the resident so the meal is finished before trays are collected
  3. Ask the nurse to insert a feeding tube so meals take less time
  4. Set up the tray and let the resident eat at their own pace Correct answer.

Explanation

Restorative care means helping residents do as much for themselves as they safely can. Setting up the tray preserves independence and dignity, and the aide stays nearby to assist as needed.

Question 35Role of the Nurse Aide

During the admission process, a resident is asked to sign consent forms. What is the aide's role?

  1. Explain each form in detail and then obtain the resident's signature
  2. Sign the forms for the resident if the resident seems too tired
  3. Witness each signature and file the completed forms in the chart
  4. Welcome the resident and refer form questions to the nurse Correct answer.

Explanation

Obtaining informed consent is a nursing responsibility, not an aide task. The aide's role at admission is to help the resident feel comfortable and to pass any questions about forms or treatment to the nurse.

Question 36Role of the Nurse Aide

The aide finishes giving a resident a bath at 9:00 a.m. When should this care be recorded?

  1. Only if the resident's condition changes during care
  2. The next morning, before the resident is bathed again
  3. At the end of the shift, when there is time to write
  4. Right after the care is completed Correct answer.

Explanation

Care is documented as soon as it is completed, while the details are fresh and accurate. Delayed charting can lead to errors, omissions, and gaps in the resident's record.

Question 37Role of the Nurse Aide

A resident asks the aide how to join the facility's resident council. What is the best response?

  1. Tell the resident the council is only for residents who have complaints
  2. Explain that meetings take time away from care activities
  3. Encourage the resident to attend and share the meeting schedule Correct answer.
  4. Say that the nurse must approve any resident who wants to join

Explanation

Resident councils give residents a voice in how the facility is run, and residents have the right to take part. The aide supports that right by encouraging participation and providing meeting information.

Question 38Role of the Nurse Aide

A resident asks the aide to sign as a witness on a will. What should the aide do?

  1. Politely decline and let the nurse or social worker know Correct answer.
  2. Sign it and ask another aide to sign as a second witness
  3. Sign it, because the resident asked for help and it is a small favor
  4. Sign it, but write next to the signature that it is not legal advice

Explanation

Aides should not take part in residents' legal or financial matters, because doing so can create conflicts of interest and the appearance of influence. The aide declines and connects the resident with the nurse or social worker, who can arrange proper help.

Question 39Role of the Nurse Aide

A resident who speaks very little English needs a bath, and a family member offers to interpret. What is the best action by the aide?

  1. Speak more loudly in English and use hand gestures
  2. Use the family member to interpret during care and bathing
  3. Delay all care until an English-speaking aide is on duty
  4. Arrange for the facility's interpreter services to assist Correct answer.

Explanation

Facilities must provide a way for residents with limited English to understand and take part in their care, and trained interpreters protect accuracy and privacy. A family member, especially during personal care, may not interpret correctly and may not be appropriate.

Question 40Role of the Nurse Aide

A resident asks the aide what the doctor said about their test results. What should the aide do?

  1. Ask the resident what the doctor told them and confirm the details
  2. Say that you do not know, and will ask the nurse to come talk with them Correct answer.
  3. Look in the resident's chart and explain the results to them
  4. Tell the resident that the results were normal so they do not worry

Explanation

Explaining test results and medical information is the nurse's or physician's responsibility, not the aide's. The aide stays honest, does not guess, and arranges for the resident to speak with the nurse.

Question 41Promotion of Safety

In the RACE fire response acronym used in long-term care, what does the letter R stand for?

  1. Remove the fire extinguisher
  2. Report to the nurse in charge
  3. Rescue anyone in immediate danger Correct answer.
  4. Restrict visitors from entering

Explanation

In RACE, R stands for rescue: move anyone in immediate danger away from the fire before doing anything else. The other letters remind staff to activate the alarm, confine the fire, and evacuate or extinguish as appropriate.

Question 42Promotion of Safety

A resident who is at risk for falls should have the call light placed where?

  1. In the bathroom only
  2. On the wall behind the bed
  3. Within easy reach Correct answer.
  4. At the nurses' station

Explanation

The call light must be within the resident's reach at all times so they can summon help without stretching or getting up. A light placed out of reach increases fall risk.

Question 43Promotion of Safety

The CNA should perform hand hygiene at which time?

  1. Only after glove removal
  2. Once each shift starts
  3. Before and after contact Correct answer.
  4. Only before room entry

Explanation

Hand hygiene is required before and after every resident contact, even if gloves were worn. This prevents transfer of organisms between residents and staff.

Question 44Promotion of Safety

A physical restraint may be used only when which condition is met?

  1. The resident is annoying to others
  2. A physician orders it for a medical reason Correct answer.
  3. The CNA thinks it prevents falls
  4. The family asks the nurse to use it for safety

Explanation

A physical restraint requires a physician's order that documents a specific medical reason, and it must be used only as a last resort. Family preference or staff convenience is never enough.

Question 45Promotion of Safety

If a liquid spills on the floor, the CNA's first action should be to do what?

  1. Place a chair over the spill
  2. Mop it with a dry towel only
  3. Block area and clean it promptly Correct answer.
  4. Tell housekeeping and wait

Explanation

A spill creates an immediate slip hazard, so the CNA should secure the area and clean it up promptly, using a wet-floor sign as needed. Waiting allows others to walk through the hazard.

Question 46Promotion of Safety

Before helping a resident transfer from bed to wheelchair, the CNA should do what?

  1. Raise the wheelchair seat
  2. Lock the wheelchair wheels Correct answer.
  3. Remove the wheelchair footrests
  4. Turn the wheelchair sideways

Explanation

Locking the wheels keeps the chair from rolling during the transfer, which prevents falls. The CNA should also position the chair close to the bed and lock it before the resident stands.

Question 47Promotion of Safety

Side rails should never be used as a what?

  1. Safety device for confused residents
  2. Restraint to keep a resident in bed Correct answer.
  3. Support when turning a resident
  4. Place to attach a call light

Explanation

Side rails can trap or injure residents and must never be used as a restraint to keep someone in bed. They may be used only for safety or mobility needs under facility policy and with proper assessment.

Question 48Promotion of Safety

When assisting a resident with a tub bath, the CNA should do what?

  1. Add bath oil before the resident enters
  2. Leave the resident alone to soak
  3. Run water as hot as the resident wants
  4. Check the water temperature first Correct answer.

Explanation

The CNA must check water temperature before the resident enters to prevent scalds, especially because older skin is more sensitive. Hot water should never be run as hot as the resident wants without checking.

Question 49Promotion of Safety

During a resident's seizure, the CNA should do what?

  1. Place a spoon between the teeth
  2. Protect the head and clear objects Correct answer.
  3. Hold the resident's arms and legs still
  4. Give the resident water

Explanation

During a seizure, protect the resident's head, ease them to the floor if possible, and clear away hard objects. Never restrain movements or put anything in the mouth.

Question 50Promotion of Safety

A resident receiving oxygen therapy should be taught to avoid what?

  1. Drinking water with meals
  2. Petroleum jelly near the face Correct answer.
  3. Using a foam pillow at night
  4. Wearing loose cotton clothing

Explanation

Oxygen supports combustion, so petroleum-based products near the face can ignite and cause burns. Residents on oxygen should also avoid smoking and open flames.