Minnesota CNA study guide
Minnesota CNA · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Minnesota Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential is the entry-level license that allows a person to work as a nursing assistant in Minnesota nursing homes, assisted living settings, hospitals, and home care agencies. Candidates typically complete a state-approved nurse aide training program, then pass a competency exam to be placed on the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry. The Minnesota CNA study guide has 9 sections and about 2,890 words.
01Resident Rights and Independence
Resident rights are federal law (OBRA), not facility courtesy. Every right on the list is something you either protect or violate in the moment of care: dignity, privacy, confidentiality, the right to be informed of condition and care plan, the right to choose activities and schedule, to keep personal possessions, to have visitors and telephone access, to voice grievances without retaliation, and to be free from abuse, neglect, and unnecessary restraints.
296 words, about 1 min02Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Communication is a skill tested as much as a fact set. Know the difference between open-ended questions (which invite description and feeling) and closed questions (yes/no, used when you need a specific fact or when the resident has difficulty speaking).
314 words, about 2 min03Safety and Emergency Procedures
Safety questions reward the prevention step, not the rescue step. Fall prevention: bed in lowest position, wheels locked, side rails per facility policy (never as a restraint), call light in reach, non-skid footwear, clear path, adequate lighting, answer call lights promptly, check on residents regularly.
323 words, about 2 min04Infection Control
Standard precautions treat every resident's blood, body fluids, secretions, and non-intact skin as potentially infectious. Hand hygiene is the single most important practice: soap and water with friction for at least 20 seconds, covering all surfaces including between fingers and under nails, before and after resident contact, after removing gloves, and after touching contaminated items.
321 words, about 2 min05Personal Care and Hygiene
Personal care is where dignity is most easily lost, so questions favor privacy, choice, and independence. Close the door and curtain, drape the resident, and let them do what they can: wash their own face, hold the toothbrush, choose the order of care.
338 words, about 2 min06Basic Nursing Skills and Vital Signs
Temperature: about 97.6–99.6°F orally; report above 100.4°F. Pulse: 60–100 beats per minute in adults; report below 60 or above 100.
320 words, about 2 min07Nutrition and Fluid Intake
Nutrition questions test safety first. For a resident with swallowing difficulty (dysphagia), sit them fully upright, at about 90 degrees, before any food or fluid; keep them upright for 30 minutes afterward.
326 words, about 2 min08Elimination and Toileting
Elimination care is about routine, dignity, and early recognition of change. Bladder and bowel training use scheduled toileting - offering the bedpan, toilet, or urinal at set intervals and after meals - rather than waiting for the call light.
308 words, about 2 min09Mobility and Positioning
Body mechanics protect you and the resident. Wide base of support, knees bent, back straight, load close to your body, pivot with your feet instead of twisting, and get help or use equipment for heavy residents.
344 words, about 2 min