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Nebraska CNA study materials
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Nebraska CNA practice questions

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Question 1Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Which action best demonstrates active listening?

  1. Changing the subject to keep the mood cheerful
  2. Writing in the chart while the resident is speaking
  3. Facing the resident and restating what was said Correct answer.
  4. Talking about your own family to fill the silence

Explanation

Active listening means giving full attention, facing the speaker, and reflecting back what you heard so the resident knows you understood. It requires the listener to stop competing tasks and focus on the message. Restating the message also lets the resident correct any misunderstanding.

Question 2Communication and Interpersonal Skills

How should a nurse assistant address an adult resident?

  1. By a pet name such as 'sweetie' or 'dear'
  2. By the resident's room number
  3. By the name and title the resident prefers Correct answer.
  4. By the resident's first name at all times

Explanation

Using the name and title a resident prefers shows respect and protects dignity. Pet names and room numbers treat adults as children or as objects. When unsure, the assistant should ask the resident how they wish to be addressed.

Question 3Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Which of these is an example of nonverbal communication?

  1. Frowning while crossing the arms Correct answer.
  2. Reading a care plan aloud to the team
  3. Saying 'good morning' to a resident
  4. Writing a note in the resident's record

Explanation

Nonverbal communication is any message sent without words, such as facial expression, posture, gestures, and tone. A frown with crossed arms sends a message the resident reads just as clearly as speech. Words, whether spoken or written, are verbal communication.

Question 4Communication and Interpersonal Skills

A visitor asks the nurse assistant how a resident's therapy is going. What is the best response?

  1. Explain that resident information is confidential Correct answer.
  2. Show the visitor the resident's chart in the hallway
  3. Ask the resident to answer the visitor's questions
  4. Share the details of the resident's treatment plan with the visitor

Explanation

A resident's health information may be shared only with people the resident has authorized or who are involved in care. The assistant should politely decline and, if the visitor persists, refer them to the nurse. Confidentiality applies to everyone, including family and friends who visit.

Question 5Communication and Interpersonal Skills

When entering the room of a resident who is blind, the nurse assistant should

  1. Knock, then state their name and title Correct answer.
  2. Enter quietly so the resident is not startled
  3. Move the furniture to clear a path to the bed
  4. Take the resident's hand without speaking

Explanation

A resident who cannot see needs spoken information to know who is present. Knocking and giving your name and role identifies you before any care begins. Announcing yourself also prevents the resident from being startled by an unknown person.

Question 6Communication and Interpersonal Skills

A resident reports new dizziness. What is the best way to communicate this?

  1. Mention it to a coworker in the break room
  2. Report it promptly to the charge nurse Correct answer.
  3. Wait until the end of the shift and mention it then
  4. Write it on the unit's social activities calendar

Explanation

New symptoms must reach the nurse quickly so they can be assessed before the resident is harmed. Nurse assistants report changes directly to the licensed nurse rather than saving them for later. A casual comment to a coworker does not count as reporting.

Question 7Communication and Interpersonal Skills

A resident who had a stroke has aphasia. Which approach works best?

  1. Stop talking with the resident until speech returns
  2. Finish the resident's sentences to save time
  3. Use short questions and gestures, and allow time Correct answer.
  4. Speak loudly and use long, detailed sentences

Explanation

Aphasia affects the ability to understand or produce words, not hearing or intelligence. Short questions, gestures, and unhurried pauses give the resident a realistic chance to respond. Speaking louder does not help because the problem is language, not volume.

Question 8Communication and Interpersonal Skills

A resident has trouble hearing in the right ear. What should the nurse assistant do?

  1. Face the resident and speak on the left side Correct answer.
  2. Shout from the doorway so the resident can hear
  3. Speak into the resident's right ear
  4. Speak quickly to cover more information

Explanation

Speaking on the side with better hearing and facing the resident allows them to use both sound and visual cues such as lip reading. Shouting distorts speech and can seem rude. Speaking quickly reduces comprehension for someone with hearing loss.

Question 9Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Which of these is an open-ended question?

  1. Are you having any pain right now?
  2. Did you sleep well last night?
  3. What worries you about therapy today? Correct answer.
  4. Do you want your bath now?

Explanation

An open-ended question invites an explanation rather than a one-word answer, so it gathers more information. Questions that begin with words like 'did,' 'do,' or 'are' are closed and produce brief yes-or-no replies. Open-ended questions encourage residents to describe their experience.

Question 10Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Which statement is objective and appropriate to report?

  1. Ate half of breakfast and refused his medications Correct answer.
  2. Mr. Lee is being difficult and uncooperative again
  3. Mr. Lee seems to be in a bad mood today
  4. Mr. Lee is probably depressed about the recent move

Explanation

Objective reporting states what was actually observed and measured, without judgment or guesswork. Behaviors such as how much was eaten and what was refused can be verified by others. Labels and guesses about mood are opinions the next caregiver cannot act on.

Question 11Communication and Interpersonal Skills

A resident says, 'I'm afraid I will never walk again.' What is the best response?

  1. You shouldn't feel that way about therapy
  2. My grandmother felt the same way last year
  3. Don't worry, you will be back on your feet soon
  4. Tell me more about what frightens you Correct answer.

Explanation

Inviting the resident to say more shows that the fear was heard and gives them room to express it. False reassurance dismisses the concern instead of addressing it. Making the conversation about yourself takes the focus off the resident.

Question 12Communication and Interpersonal Skills

A resident speaks only Spanish and does not understand English. What should the nurse assistant do?

  1. Request a qualified medical interpreter Correct answer.
  2. Speak louder and repeat the same English words
  3. Nod and smile and skip the explanation
  4. Ask the resident's young grandchild to translate during care

Explanation

Residents with limited English proficiency have a right to understandable information, which requires a qualified interpreter. Untrained translators, especially children, may mistranslate or omit important details. Repeating English more loudly does not make it understandable.

Question 13Communication and Interpersonal Skills

A resident's culture requires a same-gender caregiver for bathing. What should the nurse assistant do?

  1. Ask the resident to set the practice aside
  2. Explain that the facility does not do that
  3. Tell the charge nurse so the request can be honored Correct answer.
  4. Proceed with the bath because hygiene comes first

Explanation

Respecting cultural and religious practices is part of dignified care, and the nurse can adjust assignments to meet the request. Ignoring the preference damages trust and may cause the resident to refuse care entirely. The assistant should report the need rather than debate it with the resident.

Question 14Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Before providing personal care, the nurse assistant should

  1. Touch the resident's shoulder without warning
  2. Begin care while the resident is still asleep
  3. Explain the care and ask permission before touching Correct answer.
  4. Pull back the curtain without speaking first

Explanation

Explaining what will happen and obtaining permission respects the resident's right to control their own body and care. Surprise touch and unexpected exposure of the body feel intrusive and can trigger resistance. Awakening a resident by starting care violates privacy and choice.

Question 15Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Two nurse assistants disagree about how to transfer a resident. What is the best first step?

  1. Refuse to work with that coworker again
  2. Use each person's method on alternate days
  3. Complain about the coworker to other staff
  4. Discuss it privately and follow the care plan Correct answer.

Explanation

The care plan is the agreed standard, and disagreements are handled privately between the people involved, with the nurse consulted if the plan is unclear. Switching methods randomly is unsafe for the resident. Complaining to others damages the team without solving anything.

Question 16Communication and Interpersonal Skills

A resident with decision-making capacity refuses a morning bath. What is the best response?

  1. Give the bath quickly before the resident objects
  2. Tell the resident the bath is required by law
  3. Document that the resident was uncooperative
  4. Respect the refusal and report it to the nurse Correct answer.

Explanation

A resident with capacity has the right to refuse any care, and the assistant must accept that decision. The refusal is then documented and reported so the nurse can follow up and offer the bath later. Coercion or force violates resident rights.

Question 17Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Which entry is most appropriate for the resident's record?

  1. Drank 240 mL of water at 1400 Correct answer.
  2. Seemed fine for most of the shift
  3. Probably has a urinary tract infection
  4. Was a real pain during lunch today

Explanation

Documentation should be factual, specific, and measurable so any reader gets the same information. Recording an amount and a time meets that standard. Opinions, guesses at diagnosis, and vague impressions have no place in the record.

Question 18Communication and Interpersonal Skills

A resident with dementia is trying to talk while the television is loud. What should the nurse assistant do?

  1. Lower the television and give full attention Correct answer.
  2. Ask the resident to talk later in the day
  3. Raise their voice above the television
  4. Continue the task and ignore the talking

Explanation

Background noise makes it much harder for a person with dementia to follow and produce speech. Reducing the noise and focusing on the resident removes a barrier to understanding. Competing with the television only adds confusion.

Question 19Communication and Interpersonal Skills

A resident with dementia asks repeatedly where her husband is; he died years ago. What is the best response?

  1. Ignore the question until she stops asking
  2. Tell me about your husband and what he was like Correct answer.
  3. Your husband died years ago, so try to remember
  4. He will be here soon, so please don't worry

Explanation

Redirecting to the feeling behind the question lets the resident talk about someone important without confronting a loss she cannot hold in mind. Correcting a person with dementia about a death often causes fresh grief each time. Promising that he will visit is a lie that breaks trust.

Question 20Communication and Interpersonal Skills

When helping a resident with dementia get dressed, the nurse assistant should

  1. Give one simple direction at a time and allow time Correct answer.
  2. Explain the steps using medical terms
  3. Correct each mistake firmly and quickly
  4. Give every instruction at once so the resident can plan

Explanation

Dementia reduces the ability to hold several steps in mind, so one short direction at a time is easier to follow. Rushing or correcting sharply raises anxiety and can cause the resident to give up. Plain, familiar words work better than technical language.

Question 21Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

A nursing assistant is about to give a resident a bed bath. Which action best protects the resident's right to privacy?

  1. Working quickly so fewer staff members walk by
  2. Closing the door and pulling the privacy curtain Correct answer.
  3. Asking the roommate to turn the television up louder
  4. Waiting until the resident asks for the curtain to be drawn

Explanation

Residents have a right to privacy during personal care. Closing the door and drawing the curtain keeps the resident covered and out of view of staff, visitors, and the roommate.

Question 22Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

A resident who is alert and oriented states that she does not want her blood pressure medication today. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Try to convince her by describing the dangers of high blood pressure
  2. Tell her she must take it because it was ordered by the doctor
  3. Report the refusal to the nurse and continue to respect her decision Correct answer.
  4. Crush the medication and mix it into her breakfast

Explanation

A resident who has decision-making capacity may refuse any treatment or medication. The nursing assistant honors the refusal and reports it so the nurse can follow up and document it.

Question 23Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

A nursing assistant talks with a friend at the grocery store and mentions a resident's diagnosis. This violates the resident's right to:

  1. refuse to take part in scheduled group activities
  2. keep and manage their own money
  3. have personal information kept private Correct answer.
  4. receive visitors at any time of day

Explanation

Information about a resident's health and care is confidential and may be shared only with those who need it to provide care. Discussing a diagnosis in public is a breach of that right.

Question 24Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

While bathing a resident, the nursing assistant notices a fresh bruise shaped like a hand on the resident's upper arm. What is the correct first action?

  1. Call the resident's family to ask how the bruise happened
  2. Write the observation in the care plan and check again next week
  3. Report it to the charge nurse right away Correct answer.
  4. Ask the resident's roommate whether anything happened

Explanation

A hand-shaped bruise may be a sign of abuse, and suspected abuse must be reported promptly according to facility policy and state law. The nurse then determines the next steps, including further reporting.

Question 25Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

A resident with one-sided weakness can still feed himself slowly with the stronger hand. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Feed him only the foods that are easy to chew
  2. Tell him he can feed himself once he is stronger
  3. Feed him so that the meal is finished on time
  4. Let him feed himself and offer setup help Correct answer.

Explanation

Promoting independence means letting residents do what they are able to do and providing only the help they need. Feeding a resident who can feed himself takes away function and dignity.

Question 26Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

Which statement best reflects a resident's right regarding visitors?

  1. Visits may be limited to one hour per day by the facility
  2. The resident may receive visitors of their own choosing Correct answer.
  3. Family may visit only during posted visiting hours
  4. Visits must stop whenever the roommate is resting

Explanation

Residents have the right to receive visitors they choose, including a spouse or representative, and facilities must not restrict this arbitrarily. Roommate comfort is managed by offering other space, not by denying the visit.

Question 27Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

A resident keeps trying to climb out of bed. Which action is consistent with the resident's right to be free from unnecessary restraint?

  1. Staying with the resident and offering toileting Correct answer.
  2. Tying a sheet around the resident's waist to the bed frame
  3. Raising all four side rails so the resident cannot move
  4. Asking the physician for a sedative to keep the resident calm

Explanation

Residents may be restrained only when a physician orders it for a specific medical reason, and alternatives must be tried first. Supervision, toileting, and activity address the resident's needs without restricting freedom.

Question 28Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

A resident tells the nursing assistant that personal items keep disappearing from her room and she is afraid to complain. Which resource is designed to help her?

  1. The facility's billing office
  2. The long-term care ombudsman program Correct answer.
  3. Her Medicare Advantage plan
  4. The state nurse aide registry

Explanation

The ombudsman program is an independent advocate for residents of long-term care facilities and helps them resolve complaints and understand their rights. It is free and separate from facility management.

Question 29Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

A resident has a living will stating she does not want CPR. When the resident asks about it, the nursing assistant's best response is to:

  1. Explain that living wills are not honored in nursing homes
  2. Discuss the document with the resident's roommate
  3. Notify the nurse so the directive can be followed Correct answer.
  4. Promise the resident that CPR will never be performed

Explanation

Advance directives express the resident's wishes and facilities must honor them, keeping the document available when needed. The nurse is responsible for ensuring the directive is on the chart and followed.

Question 30Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

Which action by the nursing assistant best respects a resident's right to personal property?

  1. Borrowing the resident's radio for the evening shift
  2. Sharing the resident's lotion with a resident who has none
  3. Moving the resident's photos to storage to reduce clutter
  4. Labeling belongings and keeping them in her room Correct answer.

Explanation

Residents keep the right to their own possessions, and staff must protect them from loss or damage. Labeling items and leaving them where the resident can use them respects that right.

Question 31Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

A resident's daughter calls and asks the nursing assistant to open her father's mail and read it to her over the phone. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Open the mail because the daughter is the responsible party and has a right to know
  2. Ask another nursing assistant to read the letters instead
  3. Explain that he opens his own mail and offer to help him call her Correct answer.
  4. Read only the envelopes so the daughter knows who wrote

Explanation

Residents have the right to send and receive mail unopened and to use the telephone privately. A family member does not gain access to the resident's mail unless the resident gives permission.

Question 32Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

A resident complains that a staff member is rude and short with him each morning. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Advise the resident to ignore it and stay in his room
  2. Swap assignments quietly without telling anyone
  3. Tell the resident that the staff member is just busy
  4. Help the resident file a grievance through the facility's process Correct answer.

Explanation

Residents have the right to voice grievances without fear of retaliation and to have them addressed by the facility. Assisting with the formal process protects both the resident and the record.

Question 33Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

A resident prefers to shower in the evening rather than the morning. How should the nursing assistant respond?

  1. Offer a bed bath instead at the scheduled morning time
  2. Explain that shower times are set by the facility
  3. Ask the resident's family to decide the shower time
  4. Adjust the schedule to honor the resident's preference Correct answer.

Explanation

Residents have the right to make choices about their daily routine, including when to bathe, as long as the choice does not harm health or safety. Staff should flex routines to honor those preferences.

Question 34Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

A resident is agitated and receives an antipsychotic medication that is not ordered for her condition, mainly to keep her quiet. This is best described as:

  1. A routine part of care for residents who are agitated
  2. An acceptable use of a PRN medication ordered by the nurse
  3. A restraint only if the resident becomes drowsy afterward
  4. A chemical restraint that violates the resident's rights Correct answer.

Explanation

Giving medication primarily to control behavior and limit freedom is a chemical restraint. It requires a specific medical order, justification, and monitoring, and using it for staff convenience violates resident rights.

Question 35Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

Before entering a resident's room, the nursing assistant should:

  1. Ask the roommate whether it is a good time
  2. Open the door and check whether the light is on
  3. Knock, identify themselves, and wait for permission Correct answer.
  4. Enter quietly so the resident is not disturbed

Explanation

Residents have a right to privacy and to be treated with dignity in their own space. Knocking, stating who you are, and waiting for an answer respects that right.

Question 36Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

What is the purpose of a resident council in a nursing home?

  1. To give residents a voice in their daily lives Correct answer.
  2. To plan the monthly staff work schedule
  3. To approve the facility's annual operating budget
  4. To decide which residents attend group activities

Explanation

A resident council is a group of residents who meet to discuss concerns and make recommendations about life in the facility. It supports the right to voice grievances and to be involved in decisions that affect them.

Question 37Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

A confused resident repeatedly slides forward in a wheelchair. What is the least restrictive approach the nursing assistant should try first?

  1. Reposition her and remind her to sit back Correct answer.
  2. Tie a vest restraint to the wheelchair for the shift
  3. Apply a lap buddy and leave it on all day
  4. Ask the nurse for a sedative before each meal

Explanation

Resident rights require the least restrictive option that keeps the person safe, so positioning, reminders, and frequent checks come before any device. Restraints require a physician's order and are used only when other measures fail.

Question 38Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

An alert resident refuses his daily walk and says he just wants to stay in bed. Which response best promotes autonomy while meeting the nursing assistant's responsibilities?

  1. Respect the refusal and say nothing to the nurse
  2. Tell the resident he will lose privileges if he refuses
  3. Insist on the walk because it is part of the care plan
  4. Accept the refusal and report it to the nurse Correct answer.

Explanation

A capable resident may decline an activity, and the nursing assistant honors that choice while reporting the change so the care plan and condition can be reviewed. Silence would hide a change that the nurse needs to know about.

Question 39Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

A resident asks the nursing assistant to promise not to tell anyone that another staff member hit him. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Ask the resident to sign a form before reporting it
  2. Explain that abuse must be reported, then report it Correct answer.
  3. Keep the promise because the resident asked for confidentiality
  4. Wait to see whether it happens again before telling anyone

Explanation

Confidentiality does not cover suspected abuse, and staff are legally required to report it promptly. The nursing assistant should calmly explain the duty to report and follow facility and state reporting rules.

Question 40Resident Rights and Promotion of Independence

Under federal resident rights, a nursing home may transfer or discharge a resident without consent only when:

  1. The facility wants the bed for a resident who needs more care
  2. The resident's family asks for a room closer to the nurses' station
  3. The resident has lived in the facility longer than one year
  4. The transfer is needed for the resident's safety and needs Correct answer.

Explanation

Federal law permits transfer or discharge without consent only for specified reasons, such as the resident's welfare, the resident's needs not being met, or nonpayment, and written notice with appeal rights must be given. Staff convenience or length of stay is not a lawful reason.

Question 41Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident is found lying on the floor next to the bed. What should the nursing assistant do first?

  1. Help the resident to stand and walk back to bed
  2. Move the resident into bed with a mechanical lift
  3. Stay with the resident and check for injuries Correct answer.
  4. Leave the room to find the charge nurse

Explanation

After any fall the resident is not moved until the nurse assesses for injury, so the assistant stays with the person, checks for obvious injury, and calls for help. Standing the resident up or lifting them can worsen a head, hip, or spine injury.

Question 42Safety and Emergency Procedures

A fire starts in a resident's trash can. Following the RACE sequence, what should the nursing assistant do first?

  1. Extinguish the fire with the nearest extinguisher
  2. Close all doors and windows on the unit
  3. Remove residents in immediate danger from the area Correct answer.
  4. Call the resident's family to explain what happened

Explanation

RACE begins with rescue: anyone in immediate danger is moved to safety before alarms, containment, or extinguishing. Fighting the fire or calling family comes after residents are protected.

Question 43Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident is choking but is coughing forcefully and can speak. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Lay the resident down and start CPR
  2. Encourage coughing and stay with the resident Correct answer.
  3. Give the resident a sip of water to clear the airway
  4. Give abdominal thrusts right away

Explanation

A forceful cough and the ability to speak show the airway is only partly blocked and the cough is moving air. The assistant stays close, encourages coughing, and watches for signs the airway is closing.

Question 44Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident begins having a seizure in bed. Which action is appropriate?

  1. Hold the resident's arms and legs firmly in place
  2. Place a spoon between the resident's teeth
  3. Leave the room to call for the nurse
  4. Turn the resident onto one side Correct answer.

Explanation

Turning the resident to the side keeps the airway open and lets secretions drain, while the head is cushioned and nearby objects are moved away. Nothing is forced into the mouth and the limbs are never restrained.

Question 45Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident has a small cut that is bleeding. What should the nursing assistant do first?

  1. Apply a tight bandage above the cut
  2. Put on gloves and apply direct pressure Correct answer.
  3. Elevate the arm and wait for the bleeding to stop
  4. Wash the wound with hydrogen peroxide and cover it

Explanation

Standard precautions come first, then steady direct pressure over the wound stops most minor bleeding. Pressure is held for several minutes without peeking before the area is cleaned and dressed.

Question 46Safety and Emergency Procedures

Before leaving a resident's room, where should the call light be placed?

  1. Within the resident's reach Correct answer.
  2. In the top drawer of the bedside stand
  3. On the wall behind the bed so it cannot be pulled
  4. On the floor beside the bed

Explanation

The call light must be placed where the resident can reach it without stretching or getting up, which is a basic fall and safety precaution. The assistant also confirms the resident understands how to use it.

Question 47Safety and Emergency Procedures

A nursing assistant uses a fire extinguisher on a small fire. Where should the nozzle be aimed?

  1. At the top of the flames
  2. Just above the flames
  3. At the smoke rising from the fire
  4. At the base of the fire Correct answer.

Explanation

Extinguisher agent must hit the fuel at the base of the fire, where burning material is, and the spray is swept side to side. Aiming at flames or smoke wastes the agent and lets the fire spread.

Question 48Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident is using oxygen. Which action is safe for the nursing assistant to take?

  1. Apply petroleum jelly to the resident's dry lips
  2. Lay the oxygen tubing across a space heater
  3. Keep the cylinder secured upright in its holder Correct answer.
  4. Store the oxygen cylinder lying flat on the floor

Explanation

Oxygen cylinders must stay upright and secured so they cannot fall and rupture, and oxygen must be kept away from heat, flame, and petroleum-based products. Tubing is routed so it cannot kink or contact a heat source.

Question 49Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident has a physician-ordered wrist restraint. How often should the nursing assistant check circulation in the restrained hand?

  1. Once every hour
  2. Every two hours
  3. Once per shift
  4. Every fifteen minutes Correct answer.

Explanation

Circulation, skin color, warmth, and sensation in a restrained limb are checked at least every fifteen minutes, with the restraint released and the resident repositioned on the schedule the facility sets. Any coolness, pallor, or numbness is reported at once.

Question 50Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident suddenly has a drooping face and slurred speech. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Write down the symptoms and report them at end of shift
  2. Give the resident a glass of water and watch for choking
  3. Activate emergency response and note when symptoms began Correct answer.
  4. Help the resident lie flat and wait to see if it passes

Explanation

Sudden facial droop and slurred speech suggest a stroke, which is a time-critical emergency, so the response system is activated immediately. The time symptoms began guides treatment decisions, so it is recorded and reported.