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Utah CNA study materials
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Utah CNA practice questions

One question at a time. Build your Utah CNA understanding.

First 50 of 199 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

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Question 1Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

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

  1. Ask the roommate to help with the bath
  2. Close the door and pull the curtain Correct answer.
  3. Leave the door open so other staff can see in
  4. Begin the bath while the roommate is watching

Explanation

Residents have a legal right to privacy during personal care. Closing the door and pulling the curtain keeps the resident from being seen by people who are not providing care. Only staff directly involved in the task should be present.

Question 2Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A resident who is alert and oriented refuses a scheduled shower. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Respect the refusal and report it to the nurse Correct answer.
  2. Tell the resident the shower is required by facility policy
  3. Give the shower anyway because hygiene is important
  4. Document the refusal and take no further action

Explanation

A resident with decision-making capacity may refuse any care, including a shower. The nursing assistant should accept the refusal, offer the care again later, and report the refusal so the nurse can follow up.

Question 3Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A visitor asks the nursing assistant whether a resident's test results were normal. What is the best response?

  1. Look up the chart and read the results aloud to the visitor
  2. Say the results are normal but nothing more
  3. Share the results because the visitor is family
  4. Say you cannot discuss the resident's information Correct answer.

Explanation

Protected health information may be shared only with people who are involved in the resident's care and authorized to receive it. The nursing assistant should not confirm or deny results to a visitor.

Question 4Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A nursing assistant sees a coworker yell at and roughly grab a resident's arm. What should the nursing assistant do first?

  1. Ask other staff whether the coworker is usually rough
  2. Wait to see whether it happens again
  3. Report the incident immediately to the charge nurse Correct answer.
  4. Confront the coworker in front of the resident

Explanation

All staff are mandated reporters, and suspected abuse must be reported right away to the charge nurse or administrator. Reporting protects the resident and starts the facility's investigation.

Question 5Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

Which action supports a resident's right to dignity?

  1. Discussing the resident's care in the hallway
  2. Opening the resident's mail without permission
  3. Using the name the resident prefers Correct answer.
  4. Using a childish nickname the resident dislikes

Explanation

Dignity includes being addressed the way the resident prefers and having personal choices respected. Staff should use the resident's preferred name and discuss care privately.

Question 6Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A resident's family brings in a new pair of slippers. What should the nursing assistant do to protect the resident's property?

  1. Place the slippers in a shared hallway closet
  2. Ask the roommate to keep track of the slippers
  3. Label the slippers with the resident's name Correct answer.
  4. Send the slippers home with the family

Explanation

Residents have the right to keep and use personal possessions. Labeling items with the resident's name protects property and helps staff return items to the right person.

Question 7Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A resident tells the nursing assistant she is unhappy about the food and wants to complain. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Report her to the nurse as a difficult resident
  2. Discourage her because complaints create extra paperwork
  3. Tell her the menu is set by the dietitian and cannot change
  4. Help her use the facility's grievance procedure Correct answer.

Explanation

Residents have the right to voice grievances without fear of retaliation, and facilities must have a grievance procedure. The nursing assistant should support the resident in using it and may pass the concern on to the nurse.

Question 8Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A resident keeps trying to climb out of bed. Which approach is the nursing assistant's best first step?

  1. Stay with the resident and offer toileting Correct answer.
  2. Raise all four side rails and leave the room
  3. Apply a waist restraint to keep the resident in bed
  4. Ask the nurse to order a sedative for the resident

Explanation

Residents must receive the least restrictive approach, so the nursing assistant should first meet the underlying need and stay with the resident. Restraints are never used for staff convenience and require a physician's order.

Question 9Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

Under Utah law, when must a suspected case of resident abuse be reported?

  1. Only after the supervisor confirms the abuse
  2. Within one week of the incident, in writing
  3. Report it right away without waiting for proof Correct answer.
  4. Only if the resident files a complaint

Explanation

Suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation must be reported promptly; the reporter does not need proof before reporting. Waiting for confirmation can leave the resident in danger.

Question 10Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A nurse gives a resident an antipsychotic medication to make the resident easier to manage, with no medical diagnosis and no consent. This is best described as:

  1. A routine part of dementia care
  2. A form of resident choice
  3. An improper chemical restraint Correct answer.
  4. An acceptable use of PRN orders

Explanation

Using a medication to control behavior for staff convenience, without a diagnosis or consent, is a chemical restraint. Chemical restraints are prohibited except when medically necessary and ordered to treat a diagnosed condition.

Question 11Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A facility tells a resident that all phone calls must be made at 7 a.m. and limits visits to once a month. Which right is affected?

  1. the right to self-administer medication
  2. the right to private communication Correct answer.
  3. the right to refuse treatment
  4. the right to vote in federal elections

Explanation

Residents have the right to communicate privately by telephone and to receive visitors. Limiting calls and visits for staff convenience interferes with that right.

Question 12Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A resident with a valid do-not-resuscitate order is found not breathing. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Call the family to ask what they want done
  2. Wait to see whether the resident recovers on their own
  3. Follow the facility's DNR procedure and call the nurse Correct answer.
  4. Start chest compressions until help arrives

Explanation

When a valid DNR order is in place, CPR is not started; the nursing assistant follows facility policy and notifies the nurse. The order reflects the resident's documented wishes.

Question 13Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A resident asks the nursing assistant to borrow $20 until payday. What is the correct action?

  1. Lend the resident $5 instead of $20
  2. Accept the money and pay it back quietly
  3. Borrow the money and note it in the care plan
  4. Politely decline and explain the facility's policy Correct answer.

Explanation

Staff may not borrow from, lend to, or accept money from residents; doing so is financial abuse and a conflict of interest. The nursing assistant should decline and explain the rule.

Question 14Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A resident wants to file a complaint with the state long-term care ombudsman. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Tell the resident the ombudsman costs money
  2. Notify the administrator so staff can be present
  3. Ask the resident to complain internally first
  4. Support the resident's right to contact the ombudsman Correct answer.

Explanation

Residents have the right to contact the state ombudsman or other advocates without interference or fear of retaliation. The nursing assistant should support the resident and may help make the call.

Question 15Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A physician orders a physical restraint for a resident. Which action by the nursing assistant is correct?

  1. Apply the restraint and leave until shift change
  2. Release the restraint regularly for exercise Correct answer.
  3. Keep the restraint on during meals
  4. Tie the restraint straps to the side rail

Explanation

Physical restraints require frequent monitoring, release for exercise, and attention to circulation. The nursing assistant must follow the ordered schedule and check the resident regularly.

Question 16Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A resident wants to wear a red shirt instead of the blue one the aide chose. This is an example of the resident's right to:

  1. make personal choices Correct answer.
  2. refuse visitors
  3. self-administer medication
  4. receive free medical care

Explanation

Residents have the right to make personal choices, such as what to wear, as long as the choice does not harm others. The nursing assistant should honor reasonable preferences.

Question 17Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A resident who needs help eating has been left with a meal tray out of reach for 30 minutes. This is an example of:

  1. neglect Correct answer.
  2. false imprisonment
  3. financial exploitation
  4. assault

Explanation

Neglect is the failure to provide the care and assistance a resident needs, such as help with eating. Leaving a dependent resident unable to reach food is a form of neglect.

Question 18Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

Two nursing assistants discuss a resident's care in the elevator with visitors present. Which principle is being violated?

  1. the resident's right to free choice of provider
  2. the resident's right to confidentiality Correct answer.
  3. the right to informed consent
  4. the right to a restraint-free environment

Explanation

Health information may be discussed only with those who need it for care, and never in public areas where it can be overheard. Talking about a resident in an elevator violates confidentiality.

Question 19Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A resident's adult daughter asks the nursing assistant to open and read the resident's mail because the resident has low vision. What is the best response?

  1. Tell the daughter the resident has no right to private mail
  2. Open the mail and summarize it to the daughter
  3. Read the mail aloud in the hallway
  4. Ask the resident whether she wants help Correct answer.

Explanation

Residents have the right to receive mail unopened and to decide who helps them with it. The nursing assistant should ask the resident, not the daughter, and respect the resident's decision.

Question 20Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A nursing assistant locks a resident's door at night so the resident cannot leave the room, without any order or care plan. This action is best described as:

  1. informed consent
  2. a chemical restraint
  3. false imprisonment Correct answer.
  4. a lawful safety measure

Explanation

Restricting a resident's movement without a valid order or justification is false imprisonment, even when the staff member means to keep the resident safe. Safety concerns must be addressed through the care plan and appropriate supervision.

Question 21Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A court has found that a resident lacks decision-making capacity, and a guardian has been appointed. Who gives consent for routine treatment?

  1. the court-appointed guardian Correct answer.
  2. the resident's roommate
  3. the nursing assistant on duty
  4. any adult child who visits

Explanation

When a court appoints a guardian because the resident lacks capacity, the guardian gives consent for routine care. Staff should verify the guardianship papers and follow the facility's process.

Question 22Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A resident offers the nursing assistant a valuable watch as thanks for good care. What is the most appropriate response?

  1. Politely refuse and explain agency policy on gifts Correct answer.
  2. Accept it but do not tell anyone
  3. Accept it if the resident insists several times
  4. Accept it and share the value with the care team

Explanation

Accepting valuable gifts creates a conflict of interest and can be a form of exploitation, so agency policy generally requires refusal. The nursing assistant should decline politely and explain the rule.

Question 23Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A resident asks the nursing assistant to explain the risks and benefits of a proposed surgery so the resident can sign the consent form. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Refer the resident to the nurse or provider Correct answer.
  2. Witness the signature on the consent form
  3. Explain the procedure as well as you can
  4. Ask the family to explain the risks

Explanation

Explaining the risks and benefits of a procedure is the responsibility of the provider who will perform or order it, and a nursing assistant must not obtain informed consent. The nursing assistant should refer the resident to the nurse or provider.

Question 24Resident Rights, Independence, and Legal/Ethical Issues

A resident who is noisy during group activities is moved to a locked unit so the other residents can have quiet. Which right has been violated?

  1. the right to refuse treatment
  2. the right to self-administer medication
  3. the right to choose a roommate
  4. the right to freedom of movement Correct answer.

Explanation

Residents have the right to move about freely and to be free from restrictions imposed for staff convenience. Moving someone to a locked unit merely to keep the floor quiet is not a valid reason.

Question 25Safety and Emergency Procedures

A fire starts in a resident's room. In the RACE acronym, what does the 'R' direct the nursing assistant to do first?

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

Explanation

RACE stands for Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish or Evacuate. The safety of people comes first, so anyone in immediate danger is removed before the alarm is pulled or the fire is fought.

Question 26Safety and Emergency Procedures

The nursing assistant is going to use a fire extinguisher on a small wastebasket fire. What is the first step of the PASS technique?

  1. Sweep the nozzle from side to side
  2. Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
  3. Squeeze the handles together firmly
  4. Pull the pin on the handle Correct answer.

Explanation

PASS stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. The pin must be pulled before the extinguisher can be aimed or discharged.

Question 27Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident who is eating suddenly cannot speak, cough, or breathe but is still conscious. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Perform abdominal thrusts Correct answer.
  2. Wait for the resident to clear the airway
  3. Lay the resident flat and start CPR
  4. Give the resident a sip of water

Explanation

A person who cannot speak, cough, or breathe has a complete airway obstruction and needs abdominal thrusts to force air out and expel the object. CPR is started only if the person becomes unresponsive.

Question 28Safety and Emergency Procedures

Which action best reduces fall risk for a resident who is confused and unsteady on her feet?

  1. Apply a waist restraint while the resident is in bed
  2. Keep all four side rails raised at all times
  3. Ask the resident to remain in bed until staff arrive
  4. Keep the call light within the resident's reach Correct answer.

Explanation

Keeping the call light and personal items within reach lets a resident ask for help instead of trying to get up alone. Full side rails and restraints are restraint devices that require a physician's order and can increase injury risk.

Question 29Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident begins having a generalized seizure. What action should the nursing assistant take?

  1. Protect the resident's head and clear the area Correct answer.
  2. Firmly hold the resident's arms and legs still
  3. Give the resident sips of water during the seizure
  4. Place a spoon between the resident's teeth

Explanation

During a seizure the nursing assistant protects the head, moves hard objects away, and stays with the resident. Restraining movements or putting anything in the mouth can cause fractures, choking, or broken teeth.

Question 30Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident has a small bleeding cut on the forearm. After putting on gloves, what should the nursing assistant do first?

  1. Place a tourniquet above the elbow
  2. Apply direct pressure with a clean dressing Correct answer.
  3. Elevate the arm above the level of the heart
  4. Wash the wound with hydrogen peroxide

Explanation

Direct pressure on the wound is the first and most effective way to control bleeding. Elevation and other measures are added if pressure alone does not stop the flow.

Question 31Safety and Emergency Procedures

The nursing assistant finds a resident lying on the floor and unresponsive. What should be done first?

  1. Start chest compressions right away
  2. Call for help and check for responsiveness Correct answer.
  3. Move the resident back into bed
  4. Leave to find the resident's family member

Explanation

The first step is to call for help and confirm whether the resident responds and is breathing. Moving the resident before assessing for injury can worsen a spinal injury or fracture.

Question 32Safety and Emergency Procedures

A small fire in a resident's room grows and cannot be put out with one extinguisher. What should staff do?

  1. Turn off the fire alarm to reduce panic
  2. Evacuate residents behind the fire doors Correct answer.
  3. Open all the windows to let the smoke out
  4. Wait for the fire department to arrive

Explanation

When a fire cannot be contained, residents are moved horizontally through fire doors to a safe area on the same floor. Opening windows feeds the fire with oxygen, and delaying evacuation endangers residents.

Question 33Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident is receiving oxygen through a nasal cannula. Which safety measure applies?

  1. Let visitors smoke near the open window
  2. Store the oxygen tank lying flat on the floor
  3. Keep the tubing away from sparks and flames Correct answer.
  4. Apply petroleum jelly to the nostrils each shift

Explanation

Oxygen supports combustion, so it must be kept away from flames, sparks, and smoking. Tanks are stored upright and secured, and oil-based products are avoided near the face.

Question 34Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident spills hot coffee and burns the forearm. The skin is red and painful but unbroken. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Pop any blisters that form
  2. Apply butter or oil to the burned skin
  3. Hold the arm under cool running water Correct answer.
  4. Wrap the arm tightly with a dry towel

Explanation

Cool running water removes heat from the tissue and limits the depth of the burn. Greases, ice, and tight wraps further damage tissue and should never be used.

Question 35Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident swallows a mouthful of household cleaning product. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Wait to see if symptoms develop
  2. Call poison control for instructions Correct answer.
  3. Give milk to neutralize the chemical
  4. Make the resident vomit right away

Explanation

Poison control guides the next steps based on the exact product swallowed. Inducing vomiting can burn the esophagus a second time, and milk does not neutralize caustic chemicals.

Question 36Safety and Emergency Procedures

How far should the chest be compressed when the nursing assistant performs CPR on an adult?

  1. About 3 inches (7.5 cm)
  2. About 1 inch (2.5 cm)
  3. About 2 inches (5 cm) Correct answer.
  4. About 1.5 inches (4 cm)

Explanation

Adult chest compressions are delivered at least 2 inches (5 cm) deep at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute. Shallow compressions do not move enough blood, and excessive depth increases injury risk.

Question 37Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident in the late stages of pregnancy is choking and conscious, and abdominal thrusts cannot be given. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Deliver chest thrusts instead Correct answer.
  2. Lay her flat and begin rescue breathing
  3. Give her water to wash the food down
  4. Slap the resident's back while she is standing

Explanation

For a conscious choking person who is pregnant or has a large abdomen, chest thrusts replace abdominal thrusts. They create the same forceful air movement without pressing on the uterus.

Question 38Safety and Emergency Procedures

After a fall, a resident is pale, clammy, and has a weak, rapid pulse. What should the nursing assistant do while waiting for help?

  1. Give the resident warm fluids to drink
  2. Keep the resident lying down and warm Correct answer.
  3. Place an ice pack on the resident's chest
  4. Have the resident sit up and walk to bed

Explanation

These signs suggest shock, so the resident stays lying down and is covered to preserve body heat. Nothing is given by mouth, and the resident is not moved unnecessarily.

Question 39Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident suddenly develops a drooping face and slurred speech. Which information is most important for the nursing assistant to record?

  1. The resident's last meal
  2. The resident's blood type
  3. The time symptoms first started Correct answer.
  4. The resident's usual bedtime

Explanation

These are signs of a stroke, and treatment decisions depend on how long symptoms have been present. The time of onset must be documented and reported immediately.

Question 40Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident with diabetes is shaky, sweaty, and confused but is awake and able to swallow. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Withhold all food and fluids
  2. Have the resident lie down and rest
  3. Give a fast-acting source of sugar Correct answer.
  4. Give the resident an insulin injection

Explanation

Shakiness, sweating, and confusion in a diabetic resident suggest low blood sugar. A conscious resident who can swallow is given a fast-acting sugar such as juice, and the response is reported.

Question 41Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident has a physician-ordered vest restraint. Which nursing action is required?

  1. Keep the restraint on during all waking hours
  2. Loosen the restraint only at bedtime
  3. Release and check circulation regularly Correct answer.
  4. Tie the restraint straps to the side rails

Explanation

Restraints are released and circulation, skin, and positioning are checked at frequent set intervals. Straps are tied to a fixed part of the bed frame, never to the side rails.

Question 42Safety and Emergency Procedures

The nursing assistant notices a frayed electrical cord on a resident's radio. What should be done?

  1. Use the radio only when the resident is awake
  2. Plug the radio into a different outlet
  3. Wrap the frayed area tightly with tape
  4. Remove the radio from use and report it Correct answer.

Explanation

A frayed cord can cause a shock or fire, so the device is taken out of service and the problem is reported for repair. Taping a damaged cord does not make it safe.

Question 43Safety and Emergency Procedures

Where should the nursing assistant look to learn the facility's evacuation routes and meeting place?

  1. The facility's emergency preparedness plan Correct answer.
  2. The resident's care plan
  3. The most recent survey report
  4. The shift assignment sheet

Explanation

Evacuation routes, assembly areas, and staff roles are described in the facility's emergency preparedness plan. Staff are expected to know this plan before an emergency occurs.

Question 44Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident fell from a standing position and now complains of neck pain but is breathing normally. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Log-roll the resident onto a blanket
  2. Help the resident sit up slowly
  3. Hold the head and neck still and stay with the resident Correct answer.
  4. Remove the pillow from under the resident's head

Explanation

Neck pain after a fall raises concern for spinal injury, so the head and neck are kept still until emergency help arrives. The nursing assistant stays with the resident and does not move or reposition the person.

Question 45Safety and Emergency Procedures

Minutes after receiving a new medication, a resident develops hives, wheezing, and swelling of the lips. What is the priority action?

  1. Document the reaction and recheck in 15 minutes
  2. Give the resident a glass of water
  3. Apply cool compresses to the hives
  4. Call for emergency help and stay with the resident Correct answer.

Explanation

Hives, wheezing, and lip swelling signal a severe allergic reaction that can close the airway within minutes. Emergency help is summoned immediately and the resident is not left alone.

Question 46Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident has severe bleeding from the arm that continues despite direct pressure. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Elevate the arm and recheck it in ten minutes
  2. Apply ice directly to the bleeding wound
  3. Keep firm pressure on the wound and get help Correct answer.
  4. Wash the wound with soap and water

Explanation

Pressure is maintained and the emergency response system is activated without delay for severe bleeding. Releasing pressure to wash or check the wound allows dangerous blood loss to continue.

Question 47Safety and Emergency Procedures

A resident who was outdoors in the sun is confused, has hot dry skin, and a temperature of 105 degrees F. What should the nursing assistant do?

  1. Call for emergency help and begin cooling Correct answer.
  2. Give the resident cold water to drink
  3. Move the resident to a shaded area and fan the skin
  4. Wait for the resident to cool down naturally

Explanation

Hot dry skin, confusion, and a very high temperature indicate heat stroke, which is a medical emergency. Help is summoned while cooling measures such as removing clothing and applying cool water are started.

Question 48Safety and Emergency Procedures

Staff are told to evacuate a unit threatened by fire. Which resident should be moved first?

  1. The resident who walks with a walker by the door
  2. The resident who self-propels a wheelchair
  3. The dependent resident closest to the fire Correct answer.
  4. The resident watching television in the day room

Explanation

Evacuation begins with those in the greatest and most immediate danger, especially residents who cannot move themselves. Ambulatory residents who are farther from the hazard can be directed out afterward.

Question 49Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Which action best demonstrates active listening?

  1. Changing the topic when the resident pauses
  2. Straightening the room while the resident speaks
  3. Restating the resident's main point Correct answer.
  4. Finishing the resident's sentences to save time

Explanation

Active listening means giving full attention, facing the resident, and checking understanding by restating the message in your own words. It requires you to stop competing tasks and let the resident finish speaking at their own pace.

Question 50Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Which of these is an open-ended question?

  1. What can I help you with? Correct answer.
  2. Are you in pain at this moment?
  3. Do you want your bath now?
  4. Did you sleep well last night?

Explanation

Open-ended questions begin with words such as 'what' or 'how' and invite a full answer instead of a yes or no. Closed questions limit the resident's response to one word and can hide important concerns.