Virginia CNA study guide
Virginia CNA · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Virginia Nurse Aide Competency Examination is the assessment a candidate must pass to be placed on the Virginia Nurse Aide Registry and work as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in the state. It is intended for people who have completed a state-approved nurse aide training program - often through a community college, long-term care facility, or hospital-sponsored program - and for experienced aides who need to demonstrate competency. The Virginia CNA study guide has 8 sections and about 2,960 words.
01Role of the Nurse Aide, Legal and Ethical Behavior
The nurse aide gives basic, hands-on care and reports what is observed to a licensed nurse. Scope of practice comes from state law, the training program, and the individual care plan - never from what a co-worker asks or a resident requests.
683 words, about 3 min02Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Communication is verbal and nonverbal; tone, posture, and touch often carry more than words. Active listening - facing the resident, eye contact at their level, nodding, not interrupting - plus open-ended questions such as 'How are you feeling this morning?' invites real information.
328 words, about 2 min03Safety, Infection Control, and Emergency Procedures
Treat every resident's blood and body fluids as infectious. Perform hand hygiene before and after resident contact and after removing gloves; wash with soap and water when hands are visibly soiled and when caring for a resident with C.
321 words, about 2 min04Personal Care and Activities of Daily Living
Gather everything first, provide privacy, keep the resident covered, and let them do as much as they can. Wash from clean to dirty, from proximal to distal on the limbs, and front to back at the perineum, using a fresh area of the cloth for each stroke.
332 words, about 2 min05Basic Nursing Skills, Vital Signs, and Measurements
Temperature: oral about 98.6°F (37°C), axillary about one degree lower, rectal about one degree higher. Pulse: adult 60-100 beats per minute, regular and strong.
314 words, about 2 min06Nutrition, Hydration, and Elimination
The care plan specifies a regular, mechanical soft, pureed, low-sodium, low-fat, renal, or carbohydrate-controlled diet, and a thin, nectar-thick, honey-thick, or spoon-thick liquid. Never change a diet on your own, even if the resident asks.
326 words, about 2 min07Psychosocial Care, Mental Health, and Cognitive Impairment
Care includes emotional and social needs: belonging, safety, self-esteem, and control. Anxiety, grief, and short-term sadness are normal responses.
304 words, about 2 min08Restorative Care, Mobility, and Positioning
Restorative care keeps residents as independent as possible: encourage them to do what they can, provide the device, and document progress. In range of motion, active means the resident performs it and passive means you move the joint for them.
352 words, about 2 min