CNA Nursing Care Study Guide 2026 — Free Cheat Sheet

Covers assisting clients with personal hygiene tasks as part of activities of daily living.

Covers helping clients dress and maintain personal grooming as part of daily living activities.

Covers supporting clients' nutritional and fluid intake needs as an activity of daily living.

Covers assisting clients with bladder and bowel elimination needs.

Covers supporting clients' rest, sleep, and comfort needs.

Covers assisting clients with personal hygiene as part of activities of daily living.

Covers helping clients dress and groom as part of daily living activities.

Covers supporting clients with adequate nutrition and fluid intake.

Covers assisting clients with bowel and bladder elimination needs.

Covers promoting client rest, sleep, and comfort.

Covers rinsing the foot including between the toes and drying it thoroughly with a dry cloth towel or washcloth.

• ✓Foot is rinsed (including between the toes)
• ✓Dries foot (including between the toes) with dry cloth towel/washcloth

Applies lotion to the top and bottom of the foot while excluding between the toes and removing excess.

• ✓Applies lotion to top and bottom of foot (excluding between the toes) removing excess with a towel/washcloth

Provides support to the foot and ankle throughout the procedure.

• ✓Supports foot and ankle during procedure

Empties, rinses, and dries the basin, places it in the dirty supply area, and disposes of used linen.

• ✓Empties, rinses, and dries basin
• ✓Places basin in designated dirty supply area
• ✓Disposes of used linen into soiled linen container

Removes and disposes of gloves without self-contamination, washes hands, and ensures the signaling device is within reach.

• ✓Removes and disposes of gloves (without contaminating self) into waste container and washes hands
• ✓Signaling device is within reach

Covers practices for preventing and controlling the spread of infection in the care setting.

Covers maintaining client safety and responding appropriately in emergency situations.

Covers therapeutic and technical procedures performed by the nurse aide.

Covers collecting client data such as measurements and reporting observations.

Cleans the mouth including tongue and all tooth surfaces using gentle motions while maintaining clean technique.

• ✓Cleans mouth (including tongue and all surfaces of teeth), using gentle motions
• ✓Maintains clean technique with placement of toothbrush

Explains the procedure clearly and provides privacy with a curtain, screen, or door before mouth care.

• ✓Explains procedure, speaking clearly, slowly, and directly, maintaining face-to-face contact whenever possible
• ✓Privacy is provided with a curtain, screen, or door

Places the client in an upright sitting position between 75 and 90 degrees before providing mouth care.

• ✓Before providing mouth care, client is in upright sitting position (75-90 degrees)

Puts on clean gloves, places a cloth towel across the chest, secures water, and applies toothpaste to a moistened toothbrush.

• ✓Puts on clean gloves before cleaning mouth
• ✓Places cloth towel across chest before providing mouth care
• ✓Secures cup of water and moistens toothbrush
• ✓Before cleaning mouth, applies toothpaste to moistened toothbrush

Holds emesis basin while client rinses, wipes mouth, removes clothing protector, and disposes of used linen.

• ✓Candidate holds emesis basin to chin while client rinses mouth
• ✓Candidate wipes mouth and removes clothing protector
• ✓Disposes of used linen into soiled linen container
• ✓Rinses toothbrush and empties, rinses, and dries basin

Removes gloves without contamination, washes hands, and ensures the signaling device is within reach with bed low.

• ✓Removes and disposes of gloves (without contaminating self) into waste container and washes hands
• ✓Signaling device is within reach and bed is in low position

Covers practices for preventing and controlling the spread of infection.

Covers client safety measures and appropriate response to emergency situations.

Covers performing therapeutic and technical care procedures for clients.

Covers gathering client data and reporting observations to the health care team.

Washes and rinses the genital area moving from front to back, using a clean area of the washcloth for each stroke.

• ✓Washes genital area, moving from front to back, while using a clean area of the washcloth for each stroke
• ✓Using clean washcloth, rinses soap from genital area, moving from front to back, while using a clean area of the washcloth for each stroke
• ✓Dries genital area moving from front to back with dry cloth towel/washcloth

Turns the client to the side and washes, rinses, and dries the rectal area front to back using clean washcloth areas.

• ✓After washing genital area, turns to side, then washes rectal area moving from front to back using a clean area of washcloth for each stroke
• ✓Using clean washcloth, rinses soap from rectal area, moving from front to back, while using a clean area of the washcloth for each stroke
• ✓Dries rectal area moving from front to back with dry cloth towel/washcloth

Explains the procedure clearly and provides privacy before beginning perineal care.

• ✓Explains procedure, speaking clearly, slowly, and directly, maintaining face-to-face contact whenever possible
• ✓Privacy is provided with a curtain, screen, or door

Checks water temperature for safety and comfort and asks the client to verify the water is comfortable.

• ✓Before washing, checks water temperature for safety and comfort and asks client to verify comfort of water

Puts on clean gloves, places a pad or linen protector, and exposes only the perineal area between hips and knees.

• ✓Puts on clean gloves before washing perineal area
• ✓Places pad/linen protector under perineal area including buttocks before washing
• ✓Exposes perineal area (only exposing between hips and knees)
• ✓Applies soap to wet washcloth

Repositions the client, cleans the basin, and disposes of used linen and linen protector appropriately while avoiding contamination.

• ✓Repositions client
• ✓Empties, rinses, and dries basin
• ✓Places basin in designated dirty supply area
• ✓Disposes of used linen into soiled linen container and disposes of linen protector appropriately
• ✓Avoids contact between candidate clothing and used linen

Removes gloves without self-contamination, washes hands, and ensures signaling device is within reach with bed low.

• ✓Removes and disposes of gloves (without contaminating self) into waste container and washes hands
• ✓Signaling device is within reach and bed is in low position

Covers promoting client self-care and independence as part of physical care skills.

Covers preventive care measures to maintain client health and function.

Covers promoting client self-care and independence.

Positions the wheelchair alongside the bed, folds up or removes footrests, and locks the wheelchair wheels before standing.

• ✓Before assisting to stand, wheelchair is positioned alongside of bed, at head of bed facing foot or foot of bed facing head
• ✓Before assisting to stand, footrests are folded up or removed
• ✓Before assisting to stand, locks wheels on wheelchair

Sets the bed to a safe level, locks bed wheels, and assists the client to a sitting position with feet flat and shoes on.

• ✓Before assisting to stand, bed is at a safe level
• ✓Before assisting to stand, checks and/or locks bed wheels
• ✓Before assisting to stand, client is assisted to a sitting position with feet flat on the floor
• ✓Before assisting to stand, client is wearing shoes

Stands facing the client, signals to begin standing, and gradually assists to stand using an upward grasp of the transfer belt while maintaining leg stability.

• ✓Stands facing client positioning self to ensure safety of candidate and client during transfer. Counts to three (or says other prearranged signal) to alert client to begin standing
• ✓On signal, gradually assists client to stand by grasping transfer belt on both sides with an upward grasp and maintaining stability of client's legs by standing knee to knee, or toe to toe with the client

Explains the procedure clearly and provides privacy before transferring the client.

• ✓Explains procedure, speaking clearly, slowly, and directly, maintaining face-to-face contact whenever possible
• ✓Privacy is provided with a curtain, screen, or door

Applies the transfer belt securely at the waist over clothing and provides instructions including a prearranged standing signal.

• ✓Before assisting to stand, applies transfer belt securely at the waist over clothing/gown
• ✓Before assisting to stand, provides instructions to enable client to assist in transfer including prearranged signal to alert when to begin standing

Turns and lowers the client into the wheelchair, positions hips against the back, removes the transfer belt, and positions feet on footrests.

• ✓Assists client to turn to stand in front of wheelchair with back of client's legs against wheelchair
• ✓Lowers client into wheelchair
• ✓Positions client with hips touching back of wheelchair and transfer belt is removed
• ✓Positions feet on footrests

Ensures the signaling device is within reach and washes hands after completing the skill.

• ✓Signaling device is within reach
• ✓After completing skill, washes hands

Covers supporting the emotional and mental health needs of clients.

Covers addressing clients' emotional and mental health needs within psychosocial care.

Inflates the cuff within the specified range, re-inflating if needed, then deflates slowly noting the systolic and diastolic sounds.

• ✓Candidate inflates cuff between 160mm Hg to 180mm Hg. If beat heard immediately upon cuff deflation, completely deflate cuff. Re-inflate cuff to no more than 200 mm Hg
• ✓Deflates cuff slowly and notes the first sound (systolic reading), and last sound (diastolic reading) (If rounding needed, measurements are rounded UP to the nearest 2 mm of mercury)

Removes the cuff, ensures the signaling device is within reach, washes hands, and records both pressures within the allowed accuracy range.

• ✓Removes cuff
• ✓Signaling device is within reach
• ✓Before recording, washes hands
• ✓After obtaining reading using BP cuff and stethoscope, records both systolic and diastolic pressures each within plus or minus 8 mm of evaluator's reading

Explains the procedure clearly and wipes the stethoscope bell/diaphragm and earpieces with alcohol before use.

• ✓Explains procedure, speaking clearly, slowly, and directly, maintaining face-to-face contact whenever possible
• ✓Before using stethoscope, wipes bell/diaphragm and earpieces of stethoscope with alcohol

Positions the client's arm palm up with upper arm exposed and locates the brachial artery at the inner bend of the elbow.

• ✓Client's arm is positioned with palm up and upper arm is exposed
• ✓Feels for brachial artery on inner aspect of arm, at bend of elbow

Places the blood pressure cuff snugly with sensor over the brachial artery and positions the stethoscope earpieces and bell correctly.

• ✓Places blood pressure cuff snugly on client's upper arm, with sensor/arrow over brachial artery site
• ✓Earpieces of stethoscope are in ears and bell/diaphragm is over brachial artery site

Covers respecting and supporting clients' spiritual and cultural needs.

Covers respecting and supporting clients' spiritual and cultural needs.

Covers effective communication with clients and others as part of the nurse aide role.

Covers effective communication with clients, families, and the health care team.

Describes how written/oral and skills exam results are scored, faxed, and communicated, noting that results are not given over the phone.

• ✓Written (or Oral) Exam results faxed to evaluator
• ✓Skills Evaluation results faxed to evaluator
• ✓Delayed Score Reports mailed within 5-7 business days

Explains re-take procedures, fees, and the limit of three attempts within a set period before retraining is required.

• ✓New examination fee required for each re-take
• ✓Three attempts allowed to pass both parts
• ✓Must pass both parts within twenty-four months of training

Explains how to interpret a failing skills score report, including satisfactory/unsatisfactory results and identifying missed steps.

• ✓Must receive Satisfactory result on all five skills to pass
• ✓Numbers under a skill indicate missed or incorrect steps

Covers understanding and protecting the rights of clients receiving care.

Covers understanding and upholding the rights of clients.

Describes placement on the California Nursing Assistant Registry and issuance and validity of the Nurse Assistant Certificate.

• ✓Name placed on the California Nursing Assistant Registry
• ✓Certificate valid for twenty-four months from date issued

Explains that duplicate score reports may be requested within a set period using the appropriate form.

• ✓Duplicate score reports issued within 90 days of testing

Covers legal and ethical responsibilities and conduct expected of the nurse aide.

Describes the candidate's right to file a written complaint and the Regional Testing Center's follow-up process.

• ✓All complaints must be in writing
• ✓Regional Testing Center responds within 30 days

Covers acting within legal and ethical standards in the nurse aide role.

Covers the nurse aide's role and functioning as a member of the health care team.

Covers functioning as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team.

Explains the requirement to notify CDPH of address or name changes and the documentation needed for name changes.

• ✓Name changes must be accompanied by official documentation
• ✓Notification must include previous name, current name, address, phone, and SSN

Describes the work hours and in-service training requirements needed to renew certification and remain active on the registry.

• ✓Requires paid nurse assistant work of at least eight consecutive hours within twenty-four months
• ✓Requires forty-eight hours of in-service training or continuing education

Explains that certification becomes invalid after a lapse in paid nursing-related services beyond the specified period.

• ✓Certification invalid after twenty-four consecutive months without paid nursing services
• ✓Maintain personal file of work history for employer validation

Describes eligibility for California certification for nurse assistants certified and active in another state under OBRA '87.

• ✓Must be listed on another state's registry as active and in good standing
• ✓Contact CDPH for reciprocity placement information

Explains the steps to become a CNA, including completing an approved training program and passing both exam portions.

• ✓Complete a state-approved nurse aide training program
• ✓Pass both written and skills portions of the NNAAP examination

Describes the conditions under which trainees may perform nurse assistant duties before becoming certified.

• ✓120 days to complete training in an approved facility program
• ✓May not perform duties not trained and checked by instructor

Explains that special testing accommodations must be requested and approved in advance with supporting documentation.

• ✓Requests submitted and approved prior to testing
• ✓Documentation from physician or qualifying professional required

Describes scheduling both exams together and the option to substitute an oral examination for the written one.

• ✓Written and Skills exams initially scheduled together
• ✓Oral Examination may substitute for the Written examination

Explains that registration and payment are by mail, results are not online, and test dates are listed on official websites.

• ✓Registration must be done by mail
• ✓No form of payment accepted at the test site
• ✓Results cannot be viewed online

Describes how to verify registry status, update name/address, and maintain certification currency.

• ✓Verify registry status by contacting the Certification Unit
• ✓Certification current for twenty-four months from passing date
• ✓Renewal Notice sent four months prior to expiration

Explains re-testing requirements for expired certification and how to address performing duties when moving between states.

• ✓Expired certification requires re-testing at approved training program
• ✓Contact appropriate state agency when moving to or from California

• A. A nurse aide certified in any U.S. state may work in any other state without additional requirements
• B. Each state maintains its own nurse aide registry, and a nurse aide must meet that state's requirements before working there ✓ Answer
• C. OBRA-87 created a single national nurse aide registry that is recognized in all fifty states
• D. Nurse aide certification automatically transfers between states after 90 days of employment

• A. Appropriate clinical judgment within the nurse aide's scope of practice
• B. False imprisonment, which is a form of resident abuse ✓ Answer
• C. A minor protocol deviation that should be reported to the charge nurse after the shift
• D. Acceptable if a family member verbally agreed to the restraint

• A. The right to participate in care planning
• B. The right to access legal counsel and use a telephone privately ✓ Answer
• C. The right to refuse treatment
• D. The right to be informed of facility rules and regulations

• A. Acceptable because the nurse aide accessed the information as part of a legitimate care assignment
• B. A HIPAA violation because protected health information was disclosed outside the care relationship ✓ Answer
• C. A minor ethical lapse but not a legal violation since no money was exchanged
• D. Permissible if the mutual friend agrees to keep the information confidential

• A. Open the letter and read it aloud only if the resident appears cognitively intact
• B. Give the unopened letter directly to the resident and allow the resident to open it ✓ Answer
• C. Open the letter and screen its contents before deciding whether to read it to the resident
• D. Notify the charge nurse before giving the resident any mail

• A. Tighten the vest slightly to prevent the resident from slipping out
• B. Check that the resident can breathe comfortably, assess circulation, and offer toileting and repositioning ✓ Answer
• C. Remind the resident that the restraint is for safety and to stop pulling at it
• D. Document that the resident is non-compliant and notify the charge nurse at the end of the shift