40 Physical Care Skills Practice Questions & Answers

1. 1. The nurse aide is giving perineal care to a female client. In which direction SHOULD the nurse aide wipe?

   • A.From the back toward the front, using a clean area of the cloth each stroke
   • B.From the thigh toward the middle, using the same area of the cloth each stroke
   • C.From the front toward the back, using a clean area of the cloth each stroke✓ Answer
   • D.From side to side across the labia, using the same area of the cloth throughout

   Wiping from front to back moves organisms from the anal area away from the urethra, which lowers the risk of a urinary tract infection, and a clean area of the cloth for each stroke keeps soiled material from being dragged back over skin that was just cleaned.

   Ref QB-6F4UAPSource: NNAAP Skills Listing, Perineal Care (Female): wipe from front to back and use a clean area of the washcloth for each strokeReport a problem with this question

2. 2. Before helping a client into a tub bath, what SHOULD the nurse aide do about the water?

   • A.Test the water with a bare hand and add hot water until steam rises
   • B.Have the client step in first and say whether the water is too warm
   • C.Measure the water temperature and ask the client if it feels comfortable✓ Answer
   • D.Fill the tub with very hot water and let it cool while the client undresses

   Water temperature is checked with a thermometer or according to facility policy and then confirmed with the client, because many older adults have thinner skin and reduced sensation and can be burned before they feel that the water is too hot.

   Ref QB-MXJBJMSource: NNAAP Content Outline, Activities of Daily Living (Hygiene): check water temperature for safety and comfort and have the client verify itReport a problem with this question

3. 3. When giving mouth care to an unconscious client, what SHOULD the nurse aide do?

   • A.Turn the client's head to the side and use a small amount of liquid✓ Answer
   • B.Raise the head of the bed and hold the mouth open with a bare finger
   • C.Lay the client flat on the back and rinse the mouth with a cup of water
   • D.Turn the client face down and swab the mouth with a soaked sponge

   An unconscious client cannot swallow or protect the airway, so the head is turned to the side and only a little liquid is used, allowing fluid to run out of the mouth instead of into the lungs; the mouth is cleaned about every two hours to keep it moist.

   Ref QB-5FRG5NSource: NNAAP Content Outline, Activities of Daily Living (Hygiene): mouth care for the unconscious client, performed every two hours with aspiration precautionsReport a problem with this question

4. 4. When cleaning a client's dentures at the sink, what SHOULD the nurse aide do?

   • A.Wrap them in a dry paper towel and leave them on the overbed table
   • B.Line the sink with a towel and put water in it before brushing them✓ Answer
   • C.Hold them over the empty sink and scrub them with a scouring powder
   • D.Soak them in hot water for several minutes before starting to brush them

   Dentures are slippery and break easily, so the sink is padded with a towel and water is left in the basin to cushion them if they slip; hot water and abrasive powders warp and scratch the plastic, and dentures are stored in cool water in a labeled container.

   Ref QB-KX7ZCKSource: NNAAP Content Outline, Activities of Daily Living (Hygiene): oral care and denture handlingReport a problem with this question

5. 5. A client with diabetes has long, thick toenails. During foot care, what SHOULD the nurse aide do?

   • A.File the toenails with an emery board until they are short and smooth
   • B.Soak the feet in hot water and push the cuticles back with a stick
   • C.Wash and dry the feet carefully and report the thick toenails to the nurse✓ Answer
   • D.Trim the toenails straight across with clippers kept at the bedside

   Cutting or filing the nails of a client with diabetes is outside the nurse aide's role because reduced circulation and sensation turn a small nick into an ulcer or infection; the aide washes and dries the feet, checks the skin, and reports the nails so licensed staff can care for them.

   Ref QB-4FD6YKSource: NNAAP Content Outline (Hygiene) and (Legal and Ethical Behavior): nail care for a client with diabetes is outside the nurse aide's scope of practiceReport a problem with this question

6. 6. Which action is correct when the nurse aide shaves a client and combs the client's hair?

   • A.Shave against the way the hair grows and comb tangles from the roots down
   • B.Shave in the way the hair grows and comb out tangles starting at the ends✓ Answer
   • C.Shave the neck first without lather and cut matted hair out with scissors
   • D.Shave over dry skin with long strokes and pull the comb through in one pass

   Shaving with the direction of hair growth over lathered skin, holding the skin taut, prevents nicks and razor burn, and combing a tangle from the ends toward the scalp in small sections removes it without pulling the hair or the scalp.

   Ref QB-JXUN7JSource: NNAAP Content Outline, Activities of Daily Living (Dressing and Grooming): shaving and hair careReport a problem with this question

7. 7. A client has weakness on the right side. When putting a shirt on the client, what SHOULD the nurse aide do?

   • A.Put the left arm in the sleeve first and take the right arm out first
   • B.Put the right arm in the sleeve first and take the right arm out last✓ Answer
   • C.Put both arms in the sleeves together while the client stands at the bed
   • D.Put the left arm in the sleeve first and take the left arm out last

   The weak or affected arm goes into the garment first and comes out of it last, so the stronger arm does the reaching and bending; this keeps the aide from stretching a painful joint through a sleeve that is already partly on.

   Ref QB-3F2USJSource: NNAAP Content Outline, Activities of Daily Living (Dressing and Grooming): dress the affected side first and undress it lastReport a problem with this question

8. 8. To lower a client's risk of choking during a meal in bed, what SHOULD the nurse aide do?

   • A.Turn the client onto the side and offer the food with a large spoon
   • B.Lower the head of the bed so the client lies flat during the meal
   • C.Raise the head of the bed so the client sits upright during the meal✓ Answer
   • D.Raise the knee section of the bed and feed the client half reclined

   Sitting upright at about a ninety degree angle lets gravity carry food and fluid down the esophagus and keeps the airway protected; the client is also kept upright for about thirty minutes after the meal so stomach contents do not come back up.

   Ref QB-SXBZDTSource: NNAAP Content Outline, Activities of Daily Living (Nutrition and Hydration): position the client upright for eatingReport a problem with this question

9. 9. The nurse aide is positioning a client on the side. What SHOULD the nurse aide do?

   • A.Place a folded blanket under the upper hip so the client leans back
   • B.Keep both knees straight and tuck the lower arm under the chest
   • C.Place a pillow between the knees and keep the upper knee slightly bent✓ Answer
   • D.Place a pillow under the lower shoulder so the client rests on it

   A pillow between the knees keeps the upper leg from pressing on the bony surfaces of the lower leg and holds the hips in line, and the lower shoulder is drawn forward so the client is not lying on that arm, which would cut off circulation.

   Ref QB-AFH6ZTSource: NNAAP Skills Listing, Positions Client on Side: supportive devices behind the back and between the legs, with the top knee flexedReport a problem with this question

10. 10. A client's right ankle is swollen. While the client rests in bed, how SHOULD the nurse aide support that leg?

    • A.Flat on the mattress with the foot pressed against the footboard
    • B.On pillows along its length, with the ankle higher than the heart✓ Answer
    • C.On one pillow under the knee, letting the lower leg hang down
    • D.Over the edge of the bed, with the foot hanging below the mattress

    Raising the swollen part above the level of the heart lets gravity help blood and tissue fluid drain back toward the trunk, which reduces the swelling, and supporting the whole limb keeps pressure off the back of the knee where circulation is easily blocked.

    Ref QB-FS7ZCESource: NNAAP Content Outline, Basic Nursing Skills (therapeutic and technical procedures): positioning and support of a swollen extremity above heart levelReport a problem with this question

11. 11. A client stays in bed all day and has red areas over the sacrum, hips, and heels. How often SHOULD the nurse aide change the client's position?

    • A.At least every 2 hours, checking the skin over the bony areas✓ Answer
    • B.At least every 4 hours, checking the skin over the bony areas
    • C.At least every 8 hours, checking the skin over the bony areas
    • D.At least every 12 hours, checking the skin over the bony areas

    Body weight resting on a bony prominence squeezes the small vessels shut, and the skin over the sacrum, hips, and heels can begin to break down within about two hours, so position is changed at least that often to let blood return to the tissue.

    Ref QB-X92USDSource: NNAAP Content Outline, Basic Nursing Skills: pressure injury prevention through repositioning at least every two hoursReport a problem with this question

12. 12. The nurse aide sees a red area over a client's hip that does not turn white when pressed. What SHOULD the nurse aide do?

    • A.Rub lotion into the red area to bring more blood flow to the hip
    • B.Cover the area with a bandage and turn the client onto that hip
    • C.Report the red area to the nurse and keep pressure off that hip✓ Answer
    • D.Wait until the next shift to see whether the red area fades away

    Redness that does not blanch means the tissue under the skin is already injured, which is the earliest stage of a pressure injury; rubbing damages the fragile tissue further and continued pressure deepens the wound, so the finding is reported and the area kept free of pressure.

    Ref QB-GSJBJFSource: NNAAP Content Outline, Basic Nursing Skills (data collection and reporting): report skin changes to the nurse and do not massage reddened bony prominencesReport a problem with this question

13. 13. A client's care plan orders thickened liquids. The client asks the nurse aide to add water to the drink. What SHOULD the nurse aide do?

    • A.Add a little water to the drink so that it is easier to swallow
    • B.Hold the drink until a family member comes to help with the meal
    • C.Serve the drink as ordered and tell the nurse what the client asked✓ Answer
    • D.Bring a glass of plain water with a straw and stay with the client

    Thin liquids move fast and are easily breathed into the lungs by a client with a swallowing problem, which is why the thickened consistency is ordered; the consistency can be changed only by the nurse or dietitian, so the aide serves what is ordered and reports the request.

    Ref QB-Y9D6YESource: NNAAP Content Outline (Nutrition and Hydration) and: follow the diet ordered in the care plan and report requests to the nurseReport a problem with this question

14. 14. At lunch a client drank 240 mL of milk, 120 mL of juice, and 180 mL of broth. What SHOULD the nurse aide record as the intake?

    • A.540 mL✓ Answer
    • B.600 mL
    • C.480 mL
    • D.560 mL

    Fluid intake is the total of everything the client takes in that is liquid at room temperature, so 240 plus 120 plus 180 equals 540 mL; broth, gelatin, and ice cream are counted the same way as beverages.

    Ref QB-DSGB2CSource: NNAAP Content Outline, Basic Nursing Skills: measuring and recording fluid intake and outputReport a problem with this question

15. 15. A client refuses to eat the food on the lunch tray. What SHOULD the nurse aide do?

    • A.Feed the client small bites until most of the meal has been eaten
    • B.Leave the tray in the room and take it away when meal time ends
    • C.Ask what the client would like instead and report it to the nurse✓ Answer
    • D.Tell the client that the tray must be finished before leaving the table

    A client has the right to refuse food and cannot be pressured or fed against that refusal, but poor intake leads to weight loss and dehydration, so the aide offers a substitute allowed by the care plan and reports the refusal so the nurse and dietitian can act.

    Ref QB-V9B6FBSource: 42 CFR 483.10 (resident right to refuse treatment and services); NNAAP Content Outline, Nutrition and Hydration: report poor intake to the nurseReport a problem with this question

16. 16. Before placing a bedpan under a client who is in bed, what SHOULD the nurse aide do?

    • A.Raise the side rails and ask the client to stand beside the bed
    • B.Turn the client onto the stomach and slide the bedpan under the hips
    • C.Raise the head of the bed so the client is sitting straight up
    • D.Lower the head of the bed so the client is lying flat on the back✓ Answer

    With the bed flat the client can be rolled onto the pan or lifted onto it without the skin being dragged across the sheet; the head of the bed is then raised so the client can sit in a normal position, and it is lowered again before the pan is removed.

    Ref QB-ESUN7DSource: NNAAP Content Outline, Activities of Daily Living (Elimination): lower the head of the bed to place and remove a bedpan and raise it while the client uses itReport a problem with this question

17. 17. A client has an indwelling urinary catheter. Where SHOULD the nurse aide keep the drainage bag?

    • A.On the floor beside the head of the client's bed
    • B.Below the level of the bladder and up off the floor✓ Answer
    • C.Above the level of the bladder and off the floor
    • D.Level with the bladder, hanging on the side rail

    Urine drains by gravity, so a bag kept below the bladder keeps urine flowing away from the client instead of running back up the tubing and carrying organisms into the bladder; the floor is dirty and a movable side rail can pull on the catheter.

    Ref QB-W9PGMCSource: NNAAP Content Outline, Activities of Daily Living (Elimination): catheter care, keeping the drainage bag below the level of the bladder and off the floorReport a problem with this question

18. 18. During range-of-motion exercises the client says that the shoulder hurts. What SHOULD the nurse aide do?

    • A.Repeat the movement faster so the pain does not last as long
    • B.Stop moving that joint and report the pain to the nurse✓ Answer
    • C.Finish the whole set and report the pain at the end of the shift
    • D.Move the joint a little farther to loosen up the stiff shoulder

    Joints are moved only to the point of resistance and never into pain, because pain means the tissue is being stretched or injured; the aide stops that joint at once, supports it above and below, and reports the pain so the nurse can assess it.

    Ref QB-KSMB3KSource: NNAAP Skills Listing, Assists with Passive Range of Motion: move the joint to the point of resistance and discontinue if the client verbalizes painReport a problem with this question

19. 19. The nurse aide is walking with a client who has left-sided weakness and wears a transfer belt. Where SHOULD the nurse aide walk?

    • A.Slightly behind on the right side, gripping the belt from above
    • B.Slightly behind on the left side, holding the belt with an upward grasp✓ Answer
    • C.Slightly ahead on the left side, holding the client's left hand
    • D.Directly in front of the client, holding both of the client's hands

    The aide stays on the weak side and slightly behind, which is the direction the client is most likely to fall, and grasps the belt at the waist from underneath, because that upward hold gives control of the client's trunk and lets the aide ease the client down instead of catching a falling body.

    Ref QB-3AF6GJSource: NNAAP Skills Listing, Ambulates Client Using Transfer Belt: walk slightly behind and to one side of the client while holding the belt with an upward graspReport a problem with this question

20. 20. The nurse aide is moving a client from the bed into a wheelchair. Before the client is lowered into the chair, what SHOULD be true?

    • A.The wheels are locked and the backs of the legs touch the chair✓ Answer
    • B.The wheels are locked and the client is facing the seat of the chair
    • C.The wheels are turned outward and the client leans on the armrest
    • D.The wheels are unlocked and the footrests are down under the feet

    Locked wheels keep the chair from rolling away as the client's weight shifts onto it, and feeling the seat against the back of the legs proves the client is lined up with the chair before sitting; the footrests stay up or off until the client is seated.

    Ref QB-MH6GJ9Source: NNAAP Skills Listing, Transfers Client from Bed to Wheelchair Using Transfer Belt: lock the wheelchair wheels and have the backs of the client's legs touch the chair before loweringReport a problem with this question

21. 21. The nurse aide counts a client's radial pulse for one full minute and gets 112 beats per minute. What SHOULD the nurse aide do?

    • A.Take the pulse in the other wrist and record the lower rate
    • B.Count the pulse again for 30 seconds and double that number
    • C.Wait one hour, count again, and report only the second rate
    • D.Record the rate and tell the nurse about the reading right away✓ Answer

    A resting adult pulse is normally about 60 to 100 beats per minute, so 112 is outside the expected range and the nurse needs to know at once; the reading is written down exactly as counted, and a count taken for one full minute is already the accurate method.

    Ref QB-52CN5ASource: NNAAP Skills Listing, Counts and Records Radial Pulse (count for one full minute); adult resting pulse range of 60 to 100 beats per minute, American Heart AssociationReport a problem with this question

22. 22. The nurse aide is measuring a client's height and weight on an upright scale. Before the client steps on, what SHOULD the nurse aide do?

    • A.Ask the client to hold on to the walker while standing on the platform
    • B.Set the scale to zero and put non-skid shoes on the client's feet✓ Answer
    • C.Write down the weight recorded in the client's chart the day before
    • D.Move the weights to the usual weight shown in the client's chart

    A scale that does not read zero with nothing on it adds its own error to every reading, and non-skid footwear keeps the client from slipping while walking to the scale and standing still on it; the aide then records the weight actually shown and measures height with the client standing straight, heels together.

    Ref QB-NHHTQASource: NNAAP Skills Listing, Measures and Records Weight of Ambulatory Client: set the scale to zero before the client steps on, non-skid footwear, record within 2 poundsReport a problem with this question

23. 23. When giving a complete bed bath, which body area should the nurse aide wash first?

    • A.The face and eyes✓ Answer
    • B.The chest and abdomen
    • C.The legs and feet
    • D.The hands and arms

    Bathing proceeds from the cleanest area to the dirtiest so microbes are not spread onto cleaner skin, which means the bath starts at the face. The eyes are wiped first, from the inner corner outward, using a clean part of the washcloth and no soap.

    Ref QB-62QYABSource: NNAAP 2024 Content Outline I.A (Hygiene); standard bed-bath procedure — wash clean-to-dirty, face/eyes first, inner to outer canthusReport a problem with this question

24. 24. A client has an IV line in the left arm. When helping the client put on a clean gown, the nurse aide should:

    • A.Leave the left arm out of the gown
    • B.Put the gown on the right arm first
    • C.Have the nurse disconnect the IV
    • D.Put the gown on the left arm first✓ Answer

    The arm with the IV is treated like an affected arm: dressing it first lets the sleeve slide on with the least pulling and twisting on the tubing. When undressing, the unaffected arm comes out first. Disconnecting an IV is outside the nurse aide's scope of practice.

    Ref QB-JHFT77Source: NNAAP 2024 Content Outline I.A (Dressing and Grooming); dressing rule — clothe the affected/IV arm first, undress the unaffected arm firstReport a problem with this question

25. 25. After feeding a client who has difficulty swallowing, the nurse aide should keep the client:

    • A.Upright for at least 30 minutes✓ Answer
    • B.Lying flat so the client can rest
    • C.On the left side with the bed flat
    • D.Upright for about 5 minutes

    Remaining upright for at least 30 minutes after a meal lets gravity keep food and liquid moving down the esophagus, reducing the risk of reflux and aspiration into the lungs. Lying down right after eating is what allows stomach contents to come back up.

    Ref QB-32NYS7Source: NNAAP 2024 Content Outline I.A (Nutrition and Hydration); aspiration precautions — remain upright 30+ minutes after mealsReport a problem with this question

26. 26. A client is NPO before a procedure and asks the nurse aide for ice chips. The nurse aide should:

    • A.Allow a few small sips of clear water
    • B.Give only a spoonful of ice chips
    • C.Give nothing by mouth and explain why✓ Answer
    • D.Offer sugar-free candy to suck on

    NPO means nothing by mouth — no food, water, ice chips, or candy — because anything swallowed can cause aspiration under anesthesia or force the procedure to be canceled. The aide explains the restriction kindly and reports the client's thirst to the nurse.

    Ref QB-KHT5D8Source: NNAAP 2024 Content Outline I.A (Nutrition and Hydration); NPO (nil per os) order — nothing by mouth, including water and ice chipsReport a problem with this question

27. 27. Which action is correct when caring for a client's hearing aid?

    • A.Wash it daily in warm, soapy water
    • B.Remove it before the client showers✓ Answer
    • C.Wipe the earmold with rubbing alcohol
    • D.Soak it overnight in denture cleaner

    Moisture ruins the electronic components of a hearing aid, so it must be removed before bathing, showering, or shampooing. It is cleaned by wiping with a soft dry cloth — never washed, soaked, or rubbed with alcohol or other solvents, which damage the device.

    Ref QB-42ZAY8Source: NNAAP 2024 Content Outline I.A (Dressing and Grooming); hearing-aid care standard — protect from moisture, clean with a dry soft clothReport a problem with this question

28. 28. Which action is correct when giving a client a back rub?

    • A.Warm the lotion before applying it✓ Answer
    • B.Use quick, short strokes on the spine
    • C.Apply the lotion cold to firm the skin
    • D.Massage reddened bony areas firmly

    Lotion is warmed in the hands or in warm water because cold lotion startles the client and tenses the muscles; the rub uses long, smooth upward strokes. Reddened areas over bony prominences are never massaged — rubbing can worsen tissue damage from pressure — they are reported to the nurse.

    Ref QB-GHR5V4Source: NNAAP 2024 Content Outline I.A (Rest/Sleep/Comfort); back-rub technique + CMS/NPIAP pressure-injury guidance — never massage reddened skinReport a problem with this question

29. 29. When removing personal protective equipment (PPE) after care, which item should the nurse aide take off first?

    • A.The gown
    • B.The gloves✓ Answer
    • C.The mask
    • D.The goggles

    Gloves are the most contaminated item because they touched the client and body fluids directly, so they come off first to keep those pathogens off the other equipment and the skin. The CDC removal sequence is gloves, then goggles, gown, and mask last.

    Ref QB-ZZWAF5Source: CDC Sequence for Removing PPE — gloves removed first (most contaminated); NNAAP 2024 Content Outline I.B (Infection Control)Report a problem with this question

30. 30. When taking soiled linens off a client's bed, the nurse aide should:

    • A.Place them on the floor by the bed
    • B.Hold them close against the uniform
    • C.Shake them to remove any crumbs
    • D.Roll them with the dirty side inside✓ Answer

    Rolling linens with the soiled side inward traps pathogens inside the bundle. Shaking linens launches microbes into the air, the floor is considered grossly contaminated, and holding linens against the uniform transfers pathogens that the aide then carries to other clients.

    Ref QB-QK6N3DSource: NNAAP 2024 Content Outline I.B (Infection Control); CDC/OSHA linen handling — never shake, never on the floor, hold away from the body, roll soiled side inReport a problem with this question

31. 31. While washing the hands, the nurse aide should keep the hands and fingers:

    • A.Fingertips pointing up toward the ceiling
    • B.Fingertips pointing down under the water✓ Answer
    • C.Resting on the edge of the sink basin
    • D.Held flat and level with the elbows

    Keeping the hands lower than the wrists and forearms with fingertips pointed down makes water run from the cleaner forearms off the fingertips, carrying dirt and microbes into the sink instead of back up the arms. The sink edge is contaminated, so hands and clothing must never touch it.

    Ref QB-74ZFGCSource: NNAAP Skills: Hand Hygiene (handwashing) — hands below elbows, fingertips down; CDC hand hygiene guidance; Content Outline I.B (Infection Control)Report a problem with this question

32. 32. The nurse aide discovers a small fire in a client's room. The FIRST action the aide should take is to:

    • A.Move the client away from the fire✓ Answer
    • B.Get the nearest fire extinguisher
    • C.Close all doors and windows nearby
    • D.Pull the fire alarm right away

    The RACE protocol puts life safety first: Remove (rescue) anyone in immediate danger, then Activate the alarm, Contain the fire by closing doors, and Extinguish if it is safe. Sounding the alarm or fighting the fire before moving the client leaves the person in danger.

    Ref QB-PKTAWBSource: RACE fire-response protocol (Rescue/Remove first); NNAAP 2024 Content Outline I.B (Safety/Emergency)Report a problem with this question

33. 33. While walking in the hallway, a client suddenly says "I feel faint" and starts to collapse. The nurse aide should:

    • A.Walk the client quickly back to the bed
    • B.Gently lower the client to the floor✓ Answer
    • C.Hold the client upright until help comes
    • D.Leave the client and go get the nurse

    Easing the client down the aide's body to the floor controls the fall and prevents head and hip injuries; trying to hold a collapsing person upright risks injuring both people. The aide protects the client's head, stays with the client, and calls for help without leaving.

    Ref QB-64N5BBSource: NNAAP 2024 Content Outline I.B (Safety/Emergency); fainting/falling-client response — ease to the floor, protect the head, never leave the clientReport a problem with this question

34. 34. When should the nurse aide put anti-embolism (elastic) stockings on a client?

    • A.Only when the legs begin to swell
    • B.Before the client gets out of bed✓ Answer
    • C.At night while the client sleeps
    • D.After the client is up in the chair

    The stockings are applied in the morning before the client gets up, while the legs are still elevated and least swollen; once the client sits or stands, blood pools and the legs swell, making the stockings hard to apply and less effective at preventing clots.

    Ref QB-NKFYQASource: NNAAP 2024 Content Outline I.B (Technical Procedures); anti-embolism stocking standard — apply before rising, when legs are least swollenReport a problem with this question

35. 35. To count a client's respirations accurately, the nurse aide should:

    • A.Count 10 seconds and multiply by six
    • B.Ask the client to breathe slow and deep
    • C.Tell the client before starting the count
    • D.Count while appearing to take the pulse✓ Answer

    Breathing is partly under voluntary control, so a client who knows it is being counted will change the rate without meaning to. The aide keeps the fingers on the wrist as if still counting the pulse and counts respirations unnoticed, for a full 30 seconds times two or a full minute if irregular.

    Ref QB-54AT5ASource: NNAAP 2024 Content Outline I.B (Technical Procedures); respiration measurement technique — count unobtrusively, client unawareReport a problem with this question

36. 36. When washing the catheter tubing during urinary catheter care, the nurse aide should clean:

    • A.Away from the meatus, in one direction✓ Answer
    • B.Back and forth along the catheter tube
    • C.Toward the meatus, in one direction
    • D.From the drainage bag up toward the body

    Wiping about four inches of the catheter nearest the body in one direction, starting at the meatus and moving away, carries microbes away from the urinary opening. Wiping toward the meatus or back and forth drags bacteria to the opening, where they can travel up the catheter and cause a urinary tract infection.

    Ref QB-MK4NJ9Source: NNAAP Skills: Catheter Care — clean from the meatus outward/downward in one direction, ~4 inches of tubing; Content Outline I.B (Technical Procedures)Report a problem with this question

37. 37. A client is weighed while sitting in a wheelchair on a wheelchair scale. To get the client's actual weight, the nurse aide should:

    • A.Chart the client's last recorded weight
    • B.Subtract the weight of the empty chair✓ Answer
    • C.Record the combined weight as shown
    • D.Add the wheelchair's weight to the total

    The scale reads the client plus the wheelchair together, so the weight of the empty wheelchair (weighed beforehand or taken from its label) must be subtracted to get the client's true weight. Charting the combined number or an old weight records false data that the nurse and dietitian rely on.

    Ref QB-44XFY8Source: NNAAP 2024 Content Outline I.B (Technical Procedures — measurement); wheelchair-scale weighing — subtract the tare weight of the chairReport a problem with this question

38. 38. Which of the following is an OBJECTIVE observation (a sign) that the nurse aide should report?

    • A.The client says he feels feverish
    • B.The client's skin is hot and moist✓ Answer
    • C.The client reports a dull headache
    • D.The client states she is nauseated

    Objective information (signs) is what the aide can see, hear, feel, or measure — hot, moist skin is felt directly. Anything the client tells the aide about how they feel, such as feverishness, headache, or nausea, is subjective information (symptoms); both are reported, but only the hot, moist skin is objective.

    Ref QB-KKRAD8Source: NNAAP 2024 Content Outline I.B (Data Collection and Reporting); objective signs (observed/measured) vs. subjective symptoms (client statements)Report a problem with this question

39. 39. A client with a weak left leg is learning to walk with a cane. The client should hold the cane:

    • A.In each hand, switching as he walks
    • B.In whichever hand feels comfortable
    • C.In the left hand, on the weak side
    • D.In the right hand, on the strong side✓ Answer

    The cane is held on the strong side because it moves forward together with the weak leg, so the cane and the strong leg share the body's weight while the weak leg steps. Holding it on the weak side narrows the base of support and forces the weak side to carry the load.

    Ref QB-34K5T7Source: NNAAP 2024 Content Outline I.C (Self Care/Independence); cane ambulation standard — cane held on the strong side, advanced with the weak legReport a problem with this question

40. 40. A client in a restorative program buttons his shirt very slowly. The nurse aide should:

    • A.Report that he needs full dressing care
    • B.Give him extra time to finish the task✓ Answer
    • C.Button the shirt for him to save time
    • D.Do it for him and let him do the cuffs

    Restorative care aims to keep and rebuild the client's independence, so the aide allows extra time and lets the client do as much as possible, however slowly. Taking over a task the client can still do causes learned dependence and loss of the ability, the opposite of the program's goal.

    Ref QB-G4EEHFSource: NNAAP 2024 Content Outline I.C (Self Care/Independence); restorative-care principle — promote independence, assist rather than take overReport a problem with this question

Practice questions based on the NNAAP written content outline. Not affiliated with Credentia/Pearson VUE or any state nurse-aide registry, and not medical advice. Requirements vary by state. About CNA testing →