← CNA exam guides

CNA guide · updated 2026-09-29

CNA practice questions: client rights and the role of the nurse aide

Role of the Nurse Aide is 26% of the NNAAP written exam, about 16 of the 60 scored questions: Communication 7%, Client Rights 8%, Legal and Ethical Behavior 5% and Member of the Health Care Team 6%. Most answers come down to respecting the client and staying inside the aide's scope.

What this domain covers

AreaWeightTypical question
Communication7%Talking with a client who is hard of hearing; reporting to the nurse
Client Rights8%A client refuses a shower; privacy during care; handling personal items
Legal and Ethical Behavior5%Suspected abuse; a task outside your training; confidentiality
Member of the Health Care Team6%Priorities during a shift; following the care plan; asking the nurse

Principles behind most correct answers

  • The client has the right to make choices, including refusing care. Respect the choice, explain, and report the refusal to the nurse.
  • Privacy: close the door or curtain, cover the client, and do not discuss the client where others can hear.
  • Confidentiality: share client information only with team members who need it for care.
  • Abuse and neglect must be reported right away, even if you are unsure.
  • If a task is outside your training or scope, tell the nurse. Do not attempt it.
  • Speak to the client, not about them. Face a client with hearing loss, speak clearly, and do not shout.

Common traps

Options that sound kind but take away the client's choice are usually wrong, such as insisting on a bath "because it is on the schedule". Options that sound efficient but skip the nurse, such as changing a client's diet because they asked, are also wrong.

Watch for options that give medical information. A nurse aide does not explain test results or a diagnosis to a family; the correct answer is to refer the question to the nurse.

Communication questions: what the exam rewards

Communication items usually describe a client who is hard to reach: hearing loss, low vision, aphasia after a stroke, confusion, or a language barrier. The best answer adapts to the client instead of asking the client to adapt. Face a client with hearing loss in good light, lower the pitch of your voice rather than raising the volume, and check that a hearing aid is in and working. Tell a client with low vision where things are using clock positions on the meal tray, and say who you are when you enter. For a client with aphasia, ask yes-or-no questions and give time to answer.

Reporting is also part of communication. When you tell the nurse about a change, report what you observed, not what you think it means: "Mr. Lee's pulse was 118 and he said his chest feels tight" rather than "Mr. Lee is having a heart attack." Report promptly, and follow up with documentation according to facility policy.

Working on the care team

Member of the Health Care Team questions test priorities and the chain of command. The nurse assigns and supervises your work, and the care plan tells you what to do for each client. If an assignment is unclear, ask the nurse before you start. If you cannot finish an assignment, tell the nurse early so the work can be reassigned, instead of skipping tasks or asking another aide to cover without telling anyone.

When two things need doing at once, choose safety first: a client at risk of falling or choking comes before a routine task such as making a bed or passing water pitchers.

Sample CNA questions with answers

1. Which of the following is an example of non-verbal communication?

  1. Explaining the steps of a procedure to a client before starting
  2. Maintaining eye contact and nodding while a client speaks
  3. Writing a note for a client who cannot hear
  4. Asking open-ended questions during morning care
Show answer

B. Maintaining eye contact and nodding while a client speaks Non-verbal communication is everything conveyed without words - eye contact, facial expressions, posture, touch, and gestures. Options A, C, and D all rely on words or written language, which are verbal forms of communication. Recognizing non-verbal cues is essential because clients may signal pain, fear, or discomfort through body language even when they cannot or do not speak.

2. A resident who normally eats well refuses breakfast and says, 'I just do not feel like myself today.' What should the nurse aide do?

  1. Reassure the resident and document the observation at the end of the shift
  2. Re-offer the meal in 30 minutes and encourage fluids
  3. Report the change in appetite and behavior to the nurse promptly
  4. Ask the family to bring the resident's favorite foods from home
Show answer

C. Report the change in appetite and behavior to the nurse promptly Any change from a client's usual pattern - including appetite, mood, energy, or behavior - is a potential sign of a change in condition that must be reported to the nurse promptly, not held until end of shift. The nurse aide's role is to observe and report; the nurse then assesses and determines the cause. Delaying the report (A) or addressing only the symptom (B, D) without notifying the nurse is outside the aide's scope and could delay needed care.

3. A nurse aide is providing perineal care to a female resident in a semi-private room. Which action BEST protects the resident's privacy and dignity?

  1. Ask the roommate to leave the room before beginning care
  2. Close the privacy curtain and keep the resident draped with a bath blanket throughout care
  3. Turn off the overhead light and work as quickly as possible
  4. Position the resident to face the wall so the roommate cannot see
Show answer

B. Close the privacy curtain and keep the resident draped with a bath blanket throughout care Closing the privacy curtain and keeping the resident covered with a bath blanket protects physical privacy and preserves dignity during personal care. Asking the roommate to leave is unnecessary when a curtain provides adequate privacy, and the aide has no authority to remove another resident from their room. Turning off the light impairs safe care, and repositioning to face the wall does not cover exposed areas.

4. A resident tells the nurse aide she does not want a bath today and prefers to wait until tomorrow. The nurse aide SHOULD:

  1. Explain that daily bathing is required and proceed with the bath
  2. Report the resident's preference to the nurse and document it per facility policy
  3. Offer a partial bed bath immediately without asking further questions
  4. Warn the resident she may develop a skin infection if she refuses
Show answer

B. Report the resident's preference to the nurse and document it per facility policy Residents have the right to make choices about their own care, including when to bathe. The nurse aide must respect this preference, report it to the nurse, and document it so the care plan can reflect the resident's wishes. Overriding the choice or proceeding without consent violates the resident's rights; threatening health consequences to coerce compliance is a form of psychological abuse.

5. Which of the following actions is WITHIN the nurse aide's scope of practice?

  1. Inserting a urinary catheter as directed by the charge nurse
  2. Measuring and recording a resident's urinary output
  3. Adjusting the flow rate on a resident's IV infusion
  4. Interpreting the results of a resident's blood glucose test
Show answer

B. Measuring and recording a resident's urinary output Measuring and recording intake and output is a basic care task well within the nurse aide's scope of practice. Inserting catheters, adjusting IV flow rates, and interpreting diagnostic test results are nursing or medical tasks that exceed the nurse aide's scope; performing them would constitute practicing without a license.

6. A nurse aide notices that a confused resident has multiple bruises in various stages of healing on her upper arms and back. The resident becomes visibly frightened whenever a particular staff member enters the room. What should the nurse aide do FIRST?

  1. Confront the staff member and warn him to stop
  2. Tell other nurse aides so they can watch the staff member closely
  3. Report the observations to the charge nurse immediately and document what was seen
  4. Wait to see whether new bruises appear before making a report
Show answer

C. Report the observations to the charge nurse immediately and document what was seen Multiple bruises in various stages of healing combined with fearful behavior toward a specific staff member are classic signs of possible physical abuse; the nurse aide must report these observations to the charge nurse immediately and document them objectively. Confronting the suspected abuser could further endanger the resident and is outside the aide's role. Asking co-workers to monitor the situation delays the formal reporting required by law. Waiting to report allows potential abuse to continue and is never acceptable.

Frequently asked questions

Can a CNA tell a family member about a client's condition?

No. Refer the family member to the nurse. Sharing medical details is outside the aide's role and can breach confidentiality.

What should a CNA do if they suspect abuse?

Report it immediately according to facility policy and state law. The aide does not need proof to report.

Try the free CNA practice test

Questions tagged to the official outline, with an explanation for every answer. 15 free a day, no sign-up.

Start free

Sources: 2024 NNAAP Written (Oral) Examination Content Outline (NCSBN / Credentia) · 42 CFR 483.154 - Nurse aide competency evaluation. Independent study material. Not affiliated with or endorsed by NCSBN or Credentia.

More CNA guides