The Washington nursing assistant exam checks your knowledge and practical care skills. You need to understand safety, infection control, resident rights, communication, and daily care.
This CNA practice test for Washington State includes 25 original questions. Each question has a short explanation. These are study questions. They are not copied from the state exam.
Washington officially uses the Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC) title. However, many students and employers still use the term CNA. If you are starting this career, read our guide on how to become a CNA in Washington State.
How to Use This Practice Test
Answer each question before reading the answer. Keep a note of the topics you miss. Review those subjects and try the test again.
Washington’s nursing assistant standards cover resident rights, safety, infection control, personal care, communication, and restorative care. You can read the official Washington nursing assistant competencies for more details.
Washington State CNA Practice Questions Answers
1. What should a nursing assistant do before touching a resident?
A. Put on a gown
B. Clean their hands
C. Open the window
D. Check the meal schedule
Correct answer: B
Hand hygiene helps stop infections. Clean your hands before and after providing care.
2. A resident refuses a bath. What should the CNA do?
A. Force the resident to bathe
B. Tell the resident that bathing is required
C. Ask why, respect the decision, and inform the nurse
D. Leave without telling anyone
Correct answer: C
Residents have the right to make choices about their care. A CNA should never force a resident to accept care.
3. You notice water on the floor beside a resident’s bed. What should you do first?
A. Report it at the end of your shift
B. Keep the resident away and remove the hazard
C. Cover it with a towel
D. Ask the resident to clean it
Correct answer: B
A wet floor can cause a fall. Protect the resident and correct or report the danger immediately.
4. A resident’s temperature is much higher than usual. What should you do?
A. Diagnose the illness
B. Wait until the next shift
C. Record it and report it promptly
D. Give the resident medicine
Correct answer: C
CNAs observe, record, and report changes. They do not diagnose medical conditions.
5. A visitor asks about another resident’s health. What is the best response?
A. Share only basic information
B. Ask another CNA to answer
C. Explain that the information is private
D. Show the visitor the resident’s record
Correct answer: C
Residents have a right to privacy. Never share health information with an unauthorized person.
6. What should you do before transferring a resident into a wheelchair?
A. Unlock the wheelchair
B. Lock the wheels and move the footrests
C. Place the wheelchair far from the bed
D. Ask the resident to stand alone
Correct answer: B
Locked wheels prevent the chair from moving. Follow the care plan and use the required transfer equipment.
7. Where should you place the call light after providing care?
A. On the floor
B. At the foot of the bed
C. Within the resident’s reach
D. Outside the room
Correct answer: C
Residents must be able to call for help. Check the call light before leaving the room.
8. A resident starts coughing strongly while eating. What should you do?
A. Give the resident more food
B. Give water immediately
C. Encourage coughing and stay with the resident
D. Leave the room
Correct answer: C
Strong coughing may clear the airway. If the resident cannot breathe, speak, or cough, call for help and follow the choking procedure.
9. What should you do after removing used gloves?
A. Clean your hands
B. Put the gloves in your pocket
C. Touch clean supplies
D. Use the gloves again
Correct answer: A
Gloves do not replace hand hygiene. Discard them correctly and clean your hands.
10. A nurse asks you to perform a task you have not learned. What should you do?
A. Try the task anyway
B. Ask a resident for advice
C. Explain that you are not trained and ask for direction
D. Pretend that you completed it
Correct answer: C
A CNA must work within their training and legal role. Ask the nurse when a task is unclear or outside your scope.
Learning your role is an important part of CNA training. Our guide explains what a CNA does in Washington.
11. A resident with dementia repeats the same question. What is the best response?
A. Tell the resident to stop
B. Answer calmly and redirect the conversation
C. Ignore the resident
D. Argue with the resident
Correct answer: B
Use a calm voice and simple words. Gentle redirection can lower fear and confusion.
12. You notice new redness on a resident’s heel. What should you do?
A. Massage the area
B. Cover it and say nothing
C. Report it promptly and follow the care plan
D. Apply powder
Correct answer: C
Redness over a bony area may be an early sign of skin damage. Report it before the condition becomes worse.
13. How should a CNA measure urine output?
A. Estimate the amount
B. Measure and record it accurately
C. Ask the resident to remember it
D. Discard it without measuring
Correct answer: B
Correct intake and output records help the care team monitor the resident’s health.
14. A resident begins to fall while walking. What should you do?
A. Pull the resident upward by the arms
B. Leave to get help
C. Widen your stance and guide the resident toward the floor
D. Hold the resident by the neck
Correct answer: C
Do not try to hold the resident upright. Protect the person’s head, lower them carefully, and call for help.
15. A resident can eat without help but needs more time. What should you do?
A. Feed the resident quickly
B. Allow and encourage independent eating
C. Remove the meal
D. Ask another resident to help
Correct answer: B
Residents should do as much as they safely can. This supports independence and dignity.
16. What should you do before entering a resident’s room?
A. Enter without warning
B. Knock, greet the resident, and explain your purpose
C. Call the resident by a nickname
D. Turn on every light
Correct answer: B
Knocking protects privacy. Explain what you plan to do before starting care.
17. A resident tells you that a caregiver hit them. What should you do?
A. Promise to keep it secret
B. Confront the caregiver
C. Protect the resident and report it immediately
D. Wait to see if it happens again
Correct answer: C
Possible abuse must be reported without delay. Follow Washington reporting rules and your workplace procedure.
18. How should you leave the bed after completing care?
A. In its highest position
B. Low, with the wheels locked
C. Away from the wall with unlocked wheels
D. Raised above the wheelchair
Correct answer: B
A low and locked bed reduces the risk of falls. Leave the call light within reach.
19. What is unsafe near oxygen equipment?
A. A clean blanket
B. A glass of water
C. Smoking or an open flame
D. A call light
Correct answer: C
Oxygen makes fires burn faster. Keep flames, cigarettes, and items that create sparks away.
20. How should range-of-motion exercises be performed?
A. Quickly and forcefully
B. Slowly and gently
C. While the resident is asleep
D. Until the resident feels strong pain
Correct answer: B
Move each joint gently and as directed. Stop if the resident feels pain and report it.
Practical training helps students perform these tasks safely. Better Options Nursing School provides CNA classes in Vancouver, Washington, with classroom instruction and hands-on learning.
21. A resident with an NPO order asks for water. What should you do?
A. Give a small cup
B. Offer ice instead
C. Do not give anything by mouth and inform the nurse
D. Ask the resident’s roommate
Correct answer: C
NPO means nothing by mouth. Food, water, or ice could place the resident at risk.
22. When should a CNA document completed care?
A. Before providing the care
B. Promptly after providing it
C. Several days later
D. Only when something goes wrong
Correct answer: B
Records must be accurate and timely. Never document care before you provide it.
23. A resident is unresponsive and is not breathing normally. There is no order preventing CPR. What should you do?
A. Wait for another staff member
B. Activate the emergency response and begin CPR as trained
C. Offer the resident water
D. Move the resident into a chair
Correct answer: B
Call for help immediately. Follow your CPR training, the resident’s care instructions, and workplace emergency rules.
24. How should you handle soiled bedding?
A. Hold it against your uniform
B. Shake it in the room
C. Keep it away from your clothing and use the correct container
D. Place it on the floor
Correct answer: C
Handle dirty linen carefully. Shaking it can spread microorganisms through the air.
25. A resident reports sudden chest pain. What should you do?
A. Ask the resident to continue walking
B. Diagnose the cause
C. Stop the activity, keep the resident safe, and notify the nurse
D. Check again at the end of your shift
Correct answer: C
Chest pain needs immediate attention. Report it at once and follow the nurse’s directions.
How Did You Score?
Give yourself one point for each correct answer.
- 22–25 correct: You understand many important CNA topics.
- 18–21 correct: You have a good start, but review the questions you missed.
- Below 18: Spend more time reviewing safety, infection control, and resident care.
This score does not predict whether you will pass the official exam. Use it only to find areas that need more study.
Preparing for Nursing Assistant Testing in Washington State
The certification process includes both knowledge and skills testing. The knowledge section checks what you understand. The skills section checks how you perform care.
Review every skill in the correct order. Practice hand hygiene, communication, privacy, safety, and documentation during each procedure. Missing a basic safety step can affect your performance.
Students who need a flexible schedule can explore our online and hybrid CNA classes in Washington. We also offer information about CNA classes for working adults.
After completing an approved program, you must follow the required testing and application process. Read our guide to getting your CNA credential after training.
For current exam procedures, fees, and scheduling details, visit the Washington State Board of Nursing nursing assistant testing page.
After certification, you can learn how to verify a CNA credential in Washington. You may also want to review how much a CNA makes in Washington State before applying for jobs.
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