20 Rights, Communication & Role Practice Questions & Answers

Every Rights, Communication & Role practice question from the CNA Practice Test, with the correct answer and a short explanation.

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1. A nurse aide is very busy and asks the nurse to apply a vest restraint to a wandering resident so the aide can finish other tasks. Why is this request improper?
- A.Vest restraints are allowed but wrist restraints are not
- B.Restraints are fine as long as the nurse agrees to apply them
- C.Restraints may never be used for staff convenience and require a physician's order for a documented medical reason✓ Answer
- D.Restraints may be used any time a resident wanders
Under OBRA '87, residents have the right to be free from restraints used for discipline or staff convenience; a restraint may only be applied with a physician's order for a documented medical reason and after less restrictive measures fail.
Source: OBRA '87 / Nursing Home Reform Act — Freedom from Restraints (42 CFR 483.12)Report a problem with this question
2. A resident with dementia becomes upset and refuses her morning shower. What should the nurse aide do?
- A.Honor the refusal, stay calm, and report it to the nurse✓ Answer
- B.Insist she shower because confused residents cannot make decisions
- C.Have two aides hold her and complete the shower quickly
- D.Tell her she will lose privileges if she does not comply
Residents keep the right to refuse care even when they have dementia or are confused; the aide must not force care and must report the refusal to the nurse so the care team can respond.
Source: OBRA '87 Resident Rights — Right to Refuse TreatmentReport a problem with this question
3. Which action best protects a resident's right to privacy during personal care?
- A.Knock before entering, close the door and curtain, and keep the resident draped✓ Answer
- B.Discuss the resident's care with a roommate present
- C.Read the resident's mail to learn their preferences
- D.Leave the door open so other staff can help quickly
Privacy is protected by knocking, closing the door and curtain, and draping the body so it is not exposed; reading mail or discussing care in front of others violates privacy and confidentiality.
Source: OBRA '87 Resident Rights — Privacy and ConfidentialityReport a problem with this question
4. While cleaning a room, a nurse aide finds old greeting cards the resident keeps on the nightstand. What is the correct action?
- A.Throw them away since they look like clutter
- B.Move them to storage without telling the resident
- C.Take one home as a keepsake
- D.Leave the cards where they are because residents have a right to their personal possessions✓ Answer
Residents have the right to keep and use personal possessions; a nurse aide may never discard, move, or take belongings without the resident's permission.
Source: OBRA '87 Resident Rights — Personal PossessionsReport a problem with this question
5. A resident wears a hearing aid but is having trouble understanding the nurse aide. What is the best approach?
- A.Face the resident, reduce background noise, and check that the hearing aid is on and working✓ Answer
- B.Ask a nearby visitor to relay the message
- C.Turn away and speak faster to save time
- D.Shout loudly so the words are clear
For a hearing-impaired resident you should face them so they can read lips, lower background noise, and ensure the hearing aid is on and functioning; shouting distorts sound and does not help.
Source: NNAAP Communication — Care of Hearing-Impaired ResidentsReport a problem with this question
6. A resident says nothing but crosses her arms, frowns, and turns away when care is offered. This is an example of what?
- A.Verbal communication using clear speech
- B.Proof the resident has no complaints
- C.A medical diagnosis the aide should record
- D.Nonverbal communication, which often conveys more than words✓ Answer
Body language, facial expression, and posture are nonverbal communication; nonverbal cues frequently express a person's true feelings more strongly than spoken words.
Source: NNAAP Communication — Verbal vs. Nonverbal CommunicationReport a problem with this question
7. When entering the room of a resident who is blind, what should the nurse aide do first?
- A.Rearrange the furniture to make room to work
- B.Move quietly so the resident is not disturbed
- C.Begin care immediately without speaking
- D.Identify himself by name and explain why he is there✓ Answer
A visually impaired resident cannot see who has entered, so the aide should identify himself and explain what he will do; he should also say when he is leaving and keep items in consistent places.
Source: NNAAP Communication — Care of Visually Impaired ResidentsReport a problem with this question
8. Which of these is an example of OBJECTIVE reporting to the nurse?
- A."I think the resident is just being difficult today"
- B."The resident seems depressed and probably has the flu"
- C."The resident's lunch tray is untouched and he vomited twice this morning"✓ Answer
- D."The resident looks like he might be getting an infection"
Objective reporting states what you directly observe or measure (untouched tray, vomited twice); the other choices are subjective opinions or diagnoses, which are outside the nurse aide's role.
Source: NNAAP Communication — Objective vs. Subjective ReportingReport a problem with this question
9. A nurse aide suspects that a licensed nurse is verbally abusing a resident. What must the aide do?
- A.Confront the nurse privately and let the matter drop
- B.Wait until there is clear proof before reporting
- C.Report the suspected abuse immediately up the chain of command✓ Answer
- D.Say nothing because the nurse outranks the aide
CNAs are mandatory reporters in all 50 states and must report suspected abuse immediately, even when it is only suspected and even when the suspected abuser is a nurse or coworker.
Source: OBRA / Elder Justice Act — CNA Mandatory Reporting of AbuseReport a problem with this question
10. A long-term-care resident wants an independent advocate to help resolve a complaint about her care. Who is this person?
- A.The charge nurse
- B.The ombudsman✓ Answer
- C.Her assigned nurse aide
- D.The facility administrator
The ombudsman is an independent advocate for long-term-care residents' rights who investigates and helps resolve complaints; staff members work for the facility and are not independent.
Source: Older Americans Act — Long-Term Care Ombudsman ProgramReport a problem with this question
11. A resident asks to leave the day room and an aide blocks the doorway and refuses to let him pass, though no order restricts him. This is an example of what?
- A.Negligence
- B.Defamation
- C.False imprisonment✓ Answer
- D.Invasion of privacy
False imprisonment is restraining or confining a person, or preventing free movement, without a proper order or the person's consent; blocking the resident from leaving meets this definition.
Source: Legal/Ethical — False ImprisonmentReport a problem with this question
12. After work a nurse aide wants to post a funny photo of a resident on social media. What is the correct decision?
- A.Post it only to a private friends group
- B.Post it because the resident is not a hospital patient
- C.Do not post it; sharing resident images or information violates confidentiality and HIPAA✓ Answer
- D.Post it if no name is tagged in the photo
Confidentiality and HIPAA prohibit sharing any resident's image or information without authorization; posting on social media, even privately or without a name, is a violation.
Source: HIPAA Privacy Rule — Protected Health Information / ConfidentialityReport a problem with this question
13. A resident tells the nurse aide he is in pain and asks the aide to give him one of his pain pills. What should the aide do?
- A.Cut a pill in half so the dose is smaller and safer
- B.Tell the resident to take it himself while the aide watches
- C.Give the resident one pill from his bottle to relieve the pain
- D.Tell the nurse right away, because giving medication is outside the aide's scope of practice✓ Answer
Administering medication is outside the CNA scope of practice; the aide must report the resident's pain to the nurse, who is responsible for medications.
Source: Role of the Nurse Aide — Scope of Practice / Member of the Health Care TeamReport a problem with this question
14. A nurse delegates a task the nurse aide has never been trained to perform. What should the aide do?
- A.Refuse and say nothing further to anyone
- B.Tell the nurse he is not trained for it and ask for guidance rather than perform it✓ Answer
- C.Attempt the task since a nurse gave the order
- D.Ask another aide to show him quickly and then do it
A nurse aide may accept a delegated task only if trained and competent to perform it safely; when unsure or untrained, the aide must tell the nurse and ask for direction rather than risk resident harm.
Source: Role of the Nurse Aide — Delegation and Scope of PracticeReport a problem with this question
15. When should a nurse aide chart that a resident's care task was completed?
- A.Only if the nurse specifically asks for it
- B.After the task is done, recording only what was actually performed and observed✓ Answer
- C.Before the task, to save time later in the shift
- D.At the end of the week from memory
Documentation must be accurate and truthful: chart only what you actually did and observed, and only after the fact — never chart care in advance, which is falsification.
Source: Role of the Nurse Aide — Accurate Documentation/ChartingReport a problem with this question
16. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which needs must be met first?
- A.Self-esteem and recognition
- B.Love and belonging
- C.Self-actualization
- D.Physical needs such as food, water, and oxygen✓ Answer
Maslow's hierarchy places basic physiological needs (food, water, oxygen) at the foundation; these must be satisfied before higher needs such as safety, belonging, and self-esteem.
Source: Psychosocial Care — Maslow's Hierarchy of NeedsReport a problem with this question
17. A resident with Alzheimer's insists it is 1975 and asks for her mother. What is the best response?
- A.Ignore her until she stops talking about it
- B.Tell her that her mother has died
- C.Firmly correct her and explain what year it really is
- D.Stay calm, avoid arguing, and gently redirect or validate her feelings✓ Answer
With dementia you should not argue with or correct delusions, which increases agitation; instead remain calm and use validation and redirection to reduce distress.
Source: Psychosocial Care — Dementia/Alzheimer's: Validation and RedirectionReport a problem with this question
18. A dying resident tells the nurse aide she is frightened. Which response is most appropriate?
- A.Sit with her, listen, and offer quiet emotional support✓ Answer
- B.Change the subject to something cheerful
- C.Say "Don't worry, everything will be just fine"
- D.Tell her not to talk about dying
Providing emotional support means listening and being present; giving false reassurance such as "everything will be fine" dismisses the resident's real feelings and blocks communication.
Source: Psychosocial Care — Grief/Loss: Avoid False ReassuranceReport a problem with this question
19. A resident recently told he has a terminal illness angrily blames the staff for everything. According to Kübler-Ross, which stage of grief is this?
- A.Anger✓ Answer
- B.Acceptance
- C.Bargaining
- D.Denial
In the Kübler-Ross stages (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance), blaming others and expressing hostility is characteristic of the anger stage; the aide should remain patient and not take it personally.
Source: Psychosocial Care — Kübler-Ross Stages of Grief/DyingReport a problem with this question
20. A resident's religion requires a specific prayer time and a visit from clergy. How should the nurse aide respond?
- A.Tell the resident prayer is not allowed during care hours
- B.Respect and support the practice by providing privacy and time for prayer and the visit✓ Answer
- C.Share his own religious views to help the resident
- D.Explain that the facility's schedule comes first
Residents have the right to freedom of religion; the aide must support each resident's spiritual and cultural practices by providing privacy and time, without imposing his own beliefs.
Source: OBRA '87 Resident Rights — Freedom of Religion / Spiritual and Cultural NeedsReport 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 →

1. A nurse aide is very busy and asks the nurse to apply a vest restraint to a wandering resident so the aide can finish other tasks. Why is this request improper?

2. A resident with dementia becomes upset and refuses her morning shower. What should the nurse aide do?

3. Which action best protects a resident's right to privacy during personal care?

4. While cleaning a room, a nurse aide finds old greeting cards the resident keeps on the nightstand. What is the correct action?

5. A resident wears a hearing aid but is having trouble understanding the nurse aide. What is the best approach?

6. A resident says nothing but crosses her arms, frowns, and turns away when care is offered. This is an example of what?

7. When entering the room of a resident who is blind, what should the nurse aide do first?

8. Which of these is an example of OBJECTIVE reporting to the nurse?

9. A nurse aide suspects that a licensed nurse is verbally abusing a resident. What must the aide do?

10. A long-term-care resident wants an independent advocate to help resolve a complaint about her care. Who is this person?

11. A resident asks to leave the day room and an aide blocks the doorway and refuses to let him pass, though no order restricts him. This is an example of what?

12. After work a nurse aide wants to post a funny photo of a resident on social media. What is the correct decision?

13. A resident tells the nurse aide he is in pain and asks the aide to give him one of his pain pills. What should the aide do?

14. A nurse delegates a task the nurse aide has never been trained to perform. What should the aide do?

15. When should a nurse aide chart that a resident's care task was completed?

16. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which needs must be met first?

17. A resident with Alzheimer's insists it is 1975 and asks for her mother. What is the best response?

18. A dying resident tells the nurse aide she is frightened. Which response is most appropriate?

19. A resident recently told he has a terminal illness angrily blames the staff for everything. According to Kübler-Ross, which stage of grief is this?

20. A resident's religion requires a specific prayer time and a visit from clergy. How should the nurse aide respond?