CNA Communication Practice Questions
Communication makes up 4 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest CNA practice test. Here are 10 of the 16 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.
Updated by the Tigertest team. Weighted to the NNAAP written exam content outline. Your state may use Prometric or Headmaster with a similar outline.
1. Which of the following is an example of nonverbal communication?
- A.Reading the care plan aloud
- B.Facial expressions and body posture
- C.Writing a message in a notebook
- D.Speaking to a resident on the phone
Answer: B. Nonverbal communication includes facial expressions, gestures, posture, and touch. Written and spoken words are verbal communication.
2. A resident is telling the nurse aide about her late sister. Which behavior shows active listening?
- A.Finishing her sentences to save time
- B.Planning the next task while she speaks
- C.Checking the clock while she talks
- D.Nodding and restating what she said
Answer: D. Active listening means giving full attention, nodding, and restating to show understanding. Finishing her sentences interrupts and is a barrier to communication.
3. Which question asked by the nurse aide is an open-ended question?
- A.How did you sleep last night?
- B.Do you want juice or water?
- C.Did you sleep well last night?
- D.Are you having any pain now?
Answer: A. Open-ended questions cannot be answered with yes, no, or one word, so they invite the resident to share more. Asking if she slept well can be answered with yes or no.
4. A resident who is hard of hearing seems confused by the nurse aide's questions. The nurse aide should:
- A.Talk faster to finish before she tires
- B.Shout so she can hear every word
- C.Face her and speak clearly in a lower pitch
- D.Speak from behind her to avoid startling her
Answer: C. Facing the resident allows lip reading, and clear, low-pitched speech in a quiet room is easier to hear. Shouting distorts sound and can seem angry.
5. At bedtime, how should the nurse aide care for a resident's hearing aid?
- A.Wrap it in a tissue on the tray
- B.Soak it in warm water overnight
- C.Turn it off and store it in its case
- D.Leave it in the ear while the resident sleeps
Answer: C. Hearing aids are turned off, battery door opened, and stored in a labeled case to save the battery and prevent loss. Water damages the device, and tissues are often thrown away.
6. When entering the room of a resident who is blind, the nurse aide should first:
- A.Knock and identify herself by name
- B.Touch the resident's arm to signal arrival
- C.Turn on every light in the room
- D.Call loudly from the doorway
Answer: A. Announcing yourself by name prevents startling a visually impaired resident. Touching before speaking can frighten the resident.
7. A visually impaired resident is served lunch and wants to eat independently. The nurse aide should:
- A.Mix all the foods together in one bowl
- B.Rearrange the plate after each bite
- C.Feed her the meal to prevent any spills
- D.Describe food locations using clock positions
Answer: D. The clock method, such as meat at 12 o'clock and potatoes at 3, lets the resident find food herself. Feeding her removes independence she is able to keep.
8. A resident with expressive aphasia after a stroke struggles to find words. The nurse aide should:
- A.Avoid talking to him to prevent frustration
- B.Give him time and ask yes-or-no questions
- C.Finish his sentences to save him effort
- D.Speak louder so he will understand better
Answer: B. Patience, yes-or-no questions, and tools like communication boards help a resident with aphasia. His hearing is usually normal, so speaking louder does not help.
9. The nurse aide must ask a resident who speaks only Vietnamese about her pain. The nurse aide should:
- A.Skip the question until family visits
- B.Ask the nurse to arrange a trained interpreter
- C.Ask her 12-year-old grandson to translate the questions
- D.Speak English slowly and loudly
Answer: B. Trained interpreters give accurate, private translation for clinical matters. Family members, especially children, may leave things out and compromise confidentiality.
10. A confused resident in the noisy dayroom cannot follow what the nurse aide is saying. The nurse aide should:
- A.Walk away and try another resident
- B.Repeat the same instructions more loudly
- C.Offer several choices all at once
- D.Move to a quiet spot and use short sentences
Answer: D. Reducing background noise and using short, simple sentences helps a confused resident understand. Offering many choices at once overwhelms the resident.
Practice all 16 communication questions, and the rest of the 200-question bank, in the free CNA training sets. Questions you miss come back until you have mastered them.
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