CNA Emotional & Mental Health Needs Practice Questions
Emotional & Mental Health Needs makes up 5 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest CNA practice test. Here are 10 of the 20 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. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which needs must be met before all others?
- A.Love and a sense of belonging with family and friends
- B.Physical needs such as food, water, and oxygen
- C.Self-esteem and respect from other people
- D.Safety and security in the surroundings
Answer: B. Maslow placed physiological needs such as oxygen, food, water, and rest at the base; they must be met before higher needs. Safety is important but comes second.
2. A resident shouts that the nurse aide is always late with his breakfast tray. The nurse aide should:
- A.Explain firmly that he is being unreasonable
- B.Leave the room until he decides to apologize
- C.Remind him that other residents need care too
- D.Stay calm and listen to his concerns
Answer: D. Anger is often a response to illness and loss of control, so the aide listens calmly and does not take it personally. Arguing or defending yourself usually makes the anger worse.
3. A resident is crying quietly in her room after a phone call with her son. The nurse aide should:
- A.Sit with her and offer to listen
- B.Tell her that crying will only make her feel worse
- C.Turn on the television to distract her quickly
- D.Close the door and leave her alone until dinner
Answer: A. Offering presence and a listening ear shows empathy and lets the resident express feelings. Telling her not to cry or distracting her dismisses her emotions.
4. A resident who usually enjoys bingo now stays in bed, eats little, and says nothing matters anymore. The nurse aide should:
- A.Ignore it because older adults often feel sad
- B.Ask the family to bring in her antidepressant pills
- C.Report these changes to the nurse
- D.Tell her to cheer up and join the group
Answer: C. Withdrawal, poor appetite, and hopeless statements are signs of depression that must be reported. Depression is not a normal part of aging, and aides never handle medications.
5. A resident says quietly, "My family would be better off if I were gone." The nurse aide should:
- A.Tell the resident not to talk that way
- B.Note the comment in the chart at the end of the shift
- C.Stay with the resident and call the nurse at once
- D.Change the subject to something more cheerful
Answer: C. Any statement about death or being a burden may signal suicide risk and must be reported to the nurse at once, without leaving the resident alone. Waiting until the end of the shift delays urgent help.
6. A resident with Alzheimer's disease asks every afternoon when her late husband will arrive to visit. The nurse aide should:
- A.Invite her to talk about her husband
- B.Correct her each time she asks the question
- C.Remind her firmly that her husband has died
- D.Promise that he will be there after lunch
Answer: A. Validation accepts the resident's feelings and redirects without arguing; asking about her husband honors her emotions. Repeatedly telling her he died makes her grieve again each time.
7. When giving directions to a resident with moderate dementia, the nurse aide should:
- A.Speak quickly to hold the resident's attention
- B.Explain the entire procedure before starting it
- C.Use long, detailed sentences so nothing is missed
- D.Give one simple step at a time
Answer: D. People with dementia process information slowly, so short sentences and one step at a time reduce confusion. Explaining everything at once overwhelms them.
8. A resident with arthritis wants to dress herself, but buttoning her blouse takes twenty minutes. The nurse aide should:
- A.Dress her quickly to stay on schedule
- B.Allow extra time and assist only as needed
- C.Tell her to wait until her hands are stronger
- D.Choose easier clothes for her without asking
Answer: B. Promoting independence and dignity means letting residents do what they can, even slowly. Doing the task for her to save time takes away her control and abilities.
9. Mrs. Ruiz, who has dementia, becomes agitated every evening near dusk, a pattern called sundowning. Which nurse aide action helps most?
- A.Schedule baths and visitors for late afternoon
- B.Keep a calm, consistent daily routine
- C.Offer coffee and sweets in the early evening
- D.Move her to a different room each week
Answer: B. Consistent routines, reduced stimulation, and calm surroundings lessen sundowning. Caffeine, room changes, and busy late-day activity increase agitation.
10. A resident with Alzheimer's disease paces the halls and keeps trying to open the exit door. The nurse aide should:
- A.Tie her into a chair so she cannot leave
- B.Lock her in her room for the rest of the afternoon
- C.Scold her each time she touches the door
- D.Walk with her and redirect her to an activity
Answer: D. Wandering is managed by supervising, walking with the resident, and redirecting her to a meaningful activity. Restraints and locking a resident in are illegal without orders and violate her rights.
Practice all 20 emotional & mental health needs 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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