Free CNA Practice Test
Basic Nursing Skills
25 NNAAP-style questions with instant answers and explanations.
Free CNA practice test on basic nursing skills — vital signs, height and weight, intake and output, positioning, transfers, ambulation, and range of motion. The Basic Nursing and Restorative Skills block is the largest single content area on the NNAAP written exam.
Need a refresher first? Read our free Basic Nursing Skills study guide before taking the test.
Which is a NORMAL adult oral temperature range?
Where is the radial pulse located?
Normal respiratory rate for a resting adult is:
Which blood-pressure reading should be reported IMMEDIATELY to the nurse?
How often should a bedbound resident be repositioned?
Which side of the bed should the chair be placed on for a transfer?
Before transferring a resident from bed to chair, what should the CNA do FIRST after raising the head of the bed?
How tight should a transfer (gait) belt be?
Which is the correct conversion for fluid intake?
Which item is counted as INTAKE on an I&O chart?
Which urine output value should be reported to the nurse immediately?
Which position has the head of the bed elevated 45 to 60 degrees?
Which side of the body is the cane held on for a resident with a weak left leg?
How many times should each joint be moved during range-of-motion exercises?
Which type of ROM is performed when the resident cannot move the joint at all?
Which finding requires the CNA to STOP a ROM exercise and notify the nurse?
Which is the correct technique for measuring an apical pulse?
Daily weights should be measured:
Which is a sign of dehydration in an elderly resident?
When using a mechanical (Hoyer) lift, how many staff members are required?
Which is the correct order of vital signs documentation in TPR format?
The CNA notices a small red area on the resident's sacrum that does not blanch when pressed. The CNA should:
Which finding during oral care should be reported to the nurse?
When ambulating a resident with a walker, where should the CNA stand?
Which principle of body mechanics protects the CNA's back during a heavy lift?
FAQ: Basic Nursing Skills on the CNA Exam
How many basic nursing skills questions are on the actual NNAAP exam?
The NNAAP written exam has 60 scored questions distributed across eight content areas. Basic Nursing Skills is one of the most heavily tested categories, with several questions appearing on every form of the exam. Drilling these questions repeatedly until you can explain why each correct answer is correct is the best way to lock in the material.
What should I do if I miss several questions on this basic nursing skills practice test?
Re-read the corresponding free study guide (linked above and below) before retaking the test. Take notes on the exact concept you missed — for example, 'I confused contact and droplet precautions' — and review the explanations until the pattern is clear. Most students need 2 to 3 cycles of test, review, and retake before consistently scoring above 80%.
Are these questions identical to the real CNA exam?
No. The actual NNAAP, Prometric, Headmaster, and PSI exams are confidential and only the official testing vendors have access to live items. Our questions are written by us to mirror NNAAP style, difficulty, and content distribution based on the publicly available NNAAP content outline. Performing well here is a strong predictor of passing the real test.
Do I have to pay or sign up to take this practice test?
No. Every practice test, study guide, and resource on freecnatraining.org is 100% free, with no signup or paywall. Most other CNA practice test sites charge $30 to $100 per month for access; we are funded by our nursing-school directory and keep the study material free for students.