Free CNA Practice Test
Personal Care and Elimination
22 NNAAP-style questions, one at a time — just like exam day. Score and full explanations at the end.
Free CNA practice test on personal care and elimination — bathing, perineal care, oral and denture care, toileting, bedpan use, catheter care, and skin integrity. Activities of Daily Living are a major NNAAP content area on both the written and skills exam.
Need a refresher first? Read our free Personal Care & Elimination study guide before taking the test.
Exam-simulator mode: picking an answer saves it and automatically moves you to the next question. You will not see right/wrong until you finish — just like the real NNAAP.
Question 1 of 22.Perineal care on a female resident is performed:
Prefer to read? All 22 questions with answers
Perineal care on a female resident is performed:
- From back to front
- From front to back, using a new section of the washcloth for each stroke (correct answer)
- In any direction
- Only once a week
Always clean from front to back (clean to dirty) to prevent fecal contamination of the urinary tract. Use a fresh section of the cloth for each stroke. This prevents UTIs.
Which water temperature is correct for a bath?
- Hot, around 120 F
- Warm, around 105 F (correct answer)
- Cold, around 70 F
- Whatever the resident prefers without checking
Bathwater is checked with a bath thermometer or the inner wrist and should be around 105 F (40.5 C). Elderly residents have thinner skin and decreased sensation, so the CNA verifies the temperature.
When bathing a resident, the CNA should wash:
- From dirtiest area to cleanest
- From cleanest area to dirtiest (eyes and face first, perineum last) (correct answer)
- In any order
- Only the back
Bathing proceeds from cleanest to dirtiest: eyes (inner to outer corner, clean side of cloth for each eye), face, arms and chest, abdomen, legs, perineum last. Change water if it becomes cool or soiled.
Oral care for an unconscious resident should be:
- Skipped
- Performed every 2 hours with the head turned to one side (correct answer)
- Done once a week
- Avoided to prevent aspiration
Unconscious residents need oral care every 2 hours to prevent aspiration pneumonia and discomfort. Position the head to the side, use a small amount of fluid and oral swabs, and have suction available.
Dentures should be cleaned:
- Over the sink with no water in it
- Over a basin of cool water or a soft cloth-lined sink to prevent breakage if dropped (correct answer)
- In hot water
- Only weekly
Always clean dentures over a water-filled basin or cloth-lined sink. Use cool or lukewarm water (hot water warps acrylic). Store in a covered, labeled container of water when not in the mouth.
Which is correct technique for offering a bedpan?
- Place under the resident in the supine position with the head flat
- Raise the head of the bed slightly, ask the resident to bend the knees and lift the hips (or roll), and place the bedpan under the buttocks (correct answer)
- Place the bedpan upside down
- Use a regular bowl
Raise the head of the bed slightly (semi-Fowler's), provide privacy, ask the resident to lift the hips (or assist by rolling), and place the rounded edge toward the back, smooth edge toward the back of the thighs.
When providing catheter care, the CNA should clean the catheter:
- From the meatus outward, 4 inches down the catheter (correct answer)
- From the drainage bag toward the meatus
- Only when soiled visibly
- Once a week
Catheter care is performed daily and as needed. Clean starting at the meatus (urethral opening) and move outward along the catheter for about 4 inches, using a clean section of cloth for each stroke.
Where should the urinary drainage bag be hung?
- At the level of the bladder
- Above the bladder
- Below the level of the bladder, attached to the bed frame (not the side rail) (correct answer)
- On the floor
The drainage bag must always be below bladder level to prevent backflow and infection. Attach it to the bed frame (never the side rail, which moves) and keep tubing free of kinks.
Which intake or output should be reported immediately?
- Urine that is pale yellow and clear
- Urine that is dark amber, cloudy, has a strong odor, or contains blood (correct answer)
- Normal volume urine
- Urine output of 60 mL/hour
Dark, cloudy, foul-smelling, or bloody urine may indicate dehydration, infection, or bleeding and must be reported immediately along with any sudden change in volume.
Which step is correct when dressing a resident with a weak (affected) right arm?
- Put the dressing on the strong (left) arm first
- Put the dressing on the weak (right) arm first (correct answer)
- Either side first
- Skip the weak side
Dress the affected (weak) side FIRST so the strong arm can be flexed last without forcing the weak joint. Undress the strong side first. Acronym: 'Sick goes in first, well comes out first.'
Which is the correct shaving technique with a safety razor?
- Pull the skin tight and shave against the direction of hair growth
- Pull the skin tight and shave in the direction of hair growth (correct answer)
- Use no cream
- Shave vigorously
Shave in the direction of hair growth with the skin pulled taut to prevent nicks. Use shaving cream and warm water, change blades when dull, and never share razors. Use an electric razor for residents on anticoagulants.
Which is the BEST action if a resident becomes incontinent of stool?
- Scold the resident
- Clean promptly and quietly, change linens, and provide privacy without comment (correct answer)
- Leave the resident
- Document only
Respond promptly, quietly, and without commentary. Clean front to back, change linens, offer skin care, and document. Avoid any expression of disgust or impatience — that violates dignity.
A pressure injury most commonly develops over:
- The abdomen
- Bony prominences such as the sacrum, heels, and hips (correct answer)
- The forehead
- The palms
Pressure injuries form where soft tissue is compressed between a bony prominence and a hard surface — sacrum, heels, hips, elbows, shoulders, occiput. Repositioning every 2 hours is the primary prevention.
Which is true about back rubs?
- They should be brief and rough
- They should be 3 to 5 minutes, with warm lotion and firm circular strokes, avoiding any reddened areas (correct answer)
- They should not be done
- They should be done only once a week
A 3-5 minute back rub with warmed lotion promotes circulation and comfort. Use firm circular strokes on the back, avoid reddened bony prominences (do NOT massage non-blanching areas), and stop if the resident reports pain.
Which water temperature is correct for foot soaks of a resident WITH DIABETES?
- Hot water
- Warm water, never hot, checked with the inner wrist or a thermometer (correct answer)
- Cold water
- No water at all
Diabetic residents have peripheral neuropathy and cannot reliably feel heat. Use warm — never hot — water, check temperature with your inner wrist, never cut nails (use a podiatrist), and inspect feet daily.
Which is correct when assisting a resident with their hearing aid?
- Soak in water to clean
- Wipe the outside with a soft, dry cloth, turn off when not in use, and store in a labeled case (correct answer)
- Drop in the trash when not in use
- Adjust the volume without asking the resident
Hearing aids are wiped clean with a soft dry cloth (never water), turned off when out of the ear, stored in a labeled case, and have batteries checked. Always handle over a soft surface to avoid damage.
Which is the FIRST step in any personal-care procedure?
- Gather supplies
- Knock, identify yourself, identify the resident, explain the procedure, and provide privacy (correct answer)
- Start without asking
- Open the curtain
Every NNAAP skill begins with: hand hygiene, knock and identify yourself, identify the resident (compare with ID band and care plan), explain the procedure, and provide privacy by closing the door and curtain.
Bowel movements should be reported when:
- Normal in color and consistency
- Diarrhea, constipation, blood, black tarry stool, or no BM for 3 or more days (correct answer)
- Once a week regardless of changes
- Never reported
Always report: diarrhea, constipation, blood (red or black/tarry), unusual color or odor, mucus, hard or pellet-like stool, and no bowel movement for 3 or more days. Document amount, color, consistency, time.
Which is the best position for a bedbath?
- High Fowler's
- Supine with the head of the bed slightly raised (correct answer)
- Prone
- Trendelenburg
Supine with the head of the bed slightly raised provides comfort, breathing ease, and easy access. Privacy is maintained with a bath blanket; only the area being washed is exposed.
How often should ear care be performed?
- Once a year
- Daily during routine bathing, cleaning only the outer ear (correct answer)
- Never
- With cotton swabs deep in the canal
Clean the outer ear daily with a warm washcloth. NEVER insert cotton swabs into the ear canal — they push wax deeper and risk eardrum injury. Report drainage, redness, or pain.
Which is the correct position for a female resident receiving perineal care in bed?
- Prone
- Supine with knees bent and legs apart (correct answer)
- Sitting upright
- Side-lying with knees together
Supine with knees bent and legs apart (dorsal recumbent) gives best access for female peri care. Privacy is maintained with a bath blanket and only the perineum is exposed.
Which observation during bathing should be reported to the nurse?
- Clean intact skin
- New bruise, open area, rash, lump, or non-blanching redness (correct answer)
- Normal nail length
- Resident's preferred soap
Bathing is the best opportunity to inspect skin head to toe. Report any new bruises, breaks, rashes, lumps, swelling, drainage, or non-blanching redness — all may indicate injury, infection, or pressure damage.
FAQ: Personal Care and Elimination on the CNA Exam
How many personal care and elimination questions are on the actual NNAAP exam?
The NNAAP written exam has 60 scored questions distributed across eight content areas. Personal Care and Elimination 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 personal care and elimination 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.