Free Georgia CNA Exam Flashcards

The normal adult oral temperature averages 98.6 F (37 C), with a typical range of 97.6-99.6 F. Report a temperature of 100.4 F or higher (fever) or below 95 F (hypothermia) to the nurse, as both signal infection or instability.

A normal resting adult pulse is 60-100 beats per minute. Below 60 is bradycardia; above 100 is tachycardia. Count the radial pulse for a full minute if it is irregular, and report rates outside the normal range or a new irregular rhythm.

Normal adult respirations are 12-20 breaths per minute. Count respirations without telling the resident, so they breathe naturally. Report fewer than 12, more than 20, labored breathing, or noisy/irregular breathing to the nurse promptly.

A normal adult blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg. Hypertension begins at 130/80 or higher; readings at or below 90/60 indicate hypotension. Report any reading above 140/90 or below 90/60, and recheck on the opposite arm if a value seems abnormal.

Normal pulse oximetry (SpO2) is 95-100%. Readings below 90% indicate hypoxia and must be reported immediately. Cold fingers, nail polish, or poor circulation can falsely lower the reading.

Hand washing is the single most important way to prevent the spread of infection. Wet hands, apply soap, and rub all surfaces for at least 20 seconds, keeping fingertips pointed down. Use a paper towel to dry and to turn off the faucet so clean hands stay clean.

Standard Precautions treat all blood, body fluids, secretions, and broken skin as potentially infectious for every resident, regardless of diagnosis. They include hand hygiene, wearing PPE when contact with body fluids is expected, and safe handling of soiled linen and sharps.

PPE is the barrier clothing that protects the aide and resident from infection: gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection (goggles or face shield). Choose PPE based on the task and the type of exposure anticipated.

Put PPE on in this order: gown first, then mask or respirator, then goggles or face shield, then gloves last. Gloves go on last so they cover the cuffs of the gown.

Remove PPE in this order: gloves first (the most contaminated), then goggles or face shield, then gown, then mask last. Perform hand hygiene immediately after removing all PPE to avoid self-contamination.

Airborne Precautions are used for tiny pathogens that stay suspended in air, such as tuberculosis, measles, and chickenpox. They require a negative-pressure private room and a fitted N95 respirator rather than a surgical mask.

Droplet Precautions (flu, pertussis, meningitis) require a surgical mask within about 6 feet because droplets fall quickly. Contact Precautions (C. diff, MRSA, scabies) require gown and gloves for any contact; C. diff also needs soap-and-water hand washing because alcohol gel does not kill its spores.

Prevent falls by keeping the bed in the lowest position with wheels locked, the call light within reach, the floor dry and uncluttered, and non-skid footwear on the resident. Answer call lights promptly, since many falls happen when residents try to reach the bathroom alone.

Restraints are a last resort and require a doctor's order. Aides should first try alternatives: frequent toileting, bed/chair alarms, repositioning, increased supervision, and meeting the resident's needs. Restraints can cause injury, pressure injuries, and loss of dignity.

RACE is the response sequence in a fire: Rescue anyone in immediate danger, sound the Alarm, Confine the fire by closing doors and windows, and Extinguish or Evacuate. Protecting residents always comes before fighting the fire.

PASS is the method for using a fire extinguisher: Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep from side to side. Aim at the base, not the flames, to cut off the fuel source.

A gait belt is a safety device fastened snugly around the resident's waist over clothing to give the aide a secure hold during transfers and ambulation. Grasp the belt with an underhand grip; never lift a resident by pulling on their arms or under their armpits.

Body mechanics is using the body efficiently to prevent injury: keep a wide base of support with feet apart, bend at the knees and hips (not the waist), keep the load close to your body, and push or pull rather than lift. Lift with your legs, not your back.

Fowler's position is sitting upright with the head of the bed raised 45-60 degrees (high Fowler's is 60-90 degrees). It eases breathing and is used for eating, and for residents with heart or respiratory conditions.

Supine is lying flat on the back; prone is lying flat on the stomach with the head turned to one side; lateral is lying on one side. Lateral positioning with pillows relieves pressure on the back and is common for repositioning bedbound residents.

Reposition bedbound residents at least every 2 hours and chairbound residents at least every hour. Regular position changes relieve pressure over bony areas, restore circulation, and are the most important step in preventing pressure injuries.

A pressure injury is damage to skin and tissue from unrelieved pressure, usually over bony areas like the heels, sacrum (tailbone), hips, and elbows. Early signs are a reddened area that does not fade when pressure is removed; report it to the nurse at once.

ADLs are the basic self-care tasks of daily life: bathing, dressing, grooming, oral care, toileting, transferring, and eating. CNAs assist with ADLs while encouraging residents to do as much as they safely can to preserve independence.

When dressing a resident with a weak or paralyzed side, put clothing onto the affected (weak) arm or leg first and remove it from the strong side first. This protects the joint and makes dressing easier and less painful.

Perineal care is cleaning the genital and anal area, always washing from front to back (clean to dirty) to prevent spreading bacteria toward the urethra. For an uncircumcised male, gently retract the foreskin to clean, then return it to its original position.

Give oral care to unconscious residents at least every 2 hours to keep the mouth moist and clean. Turn the head to the side to let fluid drain and prevent aspiration, use only a small amount of fluid, and never put your fingers in the mouth.

Check bath and shower water temperature before the resident enters; it should be comfortably warm, generally not exceeding about 105 F. Older residents have thin, fragile skin and reduced sensation, so water that is too hot can cause burns quickly.

To prevent aspiration (food or fluid entering the lungs), seat the resident upright at 90 degrees, offer small bites, alternate solids and liquids, and keep them upright for 30 minutes after eating. Report coughing, choking, or pocketing food to the nurse.

Therapeutic communication uses techniques such as active listening, open-ended questions, and silence to encourage residents to express feelings. Face the resident at eye level, avoid interrupting, and never give false reassurance like "everything will be fine."

Use short, simple sentences, ask one question at a time, and approach from the front to avoid startling. Stay calm, use a gentle tone, redirect rather than argue or correct, and allow extra time for the resident to respond.

Aphasia is loss of the ability to speak or understand language, often after a stroke. Use yes/no questions, picture or communication boards, gestures, and patience. Speak normally (not louder), give the resident time, and never rush or finish their sentences.

Nonverbal communication includes facial expression, body posture, gestures, eye contact, and touch, and it often conveys more than words. A grimace, guarding, or restlessness may signal pain in a resident who cannot speak; watch body language closely.

Residents' Rights are federally guaranteed under OBRA '87 and include the right to privacy, dignity, to be free from abuse and restraints, to refuse treatment, to manage personal finances, and to voice grievances. CNAs must honor these rights in every interaction.

HIPAA requires that residents' health information stay confidential and be shared only with the care team on a need-to-know basis. Protect privacy by knocking before entering, closing curtains and doors during care, and never discussing residents in public areas or on social media.

Dignity means treating residents with respect, keeping them covered, and addressing them by their preferred name. Autonomy is the right to make their own choices, including refusing care; honor these preferences and report a refusal to the nurse.

Abuse is intentional harm (physical, emotional, sexual, or financial); neglect is failing to provide needed care. CNAs are mandatory reporters: report suspected abuse to the nurse immediately. In Georgia, if the supervisor is the suspected abuser, report directly to the Department of Community Health (DCH).

An advance directive is a legal document stating a resident's wishes for medical care if they cannot speak for themselves. A DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order means no CPR is performed if the heart or breathing stops; the care team must honor it.

Active ROM is when the resident moves their own joints; passive ROM (PROM) is when the aide moves the joints for a resident who cannot. Move each joint slowly to the point of resistance, never past pain, to prevent contractures and maintain mobility.

A contracture is the permanent shortening and tightening of a muscle or tendon that freezes a joint in a bent position, caused by immobility. Range-of-motion exercises and proper positioning help prevent contractures, which are difficult to reverse once formed.

Ambulation is assisted walking. Apply a gait belt, have the resident wear non-skid shoes, and stand slightly behind and to the weak side. If the resident begins to fall, ease them gently to the floor by guiding them down along your body; never try to hold them upright.

A cane is held on the strong side and advanced with the weak leg. A walker must have all four legs on the floor before the resident steps forward. Check rubber tips for wear; these devices promote independence and reduce fall risk.

I&O is the measured record of all fluids a resident takes in (drinks, IV, foods that are liquid at room temperature) and puts out (urine, emesis, drainage). Measure in milliliters (mL) and report a large imbalance, since it can signal dehydration or fluid overload.

Weigh a resident at the same time of day (usually morning before breakfast), on the same scale, wearing similar clothing, after voiding. Consistent technique makes the reading reliable; report a sudden weight gain, which may indicate fluid retention.

Objective data is what you can measure or observe (a temperature of 101 F, swelling, redness). Subjective data is what the resident reports that you cannot see ("my stomach hurts"). Report and document both accurately to the nurse.

When collecting a specimen, wear gloves, label the container with the resident's name correctly, and use a clean or sterile container as ordered. A clean-catch (midstream) urine specimen requires cleaning the perineal area first, voiding a little, then catching the middle of the stream.

Delirium is a sudden, often reversible state of confusion caused by infection, dehydration, or medication, and it is a medical emergency to report. Dementia is a gradual, progressive, and irreversible loss of memory and thinking. A new, rapid change in mental status should be reported immediately.

Sundowning is increased confusion, agitation, and restlessness that occurs in the late afternoon and evening in residents with dementia. Reduce it by keeping the area well-lit, calm, and familiar, limiting noise, and maintaining a consistent daily routine.

Reality orientation reminds the resident of the date, place, and people and helps those with mild confusion. For advanced dementia, validation therapy is gentler: acknowledge the resident's feelings and reality rather than correcting them, which reduces distress.

Palliative and hospice care focus on comfort and dignity rather than cure. The CNA provides gentle physical care, keeps the resident clean and repositioned, supports the family, and respects cultural and spiritual wishes. Hearing is often the last sense to fade, so speak kindly.

After passing the Credentia NNAAP exam, a CNA is listed on the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry managed by Alliant Health Solutions under DCH authority. To keep the listing active, the CNA must work at least 8 paid nurse aide hours under a licensed nurse every 24 months; there is no grace period.