Free Kansas CNA Exam Flashcards

The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services unit that oversees CNA testing and the Kansas Nurse Aide Registry - not Prometric, Credentia, or the Kansas Board of Nursing.

The Kansas Administrative Regulation governing nurse aides: scope of practice, the 90-hour training requirement, the 100-question/75% state test, and the 3-attempt/12-month rule.

100 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours, school-administered at KDADS-approved test sites. Passing is 75/100 (75%) - higher than the ~70% used by most states.

Course completers have no more than 3 attempts within 12 months of the course start date to pass. After exhausting attempts they must retrain in a 90-hour KDADS-approved program.

Allows a student in a KDADS-approved program to work as a nurse aide for up to 4 months from the start of training, before passing the exam. It expires if not converted to full certification.

A Kansas pathway letting active CNAs complete extra KDADS-approved training to administer routine oral, topical, and inhaled medications under nurse supervision. No IV or most controlled substances.

Certification renews every 2 years with at least 8 hours of paid nurse aide work in the period and no renewal fee. Two+ years without work requires a Kansas-approved refresher course.

Kansas law making all facility staff mandatory reporters of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of residents. Failure to report is a legal violation.

Self-care tasks: bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, transferring, and eating. The CNA assists only as needed and preserves resident independence.

Dress the weak/affected limb FIRST and undress it LAST so the impaired limb is not forced through clothing, reducing pain and injury.

Clean front to back, cleanest to dirtiest, with a fresh section of cloth per stroke. Prevents moving bacteria toward the urethra and causing urinary tract infections.

Test water before bathing; about 105°F is a typical safe target. Aging skin and reduced sensation increase scald risk - always confirm the resident's comfort.

Wash and dry thoroughly (especially between toes), inspect for cuts/redness, apply lotion (not between toes), and never cut toenails - report any wound. CNAs do not trim diabetic nails.

Temperature ~97-99°F oral, pulse 60-100 bpm, respirations 12-20/min, blood pressure under 120/80. Report any value outside these ranges to the nurse.

Objective: measurable/observed (BP 160/95, swelling). Subjective: what the resident reports ('I feel weak'). CNAs document both factually but never interpret or diagnose.

Count without the resident's awareness (do it right after the pulse while holding the wrist). Awareness alters the rate. Count a full minute if breathing is irregular.

Measured record of all fluids in (oral, IV, tube) and out (urine, emesis, drainage) in mL. Significant imbalance indicates dehydration or overload and must be reported.

Immediately - any new or worsening sign such as a fall, chest pain, confusion, abnormal vitals, or refusal to eat goes to the nurse right away, not at end of shift.

Infection control used for ALL residents regardless of diagnosis. Treat all blood and body fluids as infectious; use hand hygiene and PPE whenever exposure is anticipated.

Hand hygiene. Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds with friction; use soap and water (not alcohol gel) when hands are visibly soiled or after caring for a C. diff resident.

Put on: gown, mask, goggles, gloves. Take off: gloves (dirtiest) first, then goggles, gown, mask, followed by hand hygiene.

Medical asepsis (clean technique) reduces microorganisms - routine CNA care. Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) eliminates all microorganisms - used for invasive procedures by licensed staff.

Airborne (TB, measles): negative-pressure room + N95. Droplet (flu, pertussis): mask within ~6 ft. Contact (MRSA, C. diff): gown, gloves, dedicated equipment.

Federal law guaranteeing nursing home residents dignity, privacy, freedom from abuse and unnecessary restraints, the right to refuse care, and to voice grievances.

A resident can refuse any treatment. The CNA does not force or argue, respects the choice, and reports the refusal to the nurse for documentation and follow-up.

Knock before entering, close doors/curtains, drape during care, and protect resident information under HIPAA - share only with the care team on a need-to-know basis.

Types: physical, verbal/psychological, sexual, financial, and neglect. Warning signs: unexplained bruises, fear, withdrawal, weight loss, poor hygiene. Report suspicions immediately.

Restraints require a provider order, are a last resort, and need frequent monitoring, repositioning, and release. They can cause injury, decline, and loss of dignity - try alternatives first.

Bend at knees and hips with a straight back, hold loads close, use a wide base of support, and push/pull rather than lift. Use help or a mechanical lift for heavy transfers.

Rescue residents in danger, Activate the alarm, Contain the fire by closing doors, Extinguish or Evacuate. Rescue (resident safety) always comes first.

Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side. Used only on small contained fires after residents are safe.

Keep the bed low and locked, call light in reach, nonslip footwear, clear and well-lit pathways, and prompt call-light response. Most falls in long-term care are preventable.

If the resident cannot speak, cough, or breathe, call for help and begin abdominal thrusts (Heimlich). If they can cough forcefully, encourage coughing and stay with them.

Apply the belt over clothing at the waist, grasp underhand, move toward the resident's strong side, and brace their knees with yours to prevent buckling.

Reposition bedbound residents at least every 2 hours to prevent pressure injuries over bony prominences (sacrum, heels, hips). Report any non-blanching redness.

Head of bed elevated 45-60° (high Fowler's up to 90°). Used for breathing difficulty and during meals to reduce aspiration risk.

Active ROM: the resident moves the joint. Passive ROM: the CNA moves it for them. Support above and below the joint, move slowly to just before pain, and never force.

Help residents regain or maintain maximum independence through ROM, ambulation, and bladder/bowel training, while preventing complications like contractures and pressure injuries.

The resident holds a cane on the strong side and advances cane and weak leg together; stand on the weak side. A walker's legs must all be down before stepping.

A structured handoff: Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation. CNAs use the Situation/Background portions to report observations clearly and completely to the nurse.

Chart only what you did and observed, factually and promptly after care. Correct an error with a single line and initials; never erase, backdate, or chart in advance.

Use open-ended questions, active listening, and silence; avoid false reassurance, advice-giving, and changing the subject. Give the resident time to respond.

Face the resident at eye level, lower background noise, speak clearly at a normal pace, use short sentences, and confirm understanding. Do not shout - it distorts sounds.

Approach calmly from the front, use a soft voice, remove triggers, simplify the environment, and redirect to a familiar activity. Do not argue with or correct delusions.

Increased confusion and agitation in late afternoon/evening, common in dementia. Manage with consistent routines, calming activities, and brighter lighting before dusk.

Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance. Stages are not always sequential. The CNA listens, supports, and respects the resident's individual grief process.

Normal aging: slower reflexes, drier skin, some memory lag, reduced sensory acuity. Pathological: confusion, severe memory loss, depression - these are NOT normal and must be reported.

Position upright at 90°, give small bites, alternate solids and liquids, allow time to swallow, and keep upright 30+ minutes afterward. Stop and report any coughing or choking.

Dry mouth and skin, dark concentrated urine, low output, confusion, and dizziness. Encourage fluids per the care plan, monitor I&O, and report concerns to the nurse.

Keep the drainage bag below bladder level and off the floor, prevent tubing kinks, secure tubing, and give perineal care. Report cloudy/bloody urine, leakage, or no output.