Free Virginia CNA Exam Flashcards

Complete a Virginia Board of Nursing-approved nurse aide program, apply through the testing process, pass the knowledge exam, pass the skills evaluation, and be listed on the nurse aide registry.

The knowledge portion is a 70-question written or oral exam with a 2-hour time limit. Read for the safest CNA action within scope.

The skills test requires five assigned skills in 30 minutes. Hand hygiene, resident safety, privacy, communication, and critical steps matter throughout the performance.

Local Virginia data identifies Board-approved nurse aide training as the prerequisite for testing, with current programs using 140 hours including supervised clinical experience.

The Board regulates nurse aide education, certification, registry status, and discipline. Credentia administers the NNAAP-style exam process for Virginia candidates.

Registry status is time-limited and must be renewed. Candidates should track paid nursing-related work and follow Virginia Board of Nursing renewal directions.

A CNA provides delegated basic care: observe, assist, measure, record, and report. The CNA does not diagnose, prescribe, assess independently, or change the care plan.

Pause and ask the nurse. Accept only tasks allowed by training, delegation, the care plan, facility policy, and the resident's current condition.

Routine CNA scope does not include giving medications, changing doses, or deciding whether a drug is needed. Report concerns or refusal to the nurse.

Sterile dressing changes, catheter insertion, injections, and invasive treatments are not normal CNA tasks. The CNA may assist only as directed within policy.

The care plan tells staff the resident's allowed assistance level, risks, diet, mobility needs, and special instructions. Report mismatches between the plan and current condition.

Delegation means the nurse assigns a task but remains responsible for nursing judgment. The CNA remains responsible for performing the task correctly and reporting results.

Dignity means respectful words, clean appearance, privacy during care, prompt response, and no shaming, teasing, threatening, or unnecessary exposure.

Close curtains or doors, drape the resident, protect health information, and knock before entering. Privacy applies to the body, belongings, records, and conversations.

A resident may refuse care. Do not force the task; listen, explain simply if appropriate, ensure immediate safety, and report the refusal to the nurse.

Residents must be protected from physical, verbal, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse, neglect, and misappropriation of property. Suspected abuse is reported promptly.

Restraints are not for staff convenience or punishment. Follow the care plan and nurse direction, monitor the resident, protect skin, and report distress.

Share resident information only with authorized staff for care reasons. Avoid hallway talk, public screens, social media, and casual updates to unauthorized people.

Use standard precautions with every resident. Treat blood and body fluids as potentially infectious and choose hand hygiene and PPE based on expected exposure.

Hand hygiene is the most important infection-control action. Clean hands before and after resident contact, after glove removal, after body-fluid exposure, and before clean tasks.

Clean hands before putting gloves on and after taking them off. Change gloves between dirty and clean tasks and between residents.

Provide care from cleaner areas to dirtier areas when possible. During bathing, the perineal area is cleaned last to reduce cross-contamination.

Keep soiled linen away from the uniform, do not shake it, roll dirty surfaces inward, and place it in the correct container.

Report fever, new cough, diarrhea, drainage, wound odor, rash, burning with urination, or sudden confusion so the nurse can evaluate and order precautions.

Keep the bed low, brakes locked, pathways clear, call light within reach, non-skid footwear on, and needed items close. Follow transfer-assistance instructions.

Lock both brakes before transfers, move footrests out of the way, position the chair close to the bed, and use the ordered transfer method.

RACE stands for Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish or Evacuate. Protect residents first and follow facility policy during any fire emergency.

PASS stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. Use an extinguisher only if trained, the fire is small, and residents are protected.

A conscious resident who cannot speak, cough, or breathe needs immediate help. Call for assistance and follow facility emergency procedure for airway obstruction.

Do not move the resident unless there is immediate danger. Call the nurse, stay with the resident, observe condition, and report exactly what happened.

Report what you saw, heard, measured, smelled, or did. Avoid diagnosis words and opinions; give facts the nurse can evaluate.

Report chest pain, trouble breathing, new weakness, falls, bleeding, fever, severe pain, sudden confusion, abnormal vital signs, skin breakdown, or change in consciousness.

Document care after it is completed, not before. Chart promptly, accurately, and according to facility policy.

Subjective data is what the resident reports, such as pain or nausea. Objective data is observable or measurable, such as pulse, swelling, output, or behavior.

Face the resident, speak clearly in a normal tone, reduce background noise, check hearing aids, and confirm understanding without shouting.

Use a calm voice, short statements, familiar routines, and redirection. Avoid arguing about mistaken beliefs when the resident is distressed.

Gather supplies, provide privacy, keep the resident warm, wash cleaner areas first, change water when soiled, clean perineal area last, and observe skin.

Dress the weak or affected side first and undress the strong side first. This protects painful or limited joints.

Position the resident on the side with the head turned to allow drainage. Use small amounts of fluid and protect the airway.

Handle dentures carefully over a towel or basin, clean them as directed, and store them in a labeled container with cool water or solution.

Clean from front to back and use clean strokes. This reduces the chance of moving bacteria toward the urinary tract.

Do not trim toenails for a diabetic resident unless policy and nurse direction specifically allow it. Report sores, color changes, swelling, or skin breaks.

Use the correct pulse site, count accurately, note rhythm and strength if required, and report unusual rates, irregular rhythm, dizziness, or chest symptoms.

Count respirations without telling the resident if possible, because breathing may change when noticed. Report labored, noisy, very fast, or very slow breathing.

Use the correct cuff size and arm position, keep the resident rested, and report readings outside facility limits or very different from the resident's baseline.

Intake is fluid taken in; output is fluid lost, especially urine. Measure in milliliters when required and report low output or unusual color, odor, or blood.

Keep the resident upright for meals if allowed, offer small bites, follow diet texture and fluid orders, and report coughing, choking, wet voice, or pocketing food.

Report dry mouth, poor skin turgor, concentrated urine, low output, dizziness, confusion, weakness, or reduced intake. Encourage fluids only within the care plan.

Use a wide base, bend knees, keep the back neutral, hold weight close, avoid twisting, and ask for help or equipment when needed.

Move joints gently through the allowed range, support the limb, stop for pain or resistance, and never force a contracted or injured joint.