100+ Free CHPNA Practice Questions

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A patient who rarely speaks pulls away, clenches their jaw, and moans during repositioning. What should the nursing assistant recognize?

The patient is being uncooperative and should be ignored

These are possible nonverbal pain cues that should be reported

Pain cannot be assessed unless the patient gives a number

The assistant should complete care without changing approach

to track

Sample CHPNA Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CHPNA exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A hospice patient says they want to wash only their face and hands today because a full bath feels exhausting. What is the best nursing assistant response?

A.Provide the partial bath and report the change in activity tolerance to the nurse

B.Explain that a full bath is required because hygiene is part of the plan of care

C.Skip all hygiene care so the patient can save energy

D.Ask the family to persuade the patient to complete a full bath

Explanation: Hospice and palliative nursing assistant care supports comfort, dignity, and the patient's choices within the plan of care. A partial bath can meet immediate hygiene needs while respecting fatigue, and the nurse should know about the change in activity tolerance.

2During oral care, an unresponsive patient has pooled saliva and cannot swallow on command. Which action is most appropriate?

A.Pour a small amount of water into the mouth to rinse thoroughly

B.Use swabs or a soft brush with minimal fluid and position the head to allow drainage

C.Delay oral care until the patient becomes alert enough to spit

D.Place a straw between the lips so the patient can sip water

Explanation: Mouth care remains important near the end of life, but aspiration risk must be reduced. Using minimal fluid, gentle technique, and safe positioning helps moisten the mouth without giving fluid the patient cannot swallow.

3A patient with a draining wound is embarrassed by odor before visitors arrive. What should the nursing assistant do first?

A.Spray a strong room fragrance over the bed linens

B.Offer hygiene and linen changes allowed by the care plan, then notify the nurse if odor or drainage has changed

C.Tell the visitors the wound is causing the odor so they understand

D.Remove the wound dressing to let air reach the area

Explanation: Personal odor control should protect dignity and follow the plan of care. A nursing assistant can assist with hygiene and linen care, but changes in wound odor or drainage should be reported because they may signal infection or a needed dressing reassessment.

4A frail patient's heel remains red after pressure is relieved. Which action should the nursing assistant take?

A.Massage the reddened heel to improve circulation

B.Apply heat to the heel for 20 minutes

C.Keep pressure off the heel and report the persistent redness to the nurse

D.Cover the area with several tight elastic wraps

Explanation: Persistent redness over a bony area can be an early sign of pressure injury. The nursing assistant should offload pressure, protect the skin, and promptly report the finding rather than using friction, heat, or tight wrapping.

5Which grooming action is within the usual nursing assistant role for a hospice patient who asks for nail care?

A.Trim thick toenails with scissors without asking the nurse

B.Clean and file nails gently according to the plan of care

C.Cut corns and calluses because they make shoes painful

D.Apply a medicated antifungal product from the family medicine cabinet

Explanation: Routine nail cleaning and filing are common nursing assistant grooming tasks when allowed by the care plan. Cutting thick nails, treating lesions, or applying medications requires nurse direction and may be unsafe, especially for patients with diabetes, poor circulation, or fragile skin.

6A patient becomes frustrated because their eyeglasses are smudged and hearing aids are not working. What should the nursing assistant do?

A.Clean the eyeglasses and check basic hearing-aid placement or batteries according to agency policy

B.Tell the patient to wait until the family arrives

C.Remove both devices so the patient is less bothered by them

D.Adjust the hearing-aid settings until the patient says voices are loud enough

Explanation: Eyeglasses and hearing aids support orientation, communication, independence, and safety. A nursing assistant may provide basic care such as cleaning glasses and checking placement or batteries if trained and permitted, while reporting equipment problems that cannot be corrected.

7A patient who can still button shirts slowly asks for help dressing. Which approach best fosters independence?

A.Dress the patient completely to save time

B.Place clothing within reach and assist only with steps the patient cannot complete safely

C.Choose the easiest clothing without asking the patient

D.Tell the patient that dressing independently is required therapy

Explanation: Maintaining independence is part of supportive ADL care. The assistant should respect the patient's choices, allow time for tasks the patient can do, and help only where fatigue, weakness, or safety makes assistance necessary.

8Before helping a weak patient use a walker, what should the nursing assistant do first?

A.Raise the walker one setting so the patient stands taller

B.Make sure the walker is nearby, stable, and used as taught in the care plan

C.Have the patient pull up on the walker from a seated position

D.Ask the patient to walk quickly so fatigue does not build

Explanation: Durable medical equipment should be used correctly and safely. The assistant should check that the walker is available, stable, and used according to the care plan, and should report equipment problems or a change in the patient's ability.

9A bedbound patient slides toward the foot of the bed after being positioned. Which action best prevents skin injury during repositioning?

A.Pull the patient up by the shoulders

B.Use a draw sheet or approved lift technique with help as needed

C.Drag the patient quickly to reduce the time spent moving

D.Leave the patient lower in bed if they do not complain

Explanation: Repositioning should reduce friction and shearing on fragile skin. Using a draw sheet, lift device, or additional help according to policy protects both the patient and the nursing assistant.

10A patient receiving hospice care grimaces when the assistant gently moves the shoulder during range-of-motion care. What should the assistant do?

A.Continue through the full range because stiffness is expected

B.Move the joint faster so discomfort ends quickly

C.Stop that movement, keep the patient comfortable, and report the pain response to the nurse

D.Tell the patient that exercise will hurt but is necessary

Explanation: Range-of-motion care should not be forced. Grimacing is a nonverbal pain cue, so the assistant should stop the painful movement, maintain comfort, and report the response for RN assessment and plan-of-care adjustment.

About the CHPNA Exam

The CHPNA credential validates hospice and palliative nursing assistant practice, including comfort-focused activities of daily living, observation and reporting, safe environment support, psychosocial and spiritual care, and professional skills.

Questions

110 scored questions

Time Limit

2.5 hours

Passing Score

75 scaled score

Exam Fee

$190 HPNA member / $280 non-member (Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) / PSI)

CHPNA Exam Content Outline

33%

Activities of Daily Living

Provide comfort-focused hygiene, nutrition, mobility, elimination, positioning, and skin support.

30%

Patient Status and Environment

Observe and report changes, support safety, use infection control, and recognize expected end-of-life changes.

24%

Psychosocial and Spiritual Care

Support dignity, communication, culture, grief, spiritual needs, and family coping.

13%

Professional Skills

Apply scope, privacy, documentation, boundaries, teamwork, and self-care.

How to Pass the CHPNA Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 75 scaled score
Exam length: 110 questions
Time limit: 2.5 hours
Exam fee: $190 HPNA member / $280 non-member

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CHPNA Study Tips from Top Performers

1Keep nursing assistant scope central: observe, report, provide delegated care, and preserve patient comfort and dignity.

2Practice deciding when a change in status or environment must be reported to the supervising nurse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for CHPNA?

HPCC lists eligibility as 500 supervised hospice and palliative nursing assistant practice hours in the most recent 12 months or 1,000 hours in the most recent 24 months.

How many questions are on the CHPNA exam?

HPCC's certification FAQ lists the CHPNA exam as 110 questions with 2.5 hours for completion.