Online Practice Questions

After you have been deemed eligible to write the certification exam, you will receive a separate e-mail giving you access to an online practice test. The test offers 100 questions related to your specialty and offers the same computer-based testing (CBT) environment used by the Meazure Learning exam centre. You will be able to revisit the practice test many times.

Examples of the 100 practice questions (for five different specialties)

The complete set of CNA certification online practice questions are available exclusively to registered nurses who are eligible to write the CNA certification exam.

Gerontology

Question: Mr. Scott, 76 years old, paces the halls. He is so restless that he never sits long enough to complete his meals. The gerontological nurse ensures that finger foods and juice boxes are easily available for Mr. Scott. Which of the following would indicate that the intervention has been effective?

Answer 1: Pacing is decreased.
Answer 2: Weight remains stable.
Answer 3: Administration of haloperidol is reduced.
Answer 4: Finger foods are eaten.

Answer 2: Weight remains stable.

Rationale for each response:

Rationale 1: Pacing is not addressed by the intervention.
Rationale 2: Pacing uses a lot of energy and when combined with not eating, weight loss is a concern. Therefore, the intervention must focus on ensuring weight stability.
Rationale 3: A reduction in haloperiodol would not maintain his weight.
Rationale 4: Finger foods could be eaten by anyone.

Reference: Touhy & Jett (2016), p. 401

Psychiatry and Mental Health

Case: Mrs. Jaeger, 28 years old, has been admitted 17 times to acute care facilities for serious overdose attempts and self-injurious behaviour. Mrs. Jaeger arrives at the community outpatient program for her initial appointment with gauze wrapped around one forearm, where she has six stitches in place due to self-injurious behaviour.

Question: Today, while waiting for her appointment, Mrs. Jaeger inflicts superficial cuts to her forearm. Violence is not permitted at the program. What should the psychiatric and mental health nurse do initially?

Answer 1: Remind her of the agreement in place for her safety.
Answer 2: Help her identify triggers that prompt aggressive outbursts.
Answer 3: Offer to transfer her to another therapist within the program.
Answer 4: Consider hospitalization for her at this time.

Answer 1: Remind her of the agreement in place for her safety.

Rationale for each response:

Rationale 1: A safety alliance signals volitional agreement not to act destructively and provides clarity that consequences do and will occur; intent is to engage Mrs. Jaeger’s reality ego.
Rationale 2: This assists Mrs. Jaeger in developing insight into behaviours, but this can be accomplished in subsequent sessions. Mrs. Jaeger must first understand the consequences of her behaviour.
Rationale 3: This facilitates splitting and is not therapeutic.
Rationale 4: The majority of persons with a personality disorder are treated in community settings and do not require hospitalization unless a high risk for self-injurious behaviour has been assessed.

Competency: 2.5b Selects the nursing intervention(s) for persons experiencing the following: self-injurious behaviour.

Reference: Townsend (2012), pp. 799-801

Emergency

Question: Ms. Boyd, 77 years old, was discharged a week ago following her third myocardial infarction. She presents today reporting sleeplessness, exertional shortness of breath, and swelling of her feet by the end of the day. What treatment is likely to be most effective in the management of Ms. Boyd’s suspected biventricular failure?

Answer 1: A diuretic and a potassium supplement
Answer 2: A positive inotrope and an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor
Answer 3: A positive inotrope and vasoconstrictor
Answer 4: A diuretic and a beta blocker

Answer 2: A positive inotrope and an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor

Rationale for each response:

Rationale 1: This treats only the pulmonary edema, which is a symptom of the pump failure.
Rationale 2: This combination of medications increases the effectiveness of the pump and improves blood flow through dilated vessels.
Rationale 3: A vasoconstrictor would make it harder for the heart to pump.
Rationale 4: Although diuretics and a beta blocker may be used in heart failure, they do not address the pump failure.

Reference: Schumacher & Cherneky (2010), pp. 142-145

Nephrology

Question: What is the most common side effect of prednisone (Deltasone)?

Answer 1: Decreased appetite
Answer 2: Rash
Answer 3: Mood changes
Answer 4: Accelerated growth spurts

Answer 3: Mood changes

Rationale for each response:

Rationale 1: Prednisone increases appetite.
Rationale 2: Prednisone causes acne.
Rationale 3: This is a well-known side effect, often seen in children.
Rationale 4: Prednisone usually suppresses growth spurts.

Reference: Canadian Pharmacists Association (2014), pp. 729-732

Community Health

Question: What type of immunity refers to the ability of a population to resist an epidemic?

Answer 1: Active immunity
Answer 2: Passive immunity
Answer 3: Herd immunity
Answer 4: Cross immunity

Answer 3: Herd immunity

Rationale for each response:

Rationale 1: Active immunity is long-term and sometimes lifelong resistance, acquired either naturally or artificially.
Rationale 2: Passive immunity refers to short-term resistance; acquired either naturally or artificially.
Rationale 3: Herd immunity is the ability of a population to resist an epidemic as a result of a mass vaccination program or as a result of mass infection or exposure to a disease.
Rationale 4: Cross-immunity refers to a situation in which a client’s immunity to one agent provides immunity also to a related agent.

Reference: Allender, Rector & Warner (2012), p. 180