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California CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) Exam Cram Sheet (2026)
The highest-yield points on the California CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant)exam, grouped by the exam's real content areas. Print it, review the ones you keep missing, then drill them with free practice questions.
8content areas
Patient Rights & Dignity
10% of the exam- Federal resident rights baseline
- 42 CFR §483.10
- Dignity, privacy, self-determination, informed participation
- 42 CFR §483.10(a)-(e)
- Survey tag for resident-rights violations
- CMS F-Tag F-550
- California SNF patient rights
- Title 22 CCR §72527
- Rights must be posted and given in writing on admission
- HSC §1599.65
- Translation into the resident's primary language is required when feasible
- Title 22 CCR §72527(a)(2); 42 CFR §483.10(g)(2)
- Transfer or discharge only for cause
- Title 22 CCR §72527(a)(8); 42 CFR §483.15(c)
- Privacy in treatment and personal care
- 42 CFR §483.10(h)
- HIPAA Privacy Rule covers PHI
- 45 CFR §164.502
- California medical information confidentiality
- Civil Code §56 (CMIA)
- No personal-phone photos of residents
- CMS S&C 16-33-NH (2016) — abuse if dignity is violated
- Right to refuse treatment
- 42 CFR §483.10(c)(6); Title 22 CCR §72527(a)(5)
- Advance health-care directives
- Probate Code §§4670-4743
- POLST form
- Probate Code §4780
- Document refusal; do not force care
- Title 22 CCR §72527(a)(5)
- Grievance rights without retaliation
- 42 CFR §483.10(j)
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman access
- W&I Code §9718; Title 22 CCR §72527(a)(11)
- Retaliation is abuse
- W&I Code §15610.07
Communication & Cultural Sensitivity
10% of the exam- Language access in the resident's language
- 42 CFR §483.10(g)(2)
- Federal civil rights basis
- Title VI, 42 USC §2000d
- California bilingual services
- Gov Code §§7290-7299.8 (Dymally-Alatorre)
- Family members are not qualified interpreters for clinical content
- CMS interpretive guidance, F-Tag F-553
- Avoid elderspeak / baby-talk
- 42 CFR §483.10(a) — dignity
- Teach-back to confirm understanding
- AHRQ best practice; CDPH interpretive guidance
- Face the resident; reduce background noise
- Standard of practice
- Cultural and religious accommodation
- 42 CFR §483.10(e)(2); Title 22 CCR §72527(a)(2)
- Same-gender personal care on request
- Facility policy; resident-rights framework
- Document preferences in the care plan
- 42 CFR §483.21
- Accurate, contemporaneous records
- Title 22 CCR §72541
- Falsification grounds for revocation
- HSC §1337.9(b)(2)
- Chart objective observation; report subjective concerns verbally
- Scope-of-practice guidance, CDPH ATCS
Safety & Infection Control
15% of the exam- Standard Precautions for every resident
- 42 CFR §483.80(a)(2); CDC Standard Precautions
- Hand hygiene before/after every contact
- CDC; F-Tag F-880
- Employer must provide PPE at no cost
- Cal/OSHA 8 CCR §5193
- Transmission-based precautions
- 42 CFR §483.80(a); CDC isolation guidance
- Cal/OSHA ATD standard
- 8 CCR §5199
- C. diff requires soap-and-water hand washing
- CDC HICPAC
- Public health authority during outbreaks
- HSC §120175; HSC §1255.8
- Injury and Illness Prevention Program
- Cal/OSHA 8 CCR §3203
- Safe Patient Handling (hospitals)
- Labor Code §6403.5
- Whistleblower protection for safety reports
- Labor Code §6310
- Follow the care-plan lift level; use gait belt for weight-bearing transfers
- 42 CFR §483.21; standard of practice
- Accident-free environment and adequate supervision
- 42 CFR §483.25(d)
- Right to be free from unnecessary restraints
- 42 CFR §483.10(e)(1); Title 22 CCR §72319
- Side rails may be restraints
- CMS F-Tag F-604
- No restraint for staff convenience or discipline
- 42 CFR §483.12(a)(2)
- Disaster preparedness plan
- Title 22 CCR §72551
- Federal Emergency Preparedness
- 42 CFR §483.73
- RACE / PASS fire response
- NFPA 101 Life Safety Code
- Oxygen safety signage and ignition control
- Title 19 CCR; facility policy
Basic Nursing Skills
20% of the exam- Scope: CNA collects, licensed nurse assesses
- Title 22 CCR §72311(a)(1); HSC §1337
- Report abnormal vitals immediately
- Standard of practice; facility critical-value list
- Count respirations covertly, for a full minute when irregular
- CDPH ATCS skill standards
- Correct cuff size
- AHA guideline; CMS F-Tag F-684
- ADL function must be maintained absent unavoidable decline
- 42 CFR §483.24(b)
- Privacy during personal care
- 42 CFR §483.10(h)
- Bath water 105 °F maximum
- Skill standard; facility policy
- Oral care at least twice daily
- CDC oral health guidance; F-Tag F-677
- Lock brakes; gait belt; correct number of assistants per care plan
- Skill standard; 42 CFR §483.25(d)
- Ease falling resident to floor — do not catch
- Cal/OSHA safe handling guidance
- ROM gentle, never past pain
- Skill standard
- CNA scope of practice
- HSC §1337; CDPH ATCS curriculum
- Nutrition and hydration standard
- 42 CFR §483.25(g)
- Upright 90° position for meals
- Aspiration prevention standard
- Follow ordered diet and consistency exactly
- Dietitian / physician order; F-Tag F-692
- Document intake and output
- Title 22 CCR §72541
- Pressure injury prevention is a facility obligation
- 42 CFR §483.25(b)(1)
- Reposition bedbound residents at least every 2 hours
- Standard of practice; F-Tag F-686
- Float heels; do not massage reddened areas
- NPIAP guidelines
- Report Stage 1 changes immediately
- Facility skin policy
Restorative Care & Rehabilitation
10% of the exam- Highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being
- 42 CFR §483.24(a)
- Promote independence; prevent avoidable decline
- Title 22 CCR §72315
- Restorative philosophy: do with, not for
- CDPH ATCS curriculum
- Comprehensive person-centered care plan
- 42 CFR §483.21
- MDS assessment captures restorative-nursing minutes
- 42 CFR §483.20
- Document type, duration, level of assistance, response
- Title 22 CCR §72541
- Continence assessment and restoration
- 42 CFR §483.25(e); F-Tag F-690
- Scheduled and prompted voiding
- AHRQ evidence-based practice
- Report sudden change in continence
- Possible UTI; nurse assessment required
- Care plan integrates therapy disciplines
- 42 CFR §483.21(b)
- CNA carries therapy goals into daily care
- CMS F-Tag F-676; CDPH guidance
- Report changes that affect therapy goals
- Title 22 CCR §72311
Mental Health & Social Service Needs
10% of the exam- Dementia care to attain highest practicable well-being
- 42 CFR §483.40(b)(3)
- Antipsychotic limitations
- 42 CFR §483.45(e); F-Tag F-758
- Behavioral expressions are communication of unmet needs
- Person-centered dementia care guidance
- Validate and redirect; do not argue with delusions
- Standard of practice
- Psychosocial services required
- 42 CFR §483.40(d)
- Report suicidal statements immediately
- Standard of practice; facility policy
- 5150 involuntary hold authority
- W&I Code §5150
- Address physical contributors before reaching for sedation
- F-Tag F-741
- Trauma-informed care requirement
- 42 CFR §483.25(m); F-Tag F-699
- Person-centered care plan reflects trauma history
- 42 CFR §483.21
- Announce and explain before any touch
- Standard of practice; dignity 42 CFR §483.10(a)
- Medically related social services
- 42 CFR §483.40(d)
- Quarterly interdisciplinary care planning
- 42 CFR §483.21(b)(2)
- Resident and family participation in care planning
- Title 22 CCR §72527(a)(7)
- Activities programming as psychosocial care
- 42 CFR §483.24(c)
Emotional & Spiritual Support
8% of the exam- Right to religious and social activity
- 42 CFR §483.10(f)(4)
- Respect personal and religious preferences
- Title 22 CCR §72527(a)(2)
- No proselytizing
- Dignity 42 CFR §483.10(a); facility policy
- POLST physician orders
- Probate Code §4780
- Hospice services in SNF
- 42 CFR Part 418
- Respect cultural and religious end-of-life practices
- 42 CFR §483.10(e)(3); Title 22 CCR §72527
- Psychosocial well-being of resident and family
- 42 CFR §483.40
- Postmortem care per facility policy
- Title 22 CCR §72333
- Staff support and EAP availability
- Facility employee benefits; Cal/OSHA wellness guidance
Legal/Ethical & Mandated Reporting
17% of the exam- Mandated reporter status
- W&I Code §15630(a)
- Two-channel reporting: phone immediately, written within 2 working days
- W&I Code §15630(b)
- Reporter confidentiality and immunity
- W&I Code §§15633, 15634
- Penalty for failure to report
- W&I Code §15630(h)
- Statutory definition of abuse
- W&I Code §15610.07
- Physical abuse
- W&I Code §15610.63
- Neglect
- W&I Code §15610.57
- Financial abuse
- W&I Code §15610.30
- Mental suffering
- W&I Code §15610.53
- Federal Elder Justice Act reporting
- 42 USC §1320b-25 (Section 1150B)
- 2-hour reporting for serious bodily injury, 24-hour otherwise
- 42 USC §1320b-25(b)
- Civil monetary penalties up to $200,000
- 42 USC §1320b-25(d)
- Direct reporting; do not rely on administration to report for you
- W&I §15630(b)
- CNA scope of practice
- HSC §1337; CDPH ATCS
- Grounds for certification revocation
- HSC §1337.9
- Nursing process reserved for licensed nurse
- Title 22 CCR §72311
- Limited CNA medication administration exception
- HSC §1337.1 (specific RCFE-type settings)
- HIPAA Privacy Rule
- 45 CFR §164.502
- California medical confidentiality
- Civil Code §56.10 et seq.
- ADA non-discrimination
- 42 USC §12101 et seq.
- California Unruh Civil Rights Act
- Civil Code §51
- LGBTQ+ resident protections
- 42 CFR §483.10(a)
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Study aid, not a substitute for the official material — always confirm the current rule with California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Last verified: August 2026.