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California CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) Exam Cheat Sheet (2026)
A free, printable California CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) exam cheat sheet: the 128 highest-yield points to know, grouped into 8 sections that follow the exam's content areas, each section with its published weight.
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- 200 free California CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) practice questions on the same material, every one explained.
- Last updated: September 2026.
Studying in order?
In the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) guide: 120 practice questions across two full exams at the back, plus a quiz with a worked key closing each of the 8 chapters. Practice here stays free.
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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