CNA Legal and Ethical Behavior Practice Test: 25 Questions

Maegan Wagner, BSN, RN, CCM Avatar
Questions reviewed by
Maegan Wagner, BSN, RN, CCM

This 25-question CNA practice test covers the category Legal and Ethical Behavior. The questions are designed to test your understanding of resident rights, informed consent, confidentiality, abuse and neglect reporting, and staying within the CNA scope of practice. You’ll be challenged on how to protect the residents’ safety, dignity, privacy, and autonomy while following facility policies and state and federal regulations.

Each question reflects common scenarios and topics you may encounter on the actual Certified Nursing Assistant exam in 2025, giving you the chance to assess your understanding of the Legal and Ethical Behavior category. All our questions and rationales have been reviewed by an experienced registered nurse (RN).

If you would like to practice questions from other exam categories, please try our comprehensive and free CNA practice test.

1. Question

A resident is very agitated. The CNA raises their hand and says, “If you don’t calm down right now, I’m going to slap you!” This is an example of:

  1. Assault.
  2. Battery.
  3. Malpractice.
  4. Negligence.
Show Rationale

Correct: A.

Assault is the threat to cause bodily harm, while battery is the actual, unauthorized touching. In this case, the verbal threat and gesture constitute assault.

2. Question

An alert and oriented resident says they want to leave the facility. The CNA locks the resident’s door from the outside to prevent them from leaving. This action is:

  1. A violation of the resident’s DNR order.
  2. A necessary safety precaution.
  3. An example of false imprisonment.
  4. Temporarily acceptable until the CNA can get help.
Show Rationale

Correct: C.

False imprisonment is the unlawful restraint of a person against their will. An alert and oriented resident has the right to leave; detaining them is a legal violation.

3. Question

A CNA is at home and tells their spouse a funny, detailed story about a resident, using the resident’s name. This action is:

  1. Acceptable because the story is positive and not insulting.
  2. Acceptable because the spouse does not work at the facility.
  3. A normal way to “vent” about a stressful job.
  4. A violation of the resident’s confidentiality under HIPAA.
Show Rationale

Correct: D.

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) protects all patient information outside the facility. Sharing identifiable information with anyone not directly involved in the resident’s care, including a spouse, is a legal violation.

4. Question

A nurse asks a CNA to administer a resident’s routine 8 AM medication. What is the CNA’s best response?

  1. “I’m sorry, but I’m not legally allowed to give medications.”
  2. “Yes, I will get it from the cart right now.”
  3. “I can only administer over-the-counter medications.”
  4. “I will do it, but only if you supervise me.”
Show Rationale

Correct: A.

Medication administration (including prescription pills, IVs, and injections) is outside the CNA’s scope of practice. It is a legal and ethical violation for a CNA to perform this task.

5. Question

A resident’s care plan requires the CNA to use a gait belt for all transfers. The CNA is in a hurry and transfers the resident without one. This action is:

  1. Assault.
  2. Negligence.
  3. Libel.
  4. Acceptable, as long as the resident doesn’t fall.
Show Rationale

Correct: B.

Negligence is the failure to provide the standard of care, resulting in potential harm. By ignoring the care plan and failing to use a required safety device, the CNA is acting negligently.

6. Question

A resident’s family is very grateful for the care provided and offers the CNA a $100 gift card. What is the CNA’s most ethical action?

  1. Accept the gift, as it would be rude to refuse.
  2. Donate the gift card to the facility’s charity fund.
  3. Accept the gift and share it with the other CNAs on the unit.
  4. Politely refuse the gift, explaining that facility policy does not permit it.
Show Rationale

Correct: D.

Accepting large gifts (or any money) can be seen as exploitation and creates an unprofessional boundary. The ethical action is to politely refuse and explain it is against policy.

7. Question

A CNA leaves a resident’s paper chart open on the desk in the hallway where visitors can see it. This is a violation of:

  1. The resident’s right to receive quality care.
  2. The resident’s right to informed consent.
  3. The resident’s right to file a grievance.
  4. The resident’s right to privacy and confidentiality.
Show Rationale

Correct: D.

This is a breach of confidentiality. Staff must take all reasonable measures to protect Protected Health Information (PHI), which includes not leaving charts visible to the public.

8. Question

Which of the following tasks is outside the legal scope of practice for a CNA?

  1. Changing a sterile dressing on a surgical wound.
  2. Applying a non-prescription barrier cream.
  3. Assisting a resident with drinking thickened liquids.
  4. Measuring and recording urine output from a catheter bag.
Show Rationale

Correct: A.

Changing a sterile dressing requires advanced training, sterile technique, and assessment skills that are outside the CNA’s scope. This is a task for a licensed nurse.

9. Question

A CNA notices that a coworker has a strong smell of alcohol on their breath at the beginning of the shift. What is the CNA’s primary legal and ethical responsibility?

  1. To tell the coworker they should go home and rest.
  2. To immediately report the suspicion to the charge nurse.
  3. To confer with the other CNAs to see what they think.
  4. To take over the coworker’s assignment so the residents are safe.
Show Rationale

Correct: B.

The CNA’s primary duty is to ensure resident safety. An impaired staff member poses a direct threat. The CNA must report this to the supervisor, who can take appropriate action (like removing the coworker from duty).

10. Question

A resident’s family member asks the CNA to go on a date. What is the most professional and ethical response?

  1. “Let me think about it, and I will get back to you.”
  2. “I have to decline as that would be inappropriate.”
  3. “That is harassment, and I will report you.”
  4. “I will give you my number, but don’t tell anyone.”
Show Rationale

Correct: B.

Maintaining professional boundaries is a key ethical duty. A CNA must not engage in personal or romantic relationships with residents or their family members, as it creates a conflict of interest.

11. Question

A CNA forgets to take a resident’s 4 PM vital signs. At 7 PM, the CNA realizes this and writes “estimated” vital signs into the resident’s chart. This action is:

  1. Legal, as long as the CNA was close in their estimation.
  2. A good use of critical thinking.
  3. An example of falsifying a legal document.
  4. Dishonest, but not a big deal if the resident is fine.
Show Rationale

Correct: C.

The resident’s chart is a legal document. Intentionally writing false or estimated information is falsification, which is illegal and unethical, putting the resident at risk as well as the CNA’s license or job.

12. Question

A resident has dementia and keeps trying to get out of bed, pulling at their IV line. The CNA applies wrist restraints without a doctor’s order. This is:

  1. A form of false imprisonment and battery.
  2. Acceptable, because it was an emergency.
  3. Necessary to keep the resident safe.
  4. Acceptable, as long as the nurse is notified.
Show Rationale

Correct: A.

Restraints of any kind require a specific physician’s order. Applying them without an order is a form of false imprisonment (restricting movement) and battery (unlawful touching).

13. Question

A resident’s call light goes unanswered for 30 minutes. The resident tries to get up to the bathroom alone, falls, and breaks their hip. The failure to answer the call light is:

  1. Malpractice.
  2. Assault.
  3. Negligence.
  4. Laziness.
Show Rationale

Correct: C.

Failing to respond to a call light in a timely manner is a failure to meet the standard of care. Because this failure directly led to the resident’s injury, it is a clear example of negligence.

14. Question

A CNA is angry about their assignment, tells the nurse they are “quitting,” and walks out of the facility in the middle of their shift. This is:

  1. A HIPAA violation.
  2. Acceptable for “at-will” employment.
  3. Unprofessional but not illegal.
  4. An example of “abandonment.”
Show Rationale

Correct: D.

Abandonment is defined as leaving or deserting a resident for whom you have accepted responsibility, without reporting to a supervisor or ensuring a qualified person is taking over. Quitting without giving proper notice places patients at risk.

15. Question

A resident has a legal document that names their son as the one to make healthcare decisions if the resident becomes unable to do so. This document is called:

  1. A Last Will and Testament.
  2. A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care.
  3. A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order.
  4. A Grievance Form.
Show Rationale

Correct: B.

A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (or Health Care Proxy) is an advance directive that legally appoints a specific person to make medical decisions on behalf of the resident when they are incapacitated.

16. Question

A CNA is caring for a diabetic resident who asks the CNA to trim their toenails. The CNA should:

  1. Perform the requested action as long as there are no open sores.
  2. Soak the client’s feet before providing nail care.
  3. Explain that it is outside of their scope of practice, but they will alert the nurse.
  4. Tell them to wait until their shower later, so hopefully they will forget.
Show Rationale

Correct: C.

Foot care for diabetic residents is outside the CNA’s scope of practice. People with diabetes may have poor circulation or neuropathy and are at a higher risk for infection if a cut or break in the skin occurs, so this task must be performed by a nurse or podiatrist.

17. Question

Which term describes the legal set of tasks and skills that a CNA is trained and permitted to perform?

  1. Scope of practice.
  2. CNA rights.
  3. Job description.
  4. Caregiver regulations.
Show Rationale

Correct: A.

“Scope of practice” defines the duties and responsibilities that a person with a specific certification (like a CNA) is legally allowed to perform.

18. Question

A CNA is providing a bed bath to a resident and leaves the door to the hallway wide open. This is a direct violation of the resident’s right to:

  1. Shelter and warmth.
  2. A safe environment.
  3. Refuse treatment.
  4. Privacy and dignity.
Show Rationale

Correct: D.

Unnecessarily exposing a resident’s body, especially to a public area like a hallway, is a breach of their right to privacy and a failure to treat them with dignity.

19. Question

A resident asks the CNA, “I heard my neighbor, Mrs. White, is here. Can you tell me what room she is in?” What is the CNA’s correct response?

  1. “Yes, she is in room 212.”
  2. “I’m sorry, but that is private information.”
  3. “Hold on, I will ask if she would like to see you.”
  4. “She is here, but she is very sick.”
Show Rationale

Correct: B.

Under HIPAA, a CNA cannot even confirm that a person is a resident in the facility (unless given a specific directory code/permission). This is a violation of confidentiality.

20. Question

A resident tells the CNA, “My son is taking my pension checks from my bank account without my permission!” What is the CNA’s legal obligation?

  1. Refer the resident to an attorney who can help.
  2. Advise the resident to call the police immediately.
  3. Contact the bank on behalf of the resident.
  4. Immediately report the resident’s statement to the nurse.
Show Rationale

Correct: D.

This is a resident’s report of potential financial abuse. The CNA is a mandatory reporter and must report all suspicions or allegations of abuse to the charge nurse, who will then follow the facility’s protocol.

21. Question

A CNA accidentally knocks over a resident’s family picture frame, and the glass breaks. What is the most ethical action?

  1. Tell the resident their roommate must have done it.
  2. Hide the broken frame in the trash can.
  3. Immediately report the incident to the resident and the nurse.
  4. Buy a new frame as soon as possible.
Show Rationale

Correct: C.

Ethical behavior includes honesty and accountability. The CNA must take responsibility for the accident, apologize, and report it so the item can be replaced or repaired.

22. Question

A CNA makes a mistake and performs a procedure on the wrong resident. After realizing the mistake, what is the CNA’s first legal and ethical priority?

  1. Immediately report the error to the charge nurse.
  2. Tell the resident they are sorry.
  3. Immediately perform the procedure on the correct resident.
  4. Document in the chart that the procedure was completed.
Show Rationale

Correct: A.

The priority is resident safety. The nurse must be notified immediately to assess the resident who received the wrong care and the resident who did not receive the scheduled care, to ensure no harm has occurred.

23. Question

A CNA tells another CNA, “I’m sure Dr. Jones is drinking on the job; he’s incompetent.” This statement, if false and harmful to the doctor’s reputation, is an example of:

  1. Libel.
  2. Slander.
  3. Maleficence.
  4. Harassment.
Show Rationale

Correct: B.

Slander is the act of making a false spoken statement that damages a person’s reputation. (Libel is the same, but in writing).

24. Question

A CNA texts a coworker using their personal phone: “I’m in rm 301 w/ Mrs. G. She is so combative today. Help.” This is:

  1. A proactive way to ask for help.
  2. Not a violation, because the full name wasn’t used.
  3. A HIPAA violation, as the text contains identifiable information.
  4. Acceptable if the CNA deletes the text afterward.
Show Rationale

Correct: C.

Texting PHI (Protected Health Information) on a non-secure device is a HIPAA violation. The room number and initial are “identifiable” information, making the resident’s condition (combative) a breach of confidentiality.

25. Question

Which of the following is a potential sign of neglect that a CNA must report?

  1. A resident who refuses to have their hair washed.
  2. A resident who is clean but dressed in non-matching clothes.
  3. A resident who is sleeping in their wheelchair.
  4. A resident who is consistently found in soiled, wet briefs.
Show Rationale

Correct: D.

Neglect is the failure to provide goods and services necessary for the resident’s well-being. Consistently failing to provide hygiene care, such as changing soiled briefs, is a form of neglect.