Top 27 CNA Interview Questions (Example Answers)

CNAs, or Certified Nursing Assistants, are the medical professionals tasked with the more mundane and routine jobs. 

Lifting patients into or out of bed, assisting patients with toileting, and bathing patients who are unable to bathe themselves are examples of these services.

CNAs also perform more important tasks such as dispensing medicine, recording and monitoring patient vitals, and addressing any patient concerns to ensure optimal treatment. 

So, whether in a hospital or an assisted-living facility, CNAs are critical to patients’ long-term health and wellness.

If you want to work as a certified nursing assistant, you must have exceptional interpersonal skills since you’ll be in close contact with patients daily. 

While excellent interpersonal skills are almost certainly a key quality that the hiring manager will be looking for, be sure to review your specific CNA job description to identify other skills that are required for this position. 

But no worries, to help you this article contains the most frequently asked CNA interview question and answers.

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Most Frequent CNA Interview Questions And Answers 

1. Mention What Is CNA?

CNA is a common abbreviation for Certified Nursing Assistant. This is a person who has received training to assist patients while working closely with a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse.

2. Mention How To Become A Qualified CNA.

To become a certified nursing assistant, you would have to:

• Finish a state-approved education program
• Before enrolling, check local regulations because CNA training varies by state and programs range in length from 4 to 16 weeks.
• To be fully certified, you must pass a state-specific examination.
• Graduates can work without certification for up to four months while waiting for the exam.
• Obtain your first job
• Only licensed nurses can supervise certified nurse assistants in their practice.
• Some states require CNAs to complete education credits each year to keep their certification.

3.  What Are The Job Responsibilities Of A CNA Nurse?

A CNA nurse’s job responsibilities include the following:

• Personal hygiene services include backrubs, shampoos, shaves, bedpans, urinals, baths, and assisting patients in the bathroom.
• Serving meals, feeding patients, ambulating, turning, and positioning patients are some other activities.
• CNAs also provide medical assistance such as administering enemas, nonsterile dressings, douches, surgical preps, heat treatments, ice packs, therapeutic baths, and restraints.
• Replace bed sheets and restock rooms with necessary supplies.
• Take the patient’s vital signs, including urine testing, weight check, and recording intake and output data.
• Transporting patients, responding to patients’ call lights and requests, and reporting patient observations to the nursing supervisor.
• Forms, logs, reports, and records are documented and kept up to date.
• Following policies and procedures helps to keep work operations running smoothly, such as keeping patient information confidential.
• Participate in educational opportunities, maintain licensure, and read professional publications, among other things.
• Serve the hospital community by adhering to professional standards, hospital policies and procedures, federal, state, and local requirements, and calling 911 in the event of an emergency.

4. What Are The Common Challenges A CNA May Face?

Common difficulties that a CNA can face include:

• Managing challenging patients and their demeanor
• Managing shift transitions smoothly
• Avoiding disagreements with coworkers
• Lack of assistance from coworkers
• Persuading the patient and politely declining unreasonable requests

5. How do You Deal With A Patient Who Is Aggressive And Resists Medication?

My first approach to dealing with a patient who is aggressive and resistant to medication would be to calm the patient and administer the medication.

If this approach did not work, I would ensure the patient’s safety and seek assistance.

6. You Will Have Several Patients To Take Care Of So How Do You Prioritize Which One You Attend To First?

I would go over the list of patients and prioritize them based on their medical needs.

7. What Are All The Places A CNA Can Work?

A CNA can work in the following settings:

• Homes for the Elderly
• Home Health Care Providers
• Assisted Living Residences
• Staffing Firms
• Hospitals or Hospices
• Practice Groups or Offices Doctor’s
• Schools and daycare centers
• Clinics of Medicine
• Urgent Care Facilities
• Nursing Homes

8. Mention Medical Skills A CNA Must Possess.

A CNA must not require highly sophisticated medical skills, but they should know in emergencies such as:

• Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation if a patient is having a heart attack or breathing problem
• Knowing how to use pressure to stop bleeding
• Knowing what to do when an unconscious patient suddenly begins to vomit

9. Give Details About The CNA Licensing Exam.

The CNA licensing exam is divided into two sections:

• The theoretical portion of the exam includes questions about patient procedures, patient privacy, and other topics covered in your lectures, textbooks, and workbooks.  
• The clinical portion of the test is where all tasks must be demonstrated practically on a model patient.

10.  What Is The Difference Between CNA And Nursing Assistant?

The distinction between a CNA and a nursing assistant is that a CNA typically provides bedside care to elderly patients. In contrast, nursing assistants are more involved in procedural or administrative preparation and housekeeping.

11. What Are The Softwares A CNA Will Be Using During Their Tenure?

Software that a CNA should use include:

• Software for billing
• Databases of medical history and health information
• Centricity EMR by GE Healthcare
• MS Office and charting software

12.  What Are The Medical Apparatus A CNA Will Be Using?

Medical apparatus that a CNA will use include:

• Automated external defibrillators
• Electronic medical thermometers
• Compression packs with heating or cooling pads

13.  What Are The Opportunities A CNA May Have?

A CNA can advance in the following fields after a few years of working experience:

• Registered Nursing (RN) 
• Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) 
• Neonatal Nurse

14.  What Are Legal Guidelines CNA Must Be Aware Of?

When a CNA violates local, state, and federal governments law, the CNA faces fines, loss of certification, and/or imprisonment. 

To avoid legal issues, the CNA must:

• Know and adhere to the rules governing their state’s scope of practice.
• If you are asked to perform tasks for which you have not been trained, seek the advice of your supervisor.
• Only carry out procedures and tasks in the manner in which you have been trained or instructed.  
• Keep your skills, education, and in-service requirements up to date.
• Seek the advice of your supervisor in questionable situations.
• Understand your task and role completely.
• Do not endanger patients.
• Understand your facility’s policies and standard operating procedures.

15.  Give Examples Of Negligence That A CNA Can Do?

Here are some examples of negligence from a CNA:

• Drug administration without supervision
• Mistakenly placing a medication tray from another patient with the same name.
• Transferring a patient by yourself even though the care plans state that two staff members should be present. 
• Bathing a patient without first checking the water temperature.

16.  When Is Your CNA License Liable For Inactivation?

If you do not work for at least eight hours for pay in the provision of nursing services after a two-year break, your CNA license will be inactivated.

17.  What Is Your Five-year Plan As A CNA?

My five-year plan as a CNA includes pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing or some advanced CNA course. This is because I want to be a registered nurse.

18. What Would You Do If You Notice A Doctor Or Nurse Not Doing Their Job?

When I observe a doctor or nurse failing to perform their duties, I follow protocol and report the individual through the proper channels.

19.  What Are The Things A CNA Needs To Take Care Of While Transferring A Patient From Bed?

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While transferring the patient from bed, the CNA must double-check the following:

• Can the patient support his weight completely or partially?
• If the patient is cooperative, use a gait transfer belt or a powered standing assist lift (1 caregiver.
• If the patient is unwilling to cooperate, use a full-body sling lift and two caregivers to transfer the patient.
• If the patient has upper extremity strength, use a gait transfer belt until the patient is capable of completing the transfer independently.

20. While Doing A Lateral Side Transfer For A Patient Having Different Weights What Will Be Your Approach?

For lateral side transfer for patients of varying weights, my approach will be to:

• Use a lateral sliding aid and two caregivers for a patient weighing 100 pounds.
• For a patient weighing more than 200 pounds, I’ll use a lateral sliding aid or mechanical lateral transfer device with three caregivers.

21. What Lateral Sliding Aid Can You Use To Transfer The Patient To Bed?

I’ll use these lateral sliding aids to move the patient:

• Draw sheet or handle transfer cot
• Mattress covers with low friction
• Boards that slide
• Gurneys equipped with transfer devices
• Convertible beds to chairs

22. What Precautions Need To Be Taken While Using Bath Boards And Transfer Benches?

The following precautions must be taken when using bath boards and transfer benches:

• Put something between the patient’s skin and the board.
• Look for devices with water drainage and height-adjustable legs.
• If a wheelchair is being used, make sure the wheels are locked. 
• Check that the transfer surfaces are all at the same level.
• While removing the patient from the bathtub, make sure the floor is dry.

23. For What Patient Is Height Adjustable Shower Gurney Or Lift Bath Cart With Waterproof Top Used?

For a patient who is unable to sit up, a height-adjustable shower gurney or lift bath cart with a waterproof top is used.

24. How Would You Classify A Pressure Sore?

I would classify a pressure sore into four stages, they are:

• Stage I: A pressure sore in the first stage appears as a reddened area that does not blanch or turn white when pressed.
• Stage II: A partial breakdown of the upper layer of the skin occurs in stage II pressure sores, but it does not extend through the skin.
• Stage III: Ulcers in stage III extend through the skin.
• Stage IV: Ulcers extend down to the muscles, tendons, or bones.

25. What Is The Proper Term For An Infection That Is Transmitted During A Medical Procedure?

Iatrogenic infections are those that are contracted during a medical procedure.

26. What Is The Measurement Of The Pressure In A Patient’s Heart During Contraction?

Systolic blood pressure is the measurement of pressure in a patient’s heart during contraction.

27. What Is The Meaning Of Assault And Battery In CNA Practice?

In CNA practice, assault is defined as physical violence or the threat to use violence against another person while physical violence or wrongful touching against someone is referred to as battery.

Prepare For Your CNA Interview

CNAs are given less than stellar assignments, but as doctor and nurse shortages persist, the demand for and responsibilities of CNAs grow. 

Although the role of a CNA may not sound glamorous, it is a vital cog in the healthcare engine. CNAs are part of a team that is responsible for the health and wellness of communities. 

Not only can you make a significant difference in a patient’s physical health, but you can also make a significant difference in a patient’s emotional health.

To ensure you get the job, you can practice the interview questions and answers provided in this article.

Have a great day.