Cheat sheet
California CNA Cheat Sheet
Basic Nursing Skills
- 20% of exam
- Vital Signs I&O Positioning Nutrition Skin Safety
Safety + Emergency
- 11% of exam
- Falls Body Mechanics Fire Safety Choking Equipment
Resident Rights
- 11% of exam
- Dignity Privacy Refusal POLST Ombudsman
Role + Responsibility
- 8% of exam
- Scope Delegation Chain of Command Mandated Reporting
Infection Control
- 8% of exam
- Hand Hygiene PPE Standard Precautions Isolation Cleaning
Mental Health
- 8% of exam
- Depression Anxiety Grief Communication Validation
Cognitive Care
- 7% of exam
- Dementia Sundowning Redirection Wandering Routine
Communication
- 7% of exam
- SBAR Objective Notes Call Light Language Access
Personal Care
- 5% of exam
- Bathing Oral Care Perineal Care Dressing Toileting
Data + Reporting
- 5% of exam
- Objective Data Subjective Data I&O Incidents Charting
Disease Process
- 5% of exam
- CHF COPD Diabetes Stroke DVT
Aging + Restorative
- 5% of exam
- ROM Ambulation Independence Contractures Weak Side
Quick Facts
- Exam California CNA
- Vendors 3 CDPH-approved vendors
- Written questions 75 Headmaster; 70 Credentia, RTC
- Written time 60 min Headmaster; 120 RTC
- Written pass 75% Headmaster; 70% RTC
- Skills time 30 min
- Training 160 hours
- Renewal 2 years
Skills Flow BA
- Knock, wash, explain, privacy, safety
- Identify Gather Perform Document
Skills Picker BA
- Before any skill → Wash hands
- Transfer resident → Gait belt
- Weak side dressing → Dress first
- Catheter care → Clean away
- Measure output → Eye level
- Finish care → Call light
Basic Skills BA
- Oral temp 98.6 F typical
- Pulse Count beats
- Respirations Count quietly
- BP cuff Bare upper arm
- I&O Measure intake/output
- Edema Report swelling
- Skin check Observe redness
- Positioning Prevent pressure
Skills Test BA
- Handwashing Mandatory skill
- Indirect care Every skill
- Privacy Curtain/cover
- Safety Lock/check
- Measurement Exact reading
- Supplies Gather first
- Closing Comfort/call light
Fire Response SA
- RACE first, PASS only if safe
- Rescue Alarm Contain Extinguish Pull Aim
Safety + Emergency SA
- Fall risk Call light near
- Gait belt Transfer support
- Bed wheels Locked before care
- Low bed Fall prevention
- RACE Fire response
- PASS Extinguisher use
- Choking Call for help
- Oxygen No flames
Abuse vs Neglect RI
Abuse
- Harmful act
- Intent possible
- Report immediately
Neglect
- Needed care missing
- Unmet needs
- Also report
- Harm vs omission
Rights + Ethics RI
- Dignity Respect choices
- Privacy Cover body
- Confidentiality Protect information
- Refusal Report refusal
- Visitors Respect access
- Mail Unopened privacy
- Ombudsman Rights advocate
- POLST Medical order
POLST vs Directive RI
POLST
- Medical order
- Current treatment
- Honor directions
Directive
- Future wishes
- Planning document
- Not same
- Order vs wishes
Scope vs Delegation RO
Scope
- Allowed tasks
- CNA role
- No diagnosis
Delegation
- Assigned by nurse
- Clear directions
- Report back
- Can do vs assigned
Escalation Picker RO
- Abuse suspected → Report now
- Chest pain → Notify nurse
- New confusion → Notify nurse
- Resident refuses → Report refusal
- Fall occurs → Stay/report
- Care not assigned → Ask nurse
Exam Format by Vendor RO
- Headmaster knowledge 75 items 60 min
- Headmaster pass 57 of 75 (75%)
- Credentia/RTC written 70 items
- RTC pass 70% written 120 min
- Skills Timed demo 30 min
- Headmaster fee $140 total
- Headmaster audio $45 option
- RTC fee $120 total
- TMU Headmaster scheduling portal
- CDPH State registry
California Rules RO
- Training 160 hours
- Theory 60 hours
- Clinical 100 hours
- Live Scan Before residents
- Renewal Every 2 years
- CE 48 hours
- Paid work 8 hours
Infection Chain IN
- Break any link; hand hygiene wins
- Agent Reservoir Exit Entry Host
Standard vs Transmission IN
Standard
- Every resident
- Body fluids
- Hand hygiene
Transmission
- Added precautions
- Known risk
- Special PPE
- Always vs added
Precaution Picker IN
- All resident care → Standard
- Body fluids likely → Gloves
- Splash risk → Mask/eye
- Contact isolation → Gown/gloves
- Droplet illness → Mask
- Airborne illness → Special room
Infection Control IN
- Hand hygiene Best prevention
- Standard All residents
- Contact Gown/gloves
- Droplet Mask needed
- Airborne Special room
- Clean Least dirty first
- Sharps Never recap
- Biohazard Red bag
Mental + Cognitive CO
- Dementia Memory decline
- Sundowning Evening confusion
- Validation Acknowledge feelings
- Redirection Shift attention
- Wandering Maintain safety
- Depression Report withdrawal
- Delusion False belief
SBAR CO
- Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
- What now History What observed What needed
Communication CO
- Call light Within reach
- Aphasia Language difficulty
- Hearing loss Face resident
- Vision loss Identify yourself
- Interpreter Language support
- Open question More detail
- Closed question Short answer
Personal Care PE
- Bathing Promote privacy
- Perineal Front to back
- Catheter Clean away
- Oral care Aspiration watch
- Dentures Line basin
- Dressing Weak side first
- Nail care No diabetic trim
Objective vs Subjective DA
Objective
- Measured
- Observed
- Chart facts
Subjective
- Resident states
- Symptoms
- Quote if needed
- Seen vs said
Reporting DA
- Objective Seen/measured
- Subjective Resident says
- Charting Timely facts
- Incident Report promptly
- Abuse Report immediately
- Neglect Unmet needs
- SBAR Structured report
Disease Process DI
- CHF Fluid overload
- COPD Breathing difficulty
- Diabetes Glucose problem
- Stroke FAST signs
- DVT Leg clot
- Pressure injury Skin breakdown
- Dehydration Low fluids
ADL vs Restorative RE
ADL
- Daily care
- Assist safely
- Maintain hygiene
Restorative
- Promote function
- Practice ability
- Prevent decline
- Assist vs improve
Restorative Care RE
- ROM Joint movement
- Contracture Shortened muscle
- Ambulation Walking assist
- Independence Do self
- Weak side Dress first
- Cane Strong side
- Prosthesis Device replacement
Common Traps
Training hours
- California requires 160 ≠ Not 150 hours
Scope drift
- CNA reports data ≠ Nurse assesses
Privacy vs confidentiality
- Privacy covers body ≠ Confidentiality covers information
Refusal of care
- Resident may refuse ≠ CNA must report
Diabetic nail care
- Clean and observe ≠ Do not trim
Skill timing
- Safety throughout ≠ Not only ending
Last Minute
- 1. Headmaster: 75 questions, 60 min
- 2. Headmaster pass: 57 of 75
- 3. RTC: 70 questions, 70% pass
- 4. Skills: 30 min
- 5. Training: 60 theory, 100 clinical
- 6. Renewal: 48 CE hours
- 7. Wash hands before care
- 8. Call light within reach
- 9. Privacy before exposure
- 10. Report abuse immediately
- 11. CNA reports; nurse assesses
California CNA
- Practice Questions 606 questions Study Guide 20 topics Cheat Sheet 98 facts Flashcards 50 cards Shorts 5 short s Videos 3 videos Blogs 3 blogs Free CE Podcast