Louisiana Nurse Aide Practice Test

Free Louisiana Nurse Aide Practice Sample Questions & Answers

Question 1. A resident with limited mobility asks the nurse aide to place the call light on the bedside table because it is currently on the floor. The resident says, “I need to be able to reach it without getting out of bed.” What should the nurse aide do?

A. Tell the resident to wait until the next scheduled round
B. Place the call light within the resident’s safe reach
C. Tell the resident to call loudly if assistance is needed
D. Leave it on the floor to prevent accidental activation

Correct Answer. B

Explanation: Placing the call light within the resident’s safe reach is the appropriate action because residents must have a reliable way to request assistance. A resident with limited mobility may be unable to safely reach a call light that has fallen to the floor. Asking the resident to wait until the next round delays access to help. Telling the resident to call loudly is unreliable and may not be possible for someone with weakness or communication difficulties. Leaving the call light on the floor creates a preventable safety problem. The aide should also make sure the resident can actually operate the call system and should report equipment problems if the device does not work properly.

Question 2. A resident who normally eats independently suddenly begins coughing while drinking thin liquids. What should the nurse aide do?

A. Encourage the resident to drink faster
B. Offer a larger amount of liquid
C. Stop or pause the activity and report the change
D. Add ice to the drink without checking the care plan

Correct Answer. C

Explanation: Sudden coughing during drinking may indicate a change in swallowing ability and can increase the risk of aspiration. The nurse aide should pause the activity, follow any existing swallowing precautions, and report the observation to the appropriate nurse. Encouraging faster drinking may make swallowing less controlled and increase risk. Offering larger amounts of liquid is also inappropriate when swallowing may be impaired. Adding ice changes the temperature but does not address the underlying swallowing concern and could conflict with an established care plan. The aide should not independently change liquid consistency, feeding techniques, or dietary restrictions. The observation should be reported accurately, including when the coughing occurred and whether other signs of swallowing difficulty were present.

Question 3. While helping a resident dress, the nurse aide notices a new area of redness over the resident’s tailbone. The resident says, “It feels sore when I sit.” What should the aide do?

A. Massage the area until the redness disappears
B. Apply powder without instructions
C. Relieve pressure according to the care plan and report the finding
D. Cover the area with a tight bandage

Correct Answer. C

Explanation: New redness and soreness over a pressure-prone area may indicate early skin damage and should be reported. The aide should follow the resident’s positioning and pressure-relief plan while avoiding unnecessary pressure or friction. Vigorous massage can damage tissue when pressure-related injury is developing. Applying powder without instructions is not an appropriate treatment and may interfere with prescribed skin care. A tight bandage may increase pressure and does not address the underlying cause. The aide should report the location, appearance, and resident’s complaint to the nurse and continue following the established care plan. Early recognition of skin changes is important because pressure-related problems can worsen if not addressed promptly.

Question 4. A resident refuses breakfast and says, “I have no appetite this morning.” The resident has also eaten very little during the previous two meals. What should the nurse aide do?

A. Force the resident to eat
B. Remove the tray and say nothing
C. Report the repeated decrease in food intake
D. Give the resident a different meal without authorization

Correct Answer. C

Explanation: Repeated poor food intake is a change that may affect the resident’s nutritional status and should be reported. The aide should respect the resident’s choice while communicating the pattern to the nurse or appropriate staff. Forcing food is inappropriate and may cause distress or create a safety concern. Removing the tray without reporting the poor intake means an important observation could be missed. Providing a different meal without authorization could conflict with the resident’s prescribed diet, allergies, or other care requirements. The aide should follow the care plan and document or report intake as required. Appropriate staff can determine whether the resident needs further assessment or whether changes to the meal plan are appropriate.

Question 5. A resident tells the nurse aide, “My daughter wants to know what medications I take, but I don’t want her to know.” Later, the daughter asks the aide for a list of the resident’s medications. What should the aide do?

A. Provide the list because she is the resident’s daughter
B. Give the daughter only the medication names
C. Protect the resident’s privacy and refer the request to appropriate staff
D. Ask another resident whether the daughter should receive the information

Correct Answer. C

Explanation: Medication information is private health information, and the resident has specifically expressed a desire not to disclose it. The aide should protect confidentiality and refer questions about medications to appropriate staff. Being a family member does not automatically give someone permission to receive private health information. Providing only the names would still disclose confidential information. Asking another resident for advice is inappropriate and could create an additional confidentiality concern. The aide should respond professionally without discussing the resident’s medications, diagnoses, or treatments. If there is an authorized person who is legally entitled to information, the appropriate staff member can determine what may be disclosed. Protecting confidentiality is an essential part of maintaining resident trust and dignity.

Question 6. A resident with a prescribed walker says, “One of the walker tips keeps slipping on the floor.” What should the nurse aide do?

A. Tell the resident to continue using the walker carefully
B. Wrap the tip with a towel
C. Stop unsafe use and report the equipment problem
D. Remove the walker permanently

Correct Answer. C

Explanation: A walker that slips can create a serious fall hazard and should not be used as though it were functioning normally. The aide should prevent unsafe use and report the defective equipment according to facility procedures. Telling the resident to simply be careful does not remove the hazard. Wrapping the tip with a towel is an improvised repair that may make the walker even less stable. Removing the walker permanently could unnecessarily limit the resident’s mobility and independence. Appropriate staff should inspect or replace the equipment as necessary. The aide should follow the resident’s mobility plan and ensure that the resident has a safe means of movement while the equipment problem is addressed.

Question 7. A resident with hearing impairment becomes frustrated because the nurse aide is speaking while facing away from the resident. What should the aide do?

A. Speak louder while continuing to face away
B. Face the resident and speak clearly at a normal pace
C. Ask another resident to explain what was said
D. Repeat the same words more quickly

Correct Answer. B

Explanation: Facing the resident allows the person to see the aide’s facial expressions and mouth movements, which can support communication for someone with hearing impairment. Speaking clearly at a normal pace is generally more effective than shouting or speaking rapidly. Continuing to face away makes communication more difficult, even if the aide increases volume. Asking another resident to explain the conversation unnecessarily involves someone else and may compromise privacy. Repeating words more quickly is also unlikely to improve understanding. The aide should reduce background noise when possible, gain the resident’s attention before speaking, use clear language, and confirm understanding. Communication should be adapted to the resident’s individual needs without treating the resident as incapable.

Question 8. A resident asks the nurse aide to help transfer into a wheelchair, but the resident’s prescribed transfer belt is not in the room. What should the aide do?

A. Perform the transfer without the belt
B. Use a bedsheet as a substitute
C. Obtain the appropriate equipment before beginning the transfer
D. Ask the resident to stand without assistance

Correct Answer. C

Explanation: If the resident’s care plan requires a transfer belt, the aide should obtain the appropriate equipment before beginning the transfer. Performing the transfer without required equipment may increase the risk of falling or injury. A bedsheet is not an appropriate substitute because it may not provide the secure support needed during a transfer. Asking the resident to stand without assistance is unsafe when the care plan indicates that assistance or equipment is required. The aide should prepare the environment, position the wheelchair safely, obtain the prescribed equipment, and explain the procedure to the resident. If the equipment cannot be located or is damaged, the aide should seek appropriate assistance rather than improvising.

Question 9. A resident tells the nurse aide, “I am embarrassed because I had an accident before breakfast.” Which response is MOST appropriate?

A. “You should have gone to the bathroom earlier.”
B. “These things happen. Let’s get you cleaned up privately and comfortably.”
C. “You need to control your bladder better.”
D. “I will tell your roommate so they can help you.”

Correct Answer. B

Explanation: Option B is appropriate because it provides reassurance while protecting the resident’s dignity and privacy. Incontinence can be embarrassing, and the aide should respond without judgment or criticism. Telling the resident they should have gone earlier may increase shame and does not address the immediate care need. Saying the resident needs better bladder control is judgmental and may be medically inaccurate. Sharing the incident with a roommate violates confidentiality and could cause unnecessary embarrassment. The aide should provide appropriate personal care, use privacy measures, follow the resident’s continence-care plan, and report significant changes in elimination patterns. Respectful communication helps maintain trust and supports the resident’s dignity during a vulnerable situation.

Question 10. A resident with diabetes says, “My lunch tray is here, but I don’t feel well enough to eat.” The resident appears unusually weak compared with earlier in the morning. What should the nurse aide do?

A. Force the resident to eat
B. Ignore the weakness because the tray has arrived
C. Report the unusual weakness and reduced appetite promptly
D. Give the resident a sugary drink without checking the care plan

Correct Answer. C

Explanation: Unusual weakness combined with a change in appetite is a significant change from the resident’s normal condition and should be reported promptly. The nurse aide should observe the resident, maintain safety, and communicate the change to the nurse. Forcing food is inappropriate and may create additional problems. Ignoring the weakness because mealtime has arrived could delay assessment of a potentially important condition. Giving a sugary drink without following the resident’s care plan is also inappropriate because dietary or medical instructions may apply. The aide should not attempt to diagnose the cause of the weakness or independently manage the resident’s condition. Accurate observation and timely reporting allow appropriate staff to determine what assessment or intervention is needed.