Brainscape’s CNA flashcards empower you to study quickly, conveniently, and painlessly so that you pass your exam on the first try. With expert-curated and vetted flashcards that are closely aligned to all 50 states’ test plans for the Certified Nursing Assistant certification, you’ll have the ultimate study weapon to learn efficiently, even if you’re working long hours, managing family life, or simply short on time.
Built using cognitive science and trusted by hundreds of thousands of learners, Brainscape’s CNA flashcards are designed to accelerate your learning, boost your confidence, and help you walk into test day feeling prepared to join the healthcare team with pride!
What you get with Brainscape’s CNA Flashcards App:
Your journey to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant isn’t a sashay in the park. Between juggling the costs of
CNA exam prep, understanding state requirements, and preparing for your exam, it’s easy to feel totally overwhelmed. But with Brainscape’s CNA flashcards, you get:
- 1100+ Flashcards that cover the highest-yield concepts in all 50 states’ CNA test plans, with all the fluff left out.
- Peace of mind as we’ve covered the most important concepts taught by the top CNA test prep resources, such as patient care essentials, safety protocols, legal responsibilities, and more.
- A fast, effective spaced repetition study system that helps you absorb the material TWICE as fast and retain it for longer.
- Ongoing feedback, statistics, and visualization tools to help you track your progress, which motivates you to keep going (and keep your streak alive!)
- A carefully scaffolded curriculum built around the official CNA test plan so you don’t waste time guessing what to study.
- Freedom and flexibility with in-sync studying across Brainscape’s website and mobile apps — so you can study CNA topics anywhere, anytime, even offline.
CNA Exam & Certification FAQ
What is the Best Study Guide for the CNA Exam?
From Kaplan, Newstone Test Prep, and Ascencia to Mosby’s Essentials for Nursing Assistants, there are dozens of CNA study guides and practice test sites available. While they’re all reputable and contain the necessary content, many are expensive and won’t help you systematically ingrain and retain the content the way Brainscape does.
The best CNA study guide is the one that helps you master the knowledge and skills for the test, without wasting time or money. Since most CNA exam questions are rooted in practical healthcare knowledge and real-world caregiving, the most efficient prep tool is one that teaches you exactly what you need to know and helps you retain it, too!
That’s what makes Brainscape’s CNA exam flashcards so powerful. Each flashcard is designed using cognitive science principles to help you retain concepts faster and recall them under pressure. Whether you’re reviewing the basics of handwashing, practicing nurse aide procedures, or memorizing patient rights, our flashcards work with your brain, not against it.
Bonus: Our platform is fully mobile, so you can study for your CNA test while riding the bus, between classes, or during a lunch break. Even 5 minutes a day adds up.
How Many Questions are on the CNA Exam?
Most state CNA exams include a written test with 60 to 70 multiple-choice questions and a skills test involving five hands-on tasks. Reviewing CNA flashcards regularly helps you remember procedures like how a nurse aide tells a patient about a task, or how to correctly use proper body mechanics.
Is the Certified Nurse's Assistant Exam Difficult?
Yes and no. The CNA exam isn’t designed to trick you but it does require solid preparation. The written portion includes 60–70 multiple-choice CNA exam questions, and most states require at least a 70–75% score to pass. The skills exam? You’ll demonstrate five hands-on procedures selected at random. These could range from taking blood pressure to performing foot care, all while being observed.
For many candidates, the pressure of doing tasks in front of an evaluator is the hardest part. But with enough CNA exam preparation, it becomes manageable, even empowering.
Brainscape helps reduce exam anxiety by making you feel ready, rehearsed, and confident. Our CNA flashcards app focuses on high-yield, exam-style content that prepares you for real-world situations and tough testing environments alike. You’ll not only remember the info, you’ll understand when and why it matters.
And once that knowledge is second nature? You’ll breeze through test day like you’ve been part of the healthcare team for years.
How Can I Pass my CNA Exam?
Passing the CNA exam takes focused review, consistent practice, and the ability to perform under pressure. The exam is split into two parts: a written knowledge test and a hands-on skills assessment, and you’ll need to succeed at both to become a certified nurse aide. That means studying the most common CNA exam test questions and practicing critical care procedures like moving patients, dressing wounds, or providing oral care.
Brainscape’s CNA exam flashcards break these high-yield topics into bite-sized questions and answers that help you master the essentials, fast. But studying smarter also means taking care of yourself, and knowing how to study.
Here are 10 tips to help you stay sharp and pass your CNA exam with flying colors:
- Use active recall. Quiz yourself with CNA flashcards instead of passively rereading notes.
- Study in short bursts. Sessions of 25–45 minutes with breaks are ideal for memory retention.
- Space out your review. Studying over time (rather than cramming) helps the info stick.
- Mix up your topics. Rotate between infection control, patient safety, and legal duties.
- Prioritize sleep. Memory consolidation happens during sleep so sacrificing it to cram for the exam will achieve the opposite results you want.
- Eat for your brain. Healthy fats, hydration, and lean proteins support better focus.
- Practice hands-on. Rehearse your skills in person: you’ll need to show the CNA examiners what you know.
- Teach what you learn. Explaining topics aloud helps clarify and reinforce knowledge.
- Block distractions. Create a quiet study space or use noise-canceling tools if needed.
- Track your progress. Use Brainscape’s analytics to see where you’re strong and where you need to invest more study time.
With these strategies and the right CNA exam prep tool, you can absolutely pass your exam and begin your career as a certified nursing assistant.
What Topics are Covered in the CNA Exam?
The CNA exam covers a range of fundamental topics that reflect a nursing assistant’s responsibility in a clinical setting. You’ll need to know:
- Infection control procedures
- Basic nursing skills (vital signs, bathing, dressing, positioning)
- Client rights and legal responsibilities
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Nutrition and hydration
- Safety and emergency procedures
- Personal care (including oral hygiene, perineal care, foot care, and more)
- Role of the healthcare team and collaboration with registered nurses
Brainscape’s CNA flashcards are carefully aligned with the official CNA test plan and mirror the most common CNA exam questions, helping you learn all of the above and more with total clarity.
What is included in the CNA skills test?
The skills test evaluates your ability to carry out procedures like handwashing, nurse aide dress techniques, employ body mechanic techniques, and performing catheter care. You may be asked to observe a client closely or demonstrate how a nursing assistant observes skin condition or safety hazards.
How Long Should I Study for the CNA Exam?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but most candidates spend two to four weeks preparing after completing their CNA training program. The amount of time you’ll need depends on how recently you finished your course, how much you remember, and how comfortable you feel with both written content and hands-on skills.
With Brainscape’s CNA flashcards app, you can maximize every minute of study time. Even just 15 to 30 minutes a day of targeted review can lead to big results. We’ll help you build and track a consistent habit that keeps you motivated and focused, without burning out.
What if I Fail the CNA Exam?
First off, take a deep breath. Failing the CNA exam doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for the profession, it just means you need a bit more time and the right tools to solidify your knowledge.
Most states allow you to retake the exam up to three times within a certain time frame (typically 24 months after completing your training). If you fail either the written or skills portion, you usually only have to retake the part you didn’t pass.
Using Brainscape’s CNA flashcards in your second round of studying can make all the difference. With our adaptive spaced repetition study system, you can target your weakest areas, improve your retention, and regain the confidence you need to succeed.
Do I Need to Use CNA Flashcards if I Already Took a CNA Course?
Yes, and here’s why. Your CNA course may have introduced the material, but flashcards are what help you lock it into long-term memory. Especially if it’s been a few weeks since you finished your program, it’s easy to forget key terminology, procedural steps, or safety rules.
Brainscape’s CNA exam flashcards are a perfect complement to your course materials. They’re especially helpful for reviewing topics like infection control, patient communication, or complex multi-step procedures; in other words, the things you’ll need to recall instantly on test day.
How Many Questions Can You Miss on a CNA Test?
While the specifics vary by state, most written CNA exams include 60 to 70 questions, with a passing score of around 70–75%. That means you can miss about 15–20 CNA exam test questions and still pass.
The skills portion is more exacting. You’ll be evaluated on five tasks chosen at random — and you’ll need to pass all of them. Evaluators may allow minor mistakes, but anything that risks patient safety or violates protocol is an automatic fail.
So what does this mean for your study plan?
It means mastering both core knowledge and clinical skills. It means understanding a nurse aide’s responsibility in every scenario. And it means reviewing high-yield concepts in an efficient, convenient way that works around your busy life.
Brainscape’s CNA flashcards give you just that: a practical, proven system for locking in what you need to know and filtering out what you don’t.
What’s the Best Way to Review CNA Flashcards?
To really maximize your retention, review flashcards daily using an adaptive CNA flashcards app like Brainscape. Consistency is key. Studying in any free time you might have throughout your day—such as on the bus or treadmill, while waiting for an appointment, or out for a walk—can easily add up to 45 minutes or an hour of additional studying per day, which deepens retention considerably.
As for the precise flashcard study methodology you should follow, there’s no need to worry about that. Simply tap the big blue “Study” button in Brainscape and the algorithm will pick up exactly where you left off, showing you the right concepts at the right time to optimize your learning efficiency.
What is the Role of a Nurse Aide?
A nurse aide supports licensed nurses by providing basic care to patients, especially in long-term care and residential facilities. Common duties include helping patients bathe, dress, eat, and move around safely. The nurse aide also assists with monitoring vital signs and observing changes in the patient closely to report back to the charge nurse.
What’s the Difference Between a CNA and a Nurse Aide?
Great question, and the answer is... not much! In most states, “Certified Nursing Assistant” and “nurse aide” are used interchangeably. Both refer to trained healthcare professionals who assist registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) by providing direct patient care. The job may involve tasks like bathing and feeding patients, measuring vital signs, and helping with mobility or personal hygiene.
Whether your training program refers to you as a nursing assistant, a nurse aide, or both, your CNA exam prep, and your career path, will look the same.
Testimonials from Learners Who Used Brainscape's CNA flashcards
“I’m a working mom and didn’t have time to sit down with textbooks every night. Brainscape made it so easy to study on my phone while cooking dinner or riding the bus. I passed on my first try!”
— Melissa C., Certified Nursing Assistant, New Jersey
“English isn’t my first language, and I was really nervous about the written test. Brainscape helped me practice CNA exam questions in a way that actually made sense. It felt like someone was coaching me the whole time.”
— Juan R., Nurse Aide Trainee, Texas
“The flashcards were exactly what I needed to review after my CNA program. I liked how it tracked my progress so I knew what I had down cold and what I needed to go over again. This app gave me the confidence to crush the skills test, too.”
— Samantha T., CNA Candidate, California
Additional Resources to Support Your CNA Flashcards
You’re already doing the hard part — showing up. Brainscape’s CNA flashcards make the rest easier, helping you learn faster, remember longer, and pass with confidence. Whether you're studying at home, in between shifts, or on the go, Brainscape is the study partner that meets you where you are, and gets you where you want to go.
