CNA Personal Care Skills 5 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When assisting a resident with a prosthetic limb, the CNA should:
- Remove the prosthesis daily for routine hygiene without resident input
- Follow the care plan and the resident's specific instructions for prosthesis care (Correct answer)
- Clean the prosthesis with bleach to ensure sanitation
- Avoid touching the prosthesis to prevent damage
Correct answer: Follow the care plan and the resident's specific instructions for prosthesis care
Prosthetic care is highly individualized — the CNA must follow the care plan and the resident's established routine for removal, cleaning, and application.
Prosthetic limbs require specialized care that varies by type, material, and the resident's specific needs. The CNA should follow the care plan and defer to the resident's knowledge of their own prosthesis. General principles include keeping the residual limb and prosthetic socket clean and dry, inspecting for skin breakdown, and storing the prosthesis properly. Harsh chemicals like bleach can damage prosthetic materials.
Question 2: After applying anti-embolism stockings, the CNA should assess:
- That the stockings are folded down at the top for comfort
- That there are no wrinkles, the stockings are smooth, and circulation is intact (Correct answer)
- That the resident's legs feel warm under the stockings after one hour
- That the stockings cover the knee but not the thigh
Correct answer: That there are no wrinkles, the stockings are smooth, and circulation is intact
Wrinkles in TED stockings create pressure points that can impair circulation and cause skin breakdown — smooth application and circulation checks are essential.
After applying anti-embolism stockings, the CNA must ensure the stockings are smooth and wrinkle-free, as wrinkles create localized pressure that can impair circulation and cause pressure injuries. The CNA should check that toes are not blanched, blue, or cold and that there is no excessive swelling above the stocking edge. The stockings should never be folded down as this creates a tourniquet effect.
Question 3: When providing eye care for a resident with artificial eyes, the CNA should:
- Remove and clean the prosthetic eye daily without informing the resident
- Follow facility protocol and the resident's personal care routine (Correct answer)
- Use regular soap and water to clean the prosthetic eye
- Avoid all eye care to prevent accidental removal of the prosthesis
Correct answer: Follow facility protocol and the resident's personal care routine
Artificial eye care follows specific protocols and the resident's established personal routine to ensure proper hygiene and prevent damage.
Artificial eye care requires following the resident's care plan and personal routine. General principles include using saline or the recommended cleaning solution rather than harsh soaps, storing the prosthesis in appropriate solution when removed, cleaning the eye socket with normal saline, and handling the prosthesis carefully to avoid scratching or dropping. The resident's comfort and dignity require that care procedures be explained and consent obtained.
Question 4: When caring for a resident with a hearing aid, the CNA should:
- Remove the hearing aid during bathing and store it safely away from moisture (Correct answer)
- Clean the hearing aid with water to remove earwax buildup
- Leave the hearing aid in place during showering for convenience
- Increase the volume to maximum to ensure the resident can hear clearly
Correct answer: Remove the hearing aid during bathing and store it safely away from moisture
Hearing aids must be removed before bathing or showering to prevent moisture damage, and stored safely in a labeled container.
Hearing aids are sensitive electronic devices that are damaged by moisture. The CNA must remove hearing aids before bathing, showering, or swimming and store them safely in a dry labeled container away from water sources. Hearing aids should be cleaned with a dry cloth or the designated cleaning tool, not with water. Volume adjustments should follow the audiologist's or physician's recommendations.
Question 5: The purpose of performing range of motion exercises during personal care is to:
- Build muscle strength to restore full function in paralyzed limbs
- Maintain joint flexibility and prevent contractures in immobile residents (Correct answer)
- Replace physical therapy sessions to reduce facility costs
- Provide exercise only for residents who request it
Correct answer: Maintain joint flexibility and prevent contractures in immobile residents
ROM exercises maintain joint flexibility and prevent contractures in residents with limited mobility.
Range of motion exercises move joints through their full normal range to prevent contractures — permanent shortening of muscles and connective tissues that cause joints to become fixed in abnormal positions. Passive ROM is appropriate for residents who cannot move independently. ROM should be performed gently, within the resident's pain tolerance, following the care plan and the physical therapist's guidance.
Question 6: When assisting a resident with denture care, the CNA should:
- Place dentures in hot water to sterilize them thoroughly
- Line the sink with a towel or fill it with water before handling dentures (Correct answer)
- Store dentures dry overnight to prevent bacterial growth
- Use regular household toothpaste to clean dentures
Correct answer: Line the sink with a towel or fill it with water before handling dentures
Lining the sink or filling it with water prevents denture breakage if they are accidentally dropped during cleaning.
Dentures are fragile and expensive. The CNA should fill the sink with water or line it with a towel before handling dentures to cushion them against breakage if dropped. Dentures should be brushed with a denture brush and denture cleaner — not regular toothpaste which is abrasive — rinsed thoroughly, and stored in labeled denture cups with cool or room-temperature water overnight. Hot water warps dentures, changing their fit.
CNA Personal Care Skills 5 2
When assisting a resident with a prosthetic limb, the CNA should: