CNA Roles and Responsibilities — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under whose supervision does a CNA practice?
- The facility administrator
- A licensed nurse (RN or LPN/LVN) (Correct answer)
- Another CNA with more experience
- Independently without supervision
Correct answer: A licensed nurse (RN or LPN/LVN)
CNAs always work under the supervision of a licensed nurse—either a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN). The nurse delegates specific tasks to the CNA and remains responsible for the overall care plan and clinical judgment decisions.
Question 2: Which of the following tasks is within a CNA's scope of practice?
- Administering oral medications
- Inserting a urinary catheter
- Taking and recording vital signs (Correct answer)
- Interpreting laboratory results
Correct answer: Taking and recording vital signs
Taking and recording vital signs is a routine task well within the CNA's scope of practice. Tasks such as administering medications, inserting catheters, and making medical diagnoses are outside the CNA's scope and are reserved for licensed nurses or physicians.
Question 3: A CNA is asked by a co-worker to complete a task the CNA has never been trained to do. What should the CNA do?
- Complete the task to avoid looking incompetent
- Ask another CNA to show them how and then proceed
- Decline and inform the charge nurse that they have not been trained for this task (Correct answer)
- Complete the task once and learn from the experience
Correct answer: Decline and inform the charge nurse that they have not been trained for this task
CNAs must only perform tasks for which they have received proper training and that fall within their scope of practice. Performing unfamiliar tasks can harm the resident and expose the CNA to legal liability. The CNA should tell the co-worker and notify the charge nurse.
Question 4: What is a CNA's responsibility when reporting a change in a resident's condition?
- Wait until the end of the shift to report all changes together
- Only report changes that the CNA believes are serious
- Report changes to the nurse promptly and accurately, including specific observations (Correct answer)
- Document changes in the chart and tell the family before telling the nurse
Correct answer: Report changes to the nurse promptly and accurately, including specific observations
CNAs observe and report changes in residents' conditions to the nurse promptly. Accurate and timely reporting is critical because the nurse cannot be present for every interaction and relies on CNA observations to make clinical assessments and decisions.
Question 5: A resident's care plan indicates the resident should ambulate twice daily. The CNA does not have time to complete both walks. What should the CNA do?
- Skip one walk and do not mention it
- Complete only one walk and chart both as done
- Inform the charge nurse so the walk can be prioritized or reassigned (Correct answer)
- Tell the resident the care plan is wrong and ambulation is not needed
Correct answer: Inform the charge nurse so the walk can be prioritized or reassigned
Care plans are legal documents that guide care. When unable to complete a care plan task, the CNA must inform the charge nurse rather than simply skipping it. The nurse can prioritize, reassign, or document the reason care was not completed.
Question 6: Which statement best describes the CNA's role on the healthcare team?
- CNAs work independently and make clinical decisions for residents
- CNAs only clean rooms and change bed linens
- CNAs provide hands-on care and serve as the primary observers reporting to licensed nurses (Correct answer)
- CNAs supervise nurses and direct the care plan
Correct answer: CNAs provide hands-on care and serve as the primary observers reporting to licensed nurses
CNAs are foundational members of the healthcare team who provide direct, hands-on care. They act as the eyes and ears of the nursing staff, observing residents closely and relaying important observations. Their work is essential to resident safety, comfort, and quality of life.
CNA Roles and Responsibilities
Under whose supervision does a CNA practice?