CNA The Nurse Aide's Role and Responsibilities — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following tasks falls within the CNA's scope of practice?
- Changing sterile wound dressings independently
- Administering intravenous medications
- Measuring and recording vital signs (Correct answer)
- Diagnosing a resident's skin condition
Correct answer: Measuring and recording vital signs
Measuring and recording vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure) is within the CNA's scope of practice. Tasks such as sterile dressing changes, IV medications, and diagnoses require higher licensure.
Question 2: A CNA observes that a resident has a new bruise on their arm that was not there yesterday. What is the most important action?
- Document it in the chart and wait to see if it gets worse
- Tell the resident's family without informing the nurse
- Report the observation to the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Ignore it unless the resident reports pain
Correct answer: Report the observation to the nurse immediately
Unexplained bruising can be a sign of abuse, injury, or a medical condition. The CNA must report this to the nurse immediately. Observation and reporting are central responsibilities of the nurse aide role.
Question 3: The nurse asks the CNA to perform a task the CNA has never been trained to do. What should the CNA do?
- Attempt the task since the nurse requested it
- Refuse to work for the rest of the shift
- Tell the nurse they have not been trained for that task and cannot perform it safely (Correct answer)
- Ask another CNA to do it without telling the nurse
Correct answer: Tell the nurse they have not been trained for that task and cannot perform it safely
CNAs must only perform tasks they have been trained and are competent to perform. The correct action is to honestly inform the nurse and request training before performing the task.
Question 4: Which legal principle requires a CNA to keep all information about a resident confidential?
- OSHA regulations
- The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) (Correct answer)
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA)
Correct answer: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
HIPAA protects the privacy of residents' health information. CNAs must not share resident information with anyone who does not have a need to know for care purposes.
Question 5: When a CNA makes an error in care, such as giving a resident the wrong food tray, what is the required action?
- Say nothing and hope the resident was not harmed
- Correct the error if possible, report it to the nurse immediately, and document it accurately (Correct answer)
- Wait to see if the resident has a reaction before reporting
- Ask a coworker to handle the situation
Correct answer: Correct the error if possible, report it to the nurse immediately, and document it accurately
CNAs must report all errors to the nurse immediately, correct the situation if possible, and ensure accurate documentation. Transparency about errors is essential for resident safety and is an ethical and legal obligation.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the CNA's role as part of the healthcare team?
- CNAs work independently and do not report to other healthcare professionals
- CNAs provide direct care, observe and report changes, and support the nurse's plan of care (Correct answer)
- CNAs develop and write nursing care plans for residents
- CNAs supervise licensed nurses in direct care situations
Correct answer: CNAs provide direct care, observe and report changes, and support the nurse's plan of care
CNAs are essential frontline members of the healthcare team who provide direct personal care, closely observe residents, report changes in condition to nurses, and implement the care plan developed by licensed staff.
CNA The Nurse Aide's Role and Responsibilities
Which of the following tasks falls within the CNA's scope of practice?