Free HHA Basic Care and Comfort Questions and Answers 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which action is correct when performing oral care on an unconscious patient?
- Place the patient flat on their back to keep the mouth open
- Position the patient on their side to prevent aspiration (Correct answer)
- Use full glasses of water for rinsing
- Skip oral care to avoid disturbing the patient
Correct answer: Position the patient on their side to prevent aspiration
Positioning an unconscious patient on their side (or with head turned to the side) allows excess fluid and secretions to drain out rather than into the airway, preventing aspiration.
Question 2: How should an aide handle a patient's dentures when cleaning them?
- Scrub them with hot water to sterilize
- Hold them over a sink lined with a towel or basin of water, brush with cool or lukewarm water (Correct answer)
- Soak them in bleach overnight
- Use a wire brush for thorough cleaning
Correct answer: Hold them over a sink lined with a towel or basin of water, brush with cool or lukewarm water
Dentures are fragile. Cleaning over a padded surface prevents breakage if dropped, and cool or lukewarm water (not hot) prevents warping.
Question 3: A patient's skin appears reddened over the heel after lying in one position. What should the aide do first?
- Vigorously massage the reddened area to improve circulation
- Relieve pressure immediately by repositioning and use heel protectors; report to the supervisor (Correct answer)
- Apply lotion and ignore the redness
- Cover with a tight bandage
Correct answer: Relieve pressure immediately by repositioning and use heel protectors; report to the supervisor
Persistent redness (non-blanchable erythema) signals a Stage 1 pressure injury. Massaging red areas over bony prominences can further damage fragile tissue. The aide must relieve pressure and report findings.
Question 4: What is the correct sequence for perineal care on a female patient?
- Back to front, using the same cloth section for each stroke
- Front to back, using a clean area of the cloth for each stroke (Correct answer)
- Circular motions without a set direction
- Side to side only
Correct answer: Front to back, using a clean area of the cloth for each stroke
Front-to-back strokes move away from the urethra, reducing the risk of introducing fecal bacteria into the urinary tract and preventing urinary tract infections.
Question 5: Which of the following is an example of a comfort measure the aide can provide?
- Adjusting the patient's prescription medication dose
- Ordering new medical equipment independently
- Fluffing pillows, adjusting room temperature, and offering a warm blanket (Correct answer)
- Performing wound debridement
Correct answer: Fluffing pillows, adjusting room temperature, and offering a warm blanket
Comfort measures within an aide's scope include environmental adjustments, positioning, and personal preferences — not medical decisions or procedures.
Question 6: When a patient is being transferred from bed to wheelchair, the wheelchair should be placed:
- Directly in front of the bed, wheels unlocked
- At a 45-degree angle to the bed on the patient's stronger side, wheels locked (Correct answer)
- At the foot of the bed facing away
- At a 90-degree angle on the weaker side
Correct answer: At a 45-degree angle to the bed on the patient's stronger side, wheels locked
Placing the wheelchair at 45° on the patient's stronger side minimizes pivot distance, allows the patient to bear weight on the stronger leg, and locking the wheels prevents movement during the transfer.
Free HHA Basic Care and Comfort Questions and Answers 3
Which action is correct when performing oral care on an unconscious patient?