General CNA Practice Safety and Emergency Procedures Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: While assisting a resident in the dining hall, you notice they suddenly grab their throat, cannot speak, and appear panicked. What is the CNA's immediate and most appropriate action?
- Offer the resident a glass of water to drink.
- Immediately leave the resident to find a nurse.
- Perform abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver). (Correct answer)
- Ask the resident to try coughing forcefully.
Correct answer: Perform abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver).
The resident is displaying universal signs of a severe airway obstruction (choking), such as clutching the throat and being unable to speak. The correct first aid response is to perform abdominal thrusts to dislodge the object. Asking them to cough is only appropriate if they can still make sounds or breathe partially. Offering water is dangerous and could worsen the obstruction. While help should be summoned, abandoning the resident is not the immediate priority.
Question 2: You discover a small fire in a resident's trash can. After activating the fire alarm and ensuring the resident is safe, what is the correct procedure for using a fire extinguisher according to the PASS acronym?
- Point, Activate, Squeeze, Sweep
- Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep (Correct answer)
- Pass, Assess, Spray, Smother
- Pull, Aim, Spray, Secure
Correct answer: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
The correct acronym for operating a fire extinguisher is PASS. It stands for: P - Pull the pin, A - Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, S - Squeeze the handle to discharge the agent, and S - Sweep the nozzle from side to side at the base of the fire.
Question 3: A CNA enters a resident's room and finds them on the floor next to their bed. The resident is conscious and states they fell. What is the CNA's FIRST action?
- Help the resident get back into bed immediately.
- Call for a nurse to assess the resident before moving them. (Correct answer)
- Ask the resident to stand up to see if they are injured.
- Document the fall in the resident's chart.
Correct answer: Call for a nurse to assess the resident before moving them.
After a fall, the resident must be assessed by a nurse for potential injuries, such as fractures or head trauma, before being moved. Attempting to move the resident without a proper assessment could cause further harm. The CNA's priority is to ensure the resident's safety, which includes staying with them and calling for a licensed nurse immediately.
Question 4: While providing care, a resident begins to have a seizure. They are in their bed, which has the side rails up. Which of the following actions is most appropriate for the CNA to take?
- Place a padded tongue blade in the resident's mouth to prevent them from biting their tongue.
- Attempt to restrain the resident's movements to prevent injury.
- Lower the head of the bed and place a pillow under the resident's head. (Correct answer)
- Leave the room to immediately find the charge nurse.
Correct answer: Lower the head of the bed and place a pillow under the resident's head.
During a seizure, the primary goal is to protect the resident from injury. Placing a soft item like a pillow under their head helps prevent head trauma. Nothing should ever be placed in the person's mouth, and they should not be restrained, as this can cause injury. While help should be called, the CNA should stay with the resident to ensure their safety.
Question 5: To prevent musculoskeletal injuries when transferring a resident, which principle of body mechanics is most important for the CNA to follow?
- Twisting at the waist to allow for a wider range of motion.
- Keeping their back straight and lifting with their leg muscles. (Correct answer)
- Holding the resident at arm's length to maintain balance.
- Lifting quickly to minimize the duration of the strain.
Correct answer: Keeping their back straight and lifting with their leg muscles.
Proper body mechanics are crucial to prevent injury to both the CNA and the resident. The foundational principle is to use the strong muscles of the legs to lift, not the weaker back muscles. This is achieved by bending at the knees and hips while keeping the back straight. Twisting, holding the load far from the body, and jerky movements all increase the risk of injury.
Question 6: You smell smoke in the hallway of the facility. Following the R.A.C.E. protocol, what is the very first thing you should do?
- Extinguish the fire if you can locate it.
- Activate the nearest fire alarm.
- Rescue any residents in immediate danger. (Correct answer)
- Confine the fire by closing doors.
Correct answer: Rescue any residents in immediate danger.
The R.A.C.E. acronym stands for Rescue, Alarm, Confine, and Extinguish/Evacuate. The absolute first priority in any fire situation is to rescue anyone who is in immediate danger. After ensuring human life is safe, the next steps are to activate the alarm, confine the fire, and then extinguish if it is safe to do so.
General CNA Practice Safety and Emergency Procedures Questions and Answers 1
While assisting a resident in the dining hall, you notice they suddenly grab their throat, cannot speak, and appear panicked.
What is the CNA's immediate and most appropriate action?