GNA - Geriatric Nursing Assistant Basic Nursing and Restorative Skills Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A nursing assistant is assisting a resident with ambulation. The resident has a cane because of weakness on their right side. On which side should the nursing assistant stand to provide the BEST support?
- On the resident's left side, slightly behind them.
- Directly behind the resident to catch them if they fall.
- On the resident's right side, slightly behind them. (Correct answer)
- In front of the resident to guide their path.
Correct answer: On the resident's right side, slightly behind them.
To provide the most effective support and maintain balance, the nursing assistant should stand on the resident's weaker side. This positioning allows the assistant to quickly provide stability if the resident begins to lose balance on their affected side.
Question 2: Which of the following BEST describes the primary goal of restorative nursing care?
- To ensure the resident is completely dependent on staff for all care.
- To help residents attain and maintain their highest possible level of function and independence. (Correct answer)
- To provide care as quickly as possible to save time.
- To focus only on the resident's acute medical conditions.
Correct answer: To help residents attain and maintain their highest possible level of function and independence.
The fundamental goal of restorative care is to maximize a resident's independence and prevent further decline in their physical and functional abilities. This involves helping them perform daily activities as independently as possible.
Question 3: A resident is unable to move his own arm due to a recent stroke. The nursing assistant is instructed to perform passive range of motion (PROM) exercises. This means the nursing assistant will:
- ask the resident to lift the arm as high as they can.
- move the resident's arm through the exercises without assistance from the resident. (Correct answer)
- have the resident squeeze a stress ball to build strength.
- assist the resident in moving the arm, with the resident doing most of the work.
Correct answer: move the resident's arm through the exercises without assistance from the resident.
Passive range of motion (PROM) involves the caregiver moving the resident's joints through their range of motion without any active participation from the resident. This is done when the resident is unable to move the limb on their own.
Question 4: When transferring a resident from the bed to a wheelchair, which action demonstrates proper body mechanics by the nursing assistant?
- Bending at the waist to lift the resident.
- Keeping their feet close together for better balance.
- Twisting their back to pivot the resident to the chair.
- Bending their knees and keeping their back straight. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Bending their knees and keeping their back straight.
Proper body mechanics require using the strong muscles of the legs to lift, not the weaker back muscles. Bending at the knees, keeping the back straight, and maintaining a wide base of support prevents injury to the caregiver.
Question 5: A resident is on a bladder retraining program. What is a key responsibility of the Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) in this program?
- Restricting the resident's fluid intake in the evening.
- Waiting for the resident to ask before offering to take them to the toilet.
- Following the toileting schedule consistently and recording intake and output. (Correct answer)
- Deciding independently to change the toileting schedule.
Correct answer: Following the toileting schedule consistently and recording intake and output.
Consistency is crucial for success in a bladder retraining program. The GNA's role includes adhering strictly to the scheduled toileting times, encouraging fluids, and accurately documenting incontinence and voiding patterns to help the nurse evaluate the plan's effectiveness.
Question 6: A resident begins to fall while you are assisting them with ambulation. What is the correct action for the nursing assistant to take?
- Quickly grab the resident's arm to pull them back up.
- Try to catch the resident to prevent the fall completely.
- Widen their stance and gently slide the resident down their leg to the floor. (Correct answer)
- Step away to avoid being injured by the falling resident.
Correct answer: Widen their stance and gently slide the resident down their leg to the floor.
Attempting to stop a fall can cause serious injury to both the resident and the nursing assistant. The safest procedure is to use proper body mechanics to guide the resident gently to the floor, protecting their head and body from injury as much as possible.
A nursing assistant is assisting a resident with ambulation.
The resident has a cane because of weakness on their right side.
On which side should the nursing assistant stand to provide the BEST support?