GNA - Geriatric Nursing Assistant Body Mechanics and Mobility Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A GNA is preparing to transfer a resident with left-sided weakness from the bed to a wheelchair. What is the MOST important action for the GNA to take immediately before moving the resident?
- Place the wheelchair on the resident's weak (left) side.
- Ensure the wheels of the bed and the wheelchair are locked. (Correct answer)
- Ask the resident to place their arms around the GNA's neck for support.
- Put a pillow in the wheelchair for comfort before the transfer.
Correct answer: Ensure the wheels of the bed and the wheelchair are locked.
Locking the wheels on both the bed and the wheelchair is a critical safety step to prevent the surfaces from moving during the transfer, which could cause a fall.
Question 2: Which of the following BEST demonstrates proper body mechanics for a GNA preparing to assist with lifting a resident?
- Bending at the waist with straight legs.
- Keeping feet close together to concentrate strength.
- Twisting the back to pivot the resident smoothly.
- Standing with feet shoulder-width apart and bending at the knees. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Standing with feet shoulder-width apart and bending at the knees.
A wide base of support (feet shoulder-width apart) and using the strong muscles of the legs by bending at the knees are fundamental principles of good body mechanics that protect the GNA from back injury.
Question 3: While ambulating a resident with a gait belt, the resident begins to feel faint and their knees start to buckle. What is the GNA's most appropriate immediate action?
- Quickly grab a nearby chair to sit the resident down.
- Widen their stance and gently slide the resident down their leg to the floor. (Correct answer)
- Attempt to hold the resident in a standing position until help arrives.
- Let go of the gait belt and step away to avoid being pulled down.
Correct answer: Widen their stance and gently slide the resident down their leg to the floor.
The safest procedure when a resident is falling is to control their descent to the floor. By widening their stance and sliding the resident down their leg, the GNA protects both the resident from a hard fall and themselves from a back injury.
Question 4: When assisting a dependent resident to move up in bed, what is the safest and most effective method for the GNA to use?
- Ask a coworker for help and use a draw sheet or slide sheet. (Correct answer)
- Grasp the resident under their arms and pull them up toward the headboard.
- Lower the bed as much as possible to get better leverage.
- Instruct the resident to grab onto the side rails and pull themselves up.
Correct answer: Ask a coworker for help and use a draw sheet or slide sheet.
Using two people and a friction-reducing device like a draw sheet is the standard of care. This method prevents shearing injury to the resident's skin and protects both caregivers from musculoskeletal injury by distributing the weight and reducing the force needed.
Question 5: A GNA is positioning a resident in a side-lying (lateral) position to prevent pressure ulcers. Which of the following actions is essential for proper body alignment and pressure relief?
- Tucking the resident's bottom arm straight underneath their body.
- Positioning the resident directly on their hip bone.
- Placing a pillow between the resident's knees and ankles. (Correct answer)
- Ensuring the resident's back is perfectly straight at a 90-degree angle to the mattress.
Correct answer: Placing a pillow between the resident's knees and ankles.
Placing pillows between the knees and ankles prevents direct pressure between these bony prominences, which are high-risk areas for skin breakdown. This also helps maintain proper hip and spine alignment.
Question 6: A GNA and a nurse are using a mechanical (Hoyer) lift to transfer a resident from the bed. After the sling is positioned under the resident, what is the most critical safety check before lifting the resident off the bed?
- Raise the head of the bed to a 90-degree angle.
- Ask the resident if they are comfortable in the sling.
- Ensure all sling loops or clips are securely attached to the lift cradle. (Correct answer)
- Make sure the wheels of the lift are locked in place.
Correct answer: Ensure all sling loops or clips are securely attached to the lift cradle.
Verifying that the sling is securely attached to the lift is the most critical safety check. A detached or improperly attached sling can lead to a catastrophic fall and serious injury for the resident.
GNA - Geriatric Nursing Assistant Body Mechanics and Mobility Questions and Answers
A GNA is preparing to transfer a resident with left-sided weakness from the bed to a wheelchair.
What is the MOST important action for the GNA to take immediately before moving the resident?