GNA GNA - Geriatric Nursing Assistant Skin Care and Pressure Injury Prevention 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which bony prominence is at HIGHEST risk for a pressure injury in a resident who spends most of the day in bed?
- Knuckles
- Sacrum/coccyx (Correct answer)
- Forehead
- Sternum
Correct answer: Sacrum/coccyx
The sacrum and coccyx bear significant weight when a resident lies flat and are the most common sites for pressure injuries in bedridden patients.
Question 2: How often should a bedridden resident be repositioned to prevent pressure injuries?
- Every 8 hours
- Every 4 hours
- Every 2 hours (Correct answer)
- Once per shift
Correct answer: Every 2 hours
Standard practice requires repositioning immobile residents at least every 2 hours to relieve pressure on bony prominences and restore blood flow.
Question 3: When inspecting a resident's skin, redness that does not turn white (blanch) when pressed indicates:
- Normal circulation
- A stage 1 pressure injury (Correct answer)
- Healthy skin aging
- An allergic reaction
Correct answer: A stage 1 pressure injury
Non-blanchable redness is a hallmark sign of a Stage 1 pressure injury, indicating tissue damage from prolonged pressure.
Question 4: Which action by the GNA helps prevent skin breakdown during repositioning?
- Dragging the resident across the sheet
- Using a lift sheet to move the resident (Correct answer)
- Repositioning only when the resident asks
- Tucking sheets tightly around the resident
Correct answer: Using a lift sheet to move the resident
Using a lift or draw sheet reduces friction and shear forces on the skin, which are major contributors to pressure injuries.
Question 5: A resident has a reddened area on the heel that does not blanch. The GNA should:
- Apply lotion and massage the area vigorously
- Document findings and report to the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Cover with a bandage and monitor for 24 hours
- Increase the resident's activity level only
Correct answer: Document findings and report to the nurse immediately
Non-blanchable redness indicates a Stage 1 pressure injury that must be reported to the nurse for assessment and care plan updates.
Question 6: Why should a GNA avoid massaging bony prominences that are reddened?
- It wastes time during care
- Massage can further damage fragile tissues and worsen injury (Correct answer)
- It increases the risk of infection
- Regulations prohibit it
Correct answer: Massage can further damage fragile tissues and worsen injury
Massaging reddened bony areas can cause additional damage to already compromised tissues, increasing the severity of the pressure injury.
GNA GNA - Geriatric Nursing Assistant Skin Care and Pressure Injury Prevention 1
Which bony prominence is at HIGHEST risk for a pressure injury in a resident who spends most of the day in bed?