HCA Basic Nursing and Restorative Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When performing a bed bath for a patient, which area should be washed last?
- The face
- The feet
- The perineal area (Correct answer)
- The abdomen
Correct answer: The perineal area
The perineal area is washed last to prevent transferring microorganisms from that area to other parts of the body.
Question 2: What is the correct water temperature for a patient's bath?
- 110–120°F (43–49°C)
- 100–105°F (38–41°C) (Correct answer)
- 90–95°F (32–35°C)
- 120–130°F (49–54°C)
Correct answer: 100–105°F (38–41°C)
Bath water should be 100–105°F (38–41°C) — warm but not hot — to prevent burns, especially in patients with reduced sensation.
Question 3: A patient's intake and output (I&O) must be documented. Which of the following counts as OUTPUT?
- IV fluids infused
- Oral liquids consumed
- Urine, wound drainage, and emesis (Correct answer)
- All food and beverages
Correct answer: Urine, wound drainage, and emesis
Output includes all fluids leaving the body: urine, vomit, wound drainage, diarrhea, and nasogastric suction.
Question 4: When making an occupied bed, which action is most important for patient safety?
- Use hot water to sanitize linens before placing them
- Keep bed side rails up on the side you are not working on (Correct answer)
- Complete both sides of the bed simultaneously
- Remove the pillow before starting to change linens
Correct answer: Keep bed side rails up on the side you are not working on
Keeping the far side rail raised prevents the patient from rolling out of bed while the HCA works on the near side.
Question 5: A patient is on a clear liquid diet. Which food item is appropriate for this diet?
- Cream of wheat cereal
- Vanilla ice cream
- Apple juice (Correct answer)
- Milk
Correct answer: Apple juice
A clear liquid diet includes transparent fluids such as broth, gelatin, and clear juices like apple juice; milk and ice cream are not allowed.
Question 6: When providing nail care for a patient, an HCA should avoid cutting the toenails of a patient who has:
- Arthritis in the fingers
- Diabetes mellitus (Correct answer)
- A history of hypertension
- Chronic back pain
Correct answer: Diabetes mellitus
Patients with diabetes have impaired circulation and healing, so toenail cutting should be performed only by a nurse or podiatrist to prevent injury.
Question 7: Which action should an HCA take before applying a prescribed topical ointment for a patient?
- Apply the ointment with bare hands for better feel
- Check the five rights of medication administration (Correct answer)
- Warm the ointment in a microwave for patient comfort
- Apply over the previous layer without removing it
Correct answer: Check the five rights of medication administration
Even for topical applications, the HCA must verify the five rights: right patient, drug, dose, route, and time before applying.
HCA Basic Nursing and Restorative Skills 3
When performing a bed bath for a patient, which area should be washed last?