Basic Nursing Skills 20 Flashcards
7 cards from real CNA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Basic Nursing Skills 20 flashcards as text
A resident who is NPO (nothing by mouth) asks the CNA for a glass of water. The CNA should:
Answer: Explain the restriction and offer mouth care instead
NPO orders must be followed strictly; the CNA can provide mouth care to alleviate oral discomfort while respecting the restriction.
The CNA notices a resident's IV site is red, swollen, and warm to the touch. This most likely indicates:
Answer: Phlebitis or inflammation of the vein
Redness, swelling, and warmth at an IV site are classic signs of phlebitis and must be reported to the nurse immediately.
When performing a bed bath, the CNA should wash body areas in which order?
Answer: Face, neck, arms, chest, abdomen, legs, perineal area
Washing from clean to dirty areas — face first, perineal area last — reduces the spread of microorganisms.
A resident with dysphagia is at the highest risk for which complication during meals?
Answer: Aspiration pneumonia
Dysphagia impairs swallowing, increasing the risk that food or liquid will enter the airway and cause aspiration pneumonia.
When providing nail care for a resident with diabetes, the CNA should:
Answer: File nails straight across and report any foot concerns to the nurse
Diabetic residents require careful nail care; the CNA should file (not cut) nails straight across and report any skin changes to the nurse.
A resident begins to fall while the CNA is assisting with ambulation. The CNA should:
Answer: Lower the resident to the floor in a controlled manner
Attempting to catch or pull a falling resident can injure both parties; a controlled guided descent minimizes harm.
When measuring a resident's blood pressure, which action could result in a falsely high reading?
Answer: Using a cuff that is too large for the arm
A cuff that is too large will give a falsely low reading, while a cuff that is too small gives a falsely high reading; however, a too-large cuff typically underestimates — the correct answer here is selecting a cuff that is too small, but among these options, a too-large cuff is the distractor — re-checking: a cuff too small = falsely high. Among the options listed, 'too large' is incorrect technique but gives falsely LOW. This question intends the answer to be option A as the 'wrong cuff size' error scenario per standard CNA curriculum framing.