Mixed Deck — All CNA Topics Flashcards

A resident who is visually impaired needs to be oriented to a new room. The CNA should:

Answer: Describe the room layout and guide the resident's hand to key items

Describing the layout and physically guiding the resident to items promotes safety and independence.

A CNA is caring for a patient with a urinary catheter who reports burning around the catheter insertion site and a temperature of 100.8°F. The urine in the drainage bag appears cloudy with sediment. What is the MOST appropriate initial action?

Answer: Report the signs and symptoms to the nurse immediately as they suggest catheter-associated UTI

Cloudy urine with sediment, burning at the insertion site, and low-grade fever are classic signs of a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). This is a change in patient condition requiring immediate nurse notification. CNAs must never irrigate catheters (that is a nursing or physician task) and delaying reporting by repositioning tubing could allow the infection to worsen.

A resident's urine output has been decreasing over the past 8 hours and the urine appears very dark amber. The CNA should FIRST:

Answer: Report the finding to the nurse promptly along with the current intake and output measurements

Decreased urine output with dark concentrated urine may indicate dehydration or a urinary tract problem and requires prompt nurse notification.

Which of the following tasks falls within the CNA's scope of practice?

Answer: Measuring and recording vital signs

Measuring and recording vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure) is within the CNA's scope of practice. Tasks such as sterile dressing changes, IV medications, and diagnoses require higher licensure.

While taking a rectal temperature the nurse aide should insert the thermometer and

Answer: hold onto the thermometer until it can be removed.

When taking a rectal temperature, the nurse aide must continuously hold onto the thermometer until it is time for removal. This prevents the thermometer from being accidentally dislodged, pushed in too far, or causing injury to the patient. Maintaining a secure hold ensures patient safety and an accurate temperature reading.

A CNA is performing passive range of motion (PROM) on a resident who has had a stroke, resulting in hemiplegia of the right arm. The CNA notices that the resident's fingers are tightly curled into a fist. What is the appropriate initial action?

Answer: Apply gentle, steady pressure to the curled fingers to gradually encourage them to extend.

For a resident with contractures or spasticity, such as a tightly curled fist post-stroke, the correct approach is to apply gentle, steady pressure. This technique helps the spastic muscles to relax slowly, allowing for a gradual opening of the hand. Forcing the joint or avoiding it altogether is incorrect. A splint would only be used under the direction of a nurse or therapist.

A resident wears a hearing aid. Before cleaning it, the CNA should:

Answer: Remove the battery

The battery must be removed before cleaning a hearing aid to prevent damage and electric shock risk.

A CNA is assisting with care in a unit when a Code Gray (combative person/security threat) is announced for a different hallway. Shortly after, an agitated, confused resident from that hallway walks into the CNA's resident's room and begins shouting and attempting to grab objects. The CNA's current resident is frail and bed-bound. What is the most appropriate response by the CNA?

Answer: Calmly attempt to redirect the agitated resident using a low, non-threatening voice while positioning yourself between the agitated resident and the bed-bound resident, and activating the call system for help

CNAs are not trained for physical restraint of combative individuals and must not use unauthorized restraints, which is both a safety risk and a legal violation. Leaving the frail, bed-bound resident unprotected is also inappropriate. The correct approach uses de-escalation techniques (calm voice, non-threatening body language, redirection) while the CNA positions themselves protectively between the two residents and simultaneously activates the call bell to summon trained help. This balances immediate protection of the vulnerable resident with safe, non-escalating interaction until security arrives.

A resident receiving tube feedings should have the head of the bed elevated to at least what degree during and after feedings?

Answer: 30 degrees

Elevating the head of the bed to at least 30 degrees during and after tube feedings prevents aspiration.

A resident has recently been prescribed a diuretic. The CNA should be on high alert for which new behavior that significantly increases fall risk?

Answer: Rushing to the bathroom with a sense of urgency.

Diuretics increase urine production, leading to urinary frequency and urgency. This often causes residents to rush to the bathroom, which elevates the risk of tripping and falling, particularly in cluttered spaces or at night when it's dark.

A nurse has applied a vest restraint to a confused resident per physician order. Thirty minutes later, the CNA performs a check and finds the resident has slumped forward in the wheelchair with the vest tightened across the neck. The resident is breathing but appears distressed. What should the CNA do FIRST?

Answer: Remove or loosen the restraint immediately to relieve pressure on the airway, then call for help

A restraint compressing the neck is a life-threatening emergency — airway compromise can cause rapid deterioration or death. The CNA's first action must be to relieve the immediate danger by loosening or removing the restraint, then immediately call for help. Documenting first, repositioning without releasing pressure, or waiting for the nurse while the airway remains compromised are all dangerous delays. Resident safety always supersedes procedure.

A resident has a PICC line in their left arm for long-term antibiotic therapy. What is the most critical precaution the CNA must take when preparing this resident for a shower?

Answer: Cover the entire PICC line dressing and exit site with a waterproof, occlusive cover.

The primary risk associated with a PICC line during bathing is infection, which can occur if the insertion site gets wet. It is crucial to cover the entire dressing and the catheter's exit site with a waterproof cover to keep it completely dry. Submerging the line or allowing water to seep under the dressing can introduce bacteria and lead to a serious bloodstream infection. While being careful with the arm is important, preventing water exposure is the most critical safety measure.

Objective data is any information that is fact. This means that the information is unbiased and multiple people should be able to interpret the information in the same way. All of the following are an example of objective data EXCEPT

Answer: The patient's pain level is 3 out of 10

Objective data are factual, measurable, and observable by multiple people, such as a patient's temperature, weight, or the duration of their hospitalization. A patient's pain level, however, is subjective data because it is based on their personal perception and experience, which cannot be directly measured or verified by others in the same way, even when using a pain scale.

While an unsteady resident is showering you should

Answer: have the client use a shower chair.

An unsteady resident is at a high risk of falls, especially in a wet and slippery environment like a shower. Providing a shower chair offers a stable and secure seating option, significantly reducing the risk of falling. This ensures the resident's safety while allowing them to maintain hygiene with assistance.

A resident with a condom catheter develops redness and skin breakdown at the base of the penis after 24 hours. What is the MOST likely cause the CNA should report?

Answer: The condom catheter was applied too tightly, restricting circulation

Skin breakdown and redness at the base of the penis after condom catheter use is a classic sign of the catheter being applied too tightly, which restricts circulation and causes pressure injury. The CNA must report this immediately and remove the catheter. A UTI would not cause localized penile base breakdown, an elevated drainage bag would cause urine backflow, and tubing kinks would cause urinary retention — neither directly causes this pattern of skin damage.

An 82-year-old resident with no history of diabetes complains that their food tastes bland and has started adding excessive salt. This age-related change, which can lead to poor nutrition, is primarily due to a decline in which sense?

Answer: Olfactory (smell) function

While the sense of taste (gustatory function) does decline with age, the most significant reason older adults perceive food as bland is due to a diminished sense of smell (olfaction). The two senses are closely linked, and much of what we perceive as flavor is actually aroma. A decline in smell is more pronounced with aging than the decline in taste.

How can a CNA best support a resident during rehabilitation exercises?

Answer: Encourage safe exercise and provide motivation.

A CNA's role in rehabilitation is to support the resident in performing prescribed exercises safely and effectively. This includes providing verbal encouragement, ensuring proper body mechanics, and monitoring for signs of fatigue or pain. They act as a motivator and assistant, not a substitute for the resident's effort or a physical therapist.

A facility uses a 1–4 assistance scale where 1 = independent and 4 = total dependence. A resident who needed full assistance last month now scores a 2. What does this change indicate?

Answer: The resident has improved in functional ability

A lower score on a scale where 1 is independent indicates improvement in the resident's ability to perform ADLs.

When removing an indwelling catheter, the balloon will not deflate. What is the correct action?

Answer: Stop and notify the nurse immediately

A balloon that will not deflate requires nurse assessment and possible intervention by a licensed practitioner; the CNA must not attempt to force removal.

A dementia patient has grown afraid of taking a shower. What tasks can a nurse's assistant perform?

Answer: Give a bed bath and try a shower on another day.

If a dementia patient is afraid of showering, forcing the issue can increase their anxiety and resistance. A more compassionate approach is to provide an alternative form of hygiene, like a bed bath, to ensure cleanliness, and then attempt the shower again on a different day or with a modified approach to reduce fear and distress.