CNA Basic Nursing Skills 11 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: The charge nurse has asked you to take Mrs. Shumway's vital signs. You know you must first

Identify the patient and introduce yourself
Wash your hands
Gather appropriate equipment
All of the above (Correct answer)

Correct answer: All of the above

Before taking a patient's vital signs, a CNA must perform several crucial steps to ensure patient safety, accuracy, and infection control. This includes identifying the patient and introducing oneself for proper communication and consent, washing hands to prevent germ transmission, and gathering the necessary equipment for the procedure. All these steps are essential components of proper patient care and professional practice.

Question 2: Meal trays have arrived. Before serving each tray the nurse aide should

check each armband, even on familiar patients. (Correct answer)
check the temperature of the food.
ask patients if they are hungry.
ask about dietary restrictions.

Correct answer: check each armband, even on familiar patients.

Patient identification is a critical safety measure to prevent medication errors and ensure the correct patient receives the correct meal. Even if a patient is familiar, verifying their identity against the armband prevents errors that could arise from similar names, room changes, or temporary memory lapses, upholding patient safety standards.

Question 3: Which of the following measurements you obtained from Mrs. Shumway should be reported immediately to the charge nurse?

Temperature 99F
Pulse 74
B/P 190/114 (Correct answer)
Respiration 20

Correct answer: B/P 190/114

A blood pressure reading of 190/114 mmHg is significantly elevated and indicates severe hypertension, which can be a medical emergency. This reading poses an immediate risk for complications like stroke or heart attack, requiring prompt notification of the charge nurse for further assessment and intervention. Other vital signs listed are within or near normal ranges.

Question 4: A patient complains that her hand hurts where the IV is running. The nurse assistant notices that the hand is puffy. The best thing to do is

put ice onto the hand.
notify the IV nurse that the infusion appears to have infiltrated. (Correct answer)
notify the medication nurse that the patient is complaining of pain.
reassure the patient that needles always hurt.

Correct answer: notify the IV nurse that the infusion appears to have infiltrated.

The symptoms of pain and puffiness around an IV site strongly suggest infiltration, where the IV fluid leaks into the surrounding tissue instead of the vein. Notifying the IV nurse is crucial because they are trained to assess and manage IV complications, ensuring the patient's safety and preventing further tissue damage. CNAs do not manage IVs directly.

Question 5: Who orders a warm or cold application?

You as a CNA can if you think it is necessary
Nurse
Director of nursing
doctor (Correct answer)

Correct answer: doctor

Warm or cold applications are considered medical treatments that can significantly impact a patient's physiological response. Therefore, a doctor's order is required to ensure the application is appropriate for the patient's condition, prescribed correctly, and safely administered. CNAs do not have the authority to independently order treatments.

Question 6: You are caring for Mr. Brown who has a diagnosis of COPD. His SpO2 is 82%. He is currently receiving O2 via Nasal Cannula @ 2 liters/min. What do you do?

Report it STAT to your nurse. (Correct answer)
Switch the nasal cannula to a mask.
Turn up the O2 to 4 liters/min
Ask Mr. Brown to take breaths more frequently.

Correct answer: Report it STAT to your nurse.

An SpO2 of 82% for a patient with COPD, even on oxygen, is dangerously low and indicates significant respiratory distress or hypoxemia. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention from the nurse to assess the patient's condition and determine if oxygen levels need adjustment or other interventions are necessary. CNAs should never adjust oxygen settings independently.

Question 7: Your resident consumed a bowl of soup that was 180 cc of liquid. How many ounces was that?

4 oz
6 oz (Correct answer)
5 oz
7 oz

Correct answer: 6 oz

To convert cubic centimeters (cc) to ounces (oz), you need to know the conversion factor: 1 ounce is approximately equal to 30 cc (or 30 mL). Therefore, 180 cc divided by 30 cc/oz equals 6 ounces. This calculation is essential for accurate intake and output monitoring in healthcare.

Question 8: The circulatory system consists of the

heart, aorta, pulmonary vessels, lungs
heart, arteries, veins and capillaries. (Correct answer)
blood vessels, arteries, veins and capillaries
blood vessels, lymph nodes, spleen

Correct answer: heart, arteries, veins and capillaries.

The circulatory system, also known as the cardiovascular system, is responsible for transporting blood throughout the body. Its main components are the heart, which pumps the blood, and a network of blood vessels including arteries (carrying blood away from the heart), veins (carrying blood back to the heart), and capillaries (where exchange of nutrients and waste occurs).

Question 9: A nurse aide notices blood in a patient’s IV tubing. The aide should

do nothing; that’s normal.
stop the IV.
notify the IV nurse. (Correct answer)
try to flush the tubing.

Correct answer: notify the IV nurse.

Blood in the IV tubing is an abnormal finding that could indicate a problem with the IV site, such as a dislodged catheter or a clot. As a CNA, it is outside your scope of practice to troubleshoot or manage IV lines. The appropriate action is to immediately notify the IV nurse, who has the expertise to assess the situation and intervene safely.

Question 10: Which of the following is considered a normal age-related change?

Wheezing when breathing
Bladder capacity decreases (Correct answer)
Joint contractures
Elderly dementia

Correct answer: Bladder capacity decreases

As people age, the bladder muscle can weaken and its elasticity may decrease, leading to a reduction in its capacity to hold urine. This is a normal physiological change associated with aging. Other options like wheezing, joint contractures, and dementia are typically signs of disease or conditions, not normal age-related changes.

Question 11: 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

The patient's temperature is 100.3F
The patient has been hospitalized for 3 days
The patient's pain level is 3 out of 10 (Correct answer)
The patient weighs 160 pounds

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

Objective data are factual, measurable, and observable by multiple people, like temperature, weight, or duration of hospitalization. A patient's pain level, however, is subjective data because it is based on the individual's personal perception and experience, which cannot be objectively measured or verified by others in the same way.

Question 12: A patient is nearing death. What should the nurse aide focus on?

Reassuring them that everything will be fine.
Leaving the patient alone to pass away in peace.
Supporting the patient and keeping them comfortable. (Correct answer)
Assisting the patient through the stages of grief.

Correct answer: Supporting the patient and keeping them comfortable.

When a patient is nearing death, the primary focus of care shifts to providing comfort, dignity, and emotional support. This includes managing pain, ensuring physical comfort, and being present for the patient and their family. The CNA's role is to support these comfort measures and communicate any changes to the nurse.

Question 13: A slipknot is used when securing a restraint so that ________.

it can be easily observed whether the restraint is applied correctly.
the restraint can be removed quickly when needed. (Correct answer)
the restraint cannot be removed by the resident.
body alignment is maintained while wearing the restraint.

Correct answer: the restraint can be removed quickly when needed.

A slipknot (or quick-release knot) is specifically used for restraints to ensure that they can be untied rapidly in case of an emergency, such as the patient choking or needing immediate assistance. This allows for quick removal without fumbling, prioritizing patient safety while still maintaining the restraint's purpose.

Question 14: A resident who is incontinent of urine has an increased risk of developing ________.

urinary tract infections
dehydration
pressure sores (Correct answer)
dementia

Correct answer: pressure sores

A resident who is incontinent of urine is at a significantly increased risk for developing pressure sores (also known as decubitus ulcers or bedsores). Prolonged exposure to moisture from urine can soften the skin, making it more fragile and susceptible to breakdown from friction and pressure. Regular skin care and frequent changes are crucial to prevent this.

Question 15: You are measuring Mrs. Clark’s resting pulse and it is 106 beats per minute, which is significantly higher than her normal pulse. You should

report this to the charge nurse. (Correct answer)
call the doctor immediately.
encourage Mrs. Clark to exercise more.
ignore this, as pulse rates fluctuate in older people.

Correct answer: report this to the charge nurse.

A resting pulse rate of 106 bpm is considered elevated (tachycardia) and, especially if it's significantly higher than the patient's normal, warrants immediate attention. As a CNA, it is crucial to report any significant changes in vital signs to the charge nurse, who can assess the situation further and determine the appropriate medical response.

Question 16: The normal heart rate/pulse rate for an adult human is 60-100 bpm. An elevated heart rate can be expected with

an Olympic athlete
decreased body temperature
Increased vagal tone
uncontrolled bleeding (Correct answer)

Correct answer: uncontrolled bleeding

Uncontrolled bleeding leads to a decrease in blood volume and blood pressure, which the heart compensates for by beating faster to try and maintain adequate circulation. This compensatory mechanism results in an elevated heart rate (tachycardia). The other options typically lead to a decreased or normal heart rate.

CNA Basic Nursing Skills 11

The charge nurse has asked you to take Mrs.
Shumway's vital signs.
You know you must first