CNA Basic Nursing Skills 5 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: When calculating total fluid intake during a 24 hour period, all of the following should be included EXCEPT

Any IV fluids
Any eye or skin ointments that are absorbed (Correct answer)
Any liquids per os (by mouth)
Pudding per os (by mouth)

Correct answer: Any eye or skin ointments that are absorbed

When calculating fluid intake, you include all liquids consumed orally, administered intravenously, or any food items that become liquid at room temperature (like pudding). Eye or skin ointments are topical medications that are absorbed through the skin or mucous membranes, but they do not contribute to the body's fluid balance in the same way as ingested or infused liquids.

Question 2: A patient has just finished taking a cold beverage. How long should you wait before taking an oral temperature?

20-45 minutes
It can be taken immediately
45-60 minutes
15-20 minutes (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 15-20 minutes

Consuming hot or cold food or beverages can temporarily alter the temperature of the oral cavity. To ensure an accurate oral temperature reading, it is essential to wait 15-20 minutes after a patient has had anything to eat or drink. This allows the mouth temperature to return to its baseline.

Question 3: Which of the following is an appropriate task for the nurse aide?

Participating in resident care plan conferences (Correct answer)
Changing sterile wound dressings
Giving medications to assigned residents
Taking a telephone order from a physician

Correct answer: Participating in resident care plan conferences

Nurse aides are integral members of the healthcare team and their observations about a resident's daily needs and preferences are crucial for developing an effective care plan. Participating in care plan conferences allows them to provide valuable input. The other tasks listed (changing sterile dressings, giving medications, taking physician orders) are outside the scope of practice for a CNA.

Question 4: In Long Term Care Facilities, which shift usually gets the residents ready for their appointments, X-rays, etc.?

3 p.m. – 11.30 p.m.
11 p.m. – 7.30 p.m.
7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Correct answer)
It is a 24-hour responsibility.

Correct answer: 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

The 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. shift is typically the busiest for resident activities and appointments. During this shift, residents are usually woken, assisted with morning care, given breakfast, and prepared for any daytime appointments, diagnostic tests, or therapies that commonly occur during business hours.

Question 5: To help prevent resident falls, the nurse aide should

Remind residents who use call lights that they need to wait patiently for staff.
Tell residents to wear larger-sized, loose-fitting clothing.
Leave residents’ beds at the lowest level when care is complete. (Correct answer)
Always raise side rails when any resident is in their bed.

Correct answer: Leave residents’ beds at the lowest level when care is complete.

Leaving a resident's bed in the lowest position after care is completed is a critical fall prevention strategy. This minimizes the distance a resident would fall if they were to accidentally roll out of bed or attempt to get out unassisted, thereby reducing the risk and severity of injury.

Question 6: Which symptoms best indicate an instance of urinary tract infection?

Urine that appears to be cloudy
Burning or stinging sensation when urinating
The need to urinate more frequently
All of the above (Correct answer)

Correct answer: All of the above

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) commonly present with a combination of symptoms. Cloudy urine, a burning or stinging sensation during urination (dysuria), and an increased frequency or urgency to urinate are all classic indicators of a potential UTI. Therefore, all these symptoms collectively point to an infection.

Question 7: A common eye disorder with a cloudy condition of the lens that reduces eyesight is known as

Myopia
Glaucoma
Retinitis
Cataract (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Cataract

A cataract is a medical condition characterized by the clouding of the natural lens inside the eye, which leads to blurred vision and reduced eyesight. This definition directly matches the description provided in the question, distinguishing it from other eye disorders.

Question 8: A patient suffering from pneumonia might exhibit symptoms such as

Chest pains and discomfort
Persistent coughing
Thick sputum
All of the above (Correct answer)

Correct answer: All of the above

Pneumonia, an infection of the lungs, typically causes inflammation and fluid buildup in the air sacs. Common symptoms include chest pain and discomfort, a persistent cough that may produce phlegm, and the production of thick sputum. All these symptoms are indicative of pneumonia.

Question 9: Which is the best way to prevent joint and muscle damage?

Active and passive exercises (Correct answer)
Moving as little as possible to avoid injury
Drinking 1000cc fluids each day
Coughing and deep breathing q 2 hours

Correct answer: Active and passive exercises

Regular active and passive range of motion exercises are essential for maintaining joint flexibility, muscle strength, and circulation. These exercises help prevent stiffness, contractures, and muscle atrophy, which can lead to joint and muscle damage, especially in individuals with limited mobility.

Question 10: The branch of medicine concerned with the problems and diseases of the elderly is called _______.

geriatrics (Correct answer)
obstetrics
pediatrics
orthopedics

Correct answer: geriatrics

Geriatrics is the specialized branch of medicine that focuses on the health and care of older adults. It addresses the unique physiological, psychological, and social problems associated with aging, including the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases and disabilities.

Question 11: The nurse aide enters a client’s room, and the client states that he has pain. What should the nurse aide do?

Tell the client that the pain will go away soon.
Report it to the nurse in charge. (Correct answer)
Turn on the television to distract the client.
Help the client to get out of bed and move around.

Correct answer: Report it to the nurse in charge.

Pain assessment and management are responsibilities that fall within the scope of a licensed nurse. A nurse aide's role is to observe and report any changes in a resident's condition, including complaints of pain, to the nurse in charge, who can then properly assess and intervene.

Question 12: Pulses can be taken

Only if the pulse rate is above 80 beats per minute
Only with a stethoscope
For 15 seconds and then multiply by 4, if irregular
On the inside of the wrist at the base of the thumb (Correct answer)

Correct answer: On the inside of the wrist at the base of the thumb

The radial pulse, located on the inside of the wrist at the base of the thumb, is the most common and easily accessible site for manually taking a pulse. It is felt by gently pressing two fingers against the radial artery. Other sites exist, but the radial pulse is standard for routine checks.

Question 13: The RN, LPN, and CNA are members of the

Medical team
Nursing team (Correct answer)
Ancillary team
Primary team

Correct answer: Nursing team

Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) all work collaboratively to provide direct patient care and support nursing functions. They form the core of the nursing team, each with distinct roles but united in their goal of patient well-being.

Question 14: Charting is an accurate record of all medical care while in hospital, including therapies given, treatments performed, and the patient's progress. Information typically found in the chart includes all of the following EXCEPT

Vital signs
Intakes and outputs
Assessments
Names of visitors (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Names of visitors

A patient's medical chart is a legal document that contains all pertinent clinical information related to their care, such as vital signs, intake and output, and assessments. While visitors are important for a patient's well-being, their names are generally not considered part of the official medical record unless they have a specific role in care decisions or legal matters.

Question 15: The proper way to identify a patient is to

check the patient’s wristband. (Correct answer)
refer to the patient's chart.
call the patient by their name.
ask the roommate to verify the patient.

Correct answer: check the patient’s wristband.

Checking the patient's wristband is the most reliable and universally accepted method for positive patient identification. The wristband typically contains the patient's name, date of birth, and other identifiers, ensuring that the correct patient receives the intended care and preventing medical errors.

Question 16: Continual oozing or diarrhea may be a symptom of

Fecal incontinence (Correct answer)
Increased dietary fiber
Hemorrhoids
Bowel obstruction

Correct answer: Fecal incontinence

Continual oozing of stool or frequent diarrhea can be a symptom of fecal incontinence, particularly overflow incontinence. This occurs when impacted stool in the rectum prevents normal bowel movements, and liquid stool leaks around the impaction, leading to uncontrolled leakage.

CNA Basic Nursing Skills 5

When calculating total fluid intake during a 24 hour period, all of the following should be included EXCEPT