CNA Bathing and Dressing 6

Question 1

A CNA is preparing to give a complete bed bath to a resident with a stage 2 pressure injury on the sacrum. Which action is MOST appropriate when cleaning that area?

Accepted Answer

Cleanse around the wound with minimal friction, patting dry, and avoid direct scrubbing of the wound bed

Answer

A stage 2 pressure injury involves partial thickness skin loss. The CNA should cleanse the surrounding area gently with minimal friction and pat dry to avoid further trauma. Scrubbing the wound bed can destroy fragile new tissue, applying lotion directly to an open wound is contraindicated, and skipping the area entirely risks infection from remaining contaminants.

Question 2

When dressing a resident who had a left-sided CVA (stroke) resulting in right-sided hemiplegia, which sequence is correct?

Accepted Answer

Dress the affected (right) side first, undress the unaffected (left) side first

Answer

The standard principle is: dress the affected (weaker) limb FIRST and undress it LAST. For a right-hemiplegic resident, the right arm or leg goes into the garment first during dressing because it has the least range of motion and ROM maneuvers could cause pain or injury if done last. Undressing follows the opposite — remove the unaffected side's sleeve first, then ease the garment off the affected limb.

Question 3

A resident with dementia becomes increasingly agitated and resistive midway through a tub bath. What is the PRIORITY intervention?

Accepted Answer

Pause the bath, use a calm reassuring voice, and offer a simple choice such as a washcloth to hold

Answer

Person-centered dementia care requires de-escalation before continuing any task. Pausing, using calm verbal redirection, and providing a simple sensory object (holding a washcloth) gives the resident a sense of control and reduces agitation. Physical restraint without a restraint order is a form of abuse; leaving the resident unattended in a tub is a serious safety hazard; and CNAs cannot administer medications.

Question 4

During perineal care on a female resident with an indwelling urinary catheter, which step is MOST critical to prevent a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)?

Accepted Answer

Clean from the urethral meatus down along the catheter tubing using a single stroke per wipe, then cleanse labia minora outward

Answer

CAUTI prevention requires cleaning from the urethral meatus outward along the catheter using a single downward stroke — never back-and-forth — to avoid introducing pathogens into the urethra. Cleaning toward the meatus would drag contaminated material to the insertion site. Antiseptic soaks are not standard protocol and can irritate mucosa; rotating the catheter risks trauma to the urethral wall and dislodging the balloon.

Question 5

A CNA is performing a partial bath for a resident who is diaphoretic (sweating heavily) due to a fever. Which area should be bathed LAST to minimize the risk of chilling?

Accepted Answer

Perineal area

Answer

Standard partial bath order prioritizes privacy and temperature regulation: face and neck → hands/arms → axillae → trunk → feet/legs → perineal area (last). The perineal area is bathed last because (1) it is the most private region requiring greatest resident dignity considerations, (2) it contains the highest bacterial load, and (3) saving it for last prevents cross-contamination to previously cleaned areas. In a diaphoretic resident, maintaining warmth by keeping the perineum covered until last also reduces chilling.

CNA Practice Test

CNA Practice Test

CNA Bathing and Dressing 6