CNA Emergency Procedure 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident with a known latex allergy begins to show signs of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) after a new type of glove is used during care. The resident has severe difficulty breathing. What is the CNA's most immediate and critical action?
- Offer the resident a glass of water to soothe their throat.
- Immediately activate the emergency response system and call for a nurse. (Correct answer)
- Search the resident's room for a personal epinephrine auto-injector.
- Carefully document the onset of the symptoms in the resident's chart.
Correct answer: Immediately activate the emergency response system and call for a nurse.
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening emergency characterized by airway constriction. The CNA's priority is to recognize the emergency and summon immediate medical assistance by activating the emergency system and calling for a licensed nurse. While an epinephrine auto-injector is the definitive treatment, administering medication is outside the CNA's scope of practice. Documentation is important but is secondary to initiating a life-saving response.
Question 2: During a prolonged power outage, a resident is using a battery-powered portable oxygen concentrator. What is the CNA's priority regarding this resident's equipment?
- Move the resident closer to a window to provide fresh air.
- Find a spare portable oxygen tank to have ready as a backup.
- Check the device's battery level indicator and immediately report its status to the nurse. (Correct answer)
- Unplug the device's charging cord from the wall to prevent a power surge.
Correct answer: Check the device's battery level indicator and immediately report its status to the nurse.
Battery-powered medical devices have a limited duration of operation. The CNA's primary responsibility is assessment and reporting. By checking the battery level and informing the nurse, the CNA provides crucial information for the nurse to make a clinical decision, such as when to switch to a backup oxygen tank or implement other emergency protocols. The other actions are not the most immediate priority.
Question 3: Which of the following represents the correct sequence of actions for a CNA who discovers a small, contained fire in a resident's metal trash can?
- Yell "Fire!" loudly, then close all the doors in the hallway.
- Rescue the resident from immediate danger, Activate the nearest alarm, Contain the fire by closing the door, and Extinguish if safe or Evacuate (RACE). (Correct answer)
- Immediately find the nearest fire extinguisher and use it on the fire.
- Attempt to smother the fire with a wet towel before calling for help.
Correct answer: Rescue the resident from immediate danger, Activate the nearest alarm, Contain the fire by closing the door, and Extinguish if safe or Evacuate (RACE).
The RACE acronym is the standard, accepted fire safety protocol in healthcare settings. It prioritizes actions to ensure life safety first: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, and Extinguish/Evacuate. Following this sequence ensures that residents are safe and help is summoned before any attempt is made to fight the fire.
Question 4: A resident who is a Jehovah's Witness is found with a significant, actively bleeding leg wound. Their chart and a bracelet clearly state "No Blood Products." The resident is conscious but confused. The CNA should:
- Apply firm, direct pressure to the wound and immediately report the situation and the directive to the nurse. (Correct answer)
- Avoid touching the wound and find the nurse to make all decisions.
- Ask the resident's spouse, who is visiting, for permission to allow a blood transfusion.
- Assume the directive is void in a life-threatening emergency and focus only on stopping the bleeding.
Correct answer: Apply firm, direct pressure to the wound and immediately report the situation and the directive to the nurse.
The CNA's immediate responsibility is to provide basic first aid within their scope of practice, which includes applying direct pressure to control bleeding. Simultaneously, they must respect the patient's advance directive by immediately informing the nurse of both the bleeding and the "No Blood Products" directive. The nurse and medical team will then manage the clinical and ethical aspects of treatment. A CNA should not ignore the directive or seek consent from others.
Question 5: In the event of an internal facility disaster, such as a major water pipe break, a CNA may be asked to assist the nursing team with "reverse triage." What does this process primarily involve?
- Moving the most critically ill residents to the safest area of the facility first.
- Evacuating all residents to an external designated meeting point.
- Assessing and identifying the most stable residents for potential rapid discharge or relocation to create space. (Correct answer)
- Contacting family members to pick up residents immediately.
Correct answer: Assessing and identifying the most stable residents for potential rapid discharge or relocation to create space.
Reverse triage is a strategy used during internal hospital or facility disasters to create surge capacity. It involves identifying the most stable, least acute patients who can be safely discharged or moved, thereby freeing up beds and resources for incoming casualties or to manage the disruption caused by the internal event.
Question 6: A resident begins to have a tonic-clonic seizure and you notice their lips and face are becoming cyanotic (bluish). After ensuring the resident is in a safe position on the floor, what is the CNA's next PRIORITY action?
- Note the exact time the seizure started and how long the cyanosis lasts.
- Insert a padded tongue blade into the mouth to protect their tongue.
- Ensure the airway is as open as possible without forcing anything and call for the nurse immediately. (Correct answer)
- Begin chest compressions since the blue color indicates a lack of oxygen.
Correct answer: Ensure the airway is as open as possible without forcing anything and call for the nurse immediately.
Cyanosis during a seizure indicates impaired breathing and oxygenation. The CNA's priority, after ensuring physical safety, is to call for licensed medical help immediately. While doing so, they should take simple steps like loosening clothing around the neck to ensure the airway is not further compromised. Nothing should ever be placed in the mouth of a person having a seizure. Timing the seizure is important, but summoning help for a resident with a compromised airway is more critical.
CNA Emergency Procedure 2
A resident with a known latex allergy begins to show signs of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) after a new type of glove is used during care.
The resident has severe difficulty breathing.
What is the CNA's most immediate and critical action?