CNA Ethics and Professionalism 2

Question 1

A resident with dementia, who is non-verbal, becomes agitated during care, pushing your hand away and moaning loudly. The resident's care plan states they can be 'resistant.' What is the most ethical first action for the CNA?

Accepted Answer

Stop the care, attempt to soothe the resident with a calm voice, and try to identify the cause of agitation.

Answer

Ethical care requires recognizing that behavior is a form of communication, especially in non-verbal residents. Pushing away and moaning are clear signs of distress or refusal. The CNA's primary duty is to the resident's well-being (beneficence) and to do no harm (non-maleficence). Stopping the task, attempting to comfort the resident, and assessing for a cause (e.g., pain, fear, discomfort) respects their dignity and autonomy. Continuing, restraining, or simply abandoning care would be unethical.

Question 2

You overhear a fellow CNA telling a resident's family member that the resident's roommate has been diagnosed with a contagious illness. Which professional principle is most clearly being violated?

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality (HIPAA)

Answer

Sharing a resident's diagnosis with anyone not directly involved in their care is a major breach of confidentiality. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) legally protects patients' health information. Even though the CNA may have good intentions, discussing one resident's health with another resident's family is a serious violation of privacy rights.

Question 3

A resident's family brings in a special herbal tea and asks you to give it to the resident every evening. The resident is on a fluid-restricted diet and takes several medications. What is the CNA's most appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Accept the tea and report the request to the supervising nurse for assessment and approval.

Answer

This situation involves a potential conflict between a family's request and the resident's prescribed plan of care. Herbal supplements can interact with medications or violate dietary restrictions. It is outside the CNA's scope of practice to make this clinical judgment. The correct and professional action is to escalate the request to the nurse, who can assess the tea for potential contraindications and make an informed decision, ensuring the resident's safety.

Question 4

A CNA is assigned to care for a resident who has been personally unpleasant and rude to them in the past. To act professionally, the CNA must:

Accepted Answer

Provide the same quality of care to this resident as they would to any other.

Answer

Professionalism requires CNAs to provide care based on need, not personal feelings. All residents are entitled to the same high standard of care, regardless of their personality or behavior. While reassigning might be an option in extreme cases, the core ethical duty is to overcome personal bias and provide impartial, compassionate, and competent care.

Question 5

During a busy shift, a nurse is overwhelmed and asks you to change a sterile dressing on a resident's surgical wound, a task you have seen done but have not been trained for. Which of the following is the most ethical and responsible action?

Accepted Answer

Politely state that this task is outside your scope of practice and you are not trained to do it.

Answer

Performing a task that is outside your scope of practice, especially a sterile procedure, puts the resident at risk and exposes the CNA to legal and professional liability. The most ethical choice is to recognize your limitations and clearly, but respectfully, decline the task. This protects the resident from potential harm and upholds professional boundaries. It is the nurse's responsibility to perform the task or delegate it to another qualified licensed professional.

CNA Practice Test

CNA Practice Test

CNA Ethics and Professionalism 2