CNA Legal & Ethical Behaviours 2 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: If your home health client refuses to take their medication, you should

Tell them you will get into trouble if they don't cooperate.
Remove the medication so the client can't save it.
Sneak the medication into some pudding.
Notify your supervisor about their refusal. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Notify your supervisor about their refusal.

If a home health client refuses to take their medication, the CNA's responsibility is to notify their supervisor about the refusal. CNAs cannot force medication, hide it, or coerce clients, as this violates their rights and professional boundaries. Reporting ensures that the nursing staff or physician can assess the situation, understand the reason for refusal, and adjust the care plan as needed.

Question 2: When caring for a resident whose religion is different from your own, you should

Show the resident the faults in their religion
Try to convert the resident to your religion
Accept and respect their religious beliefs. (Correct answer)
Ensure they follow all religious requirements.

Correct answer: Accept and respect their religious beliefs.

When caring for a resident with different religious beliefs, it is paramount to accept and respect their practices and traditions. CNAs must provide care that is culturally and spiritually sensitive, ensuring the resident's comfort and dignity without imposing personal views. Attempting to convert or criticize their religion is highly unprofessional and unethical.

Question 3: An example of neglect is when a nurse aide

Changes a wet resident prior to going on break.
Reports a reddened area on the resident's back.
Promptly answers the residents call light.
Leaves a resident unattended in the bath tub. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Leaves a resident unattended in the bath tub.

Leaving a resident unattended in the bathtub is a clear example of neglect, as it places the resident at significant risk of injury, drowning, or hypothermia. Neglect involves failing to provide the necessary care or supervision that a resident requires for their safety and well-being. The other options describe appropriate and diligent care actions.

Question 4: Which of the following would affect a nurse aide’s status on the State Registry and possibly cause the nurse aide to be ineligible to work in a nursing home?

Failure to show for work without calling to tell the supervisor
Termination from another facility for repeated tardiness
Missing the annual mandatory infection control training
Being charged of resident neglect in a legal court case (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Being charged of resident neglect in a legal court case

Being charged with resident neglect in a legal court case is a serious offense that would directly affect a nurse aide's status on the State Registry. Such a charge, especially if substantiated, can lead to suspension or revocation of their certification, making them ineligible to work in nursing homes. The State Registry tracks disciplinary actions to protect vulnerable residents.

Question 5: Before touching a resident who is crying to offer comfort, the nurse aide should consider ______.

the resident’s cultural background (Correct answer)
whether the resident has been sad recently
whether the resident has frequent family visits
the resident’s recent vital signs

Correct answer: the resident’s cultural background

Before touching a resident who is crying to offer comfort, the nurse aide should always consider the resident’s cultural background. Different cultures have varying norms regarding physical touch, personal space, and expressions of grief. Being aware of and respecting these cultural differences ensures that the gesture of comfort is received positively and does not cause discomfort or offense.

Question 6: When you are caring for an elderly resident who has dentures, but seldom wears them, what should you do?

Force the resident to wear the dentures.
Offer to bring in some denture adhesive.
Call the resident's dentist.
Ask him why he doesn't wear his dentures. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Ask him why he doesn't wear his dentures.

If an elderly resident has dentures but seldom wears them, the most appropriate action is to ask them why they don't wear them. Understanding the resident's reason, such as discomfort, poor fit, or pain, is crucial for addressing the underlying issue. This allows the CNA to report the concern to the nurse, who can then involve the dentist or make other necessary adjustments to improve the resident's oral health and comfort.

Question 7: If abuse is suspected within a facility

If two co-workers agree that there is no abuse, a report is not necessary.
The incident must be reported immediately to the supervisor or administrator. (Correct answer)
Only serious claims of abuse must be reported and investigated.
Corrective action is taken against the reporter if the claim is found false.

Correct answer: The incident must be reported immediately to the supervisor or administrator.

If abuse is suspected within a facility, the incident must be reported immediately to the supervisor or administrator. This is a legal and ethical obligation for all healthcare professionals to protect residents from harm. Prompt reporting ensures that an investigation can begin swiftly, and appropriate action can be taken to safeguard the resident and prevent further abuse.

Question 8: On Monday, Mrs. Green and her family requested and received a “Do Not Resuscitate" order from her doctor. While bathing her on Thursday, she stops breathing and dies. Her son is not home. You should

Call her doctor to verify the order.
Call 9-1-1 to ask for emergency help.
Notify the case manager of the death. (Correct answer)
Leave a sympathy note for her son.

Correct answer: Notify the case manager of the death.

When a resident with a 'Do Not Resuscitate' (DNR) order stops breathing and dies, the nurse aide's immediate action is to notify the case manager or the charge nurse of the death. A DNR order means that no resuscitative measures should be performed. Calling 9-1-1 or attempting resuscitation would go against the patient's wishes and legal order. The case manager or nurse will then follow facility protocol for post-mortem care and family notification.

Question 9: The nurse aide is administering a bed bath when all of a sudden they hear a scream coming from the next room. What should the nurse aide do?

Secure the safety of the patient first before leaving the room. (Correct answer)
Focus on the patient and ignore anything else.
Finish the bed bath before checking on what happened.
Shout for help from the nurses nearby and continue the bath.

Correct answer: Secure the safety of the patient first before leaving the room.

When a nurse aide hears a scream from another room while administering a bed bath, their primary responsibility is to secure the safety of their current patient before leaving the room. This means ensuring the patient is not in a position of immediate danger, such as being left alone on a raised bed or with water, and then immediately checking on the source of the scream. Patient safety is paramount, and the CNA must prioritize both patients' well-being.

Question 10: Using the phones in the nursing station for personal calls, except in an emergency is

Allowed once per shift.
Unacceptable. (Correct answer)
Determined by the nurse.
Appropriate.

Correct answer: Unacceptable.

Using phones in the nursing station for personal calls, except in an emergency, is unacceptable. Nursing stations are professional environments where staff need to be focused on patient care and readily available for urgent communications. Personal calls can be distracting, tie up essential lines, and potentially violate patient privacy if conversations are overheard.

Question 11: While you are at lunch with other nurse aides, they start to discuss how rude a resident was behaving. What should you do?

Be quiet and do not say anything to the other nurse aides.
Return to the unit after lunch and tell the client what was said.
Join in the conversation so they know the truth.
Tell them that this is not the place to discuss the client. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Tell them that this is not the place to discuss the client.

Discussing a resident's behavior in a public setting like a lunch break with other nurse aides violates patient confidentiality and is unprofessional. The appropriate action is to remind colleagues that this is not the place to discuss clients, upholding ethical standards and respecting the resident's privacy. Concerns about a resident should be discussed privately with appropriate staff or supervisors.

Question 12: You saw a coworker assaulting a resident physically. You failed to inform the nurse supervisor about the occurrence. You might face charges for

false witness
aiding and abetting (Correct answer)
negligence
malpractice

Correct answer: aiding and abetting

Failing to report a coworker who is physically assaulting a resident makes you complicit in the abuse, which can lead to charges of aiding and abetting. Healthcare professionals have a legal and ethical duty to report any suspected abuse immediately. By not reporting, you are essentially allowing the abuse to continue and are failing in your responsibility to protect vulnerable residents.

Question 13: An illustration of neglect is when a nursing aide

Leaves a resident unattended in the bath tub. (Correct answer)
Changes a wet resident prior to going on break.
Promptly answers the residents call light.
Reports a reddened area on the resident's back.

Correct answer: Leaves a resident unattended in the bath tub.

Leaving a resident unattended in the bathtub is a clear illustration of neglect, as it puts the resident at severe risk of injury, drowning, or hypothermia. Neglect involves the failure to provide the necessary care, supervision, or attention required for a resident's safety and well-being. The other options describe appropriate and diligent care actions.

Question 14: A "Do Not Resuscitate" order was obtained by Mrs. Brown and her family on Monday, and it was granted. On Thursday, she passes away while being bathed. Her son is not in the house. You must

Call her doctor to verify the order.
Leave a sympathy note for her son.
Call 9-1-1 to ask for emergency help.
Notify the case manager of the death. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Notify the case manager of the death.

When a resident with a "Do Not Resuscitate" (DNR) order passes away, the CNA's immediate responsibility is to notify the appropriate nursing staff or case manager. This allows the facility to follow established protocols for post-mortem care and family support, as resuscitation efforts are not to be initiated due to the DNR order. Calling 9-1-1 for emergency help would be inappropriate and go against the resident's wishes.

Question 15: Your facility has welcomed a well-known athlete. He belongs to a separate squad. What should you do if you want to learn why he is there?

Drop by the other unit to learn whatever you can
Avoid temptation and just keep working. (Correct answer)
Ask a co-worker on the unit to give you an update.
Log on and quickly read his electronic health record

Correct answer: Avoid temptation and just keep working.

Patient privacy and confidentiality are fundamental principles in healthcare, protected by HIPAA. As a CNA, you should only access information about patients directly under your care and for legitimate care-related purposes. Curiosity about a well-known athlete's presence is not a valid reason to seek out their personal health information, and doing so would be a breach of privacy and professional ethics.

Question 16: Last week, the nurse's assistant saw bruising on Mr. Jenkins' arm. More bruising appeared during this morning's treatment. The nursing assistant must

ask another nurse aide to report the new bruises
call the police because nothing has been done
do nothing, since Mr. Jenkins has not complained
report the abuse again or call the state's abuse hot-line (Correct answer)

Correct answer: report the abuse again or call the state's abuse hot-line

As a nursing assistant, you are a mandated reporter for suspected abuse or neglect. If new bruising appears after an initial report, it indicates the situation has not been resolved and the resident may still be at risk. It is crucial to report the abuse again to the appropriate supervisor or, if no action is taken, to the state's abuse hot-line to ensure the resident's safety and well-being.

CNA Legal & Ethical Behaviours 2

If your home health client refuses to take their medication, you should