Basic Nursing Skills 17 Flashcards
6 cards from real CNA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Basic Nursing Skills 17 flashcards as text
The diastolic blood pressure measurement represents:
Answer: The pressure in arteries when the heart is resting between beats
Diastolic pressure is the lower number — it measures arterial wall pressure during cardiac diastole (the resting phase between heartbeats).
A CNA is unable to hear the patient's blood pressure due to environmental noise. What is the CORRECT next step?
Answer: Move to a quieter area, use a different stethoscope if available, or ask the nurse to assist
An accurate BP reading requires a quiet environment; the CNA should move the patient if possible, try a better stethoscope, or request nursing assistance rather than estimating or skipping the measurement.
What does the term 'orthostatic hypotension' mean, and how can the CNA help prevent it?
Answer: A drop in blood pressure upon standing — prevented by having the patient rise slowly in stages
Orthostatic hypotension is a 20 mmHg or greater drop in systolic pressure upon standing that causes dizziness and fall risk — CNAs prevent it by having patients sit before standing and rise slowly.
When should a CNA take a patient's blood pressure in the lying, sitting, AND standing positions?
Answer: When the patient has reported dizziness or falls, or when the care plan specifies orthostatic vital signs
Orthostatic vital signs (lying, sitting, standing positions) are taken when a patient reports dizziness or has had falls, or when the care plan specifies this assessment to detect orthostatic hypotension.
What is the expected normal range for diastolic blood pressure in an adult?
Answer: 60–80 mmHg
Normal diastolic blood pressure in adults ranges from approximately 60–80 mmHg, with less than 80 mmHg considered the target for normal blood pressure.
A patient refuses to have their blood pressure taken. How should the CNA respond?
Answer: Respect the refusal, document it, and report it to the charge nurse
Patients have the right to refuse treatments and assessments — the CNA must document the refusal accurately and immediately notify the charge nurse so clinical risks can be assessed.