Preventing Patient Falls and Injuries Flashcards
7 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 7 Preventing Patient Falls and Injuries flashcards as text
A CNA finds a patient on the floor but did not witness the fall. What should be done FIRST?
Answer: Assess the patient for injury without moving them and call for the nurse
Moving a patient who may have a fracture or head injury can worsen harm; assess for injuries and summon the nurse before attempting to move them.
Which situation would prompt a CNA to use a bed alarm for fall prevention?
Answer: A confused patient who repeatedly attempts to get out of bed unsafely
Bed alarms are indicated for patients with cognitive impairment who do not call for help and have a history of unsafe self-transfers.
What is the purpose of conducting a post-fall huddle after a patient fall?
Answer: To identify what happened, what can be changed, and prevent future falls immediately
A post-fall huddle is a rapid team review focused on understanding root causes and implementing immediate interventions to prevent recurrence.
A patient has a history of falling when reaching for items on the bedside table. Which intervention best addresses this risk?
Answer: Ensure frequently needed items are within easy reach without leaning or stretching
Placing essential items within comfortable reach reduces the need to overreach, which is a common cause of falls from reaching.
Which patient behavior is the MOST reliable early warning sign that fall risk has increased?
Answer: Increased restlessness, agitation, or repeated attempts to get out of bed
Increased restlessness and repeated attempts to exit the bed signal that a patient's judgment or physical stability may be compromised, raising fall risk.
A patient's care plan includes hourly rounding for fall prevention. What is the PRIMARY goal of this intervention?
Answer: To proactively meet patient needs — toileting, position, pain, belongings — before they attempt to get up alone
Hourly rounding addresses the '4 Ps' (pain, position, personal needs, placement of items) so patients do not feel the need to get up unassisted.
When assisting a patient who begins to fall, what technique protects both the patient and the CNA?
Answer: Control the descent by bending your knees, widening your stance, and guiding the patient to the floor
A controlled descent using proper body mechanics prevents injury to both the patient and the CNA — trying to catch a full fall can injure both parties.