CNA Basic Nursing Skills 10 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident receiving oxygen via nasal cannula has a flow rate of 6 L/min. The CNA should:
- Continue care as this is within the prescribed nasal cannula range
- Increase the rate to 10 L/min to improve oxygenation
- Remove the cannula and apply a non-rebreather mask
- Report to the nurse that oxygen flow is too high for a nasal cannula (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Report to the nurse that oxygen flow is too high for a nasal cannula
Nasal cannulas are typically used at 1–6 L/min; 6 L/min is at the upper limit and should be verified with the nurse.
Question 2: A resident is incontinent of urine. To maintain skin integrity, the CNA should:
- Apply talcum powder liberally after each episode
- Check and change the resident promptly, clean skin, and apply barrier cream per care plan (Correct answer)
- Restrict fluids to reduce incontinence episodes
- Leave the resident in wet linens to avoid overstimulation
Correct answer: Check and change the resident promptly, clean skin, and apply barrier cream per care plan
Prompt cleaning and barrier cream protect skin from moisture-associated skin damage (MASD).
Question 3: The nurse delegates a task to the CNA that the CNA has never been trained to perform. The CNA should:
- Attempt the task and ask for help only if problems arise
- Refuse the task and inform the nurse of their lack of training (Correct answer)
- Find another CNA to perform the task without telling the nurse
- Perform the task anyway to avoid conflict
Correct answer: Refuse the task and inform the nurse of their lack of training
CNAs must refuse tasks outside their training and competency and report this to the nurse immediately.
Question 4: When collecting a clean-catch midstream urine specimen, the CNA should instruct the resident to:
- Collect the first stream of urine in the specimen container
- Clean the urethral area, void a small amount into the toilet, then collect midstream into the container (Correct answer)
- Collect all urine voided over 24 hours in the single container
- Refrigerate the specimen for 48 hours before sending it to the lab
Correct answer: Clean the urethral area, void a small amount into the toilet, then collect midstream into the container
Midstream collection after cleansing and initial voiding reduces contamination of the specimen.
Question 5: A resident suddenly becomes pale, diaphoretic (sweaty), and confused. The CNA's first action should be:
- Offer the resident a glass of water and monitor for 10 minutes
- Stay with the resident and call for the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Help the resident walk to the dining room for a snack
- Take a blood pressure and wait 30 minutes before reporting
Correct answer: Stay with the resident and call for the nurse immediately
Sudden change in condition is an emergency; the CNA must stay with the resident and summon nursing staff at once.
Question 6: A resident uses a cane. When assisting with ambulation on stairs, the CNA should instruct the resident to:
- Lead with the weaker leg going up stairs
- Lead with the stronger leg going up, and the weaker leg going down (Correct answer)
- Lead with the cane going up, then the stronger leg
- Always use the elevator and never attempt stairs
Correct answer: Lead with the stronger leg going up, and the weaker leg going down
The mnemonic 'up with the good, down with the bad' guides safe stair ambulation with assistive devices.
Question 7: To safely transfer a resident from the bed to a wheelchair using a gait belt, the CNA should place the belt:
- Around the resident's chest under the arms
- Around the resident's waist over clothing (Correct answer)
- Around the resident's hips below the waist
- Around the resident's thighs for better control
Correct answer: Around the resident's waist over clothing
The gait belt is applied snugly around the waist over clothing to give the CNA a secure grip during transfer.
CNA Basic Nursing Skills 10 5
A resident receiving oxygen via nasal cannula has a flow rate of 6 L/min.
The CNA should: