CNA Basic Nursing Skills 12 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a resident is on a thickened-liquid diet, which beverage requires thickening before serving?
- Gelatin dessert
- Ice cream
- Broth-based soup
- Plain water (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Plain water
Plain water is a thin liquid and must be thickened for residents on thickened-liquid diets to prevent aspiration.
Question 2: The correct technique for removing a soiled isolation gown is to:
- Pull it off over the head to avoid touching the outside
- Roll it inward with the contaminated side inside, then discard (Correct answer)
- Shake it off and place in the laundry basket
- Remove gloves first, then untie the gown strings from the front
Correct answer: Roll it inward with the contaminated side inside, then discard
Rolling the gown inward keeps contaminated surfaces contained and prevents spreading pathogens during removal.
Question 3: A patient's blood pressure is 148/92 mmHg. The CNA's appropriate action is to:
- Administer antihypertensive medication from the cart
- Recheck in 5 minutes and record without reporting
- Report the reading to the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Have the patient lie flat and recheck in one hour
Correct answer: Report the reading to the nurse immediately
An elevated blood pressure reading must be reported to the nurse promptly so clinical judgment can be applied.
Question 4: When positioning a patient in the left lateral (side-lying) position, where should a pillow be placed to maintain alignment?
- Under the right knee only
- Between the knees and under the top arm (Correct answer)
- Behind the head and under both feet
- Under the sacrum to relieve pressure
Correct answer: Between the knees and under the top arm
Pillows between the knees and under the top arm maintain spinal alignment and reduce pressure on bony prominences.
Question 5: A resident with Alzheimer's disease becomes agitated during a bath. The best CNA response is to:
- Firmly restrain the resident and continue bathing
- Pause, speak calmly, and offer reassurance before continuing (Correct answer)
- Document refusal and skip the bath entirely
- Ask another staff member to hold the resident down
Correct answer: Pause, speak calmly, and offer reassurance before continuing
Pausing and using calm, reassuring communication helps de-escalate agitation in residents with dementia.
Question 6: Which finding during a skin inspection should the CNA report to the nurse as a potential early pressure injury?
- Dry skin on the forearms
- Non-blanchable redness over a bony prominence (Correct answer)
- Bruising on the thigh from a prior fall
- Mild skin flaking on the scalp
Correct answer: Non-blanchable redness over a bony prominence
Non-blanchable redness over a bony prominence is a Stage 1 pressure injury and requires immediate nursing assessment.
Question 7: When assisting a visually impaired patient to walk, the CNA should:
- Push the patient from behind to guide direction
- Walk beside and slightly ahead, letting the patient hold the CNA's arm (Correct answer)
- Hold the patient's wrist and lead them forward
- Walk directly in front facing the patient and walk backward
Correct answer: Walk beside and slightly ahead, letting the patient hold the CNA's arm
The sighted guide technique has the patient hold the CNA's arm just above the elbow while the CNA walks slightly ahead.
CNA Basic Nursing Skills 12 4
When a resident is on a thickened-liquid diet, which beverage requires thickening before serving?