CNA Basic Nursing Skills 13 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident refuses to have their blood pressure taken. What should the CNA do first?
- Take it anyway to ensure safety
- Document refusal and notify the nurse (Correct answer)
- Ignore the refusal and try again later
- Ask a family member to convince the resident
Correct answer: Document refusal and notify the nurse
Respecting a competent resident's refusal is required; the CNA must document it and report to the nurse promptly.
Question 2: When providing perineal care to a female resident, the correct wiping direction is:
- Back to front
- Side to side
- Front to back (Correct answer)
- Circular motion
Correct answer: Front to back
Wiping front to back prevents introducing rectal bacteria into the urethra and vaginal area.
Question 3: A resident on a mechanical soft diet chokes frequently during meals. The CNA should:
- Offer thicker liquids between bites
- Report the observation to the nurse before the next meal (Correct answer)
- Switch to a regular diet to give more chewing practice
- Encourage the resident to eat faster to clear the throat
Correct answer: Report the observation to the nurse before the next meal
Frequent choking is a sign of dysphagia and must be reported to the nurse for further assessment and possible diet modification.
Question 4: Which action correctly demonstrates proper hand hygiene technique?
- Rinsing hands quickly under cold water
- Scrubbing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Using hand sanitizer over visibly soiled hands
- Wiping hands on a clean paper towel without washing
Correct answer: Scrubbing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water
The CDC recommends scrubbing all surfaces of the hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.
Question 5: A resident's urine appears dark amber and concentrated. The CNA's priority action is to:
- Restrict fluids to prevent bladder distension
- Encourage increased fluid intake and report to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Collect a specimen and discard the remaining urine
- Record the observation and take no further action
Correct answer: Encourage increased fluid intake and report to the nurse
Dark concentrated urine may indicate dehydration; encouraging fluids and reporting to the nurse allows timely intervention.
Question 6: When assisting a resident with denture care, the CNA should:
- Clean dentures with hot water to kill bacteria
- Use a soft brush and mild soap or denture cleaner (Correct answer)
- Soak dentures in full-strength bleach overnight
- Rinse dentures only — brushing damages the surface
Correct answer: Use a soft brush and mild soap or denture cleaner
Dentures should be brushed with a soft brush and mild soap or denture cleaner; hot water can warp them.
Question 7: A resident develops a reddened area over the coccyx that does not blanch when pressed. This indicates:
- Stage 1 pressure injury (Correct answer)
- Normal skin response to repositioning
- Superficial skin tear from friction
- Early bruising from a fall
Correct answer: Stage 1 pressure injury
Non-blanchable redness over a bony prominence is the defining characteristic of a Stage 1 pressure injury.
CNA Basic Nursing Skills 13 3
A resident refuses to have their blood pressure taken.
What should the CNA do first?