CNA Basic Nursing Skills 18 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CNA notices a resident's surgical wound has increased redness, warmth, and purulent drainage. The appropriate action is to:
- Cover the wound and notify the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Clean the wound with soap and water
- Document the findings and check again in 2 hours
- Apply antibiotic ointment from the supply cart
Correct answer: Cover the wound and notify the nurse immediately
Signs of wound infection must be reported to the nurse immediately; the CNA should not independently treat the wound.
Question 2: When assisting a resident with a hearing aid, the CNA should turn the device off before:
- Removing and storing it (Correct answer)
- Cleaning the resident's ear
- Performing oral care
- Changing the resident's clothing
Correct answer: Removing and storing it
Turning off the hearing aid before removal prevents feedback squealing and conserves battery life.
Question 3: Which method is correct when the CNA is obtaining a clean-catch midstream urine specimen?
- Clean the urethral area, discard the first stream, then collect mid-stream (Correct answer)
- Collect the first voided urine directly into the specimen cup
- Insert a catheter to collect the specimen
- Have the resident collect any voided urine at any time
Correct answer: Clean the urethral area, discard the first stream, then collect mid-stream
Cleaning the area and discarding the initial stream reduces contamination from periurethral bacteria.
Question 4: A resident with dysphagia is at greatest risk for which complication?
- Aspiration pneumonia (Correct answer)
- Urinary tract infection
- Pressure injuries
- Deep vein thrombosis
Correct answer: Aspiration pneumonia
Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) increases the risk of food or liquid entering the airway, leading to aspiration pneumonia.
Question 5: When providing perineal care to a female resident, the CNA should wipe:
- Front to back (urethra to anus) (Correct answer)
- Back to front (anus to urethra)
- In a circular motion
- Side to side only
Correct answer: Front to back (urethra to anus)
Wiping front to back prevents fecal bacteria from contaminating the urethra and reducing urinary tract infection risk.
Question 6: A resident who is non-weight-bearing on the right leg requires a walker. The CNA should instruct the resident to:
- Advance the walker, step with the right (affected) leg, then the left leg (Correct answer)
- Advance the walker, step with the left (unaffected) leg first, then right
- Keep the walker stationary and hop on both legs
- Use a cane instead since a walker is not appropriate
Correct answer: Advance the walker, step with the right (affected) leg, then the left leg
The correct walker gait is: advance walker, move the weaker limb into the walker, then bring the stronger limb forward.
Question 7: Which observation should the CNA report immediately after a resident returns from a surgical procedure?
- Blood pressure of 88/52 mmHg (Correct answer)
- Heart rate of 78 bpm
- Temperature of 98.6°F (37°C)
- Respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute
Correct answer: Blood pressure of 88/52 mmHg
A blood pressure of 88/52 mmHg indicates hypotension, a sign of possible post-operative complications such as hemorrhage or shock.
CNA Basic Nursing Skills 18 5
A CNA notices a resident's surgical wound has increased redness, warmth, and purulent drainage.
The appropriate action is to: