CNA Basic Nursing Skills 19 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When performing oral care for an unconscious resident, the CNA should position the resident:
- Supine with head flat
- In a side-lying position with head turned to the side (Correct answer)
- Prone to allow drainage
- Sitting upright at 90 degrees
Correct answer: In a side-lying position with head turned to the side
Side-lying with head turned to the side allows secretions to drain from the mouth and reduces the risk of aspiration.
Question 2: A resident's blood pressure reading is 88/54 mmHg. The CNA should:
- Document it and recheck in an hour
- Have the resident sit up immediately
- Report the reading to the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Administer prescribed antihypertensive medication
Correct answer: Report the reading to the nurse immediately
A blood pressure of 88/54 mmHg indicates hypotension, which can signal a dangerous condition requiring prompt nursing assessment.
Question 3: Which action should the CNA take when a resident refuses morning care?
- Perform the care anyway for the resident's health
- Report the refusal to the nurse and document it (Correct answer)
- Ignore the refusal and try again in the afternoon without telling anyone
- Ask the family to convince the resident immediately
Correct answer: Report the refusal to the nurse and document it
Residents have the right to refuse care; the CNA must report and document refusals so the care team can follow up appropriately.
Question 4: A resident receiving oxygen via nasal cannula has a flow rate ordered at 2 L/min. The CNA notices the humidifier bottle is empty. The best action is to:
- Turn off the oxygen until the nurse refills it
- Refill the humidifier bottle with sterile water and report (Correct answer)
- Continue without the humidifier since flow is low
- Increase the flow rate to compensate for dryness
Correct answer: Refill the humidifier bottle with sterile water and report
Refilling with sterile water maintains humidification and prevents mucosal dryness; the nurse should be informed of the finding.
Question 5: Which statement best describes the purpose of a Minimum Data Set (MDS) in a nursing facility?
- It is used to schedule staffing shifts
- It is a comprehensive assessment tool used to develop individualized care plans (Correct answer)
- It documents medications administered during a shift
- It records dietary intake for billing purposes only
Correct answer: It is a comprehensive assessment tool used to develop individualized care plans
The MDS is a standardized assessment completed by nursing staff that drives individualized care plan development in long-term care settings.
Question 6: A resident with a nasogastric (NG) tube in place begins coughing forcefully and the tube appears to have moved. The CNA should:
- Reposition the tube to the correct marking
- Administer water through the tube to check placement
- Stop tube use and notify the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Secure the tube with tape and continue care
Correct answer: Stop tube use and notify the nurse immediately
A displaced NG tube can enter the airway; the CNA must not use the tube and must notify the nurse immediately for verification.
Question 7: When ambulating a resident who is weak on the left side, the CNA should walk:
- In front of the resident to guide them
- On the resident's right (strong) side
- On the resident's left (weak) side (Correct answer)
- Behind the resident holding the gait belt
Correct answer: On the resident's left (weak) side
Standing on the resident's weak side allows the CNA to provide support and catch the resident if they lose balance toward that side.
CNA Basic Nursing Skills 19 5
When performing oral care for an unconscious resident, the CNA should position the resident: