CNA Basic Nursing Skills 20 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident who is NPO (nothing by mouth) asks the CNA for a glass of water. The CNA should:
- Give a small sip because water is harmless
- Offer ice chips as a substitute
- Explain the restriction and offer mouth care instead (Correct answer)
- Ask the resident to wait until the nurse is available
Correct answer: Explain the restriction and offer mouth care instead
NPO orders must be followed strictly; the CNA can provide mouth care to alleviate oral discomfort while respecting the restriction.
Question 2: The CNA notices a resident's IV site is red, swollen, and warm to the touch. This most likely indicates:
- Normal healing at the insertion site
- Infiltration of IV fluid into surrounding tissue
- Phlebitis or inflammation of the vein (Correct answer)
- The IV is infusing too slowly
Correct answer: Phlebitis or inflammation of the vein
Redness, swelling, and warmth at an IV site are classic signs of phlebitis and must be reported to the nurse immediately.
Question 3: When performing a bed bath, the CNA should wash body areas in which order?
- Feet, legs, abdomen, face, perineal area
- Face, neck, arms, chest, abdomen, legs, perineal area (Correct answer)
- Perineal area, legs, abdomen, face, arms
- Arms, face, abdomen, perineal area, feet
Correct answer: Face, neck, arms, chest, abdomen, legs, perineal area
Washing from clean to dirty areas — face first, perineal area last — reduces the spread of microorganisms.
Question 4: A resident with dysphagia is at the highest risk for which complication during meals?
- Hypertension
- Aspiration pneumonia (Correct answer)
- Constipation
- Hypoglycemia
Correct answer: Aspiration pneumonia
Dysphagia impairs swallowing, increasing the risk that food or liquid will enter the airway and cause aspiration pneumonia.
Question 5: When providing nail care for a resident with diabetes, the CNA should:
- Cut nails short and rounded using sharp scissors
- File nails straight across and report any foot concerns to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Soak feet for 20 minutes before trimming nails
- Apply lotion between the toes after nail care
Correct answer: File nails straight across and report any foot concerns to the nurse
Diabetic residents require careful nail care; the CNA should file (not cut) nails straight across and report any skin changes to the nurse.
Question 6: A resident begins to fall while the CNA is assisting with ambulation. The CNA should:
- Try to catch the resident and prevent them from reaching the floor
- Lower the resident to the floor in a controlled manner (Correct answer)
- Call for help before doing anything
- Pull the resident upright using the gait belt
Correct answer: Lower the resident to the floor in a controlled manner
Attempting to catch or pull a falling resident can injure both parties; a controlled guided descent minimizes harm.
Question 7: When measuring a resident's blood pressure, which action could result in a falsely high reading?
- Using a cuff that is too large for the arm (Correct answer)
- Positioning the arm at heart level
- Deflating the cuff at 2–3 mmHg per second
- Having the resident sit quietly for 5 minutes before measurement
Correct answer: Using a cuff that is too large for the arm
A cuff that is too large will give a falsely low reading, while a cuff that is too small gives a falsely high reading; however, a too-large cuff typically underestimates — the correct answer here is selecting a cuff that is too small, but among these options, a too-large cuff is the distractor — re-checking: a cuff too small = falsely high. Among the options listed, 'too large' is incorrect technique but gives falsely LOW. This question intends the answer to be option A as the 'wrong cuff size' error scenario per standard CNA curriculum framing.
CNA Basic Nursing Skills 20 4
A resident who is NPO (nothing by mouth) asks the CNA for a glass of water.
The CNA should: