CNA Basic Nursing Skills 20 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident on contact precautions requires morning care. In what order should the CNA don (put on) PPE before entering the room?
- Gloves, gown, mask, goggles
- Gown, mask/respirator, goggles, gloves (Correct answer)
- Mask, goggles, gloves, gown
- Gloves, mask, gown, goggles
Correct answer: Gown, mask/respirator, goggles, gloves
CDC donning sequence: gown first, then mask/respirator, then eye protection, then gloves last to protect already-covered surfaces.
Question 2: The CNA is caring for a resident who uses a hearing aid. Which action is correct?
- Store the hearing aid in water overnight to keep the ear mold clean
- Turn off the hearing aid and remove the battery when not in use (Correct answer)
- Clean the hearing aid with alcohol wipes to prevent infection
- Insert the hearing aid with the volume set to maximum first
Correct answer: Turn off the hearing aid and remove the battery when not in use
Turning off the hearing aid and removing the battery when not in use prolongs battery life and prevents corrosion.
Question 3: When repositioning a resident in bed to prevent shear injury, the head of the bed should be:
- Elevated no higher than 30 degrees unless medically required (Correct answer)
- Kept at 90 degrees for optimal lung expansion
- Raised to 45 degrees for comfort
- Flat at all times to prevent pressure injuries
Correct answer: Elevated no higher than 30 degrees unless medically required
Keeping the HOB at or below 30 degrees prevents the sliding motion that causes shear forces on sacral skin.
Question 4: A resident's apical pulse is 58 beats per minute and irregular. The CNA should:
- Document and continue with routine care
- Administer a PRN medication as ordered
- Report the findings to the nurse before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Recount the pulse after having the resident exercise
Correct answer: Report the findings to the nurse before proceeding
An irregular apical pulse below 60 bpm is an abnormal finding that must be reported to the nurse promptly.
Question 5: Which of the following observations about a resident's stool should be reported to the nurse immediately?
- Brown, formed stool after a meal
- Small, dark, tarry stool with a foul odor (Correct answer)
- Stool that is slightly soft
- Infrequent stool after a low-fiber diet
Correct answer: Small, dark, tarry stool with a foul odor
Dark, tarry (melena) stool suggests upper GI bleeding and requires immediate nurse notification.
Question 6: A resident with limited mobility has been in the same position for 2 hours. The CNA notices a reddened area over the coccyx that does not blanch when pressed. This indicates:
- A Stage 1 pressure injury requiring repositioning and documentation (Correct answer)
- Normal skin response to lying down
- A Stage 2 pressure injury that needs a dressing applied
- Bruising from a recent transfer
Correct answer: A Stage 1 pressure injury requiring repositioning and documentation
Non-blanchable redness over a bony prominence is a Stage 1 pressure injury; the area must be documented and reported, and pressure relieved.
Question 7: When assisting a resident with a mechanical soft diet, which food would be most appropriate to serve?
- Raw carrots and celery sticks
- Whole grapes and cherry tomatoes
- Mashed potatoes and ground meat (Correct answer)
- Hard-boiled whole eggs and crackers
Correct answer: Mashed potatoes and ground meat
A mechanical soft diet requires foods that are easy to chew and swallow; mashed potatoes and ground meat meet these criteria safely.
CNA Basic Nursing Skills 20 5
A resident on contact precautions requires morning care.
In what order should the CNA don (put on) PPE before entering the room?