CNA Basic Nursing Skills 3 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident's urinary output for the shift was 180 mL. The CNA should:
- Record it and report it to the nurse as it may be below normal (Correct answer)
- Discard it without recording since it is a small amount
- Encourage the resident to drink less fluid
- Recheck the output in 4 hours before reporting
Correct answer: Record it and report it to the nurse as it may be below normal
Normal urine output is approximately 30 mL/hr; 180 mL over 8 hours is borderline and should be reported to the nurse.
Question 2: When applying a warm compress to a resident's arm, the CNA should:
- Check the skin every 5 minutes for redness or blistering (Correct answer)
- Apply the compress as hot as the resident can tolerate
- Leave the compress on indefinitely until the nurse removes it
- Wrap the compress tightly with a bandage to hold heat in
Correct answer: Check the skin every 5 minutes for redness or blistering
Frequent skin checks prevent burns because elderly skin is fragile and less sensitive to heat.
Question 3: A resident with a nasogastric (NG) tube asks the CNA for a glass of water. The CNA should:
- Explain that they cannot give fluids by mouth and notify the nurse (Correct answer)
- Give a small sip of water to relieve thirst
- Offer ice chips instead of water
- Flush the NG tube with water to hydrate the resident
Correct answer: Explain that they cannot give fluids by mouth and notify the nurse
Residents with NG tubes are typically NPO or have strict dietary restrictions; the nurse must clarify what is permitted.
Question 4: The correct technique for performing passive range-of-motion (ROM) exercises is to:
- Move each joint slowly and smoothly to the point of resistance, not pain (Correct answer)
- Push through resistance to increase flexibility
- Move joints as quickly as possible to complete exercises faster
- Exercise only joints that the resident has not moved in 48 hours
Correct answer: Move each joint slowly and smoothly to the point of resistance, not pain
Passive ROM should be performed gently to the point of resistance to prevent injury and maintain joint mobility.
Question 5: A resident has an order for elastic compression stockings. When should the CNA apply them?
- Before the resident gets out of bed in the morning (Correct answer)
- After the resident ambulates for 15 minutes
- Only when the resident reports leg swelling
- After the resident sits in the chair for 30 minutes
Correct answer: Before the resident gets out of bed in the morning
Compression stockings are most effective when applied before the legs are dependent and swelling begins.
Question 6: A resident's colostomy bag is one-third full. The CNA should:
- Empty and rinse the bag and record the output (Correct answer)
- Wait until the bag is completely full before emptying
- Change the entire ostomy appliance immediately
- Notify the nurse before doing anything with the bag
Correct answer: Empty and rinse the bag and record the output
Emptying the colostomy bag when it is one-third to one-half full prevents leakage and skin irritation.
Question 7: During a bed bath, the CNA notices a new reddened area on the resident's coccyx that does not blanch when pressed. This indicates:
- A Stage 1 pressure injury that must be reported to the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Normal skin coloring that requires no action
- A rash that should be treated with lotion
- Bruising from repositioning and is expected
Correct answer: A Stage 1 pressure injury that must be reported to the nurse immediately
Non-blanchable redness over a bony prominence is a Stage 1 pressure injury and must be reported promptly to prevent progression.
CNA Basic Nursing Skills 3 4
A resident's urinary output for the shift was 180 mL.
The CNA should: