CNA Basic Nursing Skills 4 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When applying a non-sterile dressing to a wound, the CNA should:
- Apply the dressing with bare hands to avoid contaminating gloves
- Wear clean gloves and avoid touching the inner surface of the dressing (Correct answer)
- Reuse dressings if they appear clean and dry
- Apply antiseptic directly to the dressing before placing it on the wound
Correct answer: Wear clean gloves and avoid touching the inner surface of the dressing
The inner surface of the dressing must remain uncontaminated, so gloves are worn and the wound-contact side is never touched.
Question 2: A resident's urine output is being measured. The CNA notes the urine is dark amber and has a strong odor. The priority action is to:
- Encourage the resident to drink more fluids and document the findings (Correct answer)
- Ignore it as this is normal for elderly residents
- Discard the urine without documenting
- Ask the resident to hold urination until the next shift
Correct answer: Encourage the resident to drink more fluids and document the findings
Dark, strong-smelling urine may indicate dehydration or infection, so increasing fluids and reporting to the nurse are appropriate immediate actions.
Question 3: Which action best prevents pressure injuries when a resident must stay in bed?
- Keep the head of the bed elevated at 90 degrees at all times
- Reposition the resident every 2 hours and inspect bony prominences (Correct answer)
- Apply a thick layer of lotion over reddened areas and massage them vigorously
- Use only one type of positioning to maintain consistency
Correct answer: Reposition the resident every 2 hours and inspect bony prominences
Turning every 2 hours relieves pressure on bony prominences and allows skin inspection to catch early injury signs.
Question 4: When assisting a resident with passive range-of-motion (ROM) exercises, the CNA should:
- Move each joint as far as possible to maximize benefit
- Stop if the resident reports pain or resistance is felt (Correct answer)
- Skip the exercises if the resident falls asleep
- Perform exercises only on the affected side
Correct answer: Stop if the resident reports pain or resistance is felt
Pain or resistance signals potential injury, so the CNA must stop immediately and report to the nurse.
Question 5: A resident wearing a urinary catheter complains of lower abdominal pain and says the catheter tubing feels full. The CNA should first:
- Irrigate the catheter with sterile water to relieve the blockage
- Check that the tubing is not kinked or compressed (Correct answer)
- Remove the catheter and insert a new one
- Tell the resident this is a normal sensation and not to worry
Correct answer: Check that the tubing is not kinked or compressed
A kinked or compressed catheter tube can obstruct urine flow and cause discomfort, and correcting this is within the CNA's scope.
Question 6: During oral care for an unconscious resident, the safest position is:
- Supine (flat on back) to keep the airway aligned
- Semi-Fowler's with head turned to one side (Correct answer)
- Prone (face down) to allow drainage
- High Fowler's at 90 degrees
Correct answer: Semi-Fowler's with head turned to one side
Turning the head to the side in semi-Fowler's position prevents aspiration of fluids during oral care.
Question 7: A resident has a new order for a heating pad to the lower back. The CNA should:
- Set the heating pad to the highest setting for maximum effect
- Check the skin every 5–10 minutes and use the lowest effective setting (Correct answer)
- Leave the heating pad in place overnight without interruption
- Apply the heating pad directly on bare skin for better heat transfer
Correct answer: Check the skin every 5–10 minutes and use the lowest effective setting
Frequent skin checks and using the lowest effective setting prevent burns, especially in residents with decreased sensation.
CNA Basic Nursing Skills 4 3
When applying a non-sterile dressing to a wound, the CNA should: