CNA Basic Nursing Skills 4 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident on contact precautions has Clostridium difficile (C. diff). When leaving the room, the CNA should perform hand hygiene with:
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer, which is most effective
- Soap and water, because alcohol does not kill C. diff spores (Correct answer)
- Antiseptic wipes at the doorway
- Either soap and water or sanitizer — both are equally effective
Correct answer: Soap and water, because alcohol does not kill C. diff spores
C. diff produces spores that are resistant to alcohol, so soap and water with mechanical scrubbing is required.
Question 2: A resident with limited mobility needs to be repositioned toward the head of the bed. The safest approach is to:
- Have the resident grip the side rails and pull themselves up alone
- Use a drawsheet with a second staff member to slide the resident up (Correct answer)
- Lift the resident by the arms to move them upward
- Ask the resident to push down with their feet while the CNA pulls by the shoulders
Correct answer: Use a drawsheet with a second staff member to slide the resident up
Using a drawsheet with two staff members reduces friction and protects both the resident's skin and the CNA's back.
Question 3: When providing perineal care for a female resident, the CNA cleans:
- From back to front using one wipe per stroke
- From front to back using one wipe per stroke (Correct answer)
- In a circular motion starting at the outer perineum
- The anal area first, then the urethral area
Correct answer: From front to back using one wipe per stroke
Front-to-back cleaning prevents fecal bacteria from contaminating the urethra, reducing infection risk.
Question 4: A resident with diabetes has a blood glucose reading of 54 mg/dL. The CNA should:
- Administer insulin as directed on the medication record
- Report the reading to the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Give the resident a large meal to correct the low blood sugar
- Recheck the reading in 30 minutes before taking action
Correct answer: Report the reading to the nurse immediately
A blood glucose of 54 mg/dL indicates hypoglycemia requiring immediate nursing intervention; the CNA must report without delay.
Question 5: When caring for a resident with a colostomy bag, the CNA should empty the bag when it is:
- Completely full to maximize efficiency
- One-third to one-half full to prevent leakage (Correct answer)
- Emptied only by licensed nursing staff
- Changed every 24 hours regardless of fullness
Correct answer: One-third to one-half full to prevent leakage
Emptying the colostomy bag when one-third to one-half full prevents leaks and skin breakdown around the stoma.
Question 6: A resident's blood pressure reading is 188/110 mmHg. The appropriate CNA action is to:
- Instruct the resident to lie down and recheck in one hour
- Report the reading to the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Have the resident drink water and retake the reading in 10 minutes
- Document the reading and report it at the end of the shift
Correct answer: Report the reading to the nurse immediately
A blood pressure of 188/110 is significantly elevated and constitutes a hypertensive urgency requiring prompt nurse notification.
Question 7: Which observation about a resident's stool should the CNA report to the nurse right away?
- Stool that is brown and soft
- Stool that is black and tarry (Correct answer)
- Stool that is slightly formed with mild odor
- Stool that occurs once daily after breakfast
Correct answer: Stool that is black and tarry
Black, tarry stool (melena) can indicate upper gastrointestinal bleeding and requires immediate nurse notification.
CNA Basic Nursing Skills 4 5
A resident on contact precautions has Clostridium difficile (C. diff).
When leaving the room, the CNA should perform hand hygiene with: