CNA CNA Patient Care & Basic Nursing Skills 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient reports feeling dizzy when standing up from a lying position. This is most likely caused by:
- Orthostatic hypotension (Correct answer)
- Hypertensive crisis
- Hypoglycemia
- Pulmonary embolism
Correct answer: Orthostatic hypotension
Orthostatic hypotension is a drop in blood pressure upon standing, causing dizziness.
Question 2: When measuring urinary output, the CNA should document the amount in:
- Milliliters (mL) (Correct answer)
- Liters (L)
- Ounces (oz)
- Cubic centimeters per hour
Correct answer: Milliliters (mL)
Urinary output is recorded in milliliters to ensure accurate fluid balance documentation.
Question 3: A patient's wound dressing is saturated with blood. The CNA should first:
- Apply pressure over the dressing and call the nurse (Correct answer)
- Remove the soiled dressing and replace it
- Document the finding and wait for the next scheduled change
- Irrigate the wound with saline
Correct answer: Apply pressure over the dressing and call the nurse
Applying pressure controls bleeding and the nurse must be notified immediately for clinical assessment.
Question 4: Which positioning technique helps prevent aspiration during feeding?
- Elevate the head of the bed to at least 30–45 degrees (Correct answer)
- Place the patient flat on their back
- Turn the patient to the left lateral position
- Lower the head of the bed to 10 degrees
Correct answer: Elevate the head of the bed to at least 30–45 degrees
Elevating the head of bed during and after feeding uses gravity to keep food from entering the airway.
Question 5: A resident with dementia becomes agitated during a bath. The BEST response by the CNA is to:
- Speak calmly, offer simple choices, and pause if needed (Correct answer)
- Restrain the resident to complete the bath safely
- Skip the bath and document refusal
- Increase the water temperature to relax the resident
Correct answer: Speak calmly, offer simple choices, and pause if needed
Calm communication and offering small choices can reduce agitation and maintain dignity in dementia care.
Question 6: The normal range for an adult's respiratory rate is:
- 12–20 breaths per minute (Correct answer)
- 6–10 breaths per minute
- 22–30 breaths per minute
- 30–40 breaths per minute
Correct answer: 12–20 breaths per minute
A normal adult respiratory rate is 12–20 breaths per minute; outside this range warrants reporting.
Question 7: When performing passive range-of-motion exercises, the CNA should:
- Move each joint slowly and stop if the patient reports pain (Correct answer)
- Push through resistance to improve flexibility
- Perform rapid repetitions to save time
- Only move joints the patient cannot move at all
Correct answer: Move each joint slowly and stop if the patient reports pain
Gentle, controlled movement prevents injury; pain is a signal to stop and report.
CNA CNA Patient Care & Basic Nursing Skills 4
A patient reports feeling dizzy when standing up from a lying position.
This is most likely caused by: