CNA Ethics and Professionalism 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident of a different religion asks the CNA to pray with them. The most professional response is to:
- Refuse and explain your own religious beliefs
- Pray with them using your own religious prayers
- Respect their request and offer to contact a chaplain if desired (Correct answer)
- Tell them religious matters are not your responsibility
Correct answer: Respect their request and offer to contact a chaplain if desired
CNAs should respect residents' spiritual needs without imposing their own beliefs, and facilitating chaplain services supports holistic care.
Question 2: When a resident refuses a prescribed medication, the CNA should:
- Crush it into food without telling the resident
- Accept the refusal, document it, and report to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Insist the resident take it because the doctor ordered it
- Call the family to convince the resident to comply
Correct answer: Accept the refusal, document it, and report to the nurse
Competent residents have the right to refuse treatment; the CNA must document and report refusals to the nurse for follow-up.
Question 3: A CNA is angry after an argument at home and feels irritable at work. The most professional action is to:
- Vent frustrations to residents to feel better
- Leave personal issues at home and provide unaffected care (Correct answer)
- Ask to leave early since emotional state affects work quality
- Ignore care tasks until feeling calmer
Correct answer: Leave personal issues at home and provide unaffected care
Professionalism requires separating personal emotions from resident care to ensure consistent, compassionate service.
Question 4: Which situation represents a conflict of interest for a CNA?
- Being assigned to care for a resident on a different floor
- Purchasing a resident's personal belongings at a discount (Correct answer)
- Assisting a resident with grooming as assigned
- Documenting care after completing a task
Correct answer: Purchasing a resident's personal belongings at a discount
Buying a resident's property at a discounted rate exploits the caregiver-resident relationship and represents a serious ethical conflict of interest.
Question 5: A resident asks the CNA to witness their will signing. The CNA should:
- Agree to witness since the resident trusts them
- Decline and explain that CNAs should not witness legal documents for residents (Correct answer)
- Sign the will and report it to the charge nurse afterward
- Ask a coworker to witness instead
Correct answer: Decline and explain that CNAs should not witness legal documents for residents
CNAs should decline witnessing legal documents for residents due to the potential conflict of interest and professional boundary concerns.
Question 6: The term 'neglect' in long-term care refers to:
- Providing care that the resident did not request
- Failing to provide necessary care that results in harm or risk of harm (Correct answer)
- Spending too much time with one resident
- Offering care that exceeds what is documented in the care plan
Correct answer: Failing to provide necessary care that results in harm or risk of harm
Neglect is the failure to provide necessary care, goods, or services that results in or could result in physical, mental, or emotional harm to a resident.
Question 7: A family member asks the CNA to tell them about all the medications their loved one is receiving. The CNA should:
- Provide the full medication list since it is a family member
- Direct them to speak with the nurse for medication information (Correct answer)
- Refer them to the pharmacy for a medication list
- Share only the medications you personally administered
Correct answer: Direct them to speak with the nurse for medication information
Medication information should be communicated by licensed nurses or physicians; CNAs should direct family members to the appropriate clinician.
CNA Ethics and Professionalism 3
A resident of a different religion asks the CNA to pray with them.
The most professional response is to: