CNA Legal & Ethical Behaviours 1 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident refuses a bed bath but has not been declared legally incompetent. What should the CNA do?
- Perform the bath anyway to maintain hygiene
- Document the refusal and notify the nurse (Correct answer)
- Ask a family member to convince the resident
- Ignore the refusal and try again later
Correct answer: Document the refusal and notify the nurse
Competent residents have the right to refuse care; the CNA must document the refusal and report it to the nurse.
Question 2: Which action by a CNA constitutes false imprisonment?
- Using a locked cabinet for medications
- Restraining a resident without a physician's order (Correct answer)
- Closing a resident's room door at their request
- Keeping side rails up per the care plan
Correct answer: Restraining a resident without a physician's order
Restraining a resident without a proper physician's order unlawfully restricts their freedom of movement.
Question 3: A co-worker asks the CNA to sign off on care that the co-worker forgot to document. What is the correct response?
- Sign it as a favor since the care was likely given
- Refuse to sign; only document care you personally provided (Correct answer)
- Sign only if you witnessed the care
- Ask the charge nurse to sign instead
Correct answer: Refuse to sign; only document care you personally provided
CNAs may only document care they personally performed, as falsifying records is fraud.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a resident's care plan in relation to legal and ethical care?
- To provide a billing record for insurance
- To guide individualized care and protect resident rights (Correct answer)
- To document staff scheduling assignments
- To record facility infection control policies
Correct answer: To guide individualized care and protect resident rights
The care plan guides individualized, person-centered care that respects the resident's rights and preferences.
Question 5: A resident tells the CNA that another staff member hit them. What should the CNA do first?
- Tell the resident it was probably an accident
- Confront the staff member directly
- Report the allegation immediately to the supervisor (Correct answer)
- Wait to see if the resident mentions it again
Correct answer: Report the allegation immediately to the supervisor
Allegations of abuse must be reported immediately to the supervisor so an investigation can be initiated.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the ethical principle of nonmaleficence?
- Treating all residents equally regardless of diagnosis
- Respecting a resident's right to make decisions
- Doing no harm to the resident (Correct answer)
- Acting in the resident's best interest
Correct answer: Doing no harm to the resident
Nonmaleficence means avoiding actions that cause harm to the resident.
Question 7: A CNA notices a bruise on a resident that was not there yesterday and cannot be explained. What should the CNA do?
- Apply ice and monitor the bruise over 24 hours
- Report the finding to the nurse and document it objectively (Correct answer)
- Ask other residents if they saw what happened
- Document it only in the personal log, not the official chart
Correct answer: Report the finding to the nurse and document it objectively
Unexplained bruises are potential signs of abuse and must be reported to the nurse and documented in the official record.
CNA Legal & Ethical Behaviours 1 3
A resident refuses a bed bath but has not been declared legally incompetent.
What should the CNA do?