CNA Legal & Ethical Behaviours 1 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal law established the rights of nursing home residents to be free from abuse, neglect, and mistreatment?
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) (Correct answer)
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
Correct answer: Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA)
OBRA 1987 established comprehensive resident rights in long-term care facilities, including protection from abuse and neglect.
Question 2: A CNA witnesses a colleague verbally berating a resident. Under mandatory reporting laws, what must the CNA do?
- Talk privately with the colleague after the shift
- Report the incident to the supervisor immediately (Correct answer)
- Document the incident only in a personal notebook
- Warn the colleague and give them a chance to apologize
Correct answer: Report the incident to the supervisor immediately
CNAs are mandated reporters and must immediately report observed abuse to their supervisor.
Question 3: What is the meaning of 'beneficence' as an ethical principle in healthcare?
- Ensuring equal treatment for all patients
- Acting in ways that promote the patient's well-being (Correct answer)
- Telling the truth to patients at all times
- Avoiding actions that could cause harm
Correct answer: Acting in ways that promote the patient's well-being
Beneficence means taking actions that benefit the patient and promote their health and well-being.
Question 4: A CNA accidentally administers care to the wrong resident. What should be done?
- Say nothing if no harm appears to have occurred
- Report the error to the nurse immediately and document it (Correct answer)
- Ask the resident not to mention it to staff
- Wait to see if any complications develop before reporting
Correct answer: Report the error to the nurse immediately and document it
All errors, even those without apparent harm, must be reported immediately and documented to protect resident safety.
Question 5: A resident asks the CNA to keep a secret about symptoms they are experiencing. What should the CNA do?
- Agree to keep the secret to build trust with the resident
- Explain that symptoms must be reported to the nurse for safety (Correct answer)
- Document the symptoms without telling the nurse
- Ask the resident's family what to do
Correct answer: Explain that symptoms must be reported to the nurse for safety
CNAs must report all significant observations to the nurse; they cannot promise to withhold information that affects resident safety.
Question 6: Which situation represents a conflict of interest that a CNA should avoid?
- Completing extra documentation after a busy shift
- Accepting a cash gift from a resident in exchange for extra care (Correct answer)
- Reporting a colleague's unsafe behavior to the supervisor
- Assisting a resident who is not on your assigned hall in an emergency
Correct answer: Accepting a cash gift from a resident in exchange for extra care
Accepting gifts or payment from residents creates a conflict of interest and violates professional boundaries.
Question 7: What does 'negligence' mean in the context of CNA practice?
- Intentionally harming a resident through physical force
- Failing to provide the standard of care, resulting in harm (Correct answer)
- Spreading false information about a resident
- Threatening a resident with punishment to gain compliance
Correct answer: Failing to provide the standard of care, resulting in harm
Negligence is the failure to perform care at the accepted standard, which results in harm or risk of harm to the resident.
CNA Legal & Ethical Behaviours 1 5
Which federal law established the rights of nursing home residents to be free from abuse, neglect, and mistreatment?