CNA Legal & Ethical Behaviours 4 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident asks the CNA to keep a secret about something that happened during care. What should the CNA do?
- Keep the secret to maintain trust
- Refuse to promise secrecy if it involves safety or abuse (Correct answer)
- Report it immediately without telling the resident
- Ask the resident's family what to do
Correct answer: Refuse to promise secrecy if it involves safety or abuse
CNAs cannot promise secrecy when information involves potential harm, abuse, or safety concerns, as reporting is a legal and ethical obligation.
Question 2: Which action by a CNA constitutes a HIPAA violation?
- Discussing a resident's condition with the charge nurse
- Telling a friend about a resident's diagnosis after work (Correct answer)
- Documenting care given in the medical record
- Reporting a change in a resident's condition to the supervisor
Correct answer: Telling a friend about a resident's diagnosis after work
Sharing a resident's health information with unauthorized individuals such as personal friends violates HIPAA privacy regulations.
Question 3: A CNA witnesses a coworker stealing medication from a resident's room. What is the FIRST action the CNA should take?
- Confront the coworker directly
- Ignore it to avoid conflict
- Report it immediately to the supervisor or charge nurse (Correct answer)
- Document it and wait until the end of the shift
Correct answer: Report it immediately to the supervisor or charge nurse
Witnessing theft of medication is a serious legal and ethical matter that requires immediate reporting to a supervisor.
Question 4: What does the term 'scope of practice' mean for a CNA?
- The geographic area where a CNA is licensed to work
- The specific tasks a CNA is legally trained and authorized to perform (Correct answer)
- The number of residents a CNA can care for at one time
- The hours a CNA is permitted to work per week
Correct answer: The specific tasks a CNA is legally trained and authorized to perform
Scope of practice defines the specific duties and procedures a CNA is legally permitted to perform based on their training and state regulations.
Question 5: A resident with dementia becomes agitated and starts hitting the CNA. What is the ethically appropriate response?
- Restrain the resident physically to stop the behavior
- Step back, ensure safety, and report the behavior to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Scold the resident to discourage the behavior
- Ignore it since the resident has dementia and does not understand
Correct answer: Step back, ensure safety, and report the behavior to the nurse
The CNA should protect their own safety, avoid physical restraint without an order, and report the behavior so a care plan adjustment can be made.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes 'false imprisonment' in a long-term care setting?
- Locking doors to the facility at night
- Preventing a resident from leaving their room without lawful justification (Correct answer)
- Using side rails as prescribed in the care plan
- Placing a resident in a private room
Correct answer: Preventing a resident from leaving their room without lawful justification
False imprisonment occurs when a resident is confined or their movement is restricted without a legal or medical justification.
Question 7: A CNA accidentally spills hot liquid on a resident causing a burn. What should the CNA do?
- Apply ice to the burn and say nothing
- Report the incident immediately to the nurse and complete an incident report (Correct answer)
- Apologize to the resident and monitor the burn privately
- Document only in personal notes
Correct answer: Report the incident immediately to the nurse and complete an incident report
All accidents must be reported immediately and documented through an incident report to ensure proper treatment and legal accountability.
CNA Legal & Ethical Behaviours 4 3
A resident asks the CNA to keep a secret about something that happened during care.
What should the CNA do?