CNA Legal & Ethical Behaviours 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident tells you they want to refuse their scheduled bath today. What is the most appropriate action?
- Insist the bath must happen for infection control
- Honor the refusal, document it, and notify the nurse (Correct answer)
- Tell the family so they can convince the resident
- Skip documenting since the resident is alert and oriented
Correct answer: Honor the refusal, document it, and notify the nurse
Competent residents have the legal right to refuse any care, and CNAs must document and report refusals to the nurse.
Question 2: Which action by a CNA would constitute false imprisonment?
- Applying a vest restraint per physician order
- Locking the exit door to prevent a resident from leaving (Correct answer)
- Keeping bed rails up as ordered in the care plan
- Closing the door to a resident's room during personal care
Correct answer: Locking the exit door to prevent a resident from leaving
Locking a door to prevent a resident from leaving without legal authority constitutes false imprisonment.
Question 3: A CNA witnesses a co-worker stealing a resident's money. What should the CNA do?
- Confront the co-worker privately and give them a chance to return the money
- Report the incident to the charge nurse or supervisor immediately (Correct answer)
- Document the incident in the resident's medical record
- Inform other staff members so they can watch the co-worker
Correct answer: Report the incident to the charge nurse or supervisor immediately
Theft from a resident is a form of abuse that must be reported immediately to the charge nurse or supervisor.
Question 4: What does the legal term 'scope of practice' mean for a CNA?
- The geographic area where a CNA is allowed to work
- The specific tasks a CNA is legally authorized to perform (Correct answer)
- The number of residents a CNA can care for at one time
- The type of facility where a CNA can be employed
Correct answer: The specific tasks a CNA is legally authorized to perform
Scope of practice defines the specific tasks and responsibilities a CNA is legally permitted to perform based on training and state law.
Question 5: A family member asks a CNA to share details about another resident's condition. How should the CNA respond?
- Share the information since family members are trustworthy
- Decline and explain that resident information is confidential (Correct answer)
- Refer them to the resident so the resident can share if they choose
- Share only general information without using the resident's name
Correct answer: Decline and explain that resident information is confidential
HIPAA requires CNAs to protect the confidentiality of all residents' information; sharing it with unauthorized individuals violates the law.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a CNA acting as a resident advocate?
- Performing a task outside the CNA's scope to help a resident faster
- Reporting to the nurse that a resident's call light was ignored for 30 minutes (Correct answer)
- Sharing a resident's concerns with other residents in the dining room
- Deciding independently to change a resident's care plan
Correct answer: Reporting to the nurse that a resident's call light was ignored for 30 minutes
Advocacy includes speaking up for residents' needs, such as reporting when their call for assistance has been neglected.
Question 7: A CNA is asked by a nurse to perform a sterile wound dressing change. What should the CNA do?
- Perform the task since the nurse requested it
- Refuse and explain it is outside the CNA's scope of practice (Correct answer)
- Perform the task only if the nurse supervises directly
- Ask another CNA to do it instead
Correct answer: Refuse and explain it is outside the CNA's scope of practice
Sterile wound dressing changes are not within the CNA's scope of practice; performing them could cause harm and legal liability.
CNA Legal & Ethical Behaviours 5
A resident tells you they want to refuse their scheduled bath today.
What is the most appropriate action?