CNA Preventing Patient Falls and Injuries 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient who was continent yesterday now has urinary urgency. How does this change your fall prevention approach?
- Increase call light checks to every 15 minutes
- Place the patient on a scheduled toileting program and keep the path to the bathroom clear (Correct answer)
- Restrict fluid intake to reduce urgency episodes
- Document the change and wait for the nurse to create a new plan
Correct answer: Place the patient on a scheduled toileting program and keep the path to the bathroom clear
New urinary urgency is a major fall risk because patients rush to the bathroom; a scheduled toileting program and clear path reduce this risk immediately.
Question 2: Which action by the CNA demonstrates correct use of a gait belt during ambulation?
- Holding the belt from behind at the back loop only
- Gripping the belt firmly at the patient's side or back with an underhand grasp (Correct answer)
- Looping a hand through the belt buckle for a secure grip
- Placing the belt over the patient's hips rather than the waist
Correct answer: Gripping the belt firmly at the patient's side or back with an underhand grasp
A firm underhand grasp on the gait belt at the side or back gives the CNA the best control to support or break a fall.
Question 3: A patient's fall risk assessment score increased after starting a new medication. Which type of drug most commonly contributes to fall risk?
- Antibiotics
- Antihypertensives and diuretics (Correct answer)
- Antihistamines taken at bedtime only
- Vitamins and supplements
Correct answer: Antihypertensives and diuretics
Antihypertensives and diuretics can cause orthostatic hypotension and frequent urination, both significant fall risk factors.
Question 4: The nurse asks you to apply non-skid socks to a patient. The patient refuses and says regular socks are fine. What should the CNA do?
- Allow the patient to wear regular socks since it is their right
- Explain the safety reason, document the refusal, and notify the nurse (Correct answer)
- Apply non-skid socks anyway because safety overrides patient preference
- Remove all socks to prevent slipping
Correct answer: Explain the safety reason, document the refusal, and notify the nurse
Patients have the right to refuse care, but the CNA must explain risks, document the refusal, and report it to the nurse for follow-up.
Question 5: Which environmental modification is MOST effective for a patient who falls when getting out of bed at night?
- Turning on overhead fluorescent lights and leaving them on all night
- Using a night light, keeping the path clear, and placing the call light within reach (Correct answer)
- Raising all four side rails to prevent the patient from getting up
- Moving the patient to a room closer to the nurses' station
Correct answer: Using a night light, keeping the path clear, and placing the call light within reach
Adequate lighting, a clear path, and an accessible call light address the most common nighttime fall factors without restraining the patient.
Question 6: A patient using a walker stops mid-hallway and says they feel dizzy. What is the CNA's first action?
- Help the patient sit or lean against the wall and call for assistance (Correct answer)
- Encourage the patient to push through the dizziness and continue walking
- Have the patient lie down on the hallway floor immediately
- Return to the room to get a wheelchair before assisting the patient
Correct answer: Help the patient sit or lean against the wall and call for assistance
The priority is to stabilize the patient immediately — have them sit or lean safely — then call for help before leaving them alone.
Question 7: Which statement about postural (orthostatic) hypotension and fall prevention is accurate?
- It only occurs in patients over age 80
- Having the patient dangle at the bedside before standing helps the body adjust to position changes (Correct answer)
- Patients should stand quickly to allow blood pressure to normalize faster
- Orthostatic hypotension is not a fall risk if the patient feels only mildly dizzy
Correct answer: Having the patient dangle at the bedside before standing helps the body adjust to position changes
Dangling at the bedside allows blood pressure to gradually equalize before the patient fully bears weight, reducing the risk of a fall from dizziness.
CNA Preventing Patient Falls and Injuries 4
A patient who was continent yesterday now has urinary urgency.
How does this change your fall prevention approach?