CNA Preventing Patient Falls and Injuries 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CNA finds a patient on the floor but did not witness the fall. What should be done FIRST?
- Help the patient back into bed immediately to prevent further injury
- Assess the patient for injury without moving them and call for the nurse (Correct answer)
- Complete the incident report before calling the nurse
- Ask the patient to stand up so you can check if they can bear weight
Correct answer: Assess the patient for injury without moving them and call for the nurse
Moving a patient who may have a fracture or head injury can worsen harm; assess for injuries and summon the nurse before attempting to move them.
Question 2: Which situation would prompt a CNA to use a bed alarm for fall prevention?
- A patient who is fully ambulatory and continent
- A confused patient who repeatedly attempts to get out of bed unsafely (Correct answer)
- Any patient over the age of 65 per facility policy
- A patient who specifically requests one for personal reassurance
Correct answer: A confused patient who repeatedly attempts to get out of bed unsafely
Bed alarms are indicated for patients with cognitive impairment who do not call for help and have a history of unsafe self-transfers.
Question 3: What is the purpose of conducting a post-fall huddle after a patient fall?
- To assign blame for the fall to the responsible staff member
- To identify what happened, what can be changed, and prevent future falls immediately (Correct answer)
- To satisfy legal documentation requirements only
- To reassign the patient to a different CNA
Correct answer: To identify what happened, what can be changed, and prevent future falls immediately
A post-fall huddle is a rapid team review focused on understanding root causes and implementing immediate interventions to prevent recurrence.
Question 4: A patient has a history of falling when reaching for items on the bedside table. Which intervention best addresses this risk?
- Remove the bedside table entirely
- Ensure frequently needed items are within easy reach without leaning or stretching (Correct answer)
- Tell the patient to ring the call light for every item they need
- Lock the wheels of the bedside table so it cannot move away
Correct answer: Ensure frequently needed items are within easy reach without leaning or stretching
Placing essential items within comfortable reach reduces the need to overreach, which is a common cause of falls from reaching.
Question 5: Which patient behavior is the MOST reliable early warning sign that fall risk has increased?
- Asking more questions about their diagnosis
- Increased restlessness, agitation, or repeated attempts to get out of bed (Correct answer)
- Sleeping more than usual during the day
- Requesting a different meal option
Correct answer: Increased restlessness, agitation, or repeated attempts to get out of bed
Increased restlessness and repeated attempts to exit the bed signal that a patient's judgment or physical stability may be compromised, raising fall risk.
Question 6: A patient's care plan includes hourly rounding for fall prevention. What is the PRIMARY goal of this intervention?
- To monitor vital signs and document them each hour
- To proactively meet patient needs — toileting, position, pain, belongings — before they attempt to get up alone (Correct answer)
- To ensure medications are given on schedule
- To check that all four side rails are raised
Correct answer: To proactively meet patient needs — toileting, position, pain, belongings — before they attempt to get up alone
Hourly rounding addresses the '4 Ps' (pain, position, personal needs, placement of items) so patients do not feel the need to get up unassisted.
Question 7: When assisting a patient who begins to fall, what technique protects both the patient and the CNA?
- Try to hold the patient upright at all costs to prevent them from reaching the floor
- Control the descent by bending your knees, widening your stance, and guiding the patient to the floor (Correct answer)
- Step aside quickly to avoid being pulled down with the patient
- Grab the patient's arm tightly and call out for help before doing anything else
Correct answer: Control the descent by bending your knees, widening your stance, and guiding the patient to the floor
A controlled descent using proper body mechanics prevents injury to both the patient and the CNA — trying to catch a full fall can injure both parties.
CNA Preventing Patient Falls and Injuries 5
A CNA finds a patient on the floor but did not witness the fall.
What should be done FIRST?