CNA Professional Standards & Ethics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident asks a CNA to keep a secret about something the resident plans to do that could harm them. What should the CNA do?
- Keep the secret to honor the resident's privacy
- Report the information to the charge nurse (Correct answer)
- Tell other residents to watch for warning signs
- Ask the resident to write a formal statement first
Correct answer: Report the information to the charge nurse
CNAs are mandated reporters and must report any information suggesting a resident may be at risk of harm, even if told in confidence.
Question 2: Which action by a CNA demonstrates professional boundaries?
- Accepting a small gift of cash from a grateful resident
- Sharing personal phone number with a resident for emergencies
- Addressing the resident by their preferred name (Correct answer)
- Visiting the resident at home after a shift ends
Correct answer: Addressing the resident by their preferred name
Using the resident's preferred name shows respect while maintaining an appropriate professional relationship.
Question 3: A CNA witnesses a coworker stealing a resident's medication. What is the FIRST action the CNA should take?
- Confront the coworker directly
- Report the observation to the charge nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Document the incident in the resident's chart
- Wait to see if it happens again before reporting
Correct answer: Report the observation to the charge nurse immediately
The CNA must immediately report suspected theft or abuse to the charge nurse or supervisor, as this is a safety and legal issue.
Question 4: What does 'scope of practice' mean for a CNA?
- The number of patients a CNA can care for per shift
- The specific tasks a CNA is legally permitted to perform (Correct answer)
- The geographic area where a CNA's license is valid
- The years of experience required before promotion
Correct answer: The specific tasks a CNA is legally permitted to perform
Scope of practice defines the legal boundaries of tasks a CNA is trained, certified, and authorized to perform.
Question 5: A resident's family member offers a CNA a $50 tip for excellent care. What should the CNA do?
- Accept it since it was earned through hard work
- Accept it but report it to the supervisor
- Politely decline and explain facility policy prohibits it (Correct answer)
- Ask the family to donate it to the facility instead
Correct answer: Politely decline and explain facility policy prohibits it
Most healthcare facilities prohibit CNAs from accepting monetary gifts from residents or families to maintain professional integrity.
Question 6: When a CNA disagrees with a care decision made by the nurse, the BEST action is to:
- Ignore the instruction and provide care as they see fit
- Complain to other CNAs about the decision
- Ask the nurse to explain the reasoning and voice concerns professionally (Correct answer)
- Refuse to perform the assigned care task
Correct answer: Ask the nurse to explain the reasoning and voice concerns professionally
CNAs should professionally communicate concerns through proper channels while still following lawful care directives.
Question 7: Which situation BEST describes elder abuse by a CNA?
- Forgetting to document a resident's meal intake
- Calling a resident 'sweetie' without their permission
- Intentionally leaving a resident in a wet brief for several hours (Correct answer)
- Accidentally bumping a resident's arm during repositioning
Correct answer: Intentionally leaving a resident in a wet brief for several hours
Intentionally leaving a resident in a soiled brief constitutes neglect, which is a form of elder abuse.
CNA Professional Standards & Ethics 2
A resident asks a CNA to keep a secret about something the resident plans to do that could harm them.
What should the CNA do?