CNA Professional Standards & Ethics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CNA overhears two coworkers discussing a resident's diagnosis in the break room where visitors are present. This is a violation of:
- OSHA regulations
- HIPAA privacy rules (Correct answer)
- The Americans with Disabilities Act
- The Nurse Practice Act
Correct answer: HIPAA privacy rules
Discussing a resident's protected health information in areas where unauthorized individuals may hear it violates HIPAA.
Question 2: A resident who is alert and oriented refuses to take a bath. The CNA should:
- Proceed with the bath since hygiene is medically necessary
- Restrain the resident to ensure compliance
- Respect the refusal and report it to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Ask other staff to help force compliance
Correct answer: Respect the refusal and report it to the nurse
Competent residents have the right to refuse care, and the CNA must honor this and notify the nurse.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a resident care plan?
- To document billing information for insurance
- To outline individualized goals and approaches for each resident's care (Correct answer)
- To record the facility's general policies and procedures
- To list the CNA's daily task schedule
Correct answer: To outline individualized goals and approaches for each resident's care
A care plan guides the entire healthcare team in delivering consistent, individualized care tailored to each resident's needs.
Question 4: Which behavior demonstrates a CNA maintaining professional appearance standards?
- Wearing strong cologne to mask clinical odors
- Keeping nails short and clean without nail polish (Correct answer)
- Wearing open-toed shoes for comfort during long shifts
- Wearing loose-fitting jewelry to appear approachable
Correct answer: Keeping nails short and clean without nail polish
Short, clean nails without polish reduce the risk of harboring and transmitting pathogens to residents.
Question 5: A resident with dementia repeatedly calls a CNA by the wrong name. The CNA should:
- Firmly correct the resident each time
- Ignore the resident when called by the wrong name
- Respond calmly and redirect as appropriate (Correct answer)
- Ask the resident's family to address the behavior
Correct answer: Respond calmly and redirect as appropriate
Responding calmly and redirecting shows patience and person-centered care for residents with cognitive impairment.
Question 6: Which action by a CNA constitutes financial exploitation of a resident?
- Helping a resident write a birthday card
- Borrowing money from a resident with the intention to repay (Correct answer)
- Reading a resident's mail aloud to them at their request
- Assisting a resident in depositing money into their account
Correct answer: Borrowing money from a resident with the intention to repay
Borrowing money from a resident is financial exploitation regardless of intent, as it takes advantage of a vulnerable person.
Question 7: A newly certified CNA is unsure how to perform a specific care procedure. What should the CNA do?
- Attempt the procedure using best judgment
- Ask a more experienced CNA or the charge nurse for guidance (Correct answer)
- Skip the procedure and document it as refused
- Watch an online video and then perform the procedure
Correct answer: Ask a more experienced CNA or the charge nurse for guidance
CNAs should seek guidance from experienced staff or supervisors when uncertain to ensure resident safety.
CNA Professional Standards & Ethics 3
A CNA overhears two coworkers discussing a resident's diagnosis in the break room where visitors are present.
This is a violation of: