CNA Resident Rights and Communication 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident asks you to keep a conversation about their family problems private from other staff. What is the appropriate response?
- Tell the resident you cannot keep any secrets
- Respect the request and keep the information confidential unless it affects care (Correct answer)
- Report the conversation to the nurse immediately
- Write the details in the resident's chart
Correct answer: Respect the request and keep the information confidential unless it affects care
Residents have a right to privacy and confidentiality; information is only shared when it affects their care or safety.
Question 2: Which action by a CNA violates a resident's right to be free from abuse?
- Assisting a resident who refuses a bath to reschedule for later
- Threatening to withhold meals if a resident does not cooperate (Correct answer)
- Reporting a resident's fall to the charge nurse
- Knocking before entering a resident's room
Correct answer: Threatening to withhold meals if a resident does not cooperate
Threatening to withhold meals is a form of verbal and emotional abuse and violates the resident's rights.
Question 3: A resident who speaks limited English needs information about their care plan. What should the CNA do?
- Speak louder and repeat the information slowly
- Ask a family member who visits to translate everything
- Request a qualified interpreter through the facility (Correct answer)
- Use only hand gestures to explain the plan
Correct answer: Request a qualified interpreter through the facility
Facilities must provide qualified interpreter services to ensure residents understand their care and rights.
Question 4: A resident tells the CNA they want to file a complaint against the facility. The CNA should:
- Discourage the complaint by explaining how hard the staff works
- Inform the resident of their right to contact the ombudsman and assist them (Correct answer)
- Tell the nurse so the situation can be handled internally
- Explain that complaints rarely result in changes
Correct answer: Inform the resident of their right to contact the ombudsman and assist them
Residents have the right to voice grievances without retaliation, and CNAs must support access to the ombudsman.
Question 5: When communicating with a resident who has hearing loss, which technique is MOST effective?
- Stand behind the resident and speak loudly into their ear
- Face the resident, speak clearly, and use a normal pace (Correct answer)
- Write everything down without attempting verbal communication
- Shout from across the room to get their attention
Correct answer: Face the resident, speak clearly, and use a normal pace
Facing the resident and speaking at a normal pace allows lip reading and reduces confusion.
Question 6: A resident's adult child demands to see their parent's medical records. The CNA should:
- Provide the records since family members always have access
- Refuse and explain that the resident must authorize release of records (Correct answer)
- Make copies of the records for the family member
- Refer the family member to the administrator without explanation
Correct answer: Refuse and explain that the resident must authorize release of records
Medical records are confidential and can only be released with the resident's written consent unless the resident has designated a legal representative.
Question 7: A resident who is alert and oriented refuses to wear their ID bracelet. The CNA should:
- Insist the resident wear it for their own safety and put it on them
- Document the refusal, inform the nurse, and respect the resident's decision (Correct answer)
- Tie the bracelet to the bed rail instead
- Ignore the situation since ID bracelets are optional
Correct answer: Document the refusal, inform the nurse, and respect the resident's decision
Competent residents have the right to refuse any aspect of care; refusals must be documented and reported.
CNA Resident Rights and Communication 2
A resident asks you to keep a conversation about their family problems private from other staff.
What is the appropriate response?