CNA Risk Assessment & Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident with dementia repeatedly tries to climb out of bed. Which is the LEAST restrictive intervention to try first?
- Apply a vest restraint
- Move the resident to a room closer to the nurses' station
- Lower the bed to the lowest position and use floor mats (Correct answer)
- Obtain a physician order for sedation
Correct answer: Lower the bed to the lowest position and use floor mats
Lowering the bed and using floor mats is the least restrictive safety measure, reducing fall injury risk without restricting the resident's movement.
Question 2: What information should a CNA document after a resident fall?
- Only the time and location of the fall
- Objective observations, actions taken, and who was notified (Correct answer)
- The CNA's opinion about why the fall happened
- The number of previous falls in the resident's history
Correct answer: Objective observations, actions taken, and who was notified
Documentation should include objective facts: what was observed, what care was provided, and who was notified, without subjective opinions.
Question 3: A resident suddenly cannot move the right side of their body and has facial drooping. What condition does the CNA suspect and what should they do?
- Suspect a hypoglycemic episode; offer juice immediately
- Suspect a stroke; call for the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Suspect a muscle cramp; gently massage the area
- Suspect a seizure; pad the side rails
Correct answer: Suspect a stroke; call for the nurse immediately
Sudden one-sided weakness and facial drooping are classic stroke symptoms requiring immediate notification of the nurse and emergency response.
Question 4: Which action by a CNA constitutes a physical restraint?
- Raising all four side rails on the bed (Correct answer)
- Placing a call light within the resident's reach
- Applying a lap tray to a wheelchair at the resident's request
- Positioning a pillow to support an arm
Correct answer: Raising all four side rails on the bed
Raising all four side rails prevents the resident from voluntarily leaving the bed, meeting the legal definition of a physical restraint.
Question 5: A resident with oxygen therapy asks to smoke. What is the safest response by the CNA?
- Allow smoking in the bathroom with the door closed
- Turn off the oxygen, let the resident smoke, then restart it
- Explain that smoking is not allowed near oxygen and notify the nurse (Correct answer)
- Open a window and allow smoking in the room
Correct answer: Explain that smoking is not allowed near oxygen and notify the nurse
Oxygen accelerates combustion, making smoking near oxygen a serious fire hazard; the CNA must refuse and notify the nurse to address the resident's request appropriately.
Question 6: Which observation should the CNA report as a potential sign of physical abuse in a resident?
- Bruising on the shins consistent with the resident bumping into furniture
- Multiple bruises in various stages of healing on the torso (Correct answer)
- Redness over a bony prominence from prolonged sitting
- Skin tears on the forearm of a resident on blood thinners
Correct answer: Multiple bruises in various stages of healing on the torso
Multiple bruises in various stages of healing on the torso are suspicious for abuse and must be reported immediately to the nurse and supervisor.
Question 7: The purpose of a care conference regarding fall risk is to:
- Assign blame for previous falls to the responsible staff
- Develop and update an individualized fall prevention care plan (Correct answer)
- Document that the family has been informed of facility policies
- Determine whether the resident should be discharged
Correct answer: Develop and update an individualized fall prevention care plan
Care conferences bring together the interdisciplinary team to assess fall risk factors and create a personalized prevention plan for the resident.
CNA Risk Assessment & Management 3
A resident with dementia repeatedly tries to climb out of bed.
Which is the LEAST restrictive intervention to try first?