CNA Roles and Responsibilities 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident refuses a bath. What is the CNA's primary responsibility?
- Insist the bath is necessary for hygiene and proceed
- Document the refusal and report it to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Ask a family member to convince the resident
- Skip documenting the refusal to avoid paperwork
Correct answer: Document the refusal and report it to the nurse
Residents have the right to refuse care; the CNA must respect this, document it, and notify the nurse.
Question 2: Which behavior by a CNA could be classified as emotional abuse of a resident?
- Reminding a resident to use their call light
- Threatening to restrain a resident if they do not cooperate (Correct answer)
- Assisting a resident with ambulation
- Offering a resident choices about their daily routine
Correct answer: Threatening to restrain a resident if they do not cooperate
Threatening a resident with restraints as punishment is emotional abuse, which is prohibited and reportable.
Question 3: A resident tells a CNA they are feeling depressed and have thoughts of harming themselves. The CNA should:
- Tell the resident these feelings are normal and will pass
- Stay with the resident and immediately notify the nurse (Correct answer)
- Give the resident space and check back in an hour
- Document the statement and report it at the end of the shift
Correct answer: Stay with the resident and immediately notify the nurse
Suicidal ideation is a safety emergency requiring immediate nursing notification while the CNA stays with the resident.
Question 4: What is the purpose of the care plan in a CNA's daily work?
- To provide medical diagnoses and treatment orders
- To guide individualized care based on each resident's needs and preferences (Correct answer)
- To document the CNA's work hours and assignments
- To list medications a resident is currently taking
Correct answer: To guide individualized care based on each resident's needs and preferences
The care plan outlines individualized care approaches and goals to guide all members of the care team, including CNAs.
Question 5: During a shift, a CNA observes a change in a resident's skin color and breathing. The appropriate action is to:
- Wait until the end of shift to report the change
- Document only and leave a note for the next shift
- Report the change to the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Administer oxygen from the supply room
Correct answer: Report the change to the nurse immediately
Any change in a resident's condition, especially skin color and breathing, must be reported to the nurse immediately as it may indicate a serious problem.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the CNA's role in a resident's interdisciplinary care team?
- To make clinical decisions independently based on observation
- To provide direct care and communicate observations to licensed staff (Correct answer)
- To coordinate treatment plans among all disciplines
- To supervise nursing staff and manage care outcomes
Correct answer: To provide direct care and communicate observations to licensed staff
The CNA provides hands-on care and serves as an essential observer whose reports inform the licensed team's clinical decisions.
Question 7: A CNA is asked by a supervisor to document care that was not actually provided. The CNA should:
- Document as requested to avoid conflict with the supervisor
- Document accurately, reflecting only care that was actually given (Correct answer)
- Leave the documentation blank to avoid false recording
- Ask another CNA to document on their behalf
Correct answer: Document accurately, reflecting only care that was actually given
Falsifying medical records is illegal and unethical; CNAs must document only care that was actually performed.
CNA Roles and Responsibilities 5
A resident refuses a bath.
What is the CNA's primary responsibility?