CNA Supporting Rehabilitation Activities 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient recovering from a hip replacement refuses to do prescribed range-of-motion exercises because they are painful. What is the CNA's best response?
- Skip the exercises and document the refusal
- Force the patient to perform the exercises for their own good
- Acknowledge the pain, report to the nurse, and encourage participation at the patient's pace (Correct answer)
- Tell the patient the pain will go away if they just push through it
Correct answer: Acknowledge the pain, report to the nurse, and encourage participation at the patient's pace
CNAs must respect patient autonomy, report pain concerns to the nurse, and encourage participation without coercion.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the role of the CNA during a patient's occupational therapy session?
- Take over the therapy exercises if the therapist is busy
- Observe, assist as directed by the therapist, and reinforce techniques afterward (Correct answer)
- Leave the patient alone so the therapist can work without distraction
- Provide the patient with the therapy goals for the day
Correct answer: Observe, assist as directed by the therapist, and reinforce techniques afterward
CNAs assist occupational therapists as directed and reinforce learned techniques during daily care activities.
Question 3: A resident in a long-term care facility is working to regain independence in dressing. The CNA should:
- Dress the resident quickly to save time
- Allow extra time and encourage the resident to do as much as possible independently (Correct answer)
- Ask the family to bring easier clothing so the CNA can dress the resident faster
- Only help when the resident specifically asks for assistance
Correct answer: Allow extra time and encourage the resident to do as much as possible independently
Encouraging maximum independence during ADLs reinforces rehabilitation goals and builds patient confidence.
Question 4: What is restorative care?
- Care that focuses solely on pain management
- Ongoing care that maintains or improves a patient's functional abilities after formal therapy ends (Correct answer)
- A type of care given only in acute hospital settings
- Care provided exclusively by licensed therapists
Correct answer: Ongoing care that maintains or improves a patient's functional abilities after formal therapy ends
Restorative care maintains or improves function after formal rehabilitation therapy has concluded.
Question 5: When assisting a patient who is relearning to walk after a stroke, the CNA should position themselves:
- In front of the patient to catch them if they fall forward
- On the patient's weaker side and slightly behind (Correct answer)
- On the patient's stronger side to provide maximum support
- Directly behind the patient at all times
Correct answer: On the patient's weaker side and slightly behind
Standing on the weaker side and slightly behind gives support where it's needed while allowing natural gait movement.
Question 6: A patient undergoing speech therapy for swallowing difficulties asks the CNA for a glass of water before the speech therapist has assessed them. The CNA should:
- Provide water since hydration is always a priority
- Give ice chips instead as a compromise
- Explain that they need to check with the nurse first due to the swallowing concern (Correct answer)
- Allow the patient to drink slowly while sitting upright
Correct answer: Explain that they need to check with the nurse first due to the swallowing concern
Patients with suspected swallowing disorders must be assessed before being given any oral intake to prevent aspiration.
Question 7: Which observation should a CNA immediately report to the nurse when a patient is participating in rehabilitation activities?
- The patient is breathing slightly harder than at rest
- The patient becomes pale, reports chest pain, and stops mid-exercise (Correct answer)
- The patient says the exercises are boring
- The patient asks to rest for 5 minutes between exercises
Correct answer: The patient becomes pale, reports chest pain, and stops mid-exercise
Pallor and chest pain during exercise are signs of a potential cardiac emergency requiring immediate nursing response.
CNA Supporting Rehabilitation Activities 3
A patient recovering from a hip replacement refuses to do prescribed range-of-motion exercises because they are painful.
What is the CNA's best response?