CNA Toileting and Elimination 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident has a urinary catheter and reports burning and pressure around the catheter site. What should the CNA do first?
- Irrigate the catheter with sterile water
- Report the complaint to the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Clamp the catheter tubing
- Reposition the catheter by pulling it slightly
Correct answer: Report the complaint to the nurse immediately
Signs of possible UTI or catheter irritation must be reported to the nurse promptly for assessment and intervention.
Question 2: When emptying a urinary drainage bag, which action is most important to prevent infection?
- Empty the bag every 2 hours regardless of volume
- Wear gloves and avoid touching the drain spout to any surface (Correct answer)
- Use a clean container each time and rinse it with tap water
- Clamp the tubing before opening the drain spout
Correct answer: Wear gloves and avoid touching the drain spout to any surface
Wearing gloves and keeping the drain spout sterile prevents introduction of pathogens into the urinary system.
Question 3: A resident with constipation has not had a bowel movement in 4 days. The CNA's priority action is to:
- Administer a suppository from the supply closet
- Encourage the resident to strain harder during toileting
- Report the finding to the nurse and document it (Correct answer)
- Perform a digital rectal exam to check for impaction
Correct answer: Report the finding to the nurse and document it
The CNA must report prolonged absence of bowel movements to the nurse; administering medications or performing exams exceeds the CNA scope of practice.
Question 4: A resident using a bedpan needs privacy. Which action best balances privacy with safety?
- Leave the room and close the door completely without checking back
- Stay in the room at all times to ensure safety
- Close the curtain, tell the resident to call when done, and check back within 5 minutes (Correct answer)
- Ask a family member to supervise the resident
Correct answer: Close the curtain, tell the resident to call when done, and check back within 5 minutes
Closing the curtain provides dignity while checking back within 5 minutes ensures resident safety without abandonment.
Question 5: When assisting a male resident with a urinal, the CNA should:
- Leave the urinal in place indefinitely for convenience
- Empty and rinse the urinal each time it is used and allow to air dry (Correct answer)
- Rinse the urinal with hot water only and return it immediately
- Share urinals between residents who are in adjacent beds
Correct answer: Empty and rinse the urinal each time it is used and allow to air dry
Urinals must be emptied, rinsed, and dried after each use to prevent bacterial growth and cross-contamination.
Question 6: A resident on a bowel training program should be offered toileting assistance at which time?
- Only when the resident specifically requests it
- At the same scheduled times each day, especially after meals (Correct answer)
- Randomly throughout the shift to prevent accidents
- Only at bedtime to establish a nighttime routine
Correct answer: At the same scheduled times each day, especially after meals
Bowel training programs rely on consistent, scheduled toileting — particularly after meals when the gastrocolic reflex is active.
Question 7: Stool that appears tarry and black should be reported because it may indicate:
- A high-fiber diet
- Gastrointestinal bleeding from an upper GI source (Correct answer)
- Dehydration and concentrated waste
- Normal variation in bowel color
Correct answer: Gastrointestinal bleeding from an upper GI source
Tarry black stools (melena) suggest digested blood from upper GI bleeding and require immediate nursing notification.
CNA Toileting and Elimination 4
A resident has a urinary catheter and reports burning and pressure around the catheter site.
What should the CNA do first?