CNA Working as Part of a Healthcare Team 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A nurse asks a CNA to perform a wound dressing change. The CNA has never been trained to do this procedure. What is the correct action?
- Attempt it since the nurse requested it
- Decline and inform the nurse it is outside the CNA's scope of practice (Correct answer)
- Watch another CNA do it first, then try
- Document refusal in the patient's chart
Correct answer: Decline and inform the nurse it is outside the CNA's scope of practice
CNAs must refuse tasks outside their scope of practice and inform the delegating nurse to prevent patient harm.
Question 2: During a care conference, the physical therapist recommends repositioning a patient every 2 hours. Who is primarily responsible for carrying out this task?
- The charge nurse
- The CNA assigned to the patient (Correct answer)
- The physical therapist
- The patient's family
Correct answer: The CNA assigned to the patient
CNAs are responsible for direct patient care tasks such as repositioning as directed by the care plan.
Question 3: A CNA notices a colleague documenting care that was not actually provided. What should the CNA do?
- Ignore it to avoid conflict
- Report the observation to the supervising nurse (Correct answer)
- Correct the chart themselves
- Speak directly to the patient about the issue
Correct answer: Report the observation to the supervising nurse
Falsifying records is unethical and potentially illegal; the CNA must report it to a supervisor.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the CNA's role in interdisciplinary team meetings?
- Leading the meeting and assigning tasks
- Sharing observations about the patient's daily functioning and needs (Correct answer)
- Writing the official care plan
- Only attending if specifically ordered by a physician
Correct answer: Sharing observations about the patient's daily functioning and needs
CNAs provide valuable frontline observations about patients' daily status that inform the team's care decisions.
Question 5: A supervising nurse gives a CNA a verbal assignment. The CNA is unsure of one step. What is the best response?
- Proceed and figure it out as they go
- Ask the nurse to clarify before starting the task (Correct answer)
- Ask a fellow CNA who may know
- Skip that step and complete the rest
Correct answer: Ask the nurse to clarify before starting the task
Seeking clarification before starting a task prevents errors and ensures safe, competent care delivery.
Question 6: The speech therapist has recommended thickened liquids for a patient with dysphagia. A family member offers the patient a thin beverage. What should the CNA do?
- Allow it since family has authority over the patient
- Explain the diet restriction and offer a thickened alternative (Correct answer)
- Report it to the charge nurse only after the patient drinks it
- Remove the beverage without speaking to the family
Correct answer: Explain the diet restriction and offer a thickened alternative
The CNA should educate the family and provide the correct dietary option to maintain patient safety.
Question 7: When transferring responsibility for a patient to an oncoming CNA, what information is most critical to communicate?
- The patient's insurance provider
- Any changes in condition, pending tasks, and safety concerns (Correct answer)
- The patient's preferred TV channel
- Which physician visited that shift
Correct answer: Any changes in condition, pending tasks, and safety concerns
Effective handoff communication focuses on condition changes and outstanding care needs to ensure continuity and safety.
CNA Working as Part of a Healthcare Team 4
A nurse asks a CNA to perform a wound dressing change.
The CNA has never been trained to do this procedure.
What is the correct action?