CNA Working as Part of a Healthcare Team 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient reports that their pain medication is not working to the CNA. What is the appropriate action?
- Tell the patient they will feel better soon
- Administer an extra dose from the medication cart
- Report the complaint promptly to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Document it at the end of the shift
Correct answer: Report the complaint promptly to the nurse
Pain management is outside the CNA's scope; the nurse must be informed promptly so treatment can be adjusted.
Question 2: Which behavior best demonstrates professional teamwork on a nursing unit?
- Completing only assigned tasks and leaving on time
- Assisting a coworker with a two-person transfer when your own tasks are done (Correct answer)
- Reporting a peer for taking an extra break
- Keeping patient information to yourself to avoid gossip
Correct answer: Assisting a coworker with a two-person transfer when your own tasks are done
Helping colleagues with tasks that require two people is a hallmark of effective and safe team collaboration.
Question 3: A registered nurse delegates medication administration to a CNA. How should the CNA respond?
- Accept the task since the nurse has authority to delegate
- Decline, as medication administration is outside CNA scope of practice (Correct answer)
- Accept only if witnessed by another nurse
- Perform it after receiving written instructions
Correct answer: Decline, as medication administration is outside CNA scope of practice
Medication administration is not within the CNA's legal scope of practice regardless of who delegates it.
Question 4: A CNA disagrees with the way a nurse communicated care instructions. What is the best course of action?
- Ignore the instructions and use personal judgment
- Complete the assigned care and then address the communication concern professionally (Correct answer)
- Complain to other CNAs about the nurse
- Refuse to perform any tasks from that nurse
Correct answer: Complete the assigned care and then address the communication concern professionally
Patient care should not be compromised; concerns about communication should be raised professionally after care is delivered.
Question 5: Which of the following is the CNA's primary responsibility when a patient's condition suddenly changes?
- Begin clinical assessment of the patient
- Notify the nurse immediately and stay with the patient (Correct answer)
- Call the physician directly
- Reassure the patient and wait for the next scheduled check
Correct answer: Notify the nurse immediately and stay with the patient
The CNA must alert the nurse right away and remain with the patient to monitor until help arrives.
Question 6: An occupational therapist has developed a self-care routine to help a patient improve independence. What is the CNA's role in this plan?
- Override the plan if the patient refuses on a given day
- Support and reinforce the routine as outlined in the care plan (Correct answer)
- Perform all self-care for the patient to save time
- Modify the routine based on personal experience
Correct answer: Support and reinforce the routine as outlined in the care plan
CNAs must follow the care plan consistently to reinforce therapy goals and support patient progress.
Question 7: A CNA observes that a patient who was previously cheerful has become withdrawn and tearful. What is the appropriate response?
- Tell the patient to cheer up
- Report the behavioral change to the nurse and document the observation (Correct answer)
- Assume the patient is tired and check again later
- Contact the patient's family before telling the nurse
Correct answer: Report the behavioral change to the nurse and document the observation
Changes in mood or behavior are clinically significant and must be reported to the nurse promptly.
CNA Working as Part of a Healthcare Team 5
A patient reports that their pain medication is not working to the CNA.
What is the appropriate action?