Free CNA-Aide Promoting Resident Independence and Choice Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident insists on wearing an outfit that is mismatched but clean and appropriate for the weather. What should the CNA do?
- Tell the resident the outfit does not look good.
- Choose a different, matching outfit for the resident.
- Respect the resident's choice and assist them as needed. (Correct answer)
- Refuse to help the resident get dressed until they pick a better outfit.
Correct answer: Respect the resident's choice and assist them as needed.
Promoting resident independence means respecting their personal choices, including clothing, as long as it doesn't pose a health or safety risk. This fosters a sense of identity and control over their own life and is a key resident right.
Question 2: A resident with dementia is agitated and refusing to take a bath. What is the best first action for the CNA?
- Firmly tell them it's time for their bath and proceed.
- Come back in a short while and ask again in a calm manner. (Correct answer)
- Tell them they won't get dessert if they don't bathe.
- Get another CNA to help you force them into the shower.
Correct answer: Come back in a short while and ask again in a calm manner.
Forcing a resident with dementia can increase agitation and fear. It is best to respect their refusal, document it, and report to the nurse. Trying again later when the resident is in a different mood may be successful.
Question 3: Which of the following actions best promotes a resident's independence during mealtime?
- Cutting all their food for them before they ask.
- Feeding the resident to make the meal go faster.
- Providing adaptive utensils like a plate guard or a built-up spoon. (Correct answer)
- Choosing the resident's meal for them from the menu.
Correct answer: Providing adaptive utensils like a plate guard or a built-up spoon.
Providing adaptive equipment, like built-up spoons or plate guards, allows residents with physical limitations to maintain their independence in activities of daily living (ADLs) like eating. This supports their dignity and self-esteem.
Question 4: A resident wants to arrange their personal items in their room. The CNA thinks it looks cluttered. The CNA should:
- Rearrange the items to look neater when the resident is out of the room.
- Allow the resident to keep their items as they wish, as long as it doesn't create a safety hazard. (Correct answer)
- Inform the resident they must keep their room tidy according to facility rules.
- Take the extra items to a storage closet to reduce the clutter.
Correct answer: Allow the resident to keep their items as they wish, as long as it doesn't create a safety hazard.
A resident's room is their home, and they have the right to arrange their personal belongings as they see fit. A CNA's role is to ensure the environment is safe (e.g., clear pathways), not to enforce personal standards of tidiness.
Question 5: When offering choices to a resident with cognitive impairment, it is most effective to:
- Provide a long list of all possible options.
- Make the decision for them to avoid confusion.
- Offer a limited choice of two options. (Correct answer)
- Ask an open-ended question like, "What do you want to do today?"
Correct answer: Offer a limited choice of two options.
Offering a limited number of distinct choices helps a resident with cognitive impairment to process the information and make a decision without feeling overwhelmed. This respects their right to choose while providing necessary support.
Question 6: A resident tells the CNA that they do not want to attend a scheduled group activity. The CNA should:
- Insist they go because it's good for them.
- Respect their decision and ask if they would like to do something else. (Correct answer)
- Tell them all the other residents are going.
- Document in the chart that the resident is uncooperative.
Correct answer: Respect their decision and ask if they would like to do something else.
Residents have the right to choose how they spend their time, including whether or not to participate in activities. The CNA should respect this choice and inform the activity director so they are aware.
A resident insists on wearing an outfit that is mismatched but clean and appropriate for the weather.
What should the CNA do?