Free HHA Mobility and Transfer Techniques Questions and Answers 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: After a patient has fallen on the floor and is conscious, the aide's first action is:
- Immediately lift the patient back to a chair without assessment
- Stay calm, call for help, ask the patient about pain, observe for injury, and do not move the patient until assessed (Correct answer)
- Leave the patient and call 911 before speaking to them
- Assist the patient to stand using the gait belt immediately
Correct answer: Stay calm, call for help, ask the patient about pain, observe for injury, and do not move the patient until assessed
Moving a patient after a fall without assessment risks worsening spinal, hip, or limb injuries. The aide assesses for injury, keeps the patient calm, and calls for the appropriate level of help before moving the patient.
Question 2: When applying a gait belt, it should be:
- Placed over clothing at the waist, snug enough to insert flat fingers but not too tight, with the buckle at the front (Correct answer)
- Applied directly over bare skin to prevent slipping
- Placed under the arms at the chest level
- Applied as loosely as possible for comfort
Correct answer: Placed over clothing at the waist, snug enough to insert flat fingers but not too tight, with the buckle at the front
The gait belt is worn over clothing at the waist level. It should be snug (flat fingers slide in) to prevent slipping without restricting breathing. Buckle at the front keeps it accessible.
Question 3: A two-person transfer is indicated when:
- The patient is lightweight and cooperative
- The patient is heavy, combative, or has limited weight-bearing capacity that exceeds one aide's safe handling ability (Correct answer)
- The aide prefers company during transfers
- Standard protocol requires two people regardless of patient size
Correct answer: The patient is heavy, combative, or has limited weight-bearing capacity that exceeds one aide's safe handling ability
Two-person transfers are required when the patient's size, weight, or condition makes a one-person transfer unsafe, reducing injury risk for both patient and staff.
Question 4: When transferring a patient from a wheelchair to a toilet, the aide should first:
- Position the wheelchair facing away from the toilet
- Lock the wheelchair brakes and swing away the footrests before beginning the transfer (Correct answer)
- Remove the armrests before positioning the chair
- Transfer without locking brakes if the patient is in a hurry
Correct answer: Lock the wheelchair brakes and swing away the footrests before beginning the transfer
Locked brakes prevent the wheelchair from rolling during the transfer. Footrests must be swung away or removed so the patient's feet can be placed flat on the floor for standing.
Question 5: Range-of-motion exercises should be performed:
- As quickly as possible to save time
- Slowly and smoothly through each joint's available range, stopping if the patient reports pain (Correct answer)
- Only on joints that are stiff and contracted
- With forceful movements to improve flexibility faster
Correct answer: Slowly and smoothly through each joint's available range, stopping if the patient reports pain
Smooth, slow ROM prevents injury. Pain during exercise signals the aide to stop and report — forcing a joint through pain can cause muscle or joint damage.
Question 6: The logroll technique is used to:
- Transfer a patient from a wheelchair to a bed
- Move a patient with a suspected spinal injury by keeping the spine in alignment during repositioning (Correct answer)
- Help a patient exercise their core muscles
- Roll a patient off a bed for a floor transfer
Correct answer: Move a patient with a suspected spinal injury by keeping the spine in alignment during repositioning
Logrolling maintains spinal alignment by turning the body as a single unit, preventing rotation that could worsen a spinal cord injury.
Free HHA Mobility and Transfer Techniques Questions and Answers 3
After a patient has fallen on the floor and is conscious, the aide's first action is: