General CNA Practice Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a resident with dementia refuses care, the CNA should:
- Force the care immediately
- Report it and try again later using a calm approach (Correct answer)
- Skip the care permanently
- Restrain the resident
Correct answer: Report it and try again later using a calm approach
Trying again later with a calm, gentle approach respects dignity and often succeeds when a resident is less distressed.
Question 2: The term 'reality orientation' in mental health care means:
- Telling residents they are wrong about everything
- Gently reminding residents of the current date, place, and situation (Correct answer)
- Ignoring confusion to avoid upsetting the resident
- Role-playing past memories
Correct answer: Gently reminding residents of the current date, place, and situation
Reality orientation involves consistently providing correct information about time, place, and person to reduce confusion.
Question 3: A resident with anxiety is breathing rapidly and says they feel like something terrible is about to happen. The CNA should:
- Tell them to stop overreacting
- Stay with the resident, speak calmly, and notify the nurse (Correct answer)
- Leave the resident alone to calm down
- Give the resident water and leave
Correct answer: Stay with the resident, speak calmly, and notify the nurse
Staying with the resident, providing calm reassurance, and notifying the nurse are the appropriate CNA responses to a potential panic attack.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of validation therapy?
- Correcting a dementia resident who thinks it is 1970
- Entering the resident's reality and responding to their feelings (Correct answer)
- Showing the resident a calendar every hour
- Telling the resident their memories are false
Correct answer: Entering the resident's reality and responding to their feelings
Validation therapy involves acknowledging the resident's feelings and entering their perceived reality rather than correcting them.
Question 5: A resident with a developmental disability needs assistance with personal hygiene. The CNA should:
- Do everything for the resident without involving them
- Encourage the resident to do as much as they are capable of (Correct answer)
- Refuse care if the resident resists
- Only provide care when family is present
Correct answer: Encourage the resident to do as much as they are capable of
Encouraging maximum independence while providing needed assistance supports dignity and functional ability in residents with developmental disabilities.
Question 6: Which observation about a resident with depression should be reported to the nurse immediately?
- The resident skipped one meal
- The resident states they want to hurt themselves (Correct answer)
- The resident took a long nap
- The resident declined a group activity
Correct answer: The resident states they want to hurt themselves
Any statement about self-harm is a safety emergency that must be reported to the nurse immediately.
General CNA Practice Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities 2
When a resident with dementia refuses care, the CNA should: