General CNA Practice CNA Practice Basic Nursing Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When measuring an oral temperature with a glass thermometer, the CNA should wait how long after the patient has had a hot or cold beverage?
- 5 minutes
- 15 minutes (Correct answer)
- 30 minutes
- 1 hour
Correct answer: 15 minutes
Waiting 15 minutes after oral intake ensures the beverage temperature no longer affects the reading.
Question 2: A patient's radial pulse is irregular. The CNA's best action is to:
- Count it for only 15 seconds and multiply by 4
- Count it for a full 60 seconds and report the irregularity to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Skip the pulse and check the blood pressure instead
- Ask the patient if they feel any chest pain and document as normal
Correct answer: Count it for a full 60 seconds and report the irregularity to the nurse
An irregular pulse must be counted for a full minute for accuracy, and the nurse must be notified of the irregularity.
Question 3: Normal resting respiratory rate for an adult is:
- 6–10 breaths per minute
- 12–20 breaths per minute (Correct answer)
- 22–28 breaths per minute
- 30–36 breaths per minute
Correct answer: 12–20 breaths per minute
A normal adult respiratory rate at rest is 12–20 breaths per minute; values outside this range should be reported.
Question 4: Which site is considered the MOST accurate for measuring core body temperature?
- Axillary (armpit)
- Oral (under the tongue)
- Rectal (Correct answer)
- Tympanic (ear)
Correct answer: Rectal
Rectal temperature is closest to the body's core temperature and is considered the gold standard for accuracy.
Question 5: A patient's blood pressure reads 158/96 mmHg. The CNA should:
- Record it and say nothing unless the patient complains
- Recheck it in the other arm and report the finding to the nurse promptly (Correct answer)
- Encourage the patient to exercise immediately to lower it
- Administer the patient's antihypertensive medication from the cart
Correct answer: Recheck it in the other arm and report the finding to the nurse promptly
An elevated reading should be verified in the other arm and reported to the nurse — a CNA never administers medications.
Question 6: When counting a patient's respirations, the CNA should:
- Tell the patient to breathe normally while they count
- Count without informing the patient, often while appearing to take the pulse (Correct answer)
- Ask the patient to take deep breaths for accuracy
- Count only for 15 seconds to save time
Correct answer: Count without informing the patient, often while appearing to take the pulse
Patients alter their breathing pattern when they know it is being observed, so CNAs typically count respirations inconspicuously.
Question 7: Pain is often called the 'fifth vital sign.' When a patient reports pain, the CNA should:
- Give the patient an over-the-counter pain reliever
- Assess pain on a 0–10 scale, document it, and report to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Reassure the patient it will pass and continue other tasks
- Ignore it unless the patient rates it above 8
Correct answer: Assess pain on a 0–10 scale, document it, and report to the nurse
CNAs assess and report pain using a numeric scale; administering any medication is outside their scope of practice.
General CNA Practice CNA Practice Basic Nursing Skills 3
When measuring an oral temperature with a glass thermometer, the CNA should wait how long after the patient has had a hot or cold beverage?