General CNA Practice CNA Practice Patient Rights and Ethics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient verbally tells you they do not want to be resuscitated, but no DNR order is on file. What should the CNA do?
- Honor the verbal request immediately
- Report this to the nurse right away (Correct answer)
- Document it in the chart yourself
- Ignore it since verbal requests are not valid
Correct answer: Report this to the nurse right away
Only a licensed nurse or physician can act on or document resuscitation wishes; the CNA must report immediately.
Question 2: Which document allows a patient to designate someone else to make healthcare decisions if they become incapacitated?
- Living will
- Do Not Resuscitate order
- Durable power of attorney for healthcare (Correct answer)
- Advance medical directive form
Correct answer: Durable power of attorney for healthcare
A durable power of attorney for healthcare (healthcare proxy) names a specific person to make decisions on the patient's behalf.
Question 3: A patient's family asks you to withhold a diagnosis from the patient. What is the correct CNA response?
- Agree and keep the information from the patient
- Tell the patient the diagnosis yourself
- Report the family's request to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Document it and take no further action
Correct answer: Report the family's request to the nurse
Patients have the right to know their diagnosis; the CNA must report the family's request to the nurse for proper handling.
Question 4: A competent adult patient refuses a blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. The CNA should:
- Attempt to persuade the patient to accept treatment
- Notify the nurse and respect the patient's decision (Correct answer)
- Call the patient's family to override the decision
- Document that the patient is being irrational
Correct answer: Notify the nurse and respect the patient's decision
Competent adults have the right to refuse any treatment, including for religious reasons, and this must be respected and reported.
Question 5: What best describes informed consent?
- The patient signs any form presented to them
- The patient agrees after understanding risks, benefits, and alternatives (Correct answer)
- Family members approve the patient's treatment plan
- The physician decides what is best and informs the patient after
Correct answer: The patient agrees after understanding risks, benefits, and alternatives
Informed consent requires that the patient understand and voluntarily agree to treatment after being fully informed of their options.
Question 6: A patient with advanced dementia is scheduled for surgery. Who typically provides informed consent?
- The charge nurse on duty
- The patient, since they may have lucid moments
- The patient's legal guardian or healthcare proxy (Correct answer)
- The attending physician on behalf of the patient
Correct answer: The patient's legal guardian or healthcare proxy
When a patient lacks decision-making capacity, their legally designated guardian or healthcare proxy provides consent.
Question 7: What is a living will?
- A document that distributes a patient's property after death
- A legal document stating a patient's wishes for medical care if incapacitated (Correct answer)
- A document that names a healthcare proxy
- A hospital's standard care plan template
Correct answer: A legal document stating a patient's wishes for medical care if incapacitated
A living will specifies what life-sustaining treatments a patient does or does not want if they cannot communicate their wishes.
General CNA Practice CNA Practice Patient Rights and Ethics 2
A patient verbally tells you they do not want to be resuscitated, but no DNR order is on file.
What should the CNA do?