Mixed Deck — All GNA Topics Flashcards

When measuring a patient's oral temperature, how long should a glass thermometer remain in place?

Answer: 3–5 minutes

A glass oral thermometer should remain under the tongue for 3–5 minutes to obtain an accurate reading.

Which statement would be most appropriate to ask when assessing an aging adult for cognitive function?

Answer: Have you noticed anything different about your memory or thinking in the past few months?

Open-ended questions invite the patient to self-report subjective changes in memory or thinking, which is more sensitive and respectful when screening for cognitive decline. Questions like 'What is today's date?' or 'Who is the president?' are formal cognitive tests, not conversational screening tools, and can feel demeaning rather than inviting honest disclosure.

Which food texture is appropriate for a resident on a minced-and-moist diet?

Answer: Ground turkey in gravy

Minced-and-moist diets require foods that are finely cut and moistened, such as ground meat in gravy, to ease safe swallowing.

Which action by the GNA helps prevent skin breakdown during repositioning?

Answer: Using a lift sheet to move the resident

Using a lift or draw sheet reduces friction and shear forces on the skin, which are major contributors to pressure injuries.

When recording vital signs, the nursing assistant should:

Answer: Record findings immediately and accurately in the resident's chart

Vital signs must be recorded immediately and accurately after measurement to ensure the care team has up-to-date information for clinical decision-making.

The nursing assistant notices a resident's skin is pale, cool, and clammy. Which vital sign change is most consistent with these findings?

Answer: Low blood pressure and rapid pulse

Pale, cool, and clammy skin combined with low blood pressure and a rapid pulse are classic signs of shock or cardiovascular compromise, requiring immediate reporting.

A resident with moderate dementia frequently wanders into other residents' rooms. Which of the following is the best initial approach for the GNA to manage this behavior?

Answer: Redirect the resident by inviting them to a scheduled activity.

Redirecting a wandering resident to a purposeful and engaging activity is a recommended strategy. This approach addresses potential underlying causes like boredom without using restraints or punitive measures. Restraints and locking doors are illegal and unethical, and scolding is not a therapeutic response and can increase agitation.

A GNA is speaking with a resident who suddenly develops a facial droop on one side, slurred speech, and weakness in their right arm. The GNA should recognize these as signs of what potential medical emergency?

Answer: D. A stroke (CVA)

Facial drooping, Arm weakness, and Speech difficulty are classic signs of a stroke, often remembered by the acronym FAST. Recognizing these signs and immediately notifying the nurse is critical for the resident to receive timely, life-saving treatment.

Mr. Jones is a resident who can feed himself but has difficulty getting out of his bed and moving to a chair. Which ADL does he need assistance with?

Answer: Transferring

Transferring is the ADL that refers to the ability to move from one position to another, such as moving from a bed to a chair or standing up from a seated position. Since Mr. Jones can feed himself but struggles with moving from the bed to a chair, he requires help with transferring.

The nurse notes that an older person has difficulty removing clothes in preparation for a physical assessment. on which area should the nurse focus when determining this person's ability to perform activities of daily living?

Answer: Bathing

Difficulty removing clothes directly relates to dressing, which is a core Activity of Daily Living (ADL) alongside bathing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding. Bathing also involves manipulating clothing and garments, making it the most relevant ADL to assess given this observation. Housekeeping, laundry, and walking are either instrumental ADLs or a separate functional domain.

A resident's family member is very grateful for the care you have provided and offers you a $50 bill as a 'thank you.' What is the most professional response?

Answer: Politely refuse the gift, explaining that it is against facility policy.

Accepting personal cash gifts from residents or their families creates a conflict of interest, violates professional boundaries, and is against the policy of nearly all healthcare facilities. The most professional action is to politely decline and explain that you are happy to provide care as part of your job.

A nursing assistant is assisting a resident with ambulation. The resident has a cane because of weakness on their right side. On which side should the nursing assistant stand to provide the BEST support?

Answer: On the resident's right side, slightly behind them.

To provide the most effective support and maintain balance, the nursing assistant should stand on the resident's weaker side. This positioning allows the assistant to quickly provide stability if the resident begins to lose balance on their affected side.

Medications, slower mobility, lack of proper fluid intake, and poor diet can lead into what common symptom in the elder population?

Answer: Urinary incontinences

Medications (some cause urinary retention or urgency), reduced mobility (difficulty reaching the bathroom in time), inadequate fluid intake (concentrated urine irritates the bladder), and poor diet collectively impair bladder control, leading to urinary incontinence. The other options—skin changes, mental changes, and depression—are not the primary combined result of these specific factors.

The GNA notices that a resident's bed sheet has wrinkles under the resident's back. This is a concern because:

Answer: Sheet wrinkles create pressure points that can damage skin

Sheet wrinkles create uneven pressure points against the skin, which can accelerate tissue breakdown in immobile residents.

The absorption of medication in the geriatric client is most often affected by:

Answer: A decrease in body water and lean body weight

With aging, body water and lean muscle mass decrease while body fat increases; since many drugs distribute into body water or lean tissue, these changes reduce the volume of distribution and alter drug absorption and distribution. Body fat actually increases with age, serum albumin decreases (not increases), and increased body water is the opposite of what occurs.

A resident is sitting in a wheelchair for 3 hours. The GNA should:

Answer: Perform a weight shift or reposition the resident every hour

Residents in wheelchairs need weight shifts or repositioning at least every hour to relieve ischial pressure and prevent skin breakdown.

When transferring a resident from the bed to a wheelchair, which action demonstrates proper body mechanics by the nursing assistant?

Answer: Bending their knees and keeping their back straight.

Proper body mechanics require using the strong muscles of the legs to lift, not the weaker back muscles. Bending at the knees, keeping the back straight, and maintaining a wide base of support prevents injury to the caregiver.

A GNA is caring for a resident who is actively dying. Which of the following are common physical signs that death is approaching?

Answer: Irregular breathing patterns (like Cheyne-Stokes) and mottling of the skin.

As the body's systems begin to shut down, circulation slows, causing a blotchy, purplish discoloration of the skin called mottling, particularly in the extremities. [6, 11] Breathing patterns often become irregular, with periods of rapid breathing followed by periods of no breathing (apnea), a pattern known as Cheyne-Stokes respirations. [10, 15] The other options describe signs of health and vitality.

A GNA is caring for a resident who has a designated legal representative for healthcare decisions. The physician is explaining a new treatment plan. According to the principles of informed consent, who must be involved in this decision-making process?

Answer: The resident, to the extent practicable, and their legal representative.

The informed consent process should involve the resident as much as they are able to participate. Federal law requires that the resident's care plan is prepared with the participation of the resident and/or their family or legal representative. Even if a legal representative is designated, the resident's involvement, preferences, and understanding should be sought and respected to the greatest extent possible.

A GNA is caring for a resident who is normally alert and oriented. During morning care, the GNA notes the resident is suddenly quiet, confused about where they are, and unable to state the correct month. What is the GNA's MOST important immediate action?

Answer: Report the sudden change in mental status to the nurse immediately.

A sudden change in mental status, such as acute confusion, is a significant finding that could indicate a serious underlying medical issue like a urinary tract infection (UTI), stroke, or adverse medication reaction. This requires immediate reporting to the nurse for prompt assessment and intervention to ensure the resident's safety and well-being.