GNA GNA - Geriatric Nursing Assistant Skin Care and Pressure Injury Prevention 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Moisture from incontinence increases the risk of skin breakdown primarily because it:
- Makes the skin too dry and flaky
- Softens and weakens the skin, making it more vulnerable to injury (Correct answer)
- Reduces the need for repositioning
- Prevents pressure injuries from forming
Correct answer: Softens and weakens the skin, making it more vulnerable to injury
Prolonged moisture from urine or feces softens skin (maceration), making it more susceptible to friction, shear, and pressure injuries.
Question 2: Which product is typically used to protect a resident's skin from incontinence-related moisture?
- Rubbing alcohol
- Moisture barrier cream or ointment (Correct answer)
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Petroleum-based shampoo
Correct answer: Moisture barrier cream or ointment
Moisture barrier creams and ointments create a protective layer between the skin and moisture from incontinence, preventing skin breakdown.
Question 3: A resident is sitting in a wheelchair for 3 hours. The GNA should:
- Leave the resident undisturbed until a meal
- Perform a weight shift or reposition the resident every hour (Correct answer)
- Place extra cushioning only under the feet
- Increase the resident's fluid intake only
Correct 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.
Question 4: Which resident characteristic increases the risk of developing a pressure injury?
- Normal body weight
- Good nutritional status
- Limited mobility and poor circulation (Correct answer)
- Regular participation in activities
Correct answer: Limited mobility and poor circulation
Limited mobility prevents a resident from shifting weight naturally, while poor circulation reduces the skin's ability to recover from pressure.
Question 5: The GNA notices that a resident's bed sheet has wrinkles under the resident's back. This is a concern because:
- It makes the bed look untidy
- Sheet wrinkles create pressure points that can damage skin (Correct answer)
- It is harder to change wrinkled sheets
- Wrinkles indicate the sheet is too small
Correct 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.
Question 6: What does the term 'shear' mean in the context of pressure injury prevention?
- Cutting the skin with a sharp object
- The sliding force that stretches and tears tissue when skin moves in one direction while underlying tissue moves in another (Correct answer)
- Excessive moisture on the skin surface
- A deep tissue infection
Correct answer: The sliding force that stretches and tears tissue when skin moves in one direction while underlying tissue moves in another
Shear occurs when skin and underlying tissues move in opposite directions — such as when a resident slides down in bed — tearing fragile blood vessels.
GNA GNA - Geriatric Nursing Assistant Skin Care and Pressure Injury Prevention 2
Moisture from incontinence increases the risk of skin breakdown primarily because it: