Health Documentation & Ethical Practices Flashcards
6 cards from real HCA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Health Documentation & Ethical Practices flashcards as text
A resident's substitute decision maker (SDM) insists on an aggressive treatment approach that the care team believes causes unnecessary suffering. What should the HCA do?
Answer: Report the observed resident distress to the nurse; the nurse and team will engage the ethics framework, including possible ethics consultation
HCAs observe and report distress; ethical disputes involving SDMs are resolved through the clinical ethics and legal framework, not by HCA unilateral action.
What does 'beneficence' mean and how do HCAs demonstrate it in daily care?
Answer: Acting in the best interests of residents by providing safe, compassionate, and effective care that promotes their well-being
Beneficence means proactively doing good; HCAs demonstrate it through compassionate, individualized, quality care that promotes each resident's well-being.
A colleague asks an HCA to cover for them by falsely documenting that a bedrail safety check was completed during a shift when it was not. What should the HCA do?
Answer: Decline firmly, explain the legal and ethical reasons, and suggest the colleague document what actually occurred or was missed
Falsifying health records is illegal and unethical regardless of the reason; the HCA must refuse and guide the colleague toward correct action.
What is the difference between a 'code of ethics' and a 'scope of practice' for HCAs?
Answer: A code of ethics outlines values and principles guiding professional behaviour; scope of practice defines the specific tasks and decisions HCAs are authorized to perform
A code of ethics establishes professional values; scope of practice establishes legal and professional boundaries for specific activities.
A resident confides to the HCA that they want to discuss end-of-life care wishes but are afraid to bring it up with the nurse. How should the HCA respond?
Answer: Acknowledge the resident's concern, listen supportively, encourage them to speak with the nurse, and offer to facilitate the conversation if the resident wishes
HCAs support the resident's right to discuss end-of-life wishes and facilitate access to the appropriate team members.
What is the purpose of an 'unusual occurrence report' (incident report) from an ethical perspective?
Answer: Incident reports improve systemic safety by identifying patterns and preventing future harm — they are quality improvement tools, not blame assignments
Incident reports serve a systems improvement function; they identify care gaps and prevent recurrence rather than assigning blame.