Home Health Aide Competency Test #4 2 Flashcards
6 cards from real HHA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Home Health Aide Competency Test #4 2 flashcards as text
When an aide provides care that exceeds their scope of practice, the legal consequence may include:
Answer: Termination of employment, loss of certification, civil liability, or criminal prosecution depending on the harm caused
Practicing beyond scope of practice constitutes unauthorized practice of nursing or medicine and exposes the aide to serious legal consequences, regardless of patient outcome.
A patient with COPD is prescribed pursed-lip breathing. This technique:
Answer: Slows the breathing rate, keeps airways open longer on exhalation, and reduces air trapping — improving oxygen exchange
Pursed-lip breathing creates back pressure that holds airways open during exhalation, reducing the air trapping common in COPD and providing subjective relief from dyspnea.
Which of the following best describes the aide's role in a patient's plan of care?
Answer: The aide implements the plan developed by the supervising registered nurse and care team, reports findings, and does not modify it unilaterally
The plan of care is developed by the RN case manager and interdisciplinary team and supervised by licensed clinicians. The aide implements it precisely and communicates findings that may require plan revision.
A home health aide should report to the supervisor if a patient's caregiver (family member):
Answer: Appears exhausted, expresses inability to continue caregiving, or shows signs of caregiver burnout or neglect
Caregiver burnout can lead to patient neglect. Identifying and reporting caregiver stress allows the care team to arrange respite care, counseling, or care plan modification before neglect or abuse occurs.
The correct response to a patient who is having a generalized seizure is:
Answer: Clear the area of hard objects, time the seizure, do not restrain the patient, do not put anything in the mouth, position on side after convulsions stop, call 911 if it lasts more than 5 minutes
Seizure first aid focuses on preventing secondary injury: clear hazards, do not restrain, protect the airway, note duration. Extended seizures (>5 minutes) or first-time seizures require emergency services.
When a patient is admitted to home health care, the aide receives a care plan that includes tasks the aide is not trained to perform. The aide should:
Answer: Inform the supervisor immediately that the assigned tasks exceed the aide's current training so competency can be verified or training arranged before patient care
Aides must never perform tasks beyond their verified competency. Immediate disclosure to the supervisor ensures patient safety and triggers proper training or task reassignment.