Home Health Aide Competency Test #2 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient who has had a total knee replacement is returning home after surgery. The aide should:
- Encourage the patient to avoid all movement to protect the new joint
- Follow the specific post-operative care plan, encourage prescribed exercises, assist with ambulation using prescribed assistive devices, and monitor for complications (Correct answer)
- Remove compression stockings to make the patient more comfortable
- Encourage the patient to bear full weight immediately
Correct answer: Follow the specific post-operative care plan, encourage prescribed exercises, assist with ambulation using prescribed assistive devices, and monitor for complications
Post-knee replacement care follows a specific protocol including exercises, gradual weight-bearing, and DVT prevention (compression stockings, movement). Deviating from the plan risks complications.
Question 2: When providing care for a patient with a pressure ulcer, the aide's role includes:
- Independently debriding and packing the wound
- Repositioning every 2 hours, protecting the wound from moisture, keeping the surrounding skin clean and dry, and reporting any changes in wound appearance (Correct answer)
- Applying over-the-counter wound ointments at will
- Changing wound dressings without nursing supervision
Correct answer: Repositioning every 2 hours, protecting the wound from moisture, keeping the surrounding skin clean and dry, and reporting any changes in wound appearance
Wound care beyond cleaning and protection is a licensed nursing task. The aide's role is pressure relief, skin protection, and observation — reporting changes in wound size, color, or odor to the nurse.
Question 3: When a patient's blood pressure is significantly elevated above their baseline (hypertensive urgency), the aide should:
- Have the patient lie flat to lower blood pressure
- Report immediately to the supervisor, have the patient rest quietly, do not leave the patient alone, and prepare to call 911 if symptoms of stroke or cardiac event appear (Correct answer)
- Give the patient an extra blood pressure pill from their prescription
- Encourage vigorous deep breathing exercises
Correct answer: Report immediately to the supervisor, have the patient rest quietly, do not leave the patient alone, and prepare to call 911 if symptoms of stroke or cardiac event appear
Significantly elevated BP requires immediate nursing notification. The aide keeps the patient calm and still, monitors for neurological or cardiac symptoms, and is ready to activate emergency services.
Question 4: A patient with limited English proficiency refuses care due to a communication barrier. The best action is to:
- Provide care anyway because the need is clear
- Contact the agency for a professional interpreter, use visual aids and simple gestures in the meantime, and document the communication barrier (Correct answer)
- Ask a family member or neighbor to translate immediately
- Stop all care services until a fluent aide is assigned
Correct answer: Contact the agency for a professional interpreter, use visual aids and simple gestures in the meantime, and document the communication barrier
Professional medical interpreters ensure accuracy and protect patient rights. Non-professional interpreters (family, neighbors) can introduce medical errors and violate confidentiality.
Question 5: A patient is receiving warfarin (Coumadin) therapy. The aide should avoid giving the patient large amounts of:
- White bread and pasta
- Dark leafy greens (kale, spinach, broccoli) in large quantities without consulting the care team (Correct answer)
- Fresh water
- Plain protein foods such as chicken or fish
Correct answer: Dark leafy greens (kale, spinach, broccoli) in large quantities without consulting the care team
Warfarin's effectiveness is significantly affected by vitamin K intake. Large, inconsistent amounts of vitamin K-rich foods (dark leafy greens) can reduce anticoagulation; the key is consistency. Changes should be reported.
Question 6: A patient who is at risk for aspiration should NOT be fed:
- Thickened liquids as ordered by the speech-language pathologist
- Thin liquids such as water, juice, or broth if the care plan specifies thickened liquids only (Correct answer)
- Soft foods that require minimal chewing
- Small, frequent meals
Correct answer: Thin liquids such as water, juice, or broth if the care plan specifies thickened liquids only
If a speech-language pathologist has ordered thickened liquids for a patient with dysphagia, providing thin liquids violates the care plan and can cause aspiration pneumonia.
Home Health Aide Competency Test #2 2
A patient who has had a total knee replacement is returning home after surgery.
The aide should: