Home Health Aide Competency Test #3 3

Question 1

When providing colostomy care for a patient, the aide should:

Accepted Answer

Follow the care plan, empty the pouch when one-third to one-half full, clean the stoma and surrounding skin gently, and report any redness, bleeding, or change in stoma appearance

Answer

Colostomy care involves appliance management, skin protection, and observation. Proper emptying intervals prevent bag failure, and gentle cleaning prevents peristomal skin breakdown. Changes in stoma appearance require nursing evaluation.

Question 2

A patient who receives insulin requires the aide to be especially vigilant about:

Accepted Answer

Recognizing hypoglycemia symptoms (shakiness, sweating, confusion) after insulin administration and meal timing

Answer

Insulin use creates hypoglycemia risk, especially if meals are missed or delayed. The aide monitors for and responds to hypoglycemia and ensures meal timing aligns with the insulin regimen as directed by the care plan.

Question 3

A competency in recognizing and reporting changes in mental status requires the aide to know that acute change in cognition differs from baseline dementia because:

Accepted Answer

Acute changes (sudden onset confusion, new agitation) in a patient with known dementia still signal a potentially serious new medical event (UTI, dehydration, medication problem) and must be reported

Answer

New, sudden changes in cognition superimposed on baseline dementia often indicate delirium from a treatable cause (infection, dehydration, pain). Reporting distinguishes emergent conditions from dementia progression.

Question 4

A patient's care plan lists a goal to "increase ambulation distance by 25 feet per week." The aide's role is to:

Accepted Answer

Encourage and assist ambulation per the care plan goal, document actual distances achieved, and report progress or barriers to the supervisor

Answer

The aide implements care plan goals consistently and documents measurable progress. Deviating from goals or not attempting them without reporting barriers undermines the rehabilitation process.

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of emotional abuse of a patient?

Accepted Answer

Threatening to withhold care, using demeaning language, intentionally ignoring the patient, or ridiculing the patient

Answer

Emotional abuse includes verbal threats, humiliation, intimidation, deliberate isolation, or name-calling. It is a form of elder abuse requiring mandatory reporting and is a cause for immediate termination.

HHA Practice Test

HHA Practice Test

Home Health Aide Competency Test #3 3