Health and Safety Procedures Flashcards
7 cards from real PCA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Health and Safety Procedures flashcards as text
When performing a bed bath for a client, what is the correct order for washing body parts to prevent infection?
Answer: Face, arms, chest, abdomen, legs, back, perineal area
Washing from clean to dirty areas (face first, perineal area last) prevents spreading microorganisms from contaminated to cleaner areas.
A client's skin appears red and does not return to normal color after you remove pressure. This is most likely a:
Answer: Stage 1 pressure injury
Non-blanchable redness of intact skin is the hallmark sign of a Stage 1 pressure injury and must be reported immediately.
Which of the following actions best prevents the spread of C. difficile (C. diff) in a client's home?
Answer: Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Alcohol-based sanitizers do not kill C. diff spores; soap and water friction is required to physically remove them from hands.
When using a gait belt to assist a client who begins to fall, the PCA should:
Answer: Lower the client safely to the floor while protecting their head
Attempting to stop a fall increases injury risk for both the client and PCA; the safest action is a controlled lowering to the floor.
A client on oxygen asks if they can smoke while receiving oxygen therapy. The PCA should:
Answer: Explain that smoking near oxygen is a fire hazard and report to the supervisor
Oxygen accelerates combustion and smoking near it is a serious fire hazard; the PCA must inform the supervisor and educate the client.
The recommended safe water temperature for bathing a client with decreased sensation (e.g., diabetic neuropathy) is:
Answer: Under 105°F (40.6°C)
Clients with reduced sensation cannot detect scalding; water should be tested with a thermometer or the PCA's elbow and kept below 105°F.
Which situation requires a PCA to complete an incident report?
Answer: A client slips in the bathroom but is uninjured
Any fall or near-fall must be documented in an incident report, even if the client is not visibly injured, to ensure follow-up assessment.