STNA Resident Rights and Safety 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident asks the CNA not to tell their spouse about a new diagnosis. What should the CNA do?
- Tell the spouse anyway since they have a right to know
- Honor the resident's confidentiality and inform the nurse of the request (Correct answer)
- Document it but share the information with the spouse discreetly
- Do nothing since the diagnosis is the physician's responsibility
Correct answer: Honor the resident's confidentiality and inform the nurse of the request
Residents have the right to control their own health information; the nurse should be informed to ensure this preference is respected by all staff.
Question 2: What is the minimum requirement before applying a restraint in a long-term care facility?
- Family consent is sufficient
- A physician order plus informed consent from the resident or legal representative (Correct answer)
- Nurse supervisor approval during an emergency
- Documentation of three prior falls in the past month
Correct answer: A physician order plus informed consent from the resident or legal representative
Restraints require a physician order and informed consent; they should be the least restrictive option used only when alternatives have failed.
Question 3: A resident tells you another resident is hitting them. What is the CNA's first action?
- Confront the alleged aggressor directly
- Ensure the resident's immediate safety and report to the nurse at once (Correct answer)
- Document the complaint and report at the end of the shift
- Suggest the two residents resolve the issue between themselves
Correct answer: Ensure the resident's immediate safety and report to the nurse at once
Immediate safety comes first, then prompt reporting to the nurse who will investigate and intervene appropriately.
Question 4: Which is an example of psychological or emotional abuse?
- Gently correcting a resident who is confused about the date
- Threatening to withhold meals if the resident does not cooperate (Correct answer)
- Raising one's voice briefly in a noisy environment
- Using simple language when explaining a procedure
Correct answer: Threatening to withhold meals if the resident does not cooperate
Threatening to withhold basic needs is emotional abuse and is strictly prohibited.
Question 5: What does 'least restrictive environment' mean in long-term care?
- Residents must share rooms to maximize social interaction
- Providing care with the fewest limitations on the resident's freedom (Correct answer)
- Staff must never use any safety equipment
- Residents are not supervised during activities
Correct answer: Providing care with the fewest limitations on the resident's freedom
The least restrictive environment principle means maximizing resident freedom and autonomy while still providing necessary safe care.
Question 6: A resident's room is being searched by staff looking for a missing item. What right may be at risk?
- Right to receive visitors
- Right to privacy and personal space (Correct answer)
- Right to participate in activities
- Right to manage personal finances
Correct answer: Right to privacy and personal space
Searching a resident's personal space without consent or proper authority violates their right to privacy.
Question 7: A resident who uses a wheelchair wants to self-propel to the dining room but it will make them late for the meal. What should the CNA do?
- Push the wheelchair to ensure the resident arrives on time
- Allow the resident to self-propel and notify dietary if they will be late (Correct answer)
- Discourage self-propelling to prevent exhaustion
- Ask the family to decide what is best
Correct answer: Allow the resident to self-propel and notify dietary if they will be late
Residents have the right to independence and self-determination; minor schedule adjustments should accommodate their autonomy.
STNA Resident Rights and Safety 4
A resident asks the CNA not to tell their spouse about a new diagnosis.
What should the CNA do?