UNAR Nutrition and Hydration Assistance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When assisting a resident to eat, what is the correct head position to reduce aspiration risk?
- Head tilted back
- Head turned to the weak side
- Chin slightly tucked toward chest (Correct answer)
- Head facing upward at 45 degrees
Correct answer: Chin slightly tucked toward chest
A chin-tuck position (chin slightly toward chest) helps close the airway and direct food toward the esophagus, reducing the risk of aspiration.
Question 2: How full should a spoon be when feeding a resident to reduce choking risk?
- Completely full and heaping
- About one-half to two-thirds full (Correct answer)
- Just a scrape on the tip
- Depends on the resident's preference only
Correct answer: About one-half to two-thirds full
Loading the spoon one-half to two-thirds full provides a manageable bite size that reduces the risk of choking and aspiration.
Question 3: A resident begins coughing and appears to be choking during a meal. What should the NA do first?
- Continue offering food and wait to see if it resolves
- Stop feeding immediately and call for the nurse (Correct answer)
- Give the resident a large drink of water
- Pat the resident firmly on the back and resume feeding
Correct answer: Stop feeding immediately and call for the nurse
Coughing during eating may signal aspiration; the NA must stop feeding immediately and notify the nurse to assess the resident.
Question 4: What should the NA do BEFORE beginning to assist a resident with a meal?
- Open all food containers and begin feeding
- Check the resident's armband and diet card to confirm identity and diet order (Correct answer)
- Ask the resident what they want to eat regardless of the diet order
- Position the resident lying flat in bed
Correct answer: Check the resident's armband and diet card to confirm identity and diet order
The NA must verify the resident's identity and confirm the diet order before serving or assisting with meals to prevent errors.
Question 5: How long should an NA wait between offering bites of food to a resident who needs feeding assistance?
- No wait is needed — feed as fast as possible
- Wait only if the resident asks
- Allow enough time for the resident to fully chew and swallow before offering the next bite (Correct answer)
- Wait exactly 30 seconds regardless of swallowing
Correct answer: Allow enough time for the resident to fully chew and swallow before offering the next bite
The NA must allow sufficient time for complete chewing and swallowing between each bite to prevent choking and aspiration.
Question 6: A resident refuses to eat any of their meal. What should the NA do first?
- Force the resident to eat to maintain nutrition
- Document the refusal and report it to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Remove the tray and make no documentation
- Substitute a meal not on the approved diet
Correct answer: Document the refusal and report it to the nurse
The NA must document the refusal accurately and report it to the nurse so the care team can assess the cause and adjust the care plan as needed.
Question 7: When offering liquids during a meal to a resident with swallowing difficulty, what is the safest technique?
- Use a straw and allow the resident to drink rapidly
- Use a regular cup filled to the brim
- Offer small sips and wait for the resident to swallow completely (Correct answer)
- Mix liquids directly into the food to save time
Correct answer: Offer small sips and wait for the resident to swallow completely
Small, controlled sips with time for complete swallowing between each sip reduce the risk of aspiration in residents with swallowing difficulties.
UNAR Nutrition and Hydration Assistance 3
When assisting a resident to eat, what is the correct head position to reduce aspiration risk?