CNA Basic Nursing Skills

Which of the following is the first sign of a decubitus ulcer?

A. Bleeding

B. Redness

C. Bruising

D. Swelling

Redness

Which of the following locations is the body temperature of a resident taken most often?

A. Oral

B. Rectal

C. Axillary

D. Tympanic

Oral

Which of the following choices is NOT a safety precaution used for showering a resident?

A. Checking the water temperature before assisting the resident into the showering

B. Locking the wheels on the shower chair

C. Leaving the resident unattended in the showering

D. Promptly drying and covering the resident after the shower is completed

Leaving the resident unattended in the showering

When a resident is being transferred to a wheelchair by the nursing assistant, which of the following is the position for the nursing assistant during the transfer?

A. Left side of the wheelchair.

B. Right side of the wheelchair.

C. In front of the wheelchair.

D. Behind the wheelchair.

In front of the wheelchair.

Which of the following is the most appropriate action of the nursing assistant when a resident complains of chest pain?

A. Provide the resident with water

B. Place the resident in prone position

C. Call for help immediately

D. Check the resident’s blood sugar

Call for help immediately

A bed that is free of wrinkles is necessary to prevent which of the following complications?

A. Pressure sore

B. Agitation

C. Hypertension

D. Infection

Pressure sore

Which of the following is a description of a stage one decubitus ulcer?

A. Redness

B. Open area with redness

C. Black area

D. Open area with visible bone

Redness

Which is the following is the medical term for intestinal gas?

A. Feces

B. Flatus

C. Flank

D. Friction

Flatus

Which of the following is the last action taken by the nursing assistant when making a resident’s bed?

A. Hand-washing

B. Removing all wrinkles from the bed

C. Repositioning the bed to a low position

D. Fastening the call light near the residents

Hand-washing

Which of the following is least likely to cause a skin tear?

A. Ring or watch

B. Friction

C. Short cropped nails

D. Pulling on an extremity

Short cropped nails

In which of the following conditions is a cold pack applied?

A. To decrease a burn injury

B. To stop bleeding

C. To decrease swelling

D. To stop back pain

To decrease swelling

Which of the following is not a sign of impending death?

A. Decreased respirations

B. Irregular, weak and thready pulse

C. Skin cool and moist

D. Stable vital signs

Stable vital signs

The resident is to be placed in Fowler’s position. Which of the following is the correct definition of this position?

A. Head of bed 45-60 degrees with legs either bent or straight

B. Head of the bed flat

C. Bed flat with feet higher than the head

D. Head of bed 15 degrees with legs either bent or straight

Head of bed 45-60 degrees with legs either bent or straight

When helping to lift a resident up in bed which of the following positions demonstrates proper use of body mechanics?

A. Keep your back and knees straight, and lift using your thigh muscles

B. Bend slightly at the waist, keep knees partially flexed, and lift with your leg muscles

C. Bend slightly at the waist, keep knees partially flexed and lift with your back muscles

D. Use whatever position and muscles you feel most comfortable

Bend slightly at the waist, keep knees partially flexed, and lift with your leg muscles

Washing your hands appropriately is important to reduce the spread of infection. Which of the following directions is false?

A. Rub hands vigorously with soap and water for at least 30 seconds

B. Use a clean paper towel to dry hands

C. If hands are visibly soiled, you may use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

D. Use paper towel to turn off faucet

If hands are visibly soiled, you may use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

When wearing gloves, remember to do which of the following to ensure adequate protection?

A. Wash your hands before and after glove use

B. Wash your hands after taking off gloves only

C. A small tear will still keep out germs

D. Always wear latex gloves because they are less costly

Wash your hands before and after glove use

The nursing assistant is walking a resident around the unit, and the resident starts to fall. The first action of the nursing assistant should be which of the following?

A. Leave the resident and quickly grab the nearest chair

B. Get behind the resident and easy the patient to ground slowly

C. Get to the nearest phone and call for assistance

D. Grab the resident by the arms and left him or her up

Get behind the resident and easy the patient to ground slowly

The nursing assistant smells smoke in the nursing facility. A resident is found smoking a cigarette. Which of the following actions is correct?

A. Tell the resident to be more careful so no one catches him or her

B. Tell the resident that is against the law and to go outside

C. Tell the resident that it is a safety hazard and ask him or her to go outside

D. Do nothing as long as the resident isn’t bothering anyone

Tell the resident that it is a safety hazard and ask him or her to go outside

The resident consumed 3 ounces of juice. How many milliliters should the nursing assistant document on the flow sheet?

A. 120 mL

B. 60 mL

C. 45 mL

D. 90 mL

90 mL

Which of the following devices is used to prevent contractures?

A. Hand roll

B. Cane

C. Back supporting

D. Ace bandage

Hand roll

What is the medical term for high blood pressure?

A. Tachycardia

B. Hypertension

C. Bradypnea

D. Hypotension

Hypertension

Which of the following is the correct method of washing the perineum of a resident who has an indwelling catheter?

A. Wash from the rectum to the meatus

B. Wash the meatus with peroxide

C. Wash away from the meatus

D. Provide traction to the catheter while washing meatus

Wash away from the meatus

The nursing assistant is cleaning the resident’s dentures. Which of the following is a correct safety precaution?

A. The nurse assistant places a towel in the sink while cleaning the dentures

B. The nursing assistant keeps the dentures in a glass on the sink to soak

C. The nursing assistant places the dentures on the bedside table for easy access

D. the nursing assistant places a paper towel in the sink while cleaning the dentures

The nurse assistant places a towel in the sink while cleaning the dentures

The Resident calls the nursing assistant into his room to hell her that his dentures are lost. Which of the following is the best action of the nursing assistant?

A. Tell the resident that he will be able to eat without them because he is on a pureed diet

B. Notify the charge nurse

C. Go through all the resident’s belongings in case he hid then

D. Notify the resident’s family

Notify the charge nurse

Washing your hands as a nursing assistant is very important. Which of the following is a part of the hand-washing procedure?

A. Drying both hands thoroughly with a discarded towel

B. Applying soap to both hands before turning on the water

C. Applying friction for 15-20 seconds

D. Wiping soled hands on a towel as the first step in the procedure

Applying friction for 15-20 seconds

Which of the following is true regarding the use of the gait belt?

A. Use a rocking and pulling motion when using the belt to get up from a sitting position

B. Transfer to resident's strong side

C. More than one caregiver might be needed

D. Proper body mechanics are not needed with use of a gait belt

Use a rocking and pulling motion when using the belt to get up from a sitting position

Which of the following is the correct method for counting respirations?

A. Look at your watch and the resident’s abdomen at the same time

B. Look at your watch, count 10 respirations, and then examine your watch again

C. Look only at the abdomen and count to 30

D. Look at your watch and have a second nursing assistant count the respirations

Look at your watch, count 10 respirations, and then examine your watch again

Which of the following best defines quadriplegia?

A. Flaccid lower extremities

B. No movement of all four extremities

C. Inability to move the left side

D. No feeling of both feet

No movement of all four extremities

Which of the following is the recommended position to obtain a resident's blood pressure?

A. Lying with feet elevated

B. Sitting with both feet on the floor

C. Standing with arms at the resident's side

D. Lying flat

Sitting with both feet on the floor

What is the medical term for low blood pressure?

A. Tachycardia

B. Hypertension

C. Bradypnea

D. Hypotension

Hypotension

How often should the nursing assistant turn a resident who is unable to move himself?

A. Every three hours

B. Every two hours

C. Every four hours

D. At least once a shift

Every two hours

What is the normal range of a resident's pulse at rest?

A. 55-105 beats per minute

B. 60-100 beats per minute

C. 45-65 beats per minute

D. 70-120 beats per minute

60-100 beats per minute

An alcohol-based hand-cleanser should not be considered in which of the following situations?

A. After contact with a resident

B. When soap and water are not available

C. When hands are visibly soiled

D. After assisting a resident to the shower

When hands are visibly soiled

The nursing assistant notices a resident has just finished drinking a glass of iced tea and it is time to obtain an oral temperature. The nursing assistant should do which of the following?

A. Wait approximately 15 minutes

B. Go ahead and take the oral temperature

C. Wait approximately 45 minutes

D. Skip the temperature now and then take it the next schedule time

Wait approximately 15 minutes

The nursing assistant is making a resident's bed and accidentally drops the clean sheet on the floor. Which of the following is the best action for the nursing assistant to take?

A. Pick up the linen, shake it out, then use it

B. Place the linen on the bedside chair to use it at a later time

C. Leave the linen on the floor for housekeeping to pick up

D. Place the linen in the hamper because it is soiled

Place the linen in the hamper because it is soiled

A safety device used to move a resident from the bed to the chair is which of the following?

A. Hoyer lift

B. Slide board

C. Brace

D. Assistive

Hoyer lift

Seizure are sometimes known by which of the following?

A. Sugar in the blood

B. Convulsions

C. Consumption

D. Heart troubles

Convulsions

Select the appropriate medical term for the abnormal shortening of muscle tissue.

A. Arthritis

B. Sprain

C. Fracture

D. Contracture

Contracture

Which of the following is the responsibility of the nursing assistant when caring for a resident who is receiving intravenous therapy?

A. Asses the site for swelling, redness, or bruising

B. Monitor the site, tubing, and infusion solution

C. Watch the flow infusion and then communicate any problems

D. Nothing, the infusion is monitored by the nurse not nursing assistants

Asses the site for swelling, redness, or bruising

Of the following signs, which is not a sign of infection?

A. Fever

B. Swelling

C. Redness

D. Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath

Which of the following is the best use of restraints?

A. To protect the resident from harm

B. As a punishment

C. To decrease time spent attending to the resident

D. To keep the resident out of the way

To protect the resident from harm

Which of the following is a correct action in washing your hands?

A. Apply soap before wetting your hands

B. Keep hands elevated above your waist

C. Apply friction for 5 seconds

D. Use a towel to turn off the water

Use a towel to turn off the water

Select the appropriate location for a thermometer when taking an axillary temperature.

A. Place the probe of the thermometer 1 inch under the arm

B. Place the probe in the posterior 1/3 of the axilla

C. Place the probe of the thermometer in the center of the axilla

D. Place the probe in the anterior 1/3 of the axilla

Place the probe of the thermometer in the center of the axilla

Which of the following is not a step in attaining a radial pulse?

A. Place the fat pads of your finger over the groove in the wrist

B. Look at the second hand of your watch and begin counting

C. Lightly press against the radial bone

D. When counting the pulse rate, if it is irregular, count for at least 60 seconds

When counting the pulse rate, if it is irregular, count for at least 60 seconds

Which statement about taking a rectal temperature is true?

A. The electronic thermometers do not need lubrication

B. Only mercury thermometers provide an accurate temperature

C. The normal rectal temperature is 1 degree lower than an oral temperature

D. Privacy is provided during the procedure

Privacy is provided during the procedure

Which radial pulse should you repeat?

A. 88 beats per minute and regular

B. 59 beats per minute and irregular

C. 60 beats per minute and regular

D. 96 beats per minute and regular

59 beats per minute and irregular

Which of the following actions is false regarding the Heimlich maneuver?

A. Wrap your arms around the residents waist

B. Make a fist with your hands

C Place your thumb inside your hand

D. Ask the resident “Are you choking?”

Place your thumb inside your hand

When one of the residents is in restraints, what is the responsibility of the nursing assistant?

A. Apply tape securely around the mitt restraints to keep them fastened.

B. Check extremities for circulation, motion, and sensitivity over a 4- hour period.

C. Document the reason for application of restraints in the chart.

D. Promote resident comfort throughout the use of restraints.

Promote resident comfort throughout the use of restraints.

The nursing assistant should use a mask when entering a residents room who has been placed on what type of precautions?

A. MRSA precautions

B. Droplet precautions

C. Contact precautions

D. Standard precautions

Droplet precautions

Which of the following actions is used by the nursing assistant when caring for a resident with a condom catheter?

A. Pull the catheter onto the penis

B. Remove the catheter at least ones daily and report any problems

C. Ensure that the catheter is well lubricated

D. Attach the draining bad to the side rail

Remove the catheter at least ones daily and report any problems

Which of the following actions would the nursing assistant carry out when assisting a resident to use the bedpan?

A. Protect the bed with an absorbent pad

B. Raise the head of the bed and then roll the resident to his side

C. Use the fracture pan on everyone

D. Leave the bedpan in the bed after use

Raise the head of the bed and then roll the resident to his side

Which of the following should the nursing assistant report immediately after the resident has received an enema?

A. Severe abdominal cramping

B. Expelled brown liquid

C. Increased amount of flatus

D. large amount of formed feces

Severe abdominal cramping

Which of the following health-care team members is responsible for carrying out the medical plan under the supervision of the Registered Nurse?

A. Physician

B. Nursing Assistant

C. Licensed Practical Nurse

D. Physical Therapist

Licensed Practical Nurse

A resident you are assigned has an ostomy drainage bag that is scheduled to be changed. What is your first action?

A. Apply skin protector around the stoma

B. Empty the collection bag

C. Cleanse around the stoma gently with soap and water

D. Reattach the clean bag to the apparatus around the stoma

Empty the collection bag

A resident is receiving oxygen therapy through a nasal cannula. When should the nasal cannula be removed?

A. Every hour

B. Every 2 hours

C. Every 8 hours

D. Long enough to clean the nose

Long enough to clean the nose

Elastic stockings are applied to the resident's legs to help reduce venous stasis. Which of the following is a critical step to remember with the application and monitoring?

A. Pull the stocking up smoothly over the legs

B. Make sure that the stockings are wrinkle free at all times

C. Support the resident's foot at the heel

D. Slip the stockings over the toes before the heel

Make sure that the stockings are wrinkle free at all times