CNA Practice Exams Flashcards
Nursing Assistant/ Nurse Aide Exam
When assisting a client in learning how to use a cane, the nurse aid stands….
- approximately two feet directly behind the client.
- about one foot from the client’s weak side.
- about one foot from the client’s strong side.
- slightly behind the client on the client’s weak side.
Answer: 4
Standing slightly behind the client at her weak side better enables the nurse aide to prevent falls. Choices 1 and 2 are incorrect because these distances are too far to safely catch the client if she falls or to support her. Choice 3 is incorrect because if the nurse aide is placed there, the client may collapse on her weak side.
When working with a client who has urinary retention, the nurse aide should expect that the client will…
- urinate large volumes.
- be unable to urinate.
- urinate frequently.
- be incontinent of urine.
Answer: 2
Urinary retention means that the client cannot urinate. The problem should be reported to the nurse as soon as possible. Choice 1 is incorrect; urinating in large volumes, also called polyuria, is indicative of a medical problem such as diabetes mellitus. Choice 3 is incorrect; urinating too frequently means that the client may have a problem such as a urinary tract infection. Choice 4 is incorrect; urinary incontinence is the accidental release of urine. It may happen in small amounts when someone coughs or sneezes, or regularly if someone has a medical problem. While choices 1, 3, and 4 are not correct answers, these problems should be reported to the nurse as soon as possible.
Aging-related hearing changes result in older clients gradually losing their abiity to hear…
- high-pitched sounds.
- low-pitched sounds.
- sound levels.
- faint sounds.
Answer: 1
Age-related hearing loss, also called presbycusis, results in older persons gradually losing their abilit to hear high-pitched sounds. Choice 2 is incorrect; the ability to hear low-pitched sounds may mean that the client has otosclerosis, which is usually related to abnormal bone growth in the bones of the inner ear. Choices 3 and 4 are incorrect; a reduction in sound level and the inability to hear faint sounds can indicate hearing loss due to problems such as an ear infection or impacted cerumen (too much ear wax).
The best way to safely identify your patient is by…
- asking his name.
- calling his name and waiting for his response.
- checking the bed plate.
- checking the name tag.
Answer: 4
Checking a client’s name tag is the safest way of assuring that you have the correct client. If you ask a client his name, and he is confused or has difficulty hearing, he may give you the wrong name. A confused client may also be lying in the wrong bed.
A client is on a bowel and bladder training program and has not had a bowel movement in three days. The nurse aide should…
- report it to the charge nurse.
- give the client an enema.
- offer the client prune juice.
- encourage the client to drink more fluids.
Answer: 1
The nurse aide should report this problem because nurse aides cannot perform any of the interventions on their own. Nurse aides cannot give clients enemas without being instructed to do so by the nurse. They also cannot encourage drinking more fluids or give prune juice as a treatment on their own (and prune juice would be insufficient for this client).
The proper medical abbreviation for before meals is…
- p.c.
- b.i.d.
- a.c.
- t.i.d.
Answer: 3
The proper medical abbreviation for before meals is a.c., p.c. is the proper medical abbreviation for after meals, b.i.d. is the proper medical abbreviation for twice a day, and t.i.d. is the proper medical abbreviation for three times a day.
A client diagnosed with hypertension will most likely have a history of…
- low blood pressure.
- high blood pressure.
- low blood sugar.
- high blood sugar.
Answer: 2
Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure, so the client will most likely have this problem in his history, although it may now be controlled with medication. The medical term for low blood pressure is hypotension. The medical term for low blood sugar is hypoglycemia. The medical terms for high blood sugar is hyperglycemia.
A patient who has difficulty chewing or swallowing will need what type of diet?
- clear liquid.
- low residue.
- pureed.
- mechanical soft.
Answer: 4
A mechanical soft diet is prescribed for clients who need a diet that is easy to chew, swallow, and digest. Choice 1 is incorrect; a clear liquid diet is usually prescribed for clients before medical tests, for clients who have nausea and vomitting or an acute illness, or for clients who have experienced trauma or surgery. Choice 2 is incorret; a low residue diet is prescribed for clients to reduce the frequency and volume of their stools. Choice 3 is incorrect; a pureed diet is prescribed for clients who have poor dentition, who are very frail, or who are in end-stage disease.
An elderly resident with Alzheimer’s disease cannot find her room. How can the nurse aide help the client feel more independent?
- tell her to stay in her room.
- have her roommate secretly watch her.
- place a familiar object on the client’s door.
- write a room number on a piece of paper.
Answer: 3
A familiar object can enable a client to find her room on her own, helping her feel more independent. Telling a client to stay in her room is restrictive and may be a violation of her rights. Choice 2 is incorrect because asking a roommate to do something for another client is inappropriate-it puts undue strain on the roommate and can create an unsafe environment for the client and the roommate. Choice 4 is incorrect because the client may lose the piece of paper or may be too confused at times to know what the number means.
How often should a patient’s intake and output records be totaled?
- Once each shift
- Twice a day
- Every four hours
- Every 12 hours
Answer: 1
Intake and output are usually recorded every shift, as well as every 24 hours. Most agencies run on 8-hour shifts, not 12-hour shifts. When clients need more frequent observation of intake and output, they are usualy ill enough to need hourly observations and may thus be in the critical care unit.
Which of the following should the nursing assistant observe and record when admitting a client?
- Freckles
- Wrinkles
- Short nails
- Bruises
Answer: 4
Brusing may be due to accidents, abuse, medications, or illnesses, and should be recorded and reported. Freckles and wrinkles are normal skin variations and do not require recording or reporting. Short nails are not problematic; however, long nails may result in the client scratching and injuring herself.
When responding to a client on the intercom, the nursing assistant should say…
- “Hello, who is calling, please?”
- “What is it that you want?”
- “This is [nursing assistant name and position], can I help you?”
- “Please hold; I’ll have the nurse answer your call.”
Answer: 3
Always give your name and position when answering the call bell, and politely ask the client what she wants. Choices 1 and 2 are incorrect; these questions may come across as the nurse aide acting in a rude manner and should be avoided. Choice 4 is incorrect because it is the nurse aide’s responsibility to answer call bells promptly and appropriately.
Which of the following things should the nurse aide do to familiarize new clients with their surroundings?
- Demonstrate the location and use of the call light.
- Explain that the TV is not to be used.
- Instruct family to leave the room after the aide is finished with the admission.
- Raise the bed to the high position and raise the safetly rails.
Answer: 1
The nurse aide should make sure that the client knows how to call for help. Unless otherwise noted, the TV is there for the client to use, and unless otherwise stated, there is no reason to ask the family to leave the room once the client is admitted. Choice 4 is incorrect, because raising the bed to the highest position creates a dangerous situation if the client is left alone.
When arranging a client’s room, the nursing assistant should do all of the following EXCEPT…
- checking the placement of the call bell.
- adjusting the back rest as directed.
- administering the client’s medications.
- adjusting the lighting as approriate.
Answer: 3
Nursing assistants are not allowed to administer medications. The nursing assistant should check to make sure that the call bell is within the client’s reach, adjust the back rest as directed, and adjust the room lighting for comfort and visibility.
When assisting a client out of bed, the nurse aide should always…
- employ body mechanic techniques.
- get another nurse aide to assist.
- raise the bed to its maximum height.
- lower all safety rails.
Answer: 1
Nurse aides should always use proper body mechanics when moving clients. The nurse aide obtains the assistance of another nurse only when it is required. Raising the bed to the maximum height when assisting a client out of bed increases the risk of the client’s falling out of the bed and injuring herself. Raised side rails can be used by the client for balance and assist her out of the bed.
How often should clients be repositioned during an eight-hour shift?
- q1h
- q2h
- q3h
- q4h
Answer: 2
Clients should be turned every two hours to prevent decubiti. Choice 1 is incorrect; unless there is a reason, during a client every hour is too frequent and disruptive to the client’s rest. Choice 3 and 4 are incorrect; turning the client every three or four hours is not frequent enough to prevent decubiti.
Which of the following is the correct procedure for serving a meal to a client who must be fed?
- Serve the tray along with all the other trays, and then come back to feed the client.
- Bring the tray to the client first, and feed the client before serving the other clients.
- Bring the tray into the room when you are ready to feed the client.
- Have the kitchen hold the tray for one hour.
Answer: 3
An aide should not bring the tray into the room until he was time to feed the client. Choice 1 is incorrect, because the client may attempt to feed herself and may choke on the food. Choice 2 is incorrect, because it takes time to feed a client and thus the other clients will be waiting too long to recieve their food. Choice 4 is incorrect, because the food will not be palatable after sitting around for an hour.
The most serious problem that wrinkles in the bedclothes can cause is…
- restlessness.
- sleeplessness.
- decubitus ulcers.
- bleeding and shock.
Answer: 3
The most serious problems that wrinkles in the bedclothes can cause is decubitus ulcers, also called decubiti. Restlessness and sleeplessness are problematic and may cause health issues, but they are not the most serious problems. Bleeding and shock are not common complications of wrinkled bed clothing.
Restorative care begins…
- as soon as possible.
- when the client is ready.
- when the client is discharged.
- when the client is diagnosed as terminally ill.
Answer: 1
Restorative care begins as early as possible to prevent further disability. Choice 2 is incorrect; the planning stage of restorative care can begin before the client is ready. Choice 3 is incorrect; there will not be enough time to successfully carry out restorative care if one waits until discharge. Restorative care is not used for terminal clients/ End of life care may be more appropriate.
Before placing a client in Fowler’s position, the nurse aide should…
- turn the client onto her abdomen.
- explain the procedure to the client.
- flatten the entire bed.
- remake the bed with new linens.
Answer: 2
Caregivers should always explain procedures first. Turning a client on her abdomen is using the prone position. The Fowler’s position requires the nurse aide to raise the head of the bed 45 to 60 degrees. Remaking the bed is unnecessary to place a client in Fowler’s position.
During the handwashing, the nurse aide accidently touches the inside of the sink while rinsing the soap off. The next action is to…
- allow the water to run over the hands for two minutes.
- dry the hands and turn off the faucet with the paper towel.
- repeat the wash from the beginning.
- repeat the washing, but for half the time.
Answer: 3
The aide has contaminated her hands and must rewash her hands. She must completely start over. Plain water will not remove bacteria, and the full time required to remove the contamination from the sink.
How should a nurse aide dress for a job interview?
- wearing a clean t-shirt and casual slacks.
- wearing a nurse aide uniform.
- wearing a business suit, dress, or pants and dress shirt.
- wearing formal attire.
Answer: 3
First impressions are critical, so nurse aides should wear business attire. Choice 1 is incorrect, because the nurse aide should present himself as a well-groomed professional. Choice 2 is incorrect, because wearing a uniform outside of the workplace may be disallowed in some facilities because it can be contaminated. Choice 4 is incorrect, because wearing formal attire is overdressing and not businesslike.
An ambulatory client is newly admitted. Before leaving the client alone, the nurse aide should…
- ask if the client is hungry.
- inspect the client’s skin.
- assess the client’s intake and output.
- make sure the client knows how to use the call bell.
Answer: 4
New clients should always know how to call for help before being left alone. Choice 1 is incorrect; the client may not be allowed to have food due to upcoming testing or surgery. Choice 2 is incorrect; it is the nurse’s role to inspect the client’s skin at the time of admission. Choice 3 is incorrect; the client was just admitted and thus will not have an intake or output yet.
When lifting a heavy object, the correct method would be to bend at the…
- waist, keeping your legs straight.
- waist, rounding your shoulders.
- knees, keeping your back straight.
- knees and waist.
Answer: 3
Keeping the back straight forces the body to use strong leg muscles. Bending at the waist with legs straight can cause back injury, and bending at the waist with rounded shoulders can cause back injury.