CNA Exam Questions

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21.

Phantom pain sometimes occurs in people who have lost:

  • A limb

  • A spouse

  • A child

  • Their belief system

Correct answer: A limb

Phantom pain is pain that is felt in a body part that is no longer there. For example, a patient who has lost a leg may complain that their leg is paining them. Phantom pain can occur for weeks, months, or even years after a body part has been lost.

22.

You are asked to perform a procedure that you have never performed. You are nervous and unsure about performing this procedure. What should you do?

  • Ask to watch a nurse perform the procedure before attempting it yourself

  • Perform the procedure 

  • Do not perform the procedure as it is out of your scope of practice

  • Ask another CNA to perform the procedure

Correct answer: Ask to watch a nurse perform the procedure before attempting it yourself

You should ask to watch a nurse perform the procedure and allow you to watch so that you will be able to perform the procedure with confidence the next time. Patients deserve to have procedures performed by those who know what they are doing. Do not perform any procedure you are not confident in doing. Although everyone must learn sometime, you should not be "practicing" on patients unless you are supervised and understand the theory behind what you are doing.

23.

Hemiplegia is paralysis affecting:

  • One side of the body

  • Both legs

  • The entire body from the neck down

  • The entire body from the waist down

Correct answer: One side of the body

Hemiplegia is, in its most severe form, complete paralysis of half of the body (one side). Hemiplegia can be caused by different medical conditions, including congenital causes, trauma, tumors, or stroke.

Paraplegia is paralysis in the legs and lower trunk. Quadriplegia is paralysis in the arms, legs, and trunk.

24.

The CNA is responsible for all of the following when caring for a patient with an indwelling catheter except:

  • Reinserting a catheter that has become dislodged

  • Ensuring that the catheter is draining properly

  • Emptying and recording urine output at the end of the shift

  • Reporting patient's complaints of pain or discomfort related to the catheter 

Correct answer: Reinserting a catheter that has become dislodged

It is not the responsibility of the CNA to insert a foley catheter, that is the role of the RN. CNA's may remove indwelling catheters, but never insert them.

In addition to emptying and recording urine output at the end of the shift, the CNA should also report if the patient is complaining of discomfort or pain related to the catheter. Hematuria or other abnormalities should be reported to the RN.

25.

All of the following may cause patients with dementia who are resistant to care to act this way except:

  • Too little stimulation

  • Anxiety

  • Too much stimulation

  • Pain

Correct answer: Too little stimulation

A calm, quiet environment with little to no stimuli may help to calm a resistant patient. Use a calm voice, do not rush the person, and allow them to make choices (within reason). If need be, leave the patient alone for awhile, then come back to complete care.

Anxiety, too much stimulation, and pain may all cause patients with dementia to be resistant to care.  

26.

A visitor seems to tire a patient. What should you do?

  • Tell the nurse

  • Ask the visitor to leave

  • Stay in the room to observe the patient and visitor

  • Find out the visitor's relationship to the patient

Correct answer: Tell the nurse

Inform the patient's nurse of your observations. Depending on the agency's visiting policies and what is allowed for the patient, she will manage the situation accordingly. Patients have the right to visit with others in private and without unnecessary interruptions and you do not have the authority to tell visitors to leave. Finding out the visitor's relationship to the patient is irrelevant.

27.

You are recording your client's oral intake. To convert 6 ounces of milk to milliliters, you should:

  • Multiply 6 x 30 mL

  • Multiply 6 x 15 mL

  • Multiply 6 x 45 mL

  • Multiply 6 x 5 mL

Correct answer: Multiply 6 x 30 mL

There are 30 mL in one ounce; therefore, you should multiply 6 x 30 mL = 180 mL

28.

Dry skin in older adults is often due to:

  • A decrease in sweat and oil gland secretions

  • Fragile blood vessels

  • Loss of the fatty tissue layer

  • Fewer nerve endings

Correct answer: A decrease in sweat and oil gland secretions

Skin changes drastically in older adulthood. The skin becomes drier due to a decrease in sweat and oil gland secretions. The skin also becomes thinner and more fragile. Loss of fatty tissue results in wrinkles and sagging skin, as well as sensitivity to cold. Fragile blood vessels increase the risk for skin breakdown and delayed healing. Fewer nerve endings affect the skin's ability to sense heat, cold, pressure, and pain.

29.

Dementia is:

  • Not a normal part of aging

  • A normal part of aging

  • A disease of the brain

  • Irreversible

Correct answer: Not a normal part of aging

Dementia is the loss of cognitive function that interferes with routine personal, social, and occupational activities. It is not a normal part of aging. It is also not considered a specific disease. Rather, it is a group of symptoms resulting from damage to brain cells, or changes in the brain, and is characterized by the progressive loss of cognitive and social functions. Some types of dementia can be reversed.

30.

Which of the following is not a form of nonverbal communication?

  • Yelling

  • Body language

  • Touch

  • Silence

Correct answer: Yelling

Nonverbal communication uses methods other than the spoken word to convey information or messages. Yelling is a form of verbal communication (spoken word). Body language can change the meaning of a verbal message. Touch conveys warmth, caring, reassurance and comfort. Silence is also used to convey messages.

31.

The role of the CNA can best be described by which of the following?

  • Providing direct personal care to assigned patients

  • Assessing and implementing a plan of care based on the patient's condition

  • Providing for a patient's medical needs, including the provision of treatments and prescribed medications

  • Acting as a patient advocate with other multidisciplinary team members

Correct answer: Providing direct personal care to assigned patients

The CNA provides direct patient care at the bedside to his/her assigned patients. Personal care activities may include bathing, dressing, grooming, feeding, and transferring/mobilizing. The CNA works directly with the patient and reports important patient information to the LPN or RN. The RN is generally responsible for assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of the patient's plan of care. Medications are usually administered by LPNs and/or RNs. In some cases, CNAs may give medications or treatments under direct supervision. Always follow your organization's protocol.

32.

You are caring for an elderly patient with dementia. The patient spends his days wandering in circles around the unit and is constantly asking where his room is. How can you help this patient become more independent?

  • Put a sign with the patient's name on the door to the patient's room

  • Ask the patient's roommate to assist the patient because the nursing staff is too busy

  • Do nothing as the patient is keeping busy walking around the unit

  • Write the patient's room number on a piece of paper and put it in the patient's pocket

Correct answer: Put a sign with the patient's name on the door to the patient's room

Wandering and forgetting the location of rooms is common in dementia patients. Putting their names or familiar objects on the doors to their rooms can be helpful. It is not the patient's roommate's job to assist the patient from getting lost. Giving the patient a piece of paper with information for him or her to keep is not a good idea because the patient will likely misplace the paper.

33.

Which statement is true about death?

  • Attitudes change as the person ages

  • Death is not influenced by culture, religion or past experiences with it

  • Young children seem to understand death well

  • A family member's death does not affect a toddler

Correct answer: Attitudes change as the person ages

Everyone handles death differently. Attitudes toward death are influenced by a wide variety of factors, including culture, religion, past experience, and support systems. Coping is strongly influenced by these factors as well. Attitudes about death often change as a person grows older and with changing needs. Young children do not understand death well, although they know or can sense that something is different.

34.

Which of the following best describes insulin?

  • A hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood

  • A hormone that controls heart rate

  • A hormone that controls blood pressure

  • A hormone that regulates growth and development

Correct answer: A hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood

Insulin is a hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood. Insulin is secreted by the pancreas. Diabetics either lack the ability to produce insulin (type 1) or are unable to use insulin properly (type 2).

35.

As a healthcare worker, you have the right to do which of the following?

  • Refuse and not accept a delegated task

  • Delegate tasks to a coworker

  • Supervise other CNAs

  • Ignore a request from your supervisor

Correct answer: Refuse and not accept a delegated task

As a CNA, it is within your rights to refuse to complete a task you have been assigned if, for example, you have not been trained in the task, if completing the task could result in harm to the patient, if the task is not in your job description or if the directions are incomplete or unclear. However, you must never ignore a request or order to complete a task. Discuss your concerns with your supervising nurse.

It is beyond the scope of practice for a CNA to delegate tasks or supervise other CNAs.

36.

The central nervous system consists of the ______ and the ______.

  • Brain; spinal cord

  • Cranial nerves; spinal nerves

  • Cerebellum; nerves

  • Spinal cord; cranial nerves

Correct answer: Brain; spinal cord

The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system. The brain is covered by the skull.

The three main parts of the brain are the cerebellum, cerebrum, and the brain stem. Cranial nerves and spinal nerves make up the peripheral nervous system.

37.

When applying a condom catheter, it is important to do which of the following?

  • Leave a space between the drainage tube on the catheter and the penis

  • Secure the catheter in place using adhesive tape wrapped circumferentially around the penis

  • Retract the foreskin of the uncircumcised male patient and leave it retracted while the catheter is in place

  • Cleanse the penis with alcohol prior to applying the catheter

Correct answer: Leave a space between the drainage tube on the catheter and the penis

Gently cleanse the penis with soap and water. Rinse and dry thoroughly. If the penis is uncircumcised, retract the foreskin, cleanse the glans, and replace the foreskin. Hold the penis in the non-dominant hand. With the dominant hand, place the condom at the end of the penis and slowly unroll it up and along the shaft. Leave a 1-inch space between the penis and the end of the catheter. Secure the condom catheter in place on the penis with elastic tape packaged with the catheter. Never apply adhesive tape or other tape around the penis as this could cut off circulation.

38.

Your patient is overweight and has limited mobility. You have never worked with the patient before, and you are unsure as to the patient's ability to assist with transferring. What should you do?

  • Ask for help to transfer the patient

  • Transfer the patient by yourself

  • Leave the patient in bed all day

  • Ask a family member to help you transfer the patient

Correct answer: Ask for help to transfer the patient

When in doubt, you should always ask for assistance to move patients, both for their safety and for your own. Never transfer a patient by yourself when you are unsure of the patient's mobility limitations. Do not leave the patient in bed all day as this is considered negligence. It is not appropriate to ask a family member to help.

39.

A patient is scheduled for surgery and is NPO. He complains that his mouth is dry. What should you do?

  • Offer moistened swabs to the patient to moisten his mouth

  • Give the patient a glass of ice chips

  • Offer the patient some hard candies

  • Tell the patient there is nothing you can do

Correct answer: Offer moistened swabs to the patient to moisten his mouth

NPO stands for 'non per os' and means nothing by mouth.. It is typically ordered before and after surgery. Moistened swabs are acceptable. Ice chips should not be provided. Hard candies are prohibited as well when a patient is NPO.

40.

Patients have the right to:

  • Voice complaints about care

  • Bring weapons into the facility

  • Mistreat other patients

  • Use another patient's personal items

Correct answer: Voice complaints about care

Patients have the right to voice concerns, questions, and complaints about treatment and care. The problem may involve another person. It may be about care that was given or not given. The facility must promptly try to correct the matter. No one can punish the patient in any way for voicing a grievance.

Patients are not allowed to bring weapons, mistreat other patients, or use another patient's personal items without consent.