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CNA Exam Questions
Page 9 of 28
161.
Sources of stress may include:
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Conflict, pressure and change
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Age
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Pressure
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Change
Correct answer: Conflict, pressure and change
There are many sources of stress, including daily irritations, lack of control over various situations, change (whether positive or negative), conflict with friends, coworkers or family and pressure (feeling pushed beyond one's abilities or limits). Age itself is not a source of stress.
162.
Which might be considered a poor organizational strategy?
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Saving the most important items on your to-do list until last
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Being flexible
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Setting a realistic time limit for each task
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Developing a personal routine that seems to work for you
Correct answer: Saving the most important items on your to-do list until last
You should set realistic time limits for tasks, recognizing that these may change as circumstances change. Developing your own personal routine is a good idea, unless you are unable to deviate from your own way of doing things. The ability to be flexible is an important trait to have.
163.
Your patient is taking aspirin, a blood pressure agent, a diuretic (water pill), acetaminophen (Tylenol) for arthritis pain, and a sleeping pill. Which of the following, when taken in combination with the patient's above medications, could increase the risk of falling?
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Alcohol
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Coffee
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Cholesterol-lowering medication
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A meal replacement drink
Correct answer: Alcohol
Alcohol can increase the risk of falling in the elderly population, particularly when it is taken in combination with many medications that could interact with alcohol in a negative way. Alcohol can cause sedation and can alter blood pressure. It can also cause liver damage when taken with acetaminophen. Remember that alcohol, while not necessarily harmful when taken in moderation, can increase the risk of falls when combined with polypharmacy (taking numerous medications).
Drinking coffee (in moderation), a meal replacement drink or taking cholesterol-lowering medication would not increase your patient's risk of falling if taken in combination with the patient's other medications.
164.
An advance directive is all of the following except:
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Is used when a patient is hospitalized
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Is a legal document
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Is used when a patient can no longer make their wishes known verbally
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Provides written instructions about medical care, treatments, and personal care
Correct answer: Is used when a patient is hospitalized
Advance directives may be called by different names, depending on where you work. They are not implemented just because a patient is admitted to a hospital, rather only when a patient is seriously ill or dying. They are legal documents that cite the patient's wishes regarding medical care when the patient is no longer able to do so due to declining condition or unconsciousness. Many people use advance directives to provide explicit instruction regarding end-of-life care (i.e. do not resuscitate instructions).
165.
Your patient is refusing her scheduled bath. You should:
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Explore the reasons why she is refusing her bath and attempt to come up with an alternative time that is acceptable to the patient
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Notify the nurse
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Insist that she take her bath now, as her refusal will throw off the bath schedule
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Tell her that if she refuses to bathe now, she won't have another opportunity for a week
Correct answer: Explore the reasons why she is refusing her bath and attempt to come up with an alternative time that is acceptable to the patient
The patient does have the right to refuse treatment and the right to personal choice. You should attempt to determine why the patient does not want to bathe at this time. Avoid "threatening" or pressuring the patient to conform to your schedule. Try to come up with a workable compromise. If no compromise can be agreed upon, then it is acceptable to notify the nurse.
166.
You are asked to shower a patient who is unsteady on his feet. What should you do?
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Use a shower chair so the patient can sit while showering
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Stand close by while the patient is showering so that you can catch the patient if he falls
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Stand just outside the door to give the patient some privacy
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Offer a tub bath instead of a shower as the patient is unsteady
Correct answer: Use a shower chair so the patient can sit while showering
Use a shower chair to shower patients who are unsteady but otherwise fit to shower. Stay close by in case the patient requires assistance, and show the patient how to use the emergency call bell in the shower.
167.
To prevent a catheter from being pulled when a female patient moves, the catheter tubing should be secured to the patient's:
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Upper thigh
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Abdomen
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Bedrail
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Ankle
Correct answer: Upper thigh
Catheter tubing should be secured to the female patient's upper thigh to prevent pulling, discomfort and irritation of the catheter and possible damage to the patient's anatomy. A common site to secure catheter tubing for the male patient is the abdomen for long-term catheter care. Never secure a catheter or catheter tubing to the bedrail or the patient's ankle because it can easily become dislodged.
168.
Your male patient has an enlarged prostate which has resulted in urinary retention. You might expect that your patient with urinary retention will experience which of the following?
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Difficulty urinating
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Painful urination
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Increased urine output
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A forceful urine stream
Correct answer: Difficulty urinating
The prostate is a walnut-sized organ that lies behind and under the bladder. It wraps around the urethra. As men age, the prostate grows and can sometimes block the flow of urine from the bladder due to pressure on the urethra. When this happens, symptoms may include urgency and dysuria (difficulty urinating) as well as a decrease in urine output and force of the urine stream. Painful urination and/or blood in the urine may be signs of infection.
169.
You are handing out bedtime snacks and you note that the kitchen has sent chocolate pudding for your diabetic patient. You should:
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Hold the snack and notify the patient's nurse
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Call the kitchen and scold them for providing the wrong snack
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Substitute a piece of cheese and some milk for the pudding
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Allow the patient to eat the snack
Correct answer: Hold the snack and notify the patient's nurse
A sugary snack is not an appropriate snack for a diabetic patient. Notify the nurse and follow instructions regarding a substitute snack. It is the nurse's duty to notify the kitchen if an error is made.
170.
Which body part is longer in men than in women?
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Urethra
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Sternum
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Nose
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Index finger
Correct answer: Urethra
The urethra is longer in men than in women.
The urethra carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. It is longer in men due to anatomical differences between men and women. The longer urethra in men serves as a protective factor for bladder infections - bacteria has to travel much farther in men to reach the bladder.
Gender has no bearing on the length or size of the sternum, nose, or index finger. They differ for each individual person.
171.
The ______ is an example of a flat bone, which helps to ______ the organs.
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Skull; protect
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Tibia; shape
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Vertebrae; strengthen
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Phalanges; move
Correct answer: Skull; protect
The skull is an example of a flat bone, which helps to protect the body's organs.
The various flat bones protect the underlying organs. For example, the brain lies just underneath the skull, which provides the brain with the protection it needs.
The other types of bones are long, short and irregular. Long bones (tibia) help to bear the body's weight. Short bones (phalanges) allow skill and ease in movement and irregular bones (vertebrae) allow various degrees of movement and flexibility.
172.
You discover a patient crying in her room. What should you do?
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Acknowledge the patient and ask if she would like to talk; if the patient declines, leave the room and allow for privacy
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Ignore it - it's none of your business
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Tell the patient a joke to see if you can make her laugh
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Tell the patient she has no business crying - others here have it far worse than she does
Correct answer: Acknowledge the patient and ask if she would like to talk; if the patient declines, leave the room to allow for privacy
You should ask the patient if they would like to talk about their feelings. Encourage the patient to talk if she wishes to by utilizing active listening skills. Refrain from problem-solving or downplaying her feelings.
173.
Baby formula should never be:
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Heated in the microwave
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Discarded after a feeding
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Warmed in a bottle placed in a bowl of warm water
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Tested for warmth by sprinkling a few drops on the wrist
Correct answer: Heated in the microwave
Baby formula should never be heated in the microwave as uneven heating may occur and could produce scalding temperatures in parts of the formula. You should warm formula to room temperature by placing a bottle in a bowl of warm water. Test the temperature of the formula by sprinkling a few drops on your wrist. Do not set the formula out to warm up to room temperature - formula that is left out may become contaminated with microorganisms. Discard remaining formula after a feeding. Do not save or reheat it for another feeding.
174.
All of the following cause constipation in elderly persons except:
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Daily exercise
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Decreased fluid intake
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A low-fiber diet
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Medications
Correct answer: Daily exercise
Inactivity contributes to slowed motility in the bowel, whereas adequate exercise promotes bowel motility and function. An inadequate diet is often lacking in fiber. The elderly are often dehydrated because they limit water intake to decrease trips to the bathroom. Medications such as sedatives, narcotics, and blood pressure medications contribute to constipation.
175.
Before performing a bed bath on a patient, you should do which of the following?
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Explain the procedure to the patient
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Ask the patient's family for permission
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Check the patient's chart for an order
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Open the windows in the patient's room
Correct answer: Explain the procedure to the patient
Before performing any procedure on or with a patient, tell the patient what is going to happen and ensure their compliance. There is no need to seek permission from the patient's family, nor is there a need for a physician's order. You should avoid opening windows in the patient's room before giving a bed bath as this may make the temperature uncomfortable for the patient.
176.
As a nursing assistant, you have which of the following responsibilities?
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Report observations to the nurse
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Can take verbal or phone orders from doctors
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Can remove tubes from the patient's body
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Can ignore a nursing task if it is not in your job description
Correct answer: Report observations to the nurse
You report observations about the patient's physical and mental status to the nurse. Report changes in the patient's condition or behavior at once. Never take verbal or phone orders, ignore a nursing task (instead, explain to the nurse why you cannot carry out the task politely and professionally), or insert or remove tubes from body openings.
177.
What does the term STAT mean?
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Immediately
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Within the next hour or two
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Within the shift
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As soon as can be arranged
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When you get around to it
Correct answer: Immediately
The term STAT means at once, immediately. It indicates that what is being requested is a priority and must be completed right away.
178.
Which of the following is not a sign of impending death?
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Increased blood pressure
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Mottling of the skin
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Confusion
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Depression/anxiety
Correct answer: Increased blood pressure
As a patient nears death, body functions tend to slow. The patient will become drowsy and will sleep for longer periods of time. The patient is likely to experience confusion. Many patients become depressed and/or anxious. As circulation fails, blood pressure starts to fall and the skin may appear mottled, especially at the extremities.
179.
Older adults are less sensitive to:
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Heat
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Medications
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Light
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Emotion
Correct answer: Heat
Aging affects the senses. Older adults are less sensitive to heat and cold. Touch and sensitivity to pain and pressure are also often reduced. Because they are less attuned to an object's heat, they may suffer burns from heating pads, hot water bottles, and hot water more easily. Make sure to follow your organization's safety measures to protect older persons from injury.
180.
Strategies for respecting and promoting privacy and confidentiality among patients of a residential facility include:
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Always closing curtains, doors, and window coverings when bathing, dressing and eliminating
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Never allowing members of the opposite sex to be alone in a room together
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Shaming a patient who you discover masturbating in the privacy of his own room
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Leaving a patient without a gown, clothing, or bed cover
Correct answer: Always closing curtains, doors, and window coverings when bathing, dressing, and eliminating
Patients have the right to personal privacy, even if you disapprove of their activities. Privacy is to be maintained for all personal care measures. Patients have the right to visit with others in private. Leaving a patient without a gown, clothing, or bed cover violates the right to privacy. The only exception to this rule is if you discover a patient forcing their intentions on another resident - should this occur, you should inform your supervisor.