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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

CNA Exam Questions

Page 6 of 28

101.

You are taking an adult client's pulse. The most common artery used to check a client's pulse is the:

  • Radial artery

  • Femoral artery

  • Brachial artery

  • Carotid artery

Correct answer: Radial artery

The radial artery is commonly used to check the adult patient's pulse. The radial pulse can be easily palpated without undressing the patient. To take the radial pulse, place your first 2 or 3 fingertips of one hand against the radial artery and count the number of pulses (or heartbeats) felt in 30 seconds, then multiply by 2. The radial artery is found on the thumb side of the wrist.

102.

Blade shavers are not used on patients taking ______ as they may cause ______.

  • Anticoagulants; bleeding

  • Antihypertensives; hypertension

  • Birth control pills; hair growth

  • Sleeping pills; drowsiness

Correct answer: Anticoagulants; bleeding

Blade shavers should not be used on patients taking anticoagulants because a small nick from the razor could cause substantial bleeding. You should also refrain from using blade shavers on uncooperative patients (i.e. patients with dementia) due to the risk of injury. Electric shavers are used instead in these situations.

103.

When communicating with a patient who speaks a different language from your native language, you should:

  • Use pictures and gestures

  • Speak in a loud voice

  • Keep repeating yourself

  • Speak quickly

Correct answer: Use pictures and gestures

It is helpful if you learn a few words of the common languages spoken by patients of different ethnicities or cultures in your region. When communicating with patients who speak a different language, speak slowly and distinctly and do not shout. Try to rephrase your message in different ways to promote understanding.

104.

You are at church. One of the members of the congregation asks you about another member's condition because she knows that you work on the same floor that the person was admitted to. How should you respond?

  • "I'm sorry, but I'm not permitted to discuss confidential information about any of my patients."

  • "That's really none of your business."

  • "What, specifically, do you want to know?"

  • "She is doing well; although, she has had a few complications. She should be coming home soon."

Correct answer: "I'm sorry, but I'm not permitted to discuss confidential information about any of my patients."

Patients have a right to privacy and confidentiality. As a healthcare professional, you are expected to respect patient confidentiality in all settings. A breach in patient confidentiality could result in sanctions, including the loss of your job.

105.

In terms of health care, a definition of team is:

  • A group of people who work together towards a common goal

  • A group of people who play the same sport together

  • A group of people who share the same ethnic background

  • A group of regulated professionals

Correct answer: A group of people who work together towards a common goal

A healthcare team involves the many health care workers whose skills and knowledge focus on the patient's total care. They work together to provide care to meet patients' needs (the common goal). The team may include regulated and unregulated members from a variety of discipline backgrounds.

106.

Why would an ice pack be given to a patient?

  • To reduce pain and swelling

  • To increase blood flow to an injured area

  • To prevent scarring

  • To increase body temperature

Correct answer: To reduce pain and swelling

An ice pack is applied to reduce pain and swelling. It will, in effect, decrease circulation and bleeding to the area of injury. It will not increase body temperature or prevent scarring.

107.

You are about to take a patient's oral temperature when you discover that the patient has just consumed a glass of water. What should you do?

  • Wait 15 minutes, and then check the patient's temperature

  • Wait one hour, and then check the patient's temperature

  • Take the patient's temperature rectally

  • Inform the nurse assigned to the patient that you could not take the patient's temperature and explain why

Correct answer: Wait 15 minutes, and then check the patient's temperature

You should wait 15 minutes, and then check the patient's temperature. It is not necessary to wait an hour to take the patient's temperature. It is not necessary to obtain a rectal temperature.

108.

You should encourage patients to walk:

  • Erect with their back straight and head up

  • Stooped with their head down

  • As fast as they can

  • The distance you have determined they should be able to walk

Correct answer: Erect with their back straight and their head up

Patients should walk as upright as possible - encourage them to keep their head up and this will help the back straighten as well. Discourage the patient from stooping over. Walk at the patient's pace, not your own pace, and do not force them to walk farther than they are capable.

109.

Good nutrition is necessary for all of the following except:

  • Obesity

  • Maintenance of body functions

  • Growth

  • Healing and restoration

Correct answer: Obesity

Nutrition refers to the many processes by which the body ingests, digests, absorbs, and uses food within the body. A well-balanced diet and adequate caloric intake is necessary for good health, reduction of chronic disease risk, and maintaining a healthy weight.

110.

You enter a male patient's room and find the patient masturbating. What should you do?

  • Close the door to the patient's room to allow him privacy

  • Ask the patient to stop as his behavior is disturbing to you

  • Tell the patient that his behavior is unacceptable

  • Tell the charge nurse

Correct answer: Close the door to the patient's room to allow him privacy

Masturbating is a normal behavior. The patient should be allowed privacy. If the patient is masturbating in a public area, he should be encouraged to perform this activity in privacy as it is not appropriate behavior around others.

111.

For elderly patients who take numerous medications, all of the following medication practices should be discouraged except:

  • Do not take larger or more frequent doses than prescribed

  • Using more than one pharmacy to fill prescriptions

  • Seeing more than one doctor to get prescriptions

  • Taking over-the-counter medications or herbs/supplements

Correct answer: Do not take larger or more frequent doses than prescribed

Discourage patients from taking larger or more frequent doses than prescribed. Only take prescription drugs as prescribed. This is especially important for pain-relief drugs.

All of the other practices can lead to harmful and sometimes fatal medication reactions. It is important for patients who are on numerous medications to have a primary physician to oversee medical care. It is also important to use one pharmacy to get prescriptions refilled - this makes it easier for pharmacists to spot potential drug interactions. Anyone taking multiple medications should check with their doctor or pharmacist before using any herbs, supplements or over-the-counter drugs.

112.

Your patient asks you to get him some Q-tips, stating that his ears "feel plugged with wax." You should:

  • Inform the nurse that the patient is complaining about wax in his ears

  • Give the patient some Q-tips and tell the patient to clean his ears himself

  • Clean the patient's ears with some Q-tips

  • Notify the patient's physician

Correct answer: Inform the nurse that the patient is complaining about wax in his ears

You should inform the nurse. Cleaning the patient's ears with Q-tips (or having the patient clean them himself) may force any wax further into the ear and/or damage the tympanic membrane (eardrum). A washcloth may be used to remove any visible wax from the outer ear.

113.

One major difference between psychiatrists and psychologists is that:

  • Only psychiatrists can prescribe medication to their patients

  • Only psychologists can counsel patients

  • Only psychiatrists are licensed

  • Only psychologists use behavioral therapy techniques

Correct answer: Only psychiatrists can prescribe medication to their patients

Psychiatrists are licensed to prescribe medications, psychologists cannot prescribe medications to their patients. Psychiatrists and psychologists are both licensed to counsel patients and both can use behavioral therapy techniques.

114.

Rigor mortis develops within ______ after death occurs.

  • 2 to 4 hours

  • 15 minutes

  • One day

  • 12 hours

Correct answer: 2 to 4 hours

Rigor mortis is the stiffness or rigidity of skeletal muscles that occurs after death. It generally occurs within 2-4 hours post-mortem. Post-mortem care is performed prior to rigor mortis setting in and involves preparing the body for viewing.

115.

Which of the following is false regarding psychosocial health?

  • Almost everyone enjoys perfect psychosocial health

  • Psychosocial health is influenced by a variety of factors, such as personality and environment

  • In general, people who grow up in an abusive family are less likely to be in good psychosocial health

  • Poor physical health can negatively affect psychosocial health

Correct answer: Almost everyone enjoys perfect psychosocial health

Psychosocial health (mental health) is influenced by a variety of factors including personality, genetics, environment, physical health, social and cultural factors, stress, and other factors. The quality of psychosocial health will vary depending on these factors. Very few people (if any) enjoy perfect psychosocial health.

116.

When feeding a patient who is unable to feed him/herself, all of the following should be done except:

  • Use a fork to feed the patient

  • Allow the patient adequate time to chew thoroughly

  • Provide adequate fluids along with foods

  • Offer one food at a time to the patient

Correct answer: Use a fork to feed the patient

Use teaspoons to feed the person. They are less likely to cause injury than forks. The teaspoon should be only about 1/3 full. Never rush the patient when feeding. Ensure that the environment is quiet and calm. Provide adequate fluids to assist in swallowing solid foods between bites and to maintain hydration. Offer only one food at a time to prevent confusion. Ensure that foods are not too hot or too cold before serving. Check the patient's mouth to ensure that he/she is not pocketing foods.

117.

Your patient has orthostatic hypotension. This means that your patient may:

  • Experience dizziness when changing positions quickly

  • Need to eat frequently

  • Need to void frequently

  • Experience frequent constipation

Correct answer: Experience dizziness when changing positions quickly

In orthostatic hypotension, the blood pressure drops abnormally low when the patient changes position (i.e., goes from sitting to standing position). The patient may experience dizziness or weakness when standing, therefore position changes should be made slowly. Allow the patient to sit on the edge of the bed for a few minutes prior to standing.

118.

When is the best time to prepare for a disaster?

  • Before it happens

  • After it happens

  • During a major disaster such as a tornado

  • When your supervisor tells you that you must

Correct answer: Before it happens

The best time to prepare for a disaster is before one occurs. Drills are held so that staff can practice what to do in the event of a major disaster. Plans are created in communities, fire and police departments, and health care agencies that include how to deal with people needing treatment. This prevents deadly mistakes from happening should a disaster occur.

119.

To assess a person's level of orientation, you should ask them:

  • Their name, the time/time of day, where they are "right now"

  • Their name, where they are "right now"

  • Their name, the time/time of day

  • Their name

Correct answer: Their name, the time/time of day, where they are "right now"

A person is said to be oriented to person, place and time ("oriented x 3") if they can answer all three questions correctly. Assessing orientation provides information regarding alertness and level of cognitive functioning. An abrupt change in level of orientation or alertness is a signal that something is wrong and should be reported immediately to your supervisor.

120.

The nurse has just given your patient the first dose of a newly prescribed antibiotic. You are alone in the room with the patient when the patient complains that he feels itchy. You notice a rash breaking out on the patient's face and chest. What should you do?

  • Notify the patient's assigned nurse immediately as these symptoms are consistent with an allergic reaction

  • Notify the patient's assigned nurse immediately as these symptoms are consistent with an impending seizure

  • Notify the patient's assigned nurse immediately as these symptoms are consistent with measles

  • Notify the patient's assigned nurse immediately as these symptoms are consistent with shingles

Correct answer: Notify the patient's assigned nurse immediately as these symptoms are consistent with an allergic reaction

If a patient develops itching, a rash, difficulty breathing, or anxiety soon after a medication has been given, you should be suspicious that the patient is experiencing an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions can be life-threatening when they affect breathing and circulation (anaphylaxis) and should be immediately reported to the nurse assigned to the patient.

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