Question 1

A CNA is finishing morning care when a resident hands her a pill cup and says, 'My nurse left my blood pressure medication — can you just give it to me? You know what it is.' What should the CNA do?

Accepted Answer

The CNA must decline and immediately notify the nurse, because administering medications is outside a CNA's scope of practice in all U.S. states. Performing tasks beyond scope exposes the resident to harm and the CNA to legal liability, regardless of how routine the task appears.

Question 2

A nurse asks a CNA to insert a urinary catheter for a resident who is in pain and asking to void. The CNA has never been trained on this procedure. What is the most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

The CNA must decline the assignment because catheter insertion is a skilled nursing task outside CNA scope, and the CNA has not been trained to perform it safely. The CNA should clearly communicate this to the nurse and offer to assist with comfort measures while the nurse or another qualified staff member performs the procedure.

Question 3

During morning care, a CNA notices several large yellow-green bruises in different stages of healing on a resident's upper arms and back. The resident flinches and avoids eye contact when asked about them. What is the CNA's priority action?

Accepted Answer

The CNA must immediately report these findings to the charge nurse and document objective observations, because multiple bruises in different stages of healing on protected body areas are classic indicators of physical abuse. As a mandatory reporter, the CNA is legally obligated to report suspicions of abuse even without confirmed proof.

Question 4

A resident's son calls the nurses' station and asks the CNA who answers, 'Can you tell me how my mom slept last night and what her blood pressure was this morning?' What should the CNA do?

Accepted Answer

The CNA should ask the caller to hold and immediately transfer the call to the charge nurse, because sharing any resident health information over the phone requires verification of identity and HIPAA-compliant authorization before disclosure. CNAs should not release medical information to callers, even those claiming to be family members.

Question 5

A CNA charts: 'Resident seemed upset and was probably in pain during repositioning.' A supervisor reviews the entry and flags it. What documentation error did the CNA make?

Accepted Answer

The CNA used subjective and speculative language — 'seemed upset' and 'probably in pain' — rather than documenting objective, observable facts such as facial grimacing, verbalizations, or vital sign changes. Accurate CNA documentation must record only what was directly observed or heard, using measurable and specific descriptions.

Legal, Ethics & Professional Standards

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