25 multiple-choice questions on nurse aide rules and practices. Pick an answer to see the rule behind it, quoted from the official source.
1. When a state discloses registry information to requesters, what specific portion of the registry data is mandated to be disclosed?
Answer: All of the information in § 483.156(c)(1) (iii) and (iv). The rule specifies that the state must disclose the information found in subsections (iii) and (iv) of § 483.156(c)(1) to all requesters.
42 CFR § 483.156(d): “Disclose all of the information in § 483.156(c)(1) (iii) and (iv) to all requesters and may disclose additional information it deems necessary;”
2. A nurse aide needs to administer a second dose of medication from a multidose vial to the same resident later in the shift. How should the aide access the vial?
Answer: Enter the vial with a new needle and a new syringe. The rule mandates using fresh equipment for each entry into medication containers, even for repeat doses for the same individual.
3. A nurse aide is checking a resident's room for compliance with privacy standards. Which of the following is required for each bed in facilities initially certified after March 31, 1992, excluding private rooms?
Answer: Ceiling suspended curtains extending around the bed. The regulation mandates ceiling suspended curtains that extend around the bed to ensure total visual privacy for non-private rooms in facilities certified after the specified date.
42 CFR § 483.90(e): “In facilities initially certified after March 31, 1992, except in private rooms, each bed must have ceiling suspended curtains, which extend around the bed to provide total visual privacy in combination with adjacent walls and curtains;”
4. If a grievance regarding a resident's rights is confirmed by an outside entity like the State Survey Agency, what action must the facility take?
Answer: Take appropriate corrective action in accordance with State law. When a violation is confirmed by an authorized outside entity, the facility is required to take appropriate corrective action as dictated by state law.
42 CFR § 483.10(j): “Taking appropriate corrective action in accordance with State law if the alleged violation of the residents' rights is confirmed by the facility or if an outside entity having jurisdiction, such as the State Survey Agency, Quality Improvement Organization, or local law enforcement agency confirms a violation of any of these residents' rights within its area of responsibility;”
5. Which of the following is listed as a contact entity that must be included in the posted list of pertinent State agencies?
Answer: The State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program. The rule specifically lists the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program as a required entity to be included in the posted contact list.
42 CFR § 483.10(g): “A list of names, addresses (mailing and email), and telephone numbers of all pertinent State agencies and advocacy groups, such as the State Survey Agency, the State licensure office, adult protective services where state law provides for jurisdiction in long-term care facilities, the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program”
6. What action must the facility take regarding potential abuse or neglect while an investigation into an allegation is still ongoing?
Answer: Prevent further potential abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment. The regulation requires proactive prevention of further harm during the active investigation period.
42 CFR § 483.12(c): “Prevent further potential abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment while the investigation is in progress.”
7. According to the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, who is responsible for immediately containing and cleaning up spills of potentially concentrated infectious materials?
Answer: Appropriate professional staff or others properly trained and equipped. The regulation specifies that cleanup must be performed by staff who are properly trained and equipped, not just anyone present.
29 CFR § 1910.1030(e): “All spills shall be immediately contained and cleaned up by appropriate professional staff or others properly trained and equipped to work with potentially concentrated infectious materials.”
8. When providing care to a resident who uses a prosthetic device, what is the required goal of the assistance provided by the nurse aide?
Answer: To ensure the resident wears and is able to use the prosthetic device. The regulation specifies that the assistance provided must enable the resident to both wear and effectively use their prosthetic device.
42 CFR § 483.25(j): “The facility must ensure that a resident who has a prosthesis is provided care and assistance, consistent with professional standards of practice, the comprehensive person-centered care plan, and the residents' goals and preferences, to wear and be able to use the prosthetic device.”
9. A patient with suspected tuberculosis is being transported from their room to another area for a medically necessary procedure. The patient is wearing a surgical mask and their infectious skin lesions are covered. What is the appropriate action for the nurse aide transporting the patient?
Answer: The aide does not need to wear a mask or respirator during the transport. The rule states that healthcare personnel do not need to wear masks or respirators during transport if the patient is masked and lesions are covered.
CDC — Transmission-Based Precautions: “Healthcare personnel transporting patients who are on Airborne Precautions do not need to wear a mask or respirator during transport if the patient is wearing a mask and infectious skin lesions are covered.”
10. How frequently must a facility complete a performance review of every nurse aide to determine the content of their required in-service education?
Answer: At least once every 12 months. The regulation specifies a minimum frequency of annual performance reviews to guide ongoing in-service education.
42 CFR § 483.35(d): “The facility must complete a performance review of every nurse aide at least once every 12 months, and must provide regular in-service education based on the outcome of these reviews.”
11. Under what circumstance is a facility prohibited from requiring a resident to request an item or service?
Answer: As a condition of admission or continued stay. The rule states that requesting items or services cannot be made a prerequisite for admission or staying in the facility.
42 CFR § 483.10(f): “The facility must not require a resident to request any item or service as a condition of admission or continued stay.”
12. According to the definition of abuse, what does the term 'willful' specifically require from the individual inflicting harm?
Answer: The individual must have acted deliberately. The regulation clarifies that 'willful' refers to the deliberate nature of the action itself, rather than the specific intent behind causing harm.
42 CFR § 483.5: “Willful, as used in this definition of abuse, means the individual must have acted deliberately, not that the individual must have intended to inflict injury or harm.”
13. Before changing a resident's roommate assignment, what specific action must the nurse aide take to comply with the resident's rights?
Answer: Provide written notice to the resident, including the reason for the change, before the change occurs. The regulation mandates that residents receive written notice containing the reason for any room or roommate change prior to the change happening.
42 CFR § 483.10(e): “The right to receive written notice, including the reason for the change, before the resident's room or roommate in the facility is changed.”
14. A nurse aide is placing regulated waste into a container. What condition must the container meet regarding its construction?
Answer: It must be constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport or shipping. Regulated waste containers must be leak-proof to ensure containment during all stages of handling.
29 CFR § 1910.1030(d): “Constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport or shipping;”
15. When a facility provides mandatory training on infection control, what specific elements must be included in that training according to the regulations?
Answer: The written standards, policies, and procedures for the infection prevention and control program. The regulation states that infection control training must include the written standards, policies, and procedures for the program.
42 CFR § 483.95(e): “A facility must include as part of its infection prevention and control program mandatory training that includes the written standards, policies, and procedures for the program as described at § 483.80(a)(2).”
16. When providing a written description of legal rights to a resident, which specific financial protection topic must the aide ensure is included in the description?
Answer: The manner of protecting personal funds. The regulation requires the written description of rights to specifically include how personal funds are protected.
42 CFR § 483.10(g): “A description of the manner of protecting personal funds, under paragraph (f)(10) of this section;”
17. What should a nurse aide use to turn off the faucet after washing hands with soap and water?
Answer: A disposable towel. The instructions specify using a disposable towel to dry hands and then using that same towel to turn off the faucet to avoid re-contamination.
18. What step must be taken before applying an alcohol-based hand sanitizing solution for surgical hand antisepsis?
Answer: Prewash hands and forearms with a non-antimicrobial soap and completely dry them. The instructions require prewashing with non-antimicrobial soap and ensuring hands are completely dry before applying the alcohol solution.
19. A resident in a long-term care facility has designated their spouse and a close friend to visit them. The facility staff must ensure these visitors are allowed entry based on which of the following criteria?
Answer: The facility must allow the designated visitors, subject to the resident's right to deny consent at any time. The regulation grants residents the right to designate visitors, including spouses and friends, and requires the facility to honor these choices subject to the resident's ongoing consent.
42 CFR § 483.10(f): “Inform each resident of the right, subject to his or her consent, to receive the visitors whom he or she designates, including, but not limited to, a spouse (including a same-sex spouse), a domestic partner (including a same-sex domestic partner), another family member, or a friend, and his or her right to withdraw or deny such consent at any time.”
20. When facilitating visitation for a resident, which of the following is a prohibited basis for restricting or denying visitation privileges?
Answer: The visitor's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. The rule mandates that visitation privileges cannot be restricted based on protected demographic characteristics such as race, gender identity, or disability.
42 CFR § 483.10(f): “Not restrict, limit, or otherwise deny visitation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.”
21. A nurse aide was found to have misappropriated property. How long must this finding remain in the registry?
Answer: Permanently, unless the finding was made in error, the individual was found not guilty in court, or the State is notified of the individual's death. Findings remain permanently in the registry unless specific exceptions apply, such as the finding being erroneous or the individual dying.
42 CFR § 483.156(c): “This information must be included in the registry within 10 working days of the finding and must remain in the registry permanently, unless the finding was made in error, the individual was found not guilty in a court of law, or the State is notified of the individual's death.”
22. A nurse aide is preparing to administer a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to a resident who received the first dose previously. According to regulations, what specific information must the aide provide to the resident or their representative before requesting consent for this additional dose?
Answer: Current information regarding additional doses, including any changes in benefits, risks, and potential side effects. The regulation requires providing updated information on benefits, risks, and side effects for additional doses before seeking consent.
42 CFR § 483.80(d): “In situations where COVID-19 vaccination requires multiple doses, the resident, resident representative, or staff member is provided with current information regarding those additional doses, including any changes in the benefits or risks and potential side effects associated with the COVID-19 vaccine, before requesting consent for administration of any additional doses;”
23. According to the provided guidelines, when should a nurse aide use personal protective equipment (PPE)?
Answer: Whenever there is an expectation of possible exposure to an infectious material. The rule states that PPE should be used whenever there is an expectation of possible exposure to infectious material, regardless of other factors.
24. A nurse aide is working in a facility where traditional handwashing sinks are not readily accessible. According to the standard, what alternative must the employer provide for hand hygiene?
Answer: An appropriate antiseptic hand cleanser in conjunction with clean cloth/paper towels or antiseptic towelettes. The rule specifies that if handwashing facilities are not feasible, the employer must provide antiseptic cleansers with towels or antiseptic towelettes.
29 CFR § 1910.1030(d): “When provision of handwashing facilities is not feasible, the employer shall provide either an appropriate antiseptic hand cleanser in conjunction with clean cloth/paper towels or antiseptic towelettes.”
25. Which individual is excluded from the definition of a 'nurse aide' in this context?
Answer: An individual who furnishes services to residents only as a paid feeding assistant. The regulation states that paid feeding assistants are not considered nurse aides, distinguishing them from other non-licensed service providers.
42 CFR § 483.5: “Nurse aides do not include those individuals who furnish services to residents only as paid feeding assistants as defined in § 488.301 of this chapter.”
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