Frequently Asked CNA(Certified Nursing Assistant) Interview Questions
1) Mention what is CNA?
A CNA stands for certified nursing assistant. It is a person who has received training to help patients under the close supervision of a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse.
2) Mention how to become a qualified CNA?
To become a qualified CNA,
Complete state approved education program
Pass state approved education program.
Check local regulations before enrolling since CNA training vary by state
CNA programs last from 4 to 16 weeks
Pass state specific examination
Pass a state-specific examination to be fully certified
Graduates can work up to four months without certification while waiting to take the exam
Get your first job
Certified nurse assistants can only practice under the supervision of licensed nurses
It is illegal to offer their services as independent providers
Continue
Some states mandate CNAs must fulfill education credits each year to maintain their qualifications.
3) Mention what are the job responsibilities of a CNA Nurse?
Job responsibility of a CNA nurse include, Provides patients personal hygiene like backrubs, shampoos, shaves, bedpans, urinals, baths, assisting travel to the bathroom, and so on.
Other activities include serving meals, feeding patients, ambulating, turning, and positioning patients, etc.
CNA should also give medical help like administering enemas, nonsterile dressings, douches, surgical preps, heat treatments, ice packs, sitz and therapeutic baths, applying restraints, etc.
Restock rooms with necessary supplies and change bed sheets.
Take patient vital signs- testing urine, weight check, recording intake and output information.
Transporting patients, answering patients’ call lights and request, reporting observations of the patient to nursing supervisor
Documentation and maintaining forms, logs, reports, and records
By following policies and procedures maintains work operations like keeping patient information confidential
Participate in educational opportunities, maintaining licensure, reading professional publications and so on.
Serve hospital community by adhering to professional standards, hospital policies and procedures, federal, state, and local requirements, and jcaho summon emergency assistance in the hospital
4) Mention what are the common challenges a CNA may face?
A common challenges a CNA may face include,
Dealing with difficult patients and their demeanor
Managing smooth transition of shifts
Avoiding conflicts with co-workers
Lack of help from co-workers
Convincing patient and politely denying unreasonable request
5) How you deal with a patient who is aggressive and resist for medication?
To deal with patient who is aggressive and resist for medication my first approach would be,
I would make patient calm and administer the drug if that didn’t work then
I would make sure that he is safe, and I would ask for help
6) You will have several patients to take care of? How do you prioritize which one you attend to first?
I would assess the list and organize them in order of urgency as per their medical needs.
7) What are all places a CNA can work?
A CNA can work at following places,
Nursing Homes
Home Health Care Agencies
Assisted Living Facilities
Staffing Agencies
Hospitals
Hospices
Doctor Offices/Practice Groups
Day Care Centers and Schools
Medical Clinics
Urgent Care Centers
By federal law, CNA are mandatory at Nursing Homes.
8) Mention medical skills a CNA must possess?
A CNA must not require a highly sophisticated medical skills, but they should know in emergency, what to do like
To perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation if a patient is having heart attack or breathing problem
Should know how to use pressure to stop bleeding
What to do when unconscious patient suddenly begins to vomit
9) Give details about the CNA licensing exam?
The CNA licensing exam is taken in two segments,
The theoretical portion includes questions about patient procedures, protecting patient privacy and other information you covered in your lectures, textbooks, and workbooks. It is written portion of the licensing exam.
The second part of the test is a clinical portion. Where you need to practically demonstrate all tasks on a model patient.
10) Mention what is the difference between CNA and Nursing assistant?
The difference between CNA and Nursing assistant is that CNA tends to provide bedside care to senescent patients. While medical assistants assist more with procedural or administrative preparation and housekeeping.
11) Mention what are the software a CNA will be using during their tenure?
Billing software
Health information medical history databases
GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
Charting software and MS office
12) Mention what are the medical apparatus a CNA will be using?
Automated external defibrillators
Electronic medical thermometers
Heating or cooling pads
compression packs
13) Mention what are the opportunities a CNA may have?
After few years of experience as CNA, he/she can advance in following fields
LPN (Licensed Practical Nursing)
RN (Registered Nursing)
RN (Neonatal Nurse)
14) What are legal guidelines CNA must be aware of?
Laws are passed by local, state and federal governments. When CNA disobey a law, he is liable for fines, loss of certification and/or imprisonment.
To avoid legal issues, CNA must avoid following things,
Knowing and staying within their state’s scope of practice rules.
Seek the advice of your supervisor if you’re asked to do tasks you have not been trained to do
Carry out procedures and tasks only the way you are trained or taught. Do not go after any experiments.
Keep yourself upto date with your skills, education, and in-service requirements
In questionable situations, seek the advice of your supervisor.
Understand your assignment and role very well
Do not harm patients
Know your facility policies and standard guidelines
15) Give 1-2 example for negligence CNA can do?
Example of negligence include,
Administering drug without supervision
You place a wrong medication tray that belongs to another patient with the same name
You transfer a patient by yourself even though the care plans states two staff should be present
You give a patient a bath without checking the water temperature first.
16) When your CNA license is liable for inactivation?
Your CNA license is liable for inactivation if you do not work for at least eight (8) hours, for pay, in the provision of nursing services with two (2) or more years break.
17) What is your five-year plan as a CNA?
As a CNA mention a plan like pursuing a bachelor degree in nursing or some advanced course related to CNA. This shows that you aspire for RN (registered nurse).
18) Mention what you do if you notice a doctor or nurse not doing their job?
When you see a doctor or nurse not doing their job, you should follow protocol and report the person through the proper channels.
19) What all things CNA needs to take care while transferring a patient from bed?
While transferring patient from bed, CNA must crosscheck following things,
Can patient bear his weight? fully or partially
If patient is cooperative use stand and pivot technique using a gait/transfer belt
(1 caregiver) -or- powered standing assist lift (1 caregiver)
If the patient is not cooperative use full body sling lift and 2 caregivers to transfer patient.
If patient have upper extremity strength then use gait/transfer belt until the patient is proficient in completing transfer independently
20) While doing a lateral side transfer for patient having different weights what will be your approach?
For lateral side transfer for patient having different weights, say for
For patient < 100 pounds use a lateral sliding aid and 2 caregivers Patient having >200 pounds weight use a lateral sliding aid or mechanical lateral transfer device with 3 caregivers
21) Mention what all lateral sliding aid you can use to transfer the patient to bed?
Lateral sliding aid you can use to move patient are,
Draw sheet or transfer cot with handles
Low friction mattress covers
Slide boards
Gurneys with transfer devices
Beds that convert to chairs
22) Mention what all precautions need to be taken care while using bath boards and transfer benches?
While using bath boards and transfer benches, following things need to be taken care of
Use clothing or material between the resident’s skin and the board
Look for devices that allow for water drainage and have height adjustable legs
If a wheelchair is used, ensure wheels are locked. Make sure the transfer surfaces are at the same level
Ensure that floor is dry while taking patient out of bath tub
23) Mention for what patient height adjustable shower gurney or lift bath cart with Waterproof top is used?
Height adjustable shower gurney or lift bath cart with Waterproof top is used for a patient who is unable to sit up.
24) Mention how would you classify a pressure sore?
A pressure sore is classified into 4 stages,
Stage I: stage I pressure sore would appear as a reddened area that does not blanch (turn white) when pressed
Stage II: stage II pressure sore involves a partial breakdown of the upper layer of skin, but does not extend all the way through the
Stage III: stage III and stage IV ulcers extend all the way through the skin
Stage IV: stage IV ulcers extend all the way down to muscles, tendons or bones
25) Mention what is the proper term for an infection that is transmitted during a medical procedure?
The proper term for an infection that is transmitted during a medical procedure is iatrogenic.
26) Mention what is the measurement of the pressure in a patient’s heart during contraction?
During contraction, the measurement of the pressure in a patient’s heart is referred as systolic blood pressure.
27) Mention what is the meaning of assault and battery in CNA practice?
In CNA practice,
Assault is referred to physical violence or threat to use violence against someone.
Battery is actually referred for physical violence or wrongful touching against someone.
28) Mention what is the best way to deal with the irritant patient?
The best way to deal with irritant patient is,
Talk to them
Inform them of what you will be doing
Be kind and gentle
Always check the room for any hazards or waste
Be courteous and treat them with respect
Be vigilant in monitoring what they are doing at all times of the procedure
29) Mention what should a CNA must do to assist during a code?
A CNA must do following things to assist during a code,
Retrieve emergency equipment, including the code cart or intubation box. Perform other tasks that fall within a CNA’s scope of practice.
Document the events
Administer emergency medications as per the physician’s instructions
Speak with the family and inform them about what is happening.
30) Mention what is the responsibility of a CNA when he is informed about an admission?
The responsibility of a CNA when he is informed about an admission is to,
Prepare the room, bed, clothing and other necessary equipment.
Complete the admission process.
Make sure the patient’s medications have been received from the pharmacy and it’s
Coordinate the patient’s care with the rest of the treatment team.
31) Mention what are some of the types of post-surgical care that a nursing assistant can be asked to provide for patients?
Some of the types of post-surgical care that a nursing assistant can be asked to provide for patients include
Monitoring and recording of vital signs ( blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate)
Post-Operative Pain, make sure their pain is under control
Carefully moving the patient as such tubes or drains are connected with patients body
Fluid Intake/Output should be monitored
32) Mention what are the measure and methods practiced by CNA for handling Urinary drainage bag?
For handling Urinary drainage bag, CNA should practice following steps,
Wear gloves before handling urinary sample or urinary drainage bag
Empty bag into relevant container without touching tubing against container
After emptying urine wipe drain with alcohol swab
Close or protect drain
Leave bag close to bed and should not touch floor (use barrier)
Remove gloves and wash hands
33) Mention how should a CNA must deal resident who has a speech problem?
Knock on the door, call out to the resident by name and begin conversation
keep conversation to the point and brief
Use simple direct questions
Be patient and wait for answers
Use communication tools like Notepads and pens, scrabble tiles, flash cards, pointing, picture boards and maybe charades
Repeat it back to make sure you heard right what is said
34) Mention how a CNA can become LN (Licensed Nurse)?
A CNA can become LN (Licensed Nurse),
Need as many as 200 hours of additional education in some areas like pediatrics, maternal medicine, and gerontology.
Need experience in a hospital, clinic, or private practice that you can use toward your license
Need to pass the national NCLEX-PN exam to work in a hospital setting
35) Mention how to record intake and output in a resident or patient?
To record intake and output in a resident or patient, follow the steps below.
Locate liquid foods for the resident and record their intake
Record liquid food intake in cubic centimeters or milliliters as per facility policy
The output is measured by pouring the urine of the resident into a graduate
While using a gloved hand to hold the graduate, use a gloveless hand to flush down the toilet
Disinfect each and every appliance used during the test
Record the urine output and report any form of the unusual characteristic to nurse.
36) Mention what is Heimlich maneuver?
Heimlich maneuver is a technique used when a person’s airway get chocked. In this technique you
Reach around the victim from behind. Circle your hands around the victim’s stomach
Make a fist with your dominant hand. The thumb of the fist should point into the stomach (just above the victim’s navel )
Wrap your other hand firmly around this fist and give a good inward push by pressing the victim’s abdomen
These thrusts should be repeated until either the item is removed, or the resident loses consciousness.
Use less force if the victim is a child.
37) Being a CNA what is the correct way to sign your name?
( P.Jason ,CNA.) is the correct way to sign the name.
38) Mention what is the right way to correct an error made while charting on a resident’s chart?
The right method to correct an error made while charting on a resident’s chart is to draw one line through it, write the words “mistaken entry,” and then initial.
39) While measuring blood pressure what you need to check as a precaution?
As a precaution, while measuring blood pressure, you need to make sure that you don’t take a BP on an arm with an IV.
40) Mention what is a goal of hospice care?
A goal of hospice care is to provide comfort to terminally ill patients and their families
41) How should be a resident in a shower chair should be placed?
A resident in a shower chair should be placed facing the door of the shower stall.
42) Mention what are the complications that can develop due to immobility?
Complications that can develop due to immobility are,
Blood clots
Pressure sores
Contractures
Constipation
43) Mention whether STNA and CNA are same?
Yes, they both are same “STNA” stands for State Tested Nursing Assistant and “CNA” stands for Certified Nursing Assistant.
44) Explain how to apply wrist and ankle restraint?
To apply wrist and ankle restraint,
Pad the bony areas of the restrained area.
The padded portion should be applied at the ankle or wrists correspondingly
The tie of the restraint should be pulled through the corresponding slit
To avoid the tourniquet effect, use a half-bow knot in order to attach the other end to the movable side of the bed
Be careful while removing the restraints, because failing to follow them will be considered negligence.
45) Mention how to get the most accurate patient weight?
To get the most accurate patient weight, the nursing assistant should weigh the patient at the same time every day.