Chapter 3, The Nursing Assistant

Question 1

Certification :

Answer 1

Official recognition by a state that standards or requirements have been met.

Question 2

Delegate :

Answer 2

To authorize another person to perform a nursing task in a certain situation.

Question 3

Job description :

Answer 3

A document that describes what the agency expects you to do.

Question 4

Nursing task :

Answer 4

Nursing care or a nursing function, procedure, activity, or work that can be delegated to nursing assistants when it does not require a nurse’s professional knowledge or judgment.

Question 5

Endorsement :

Answer 5

A state recognizes the certificate, license, or registration issued by another state; (reciprocity or equivalency ).

Question 6

Reciprocity and Equivalency :

Answer 6

See “endorsement”.

Question 7

What is the OBRA ?

Answer 7

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA) is a Federal law.
It applies to all 50 states.

OBRA sets minimum requirements for nursing assistant training and evaluation. Each state must have a nursing assistant training and competency evaluation program.

Question 8

What does OBRA require?

Answer 8

OBRA requires at least 75 hours of instruction. Classroom and at least 16 hours of supervised practical training are required.

Question 9

To protect the patient from harm, you need to know :

Answer 9

• What you can and cannot do.
• Rules and standards of conduct affecting your work.
• Your role limits.

Question 10

How many attempt does OBRA allow to successfully complete the evaluation ?

Answer 10

It allows three attempts to successfully complete the evaluation.

Question 11

What information are in nursing assistant registry ?

Answer 11

• Full name.
• Last known home address.
• Registry number and the date it expires.
• Date of birth.
• Last known employer, date hired, and date employment ended.
• Date the competency evaluation was passed.
• Information about findings of abuse, neglect, or dishonest use of property.

Question 12

Before performing a nursing task make sure that :

Answer 12

• Your state allows nursing assistants to do so.
• It is in your job description.
• You have the education and training to do so.
• A nurse is available to answer questions and to supervise you.

Question 13

What is the scope of practice or range of function ?

Answer 13

You must understand what you can do, what you cannot do, and the legal limits of your role.

Question 14

Rules for nursing assistants :

Answer 14

• You are an assistant to the nurse.
• A nurse assigns and supervise your work.
• The nurse decides what is done or not done for a person.
• You report observations about the person’s physical and mental status to the nurse.

Question 15

How can you lose your certification ?

Answer 15

• Abandoning, abusing, or neglecting a person.
• giving unsafe care.
• substance abuse or dependency.
• violating a person’s privacy.

Question 16

Do not take a job that requires you to :

Answer 16

• Act beyond the legal limits of your role.
• Function beyond your training limits.
• perform acts that are against your morals or religion.

Question 17

Your Role limits as a CNA :

Answer 17

• Never give drug.
• Never take oral or phone orders from doctors.
• never supervise others including other nursing assistant.
• Never insert tubes or objects into body openings. Don not remove them from body.

Question 18

Who can delegate ?

Answer 18

RNs can delegate nursing tasks to

LPNS/LVNS and nursing assistants. In some states, LPNS/LVNS can delegate nursing tasks to nursing assistants.

Question 19

What is the delegation process ?

Answer 19

• Assessment and Planning.
• Communication.
• Surveillance and Supervision.
• Evaluation and Feedback.

Question 20

Step 1-Assessment and planing :

Answer 20

The nurse needs to understand the person’s needs.

Question 21

Step 2-Communication :

Answer 21

This step involves the nurse and you. The nurse must give clear and complete directions.

Question 22

Step 3-Surveillance and supervisions :

Answer 22

Surveillance means to keep a close watch over someone or something. Supervise means to over-see or manage.

Question 23

Step 4-Evaluation and Feedback :

Answer 23

Evaluate means to judge. The nurse decides if the delegation was successful.

Question 24

Your role in delegation :

Answer 24

You must protect the person from harm. You have two choices, either accept or refuse a task.

Question 25

You should refuse to perform a task when :

Answer 25

• The task is beyond the legal limits of your role.
• The task is not in your job description.
• you were not trained to perform the task.
• The task could harm the person.
• The person’s condition has changed.
• you do not know how to use the equipment.
• Directions are against agency policies.