Free Utah CNA Exam Flashcards

Privacy covers both personal care (bathing, dressing, toileting) and medical records. Always close doors/curtains during care and never discuss a resident's condition where others can overhear.

Report it immediately to your supervisor and Adult Protective Services (APS) — CNAs are mandated reporters. In Utah, failing to report suspected abuse is a Class B misdemeanor.

Abuse is intentional harm (physical, verbal, sexual, or psychological). Neglect is failure to provide needed care. Exploitation is misuse of a resident's money, property, or resources for someone else's gain.

HIPAA protects a resident's private health information. Share details only with staff who need them for care, never discuss residents outside work, and keep charts and screens out of public view.

CNAs cannot give medications, perform sterile procedures, insert or remove tubes, or assess/diagnose a condition. If you notice a change, report it to the nurse rather than acting outside your training.

Residents have the right to refuse any care. Don't force it — explain the benefit, offer to return later, and document and report the refusal to the nurse.

Only per an active care plan or a written physician's order, or in a genuine emergency to prevent immediate harm. Unnecessary restraint violates the resident's right to freedom from restraints — try alternatives first.

Reporting is telling the nurse verbally about a change or concern, done immediately. Recording is writing it in the medical record. Both are required — one does not replace the other.

Under Utah Admin Code R432-45, a candidate who completes an approved training program may work as a nurse aide for up to 120 days while awaiting UNAR competency testing or results, before certification is required.

97.6-99.6°F. Report a temperature above 100.4°F (possible fever) or one notably below range to the nurse.

The radial pulse is taken at the thumb side of the wrist and used for routine checks. The apical pulse is taken at the left side of the chest (heart apex) with a stethoscope for a full 60 seconds when the pulse is irregular, weak, or on an infant.

12-20 breaths per minute. Count it immediately after taking the pulse while your fingers stay on the wrist, so the resident doesn't consciously alter their breathing pattern.

Below 120/80 mmHg. The top (systolic) number is the pressure when the heart contracts; the bottom (diastolic) number is the pressure when the heart rests between beats.

95-100% oxygen saturation is normal. Report any reading below 95% to the nurse promptly — it can signal hypoxia.

A typical tolerance is blood pressure within ±10 mmHg, pulse within ±4 beats per minute, and respirations within ±2 breaths per minute. A difference beyond these ranges should be rechecked and reported to the nurse.

Within about ±25 mL of the actual amount. Accurate I&O tracking helps the care team monitor kidney function and fluid balance, so always read the graduated container at eye level.

Fowler's = head raised 45-60°; semi-Fowler's = head raised 30-45°; supine = flat on the back; prone = flat on the stomach; lateral = lying on one side; dangle = sitting with legs hanging over the bedside, used before standing or transferring.

Watch for mottled or cool skin, irregular or Cheyne-Stokes breathing, decreased appetite, and reduced responsiveness. The CNA's role is comfort care and reporting changes — not administering medication or making care decisions.

Independent (no help) → supervision only (cueing/standby) → limited assistance (some physical help) → extensive assistance (help on both sides) → total dependence (cannot participate at all).

Dress the affected (weak) side first; undress the unaffected (strong) side first. This 'affected first on, unaffected first off' rule reduces strain on the weaker limb.

Always front to back. This prevents moving bacteria from the rectal area toward the urethra, reducing the risk of urinary tract infection.

Clean to dirty: start with the eyes (inner to outer corner, no soap, a clean section of cloth per eye), then the face, arms, chest/torso, legs, and the perineal area last.

Store dentures in a labeled denture cup with water or denture solution — never wrapped in a tissue or napkin, which risks accidental disposal. Handle them over a basin lined with a towel to prevent breakage if dropped.

Always within the resident's reach, every time — this is a fall-prevention and safety fundamental, not just a courtesy.

Raise the bed to a comfortable working height for care, then return it to its lowest, locked position before leaving. Side rails are used only per the individual care plan — they are not a default restraint.

Let the resident choose their own clothing and daily preferences, and respect cultural or religious practices around modesty, diet, and hygiene rather than imposing a fixed routine.

Pathogen (causative agent) → reservoir → portal of exit → mode of transmission → portal of entry → susceptible host. Breaking any one link stops the infection from spreading.

Hand hygiene — washing with soap and water, or using alcohol-based sanitizer, for at least 20 seconds. It's the most effective way to prevent the spread of pathogens.

Gown, then mask, then goggles or face shield, then gloves — gloves go on last so they cover the gown cuffs.

Gloves, then goggles or face shield, then gown, then mask — roughly the reverse of donning. Gloves come off first because they are most contaminated; the mask stays on longest to protect your airway until you've left the contaminated area.

Standard precautions (hand hygiene, PPE as needed) are used with every resident regardless of diagnosis. Transmission-based precautions are added on top of standard precautions for residents with a specific suspected or confirmed infection.

MRSA and C. diff → contact precautions (gown and gloves). Flu and pertussis → droplet precautions (mask within about 3-6 feet). TB and measles → airborne precautions (N95 respirator, negative-pressure room).

Rescue (remove residents from danger), Alarm (activate the fire alarm), Confine (close doors to contain smoke/fire), Extinguish (use an extinguisher only if safe) or Evacuate.

Pull the safety pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side.

Bend your knees, not your back, keep a wide base of support, keep the resident close to your body, and use a properly applied gait belt for any unsteady transfer.

Never try to catch or stop their full weight. Widen your stance, ease them down to the floor while guiding and protecting their head, and call for help immediately.

FWB means the resident can bear all of their weight on the limb. PWB means they can bear only some weight, per therapy orders. NWB means they cannot bear any weight and need a wheelchair, crutches, or similar device.

Delirium has a sudden onset and is often reversible once its medical cause, such as infection, medication, or dehydration, is treated. Dementia has a gradual, progressive onset and is not reversible.

A pattern seen in some residents with dementia where confusion, agitation, or restlessness worsens in the late afternoon and evening.

A communication approach for residents with dementia where the CNA enters and agrees with the resident's perceived reality instead of correcting or arguing with them, which reduces distress and agitation.

Shifting a confused or agitated resident's attention to a different topic or activity, rather than confronting or arguing with them, to help de-escalate the situation.

Physiological needs — food, water, air, elimination — come first, before safety needs, then love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

Watch for withdrawal, appetite or sleep changes, loss of interest in activities, or statements of hopelessness. Report these observations to the nurse — a CNA does not diagnose, but early reporting supports timely care.

Skin, hair, and nails. CNAs check skin during care for redness, breakdown, or bruising — early signs of pressure injuries that must be reported immediately.

The heart and blood vessels. Pulse and blood pressure are the vital signs that reflect cardiovascular function.

The lungs and airway. Report labored or noisy breathing, an unusual respiration rate, or bluish skin color (cyanosis) to the nurse right away.

Bones, muscles, and joints. It directly affects mobility and fall risk, and drives the need for range-of-motion exercises and safe transfer techniques.

The brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It controls cognition and sensation — the F.A.S.T. stroke check (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) screens for sudden neurological changes that require an immediate 911 call.

In AROM, the resident moves their own joints, which helps build or maintain strength. In PROM, the CNA moves the resident's joints for them, used when a resident cannot move independently, to help prevent contractures.

Restorative care aims to maintain a resident's current level of function and slow decline; rehabilitative care aims to restore function that has been lost. A contracture is a permanent shortening or tightening of a muscle or joint from lack of movement, prevented through regular ROM exercises and repositioning.