Home Health Aid Written Test

Employee Name *

First Name Last Name

Date *

Date

Score

1. Mrs. Peter's says, "I hate not being able to take care of myself." To show Mrs. Peters that the home health aid understands her feelings, what is appropriate response from the aide? (Communication) *

"You shouldn't feel that way" "It is hard to have someone help you when you are use tot taking care of yourself" "You sure like being taken care of" "You make me unhappy when you talk like that"

2. In order to communicate effectively with Mrs. Peters, the home health aide should: (Communication) *

Shout loudly when speaking to Mrs. Peters Speak to Mrs. Peters as if she were a young child Listen carefully when Mrs. Peters speaks Continually nod when Mrs. Peters speaks

3. One morning after the home health aide arrives, Mr. Jones says, "I have had cramping pains in the calf of my right leg for the last two hours." Mr. Jones has been immobilized in bed. You notice that he also has a warm, red, swollen area in his right calf. What should you do? *

Walk him around for a while to see if the pain goes away Offer a heating pad Report the symptoms to the supervisor immediately Offer him two aspirin

4. The best way for the aide to write Mr. Jones' leg cramps on the chart is: (Observation, reporting) *

"Complaints of pain." "Right leg hurts" "States he has had cramping pains in the calf of his right leg for 2 hours." "Says he has leg cramps."

5. Milk is a good source of calcium. Which of these foods is also high in calcium? (Adequate nutrition and fluid intake) *

Cheese Bananas Orange Juice Raisins

6. Mrs. Phillips, who has diabetes and takes insulin regularly, tells the home health aide that she feels very nervous and jittery. What should the aide do immediately? (Recognizing emergencies and knowledge of emergency procedures) *

Take her temperature Find out when she has her next doctor's appointment Have her lie down on the bed and elevate her feet Give her a glass of orange juice

7. Clients sometimes express religious beliefs with which the home health aide does not agree. In dealing with these situations, which understanding should the aide use as a guide? (The physical, emotional, and developmental characteristics of the population served by the home health agency including need for respect for the patient, patient's privacy and patient's property) *

Clients have a right to their own beliefs, which should be respected Clients should be told not to discuss their beliefs with aides Aides should explain their beliefs to clients Aides should pretend to have the same beliefs as the client

8. Mr. Allen has had a resting pulse of 84-92 for the last three days. When you take it today, it is 122 at rest. What should you do? (Observation, reporting, and basic elements of body function and changes in body function that must be reported to an aide's supervisor) *

Record the pulse as usual Notify the supervisory RN immediately Tell the client to walk around inside the house Place a warm cloth on the client's forehead

9. When charting on each client you should: (Communication) *

Complete your charting each visit before leaving the client's home Sign each charting sheet Read the Health Aide Care Plan to familiarize yourself with cares to be done all of the above

10. When changing linens that have been soiled with stool, the home health aide should: (Basic infection control procedures) *

Change the linens without gloves being careful not to touch the stool on the linens Place linens in one of the pillow cases until they can be laundered Wear gloves while changing the linens Use cold water to wash the linens

11. A home health aide leaves the home of Mr. Roths, a terminally ill client. A neighbor stops her and says, "Mr. Roths is very sick, isn't he? I hear he's near death." What response from the home health aide is best? (The physical, emotional, and developmental characteristics of the population served by the home health agency including need for respect for the patient, patient's privacy and patient's property) *

"Yes, Mr. Roths is very ill" "How do you know Mr. Roths is so sick?" "I'm sorry, I can't discuss Mr. Roths" "Mr. Roths is doing as well as can be expected"

12. When cleaning dentures for a client, which of the following should you do? (Basic infection control procedures and appropriate and safe techniques in personal hygiene) *

Brush dentures while they are still in client's mouth Wear gloves Use Comet (cleanser) for difficult stains Have the client put them in a dry cup overnight

13. When a client complains of pain, what should the home health aide do first? (Communication) *

Ask the client to describe the pain Call the client's doctor Offer the client some warm tea Change the client's position

14. When the clients do not have enough fluids, they may develop which of these problems?(Adequate nutrition and fluid intake) *

Diarrhea Swelling Constipation Dandruff

15. It's a hot and muggy day in May and you are caring for a 42 year old quadriplegic client who requires two people for transferring. You hear the sirens go off and the radio announces that there is a tornado warning. What should you do? (Maintenance of a clean, safe and healthy environment) *

Look out the door or window to see if there is a tornado Push the client's bed away from the window and cover with blankets and/or pillows Get the client up by yourself and drag him to the basement Yell for help to transfer him

16. Mrs. Shilling wants you to go to the store and get some milk for her. She asks you to get money out of her purse. Which of the following should you do? (Respect for the patient, patient's privacy and patient's property) *

Ask Mrs. Shilling to sign a blank check Take the money out of her purse, which is in another room Pay for the milk yourself Bring Mrs. Shilling her purse and ask her to get the money out of her purse

17. Washing hands with soap and water should be done for at least: (Basic infection control procedures) *

10 minutes 5 minutes 20 seconds 5 seconds

18. Randy reports feeling feverish and "aching all over". You check his temperature and it is 100.4 orally. You should: (Observation, reporting and basic elements of body function and changes in body function that must be reported to an aide's supervisor) *

Check his temperature again in 4 hours Sponge him off with cold water to bring the temperature down as quickly as possible Notify the supervisory RN because the temperature is higher than normal Call 911

19. Which of the following foods contains the greatest number of calories? (Adequate nutrition and fluid intake) *

3 strips of bacon 1/2 c shredded wheat cereal 3 ounces of lean meat 1 cup of skim milk

20. A client is receiving oxygen through a nasal tube. What safety precautions should the home health aide take? (Maintenance of a clean, safe and healthy environment) *

Keep the television set at least 5 feet away from the oxygen tank Do not permit the client to drink soda Allow no smoking in the client's room While caring for the client do not use any lotions that contain oil

21. Mr. Moody says, "I'm really unhappy with this agency. they send me a different person every day." You should: (Communication and the physical, emotional and developmental characteristics of the population served by the home health agency including need for respect for the patient, patient's privacy and patient's property) *

Not worry about it because you know he hasn't had a new person every day Tell Mr. Moody he should be grateful for the help he gets Notify the supervisory RN of Mr. Moody's complaint Tell the client that no more new people will be sent

22. You have just finished giving Mr. Post a bath and you need to get to your next appointment. Mr. Post knows you are in a hurry and says, "Don't bother cleaning up. I can have my wife do it later when she gets home." You should: (Communication and maintenance of a clean, safe and healthy environment) *

Thank him and hurry to your next appointment Thank him, call the agency to explain that you will be late to your next client, then clean up the bathroom Clean up the bathroom and get to your next appointment as soon as possible Tell him that the agency never leaves you enough time to get to your next appointment on time

23. You are assigned to a 12 hour shift at Roger Fencl's. He doesn't like the fact that you smoke. You should: (The physical, emotional, and developmental characteristics of the population served by the home health agency including the need for respect for the patient, patient's privacy and patient's property) *

Have a cigarette in the bathroom Refrain from smoking Go to the basement and smoke Smoke in the kitchen and throw the cigarette out in the kitchen garbage

24. Mr. James has a new red sweatshirt that needs washing. You are concerned that the red color will run (discolor other clothes) when you wash it. You should: (The physical, emotional, and developmental characteristics of the population served by the home health agency including need for respect for the patient, patient's privacy and patient's property) *

Send it to the cleaners Wash it with the other clothes Wash it separately by hand Use a strong bleach to wash it

25. When disciplining a young child, what idea is it most important for the home health aide to communicate with the child? (Communication) *

"I don't like what you have done, but I do like you" "What you have done is wrong, and you are very bad" "You have to understand that you can't do everything you want to do" "You must do what you are told or you will be punished"

26. Before trying first aide measures for a clint who is choking on food or some other object stuck in the airway, what should the home health aide find out? (Recognizing emergencies and knowledge of emergency procedures) *

Can the client speak or cough? Can the client swallow clear fluids? Has the client taken any sedatives within the last hour? Does the client have a pulse over 70?

27. A client's prescription for heart pills has recently been changed. The home health aide should notify the agency supervisory RN immediately if the client makes which of these comments? (Communication and observation, reporting and basic elements of body function and changes in body function that must be reported to an aide's supervisor) *

"The pills are very expensive" "These pills are easier to swallow than my other ones" "I have a rash on my stomach since I've been taking these pills" "I can't take these pills unless I have really cold water to drink"

28. When making an unoccupied bed, you should: (Basic infection control procedures) *

Place the soiled sheets on the floor until you are finished making the bed Shake open the clean sheet to get it to reach across the bed when making it Move from one side of the bed to the other each time you put on a new sheet or blanket Carry soiled linens away from your clothes when putting them in a hamper or clothes basket

29. Miss Bass had progressed to doing most of her own cares over the last two months. When you visit her this morning she refused to do any of her own cares, throws her pillows at you, and refuses to get out of bed. The appropriate action for you to take would be: (Communication and observation, reporting and basic elements of body function and changes in body function that must be reported to an aides supervisor) *

Tell Miss Bass she is acting like a child and she needs to stop misbehaving Put the pillow back under Miss Bass's head and ignore her unusual behavior Do all the cares for Miss Bass and let her rest in bed for today Report her behavior to the supervisory RN

30. Mr. Mark is a new client. When you first go to see him, you notice that Mr. Mark is using an extension cord to plug in his light next to the bed. The cord extends across the floor in front of the door. He has it covered up with a rug so he won't trip on it. You should: (Maintenance of a clean, safe and healthy environment) *

Tell Mr. Mark that you are glad he covered up the cord so he wouldn't fall Recognize this as a safety hazard and report it to the supervisory RN Report Mr. Mark to the fire department Take it away and tell Mr. Mark that he doesn't need that light in his room

31. Ms. Witt is a 78 year old woman with partial paralysis who was smoking a cigarette in bed when she fell asleep. You notice the smell of smoke and go to her room. There is smoke coming from her top bed covers. What should you do first? (Maintenance of a clean, safe and healthy environment) *

Report the fire by calling 911 Tell her to get out of bed Quickly fold the smoking covers away from her Throw a bucket of water on the smoke

32. If a client stops breathing, what should be done first? (Recognizing emergencies and knowledge of emergency procedures) *

Place the client's legs higher than the client's chest Remove any materials from the client's mouth or nose Try to stimulate the client's pain sensation by pinching the client's arm Apply even, firm pressure to the client's neck veins

33. Mary is a 19 year old who is a quadriplegic after a car accident. As a home health aide, you are assigned to help with her cares. Which of the following is the best way to respond to her? (Communication) *

"Don't worry about a thing. I'm here to do everything for you" "You're lucky that you weren't killed" "I'll try to do things the way you want them done" "I know somebody else that has this, only he was better off than you"

34. The home health aide should be sure to take which of these actions when caring for a newborn baby? (The physical, emotional, and developmental characteristics of the population served by the home health agency including need for respect for the patient, patient's privacy and patient's property) *

Support baby's head and neck when picking baby up Clean the inside of the baby's ears with cotton swabs Use petroleum jelly to keep the area around the baby's navel moist Hold the baby only at feeding and bathing times

35. Which of these statements about the elderly is true? (The physical, emotional, and developmental characteristics of the population served by the home health agency including need for respect for the patient, patient's privacy and patient's property) *

They cannot change They can learn new things They want to become dependent on others They do not enjoy meeting new people

36. When emptying a urinal the home health aide spills the urine on the tiled bathroom floor. To clean up the spill, the home health aide should: (Basic infection control procedures) *

Use hot soapy water to clean up the spill Pour a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water on the spill, wait 15 minutes, then clean up the spill Sprinkle comet on the spill, wait 15 minutes, then clean up the spill Notify the supervisory RN that urine spilled

37. Mrs. Schommer is an 89 year old woman. It is her usual time for lunch, but she says she is not yet hungry. This is the first time that Mr. Schommer has made this type of statement. What should the home health aide do? (Adequate nutrition and fluid intake and communication and the physical, emotional, and developmental characteristics of the population served by the home health agency including need for respect for the patient, patient's privacy and patient's property) *

Insist that Mrs. Schommer eat at this time Tell Mrs. Schommer to let the aide know when she wants to eat, and remind her that it is important that she have lunch Tell Mrs. Schommer that if she does not eat by herself, she will have to be force fed Tell Mrs. Schommer that it took a lot to time to prepare the food and that she should eat it while it is fresh

38. Many clients with a heart disease are placed on a low sodium diet. The most common source of sodium is: (Adequate nutrition and fluid intake) *

Fried foods Fruits Table Salt Cereal

39. Mrs. Hames asks the home health aide to apply talcum powder. Before applying the powder, the home health aide should make sure Mrs. Hame's skin is: (Appropriate and safe techniques in personal hygiene) *

Warm and pink Dry Cold Wet

40. Which of the following should you consider in properly storing food after cooking? (Maintenance of a clean, safe and healthy environment) *

Immediately put all foods (hot and cold) in the refrigerator Leave cooked foods out overnight to cool Put open containers of hot foods outside in the winter to cool faster Place open containers of food on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator

41. If a client is to have a fluid intake record kept, the right time to record the client's fluids is: (Adequate nutrition and fluid intake) *

When the fluids are served to the client Right after the client drinks the fluids Every 2 hours After each meal

42. Becky, the home health aide, has just completed cleaning up for a client who had an incontinent stool. The correct action Becky should take when removing the gloves that are contaminated with stool is: (Basic infection control and procedures) *

Wash her gloved hands with soap and water before removing the gloves Remove her gloves in a way that prevents any direct contact of the stool with her hands and fold gloves inside out to prevent contaminating anything else Remove both gloves and flush them down the toilet, remembering to wash hands if any stool gets on her hands Remove gloves, wash gloves with soap and water, and then hang them to dry to be reused when needed

43. Mr. McBride tells the home health aide he has not had a bowel movement for 3 days. Mr. McBride asks the home health aide to give him an enema. The home health aide has never given an enema. What should the home health aide do? (Appropriate and safe techniques in personal hygiene and communication and observation, reporting, and basic elements of body function and changes in body body function that must be reported to an aide's supervisor) *

Give Mr. McBride an enema Tell Mr. McBride not to be so impatient and to wait another day Contact the agency supervisor to discuss the situation Give Mr. McBride a laxative

44. Mrs. Smith wants to take a shower. You notice that when she tried to get up, she is very unsteady on her feet. You should: (Appropriate and safe techniques in personal hygiene and communication and observation, reporting, and basic elements of body function and changes in body body function that must be reported to an aide's supervisor) *

Let her take a shower and hope she does not fall Suggest she take a bed bath today and notify the agency supervisor of the client's unsteadiness Insist that she is too weak to shower and from no on will need to have her baths in bed Pretend you do not notice her unsteady walk

45. When you arrive to take care of your client you notice that he is holding his chest and he is pale and sweaty. When you question him he tells you it feels like a ton of bricks are setting on his chest. He tells you not to worry because he is just having indigestion. You should: (Recognizing emergencies and knowledge of emergency procedure) *

Call 911 immediately Massage his chest Put a warm towel on his chest Give him an antacid to get rid of the indigestion

46. You are caring for a brain injured client who is unconscious. It is important for you to: (Communication and basic elements of body function and changes in body function that must be reported to an aide's supervisor) *

Keep all the lights on in the room at all times Try to give the client something to drink Talk to the client about the care to be given Assume the client can not hear you so freely discuss anything in front of him

47. It has been hot (above 95 degrees) for several days in a row. Your client does not have air conditioning in his apartment. You should: (Adequate nutrition and fluid intake) *

Insist that he buy air conditioning Make sure the client drinks extra fluids during the day Insist the client eat only cold food Put ice on the client's head

48. Mr. Fellenzer has a catherter with a drainage bag. The drainage bag should always be kept: (Appropriate and safe techniques in personal hygiene) *

At the same level as his bladder Above the level of his heart Below the level of his bladder Three feet above the level of his bladder

49. You are giving a three year old a bath when the phone rings. You are expecting his mother to call to check on how things are going. You should: (Appropriate and safe techniques in personal hygiene and maintenance of a clean, safe and healthy environment) *

Leave the child and answer the phone, trying to maintain eye contact with the child Let the phone ring and stay with the child Ask the child's five year old sister to watch the child while you answer the phone Inform the child's mother that she may never call during the day

50. Mrs. Lorang is on a low-salt diet. Which of the following foods is she allowed to eat? (Adequate nutrition and fluid intake) *

Hard cheese Green olives Raisins Canned soup

Copyright Acorn's End, Inc. Reproduction of this form is strictly prohibited without written permission. Written permission for reproduction is granted for use only within the agency purchasing this Competency Tool. www.AcornsEnd.com