Home Health Aide Competency Test
Name
First Name
Last Name
1. The patient tells you he/she has not moved his/her bowels in three days. What should you do?
Tell him/her not to worry about it.
Tell him/her to take laxatives.
Report it to the nursing supervisor.
Pretend you didn't hear him/her.
2. Diarrhea can cause dehydration and other serious complications and should be reported.
True
False
3. If a person complains of pain, it is important to have the patient describe the pain and then report it to the nurse and record it in your notes.
True
False
Back
Next
4. It's normal for most people to complain of pressure, swelling , or bloating in their ankles, feet, stomach and legs.
True
False
5. As a home health aide, it is your responsibility to:
Plan the clients care.
Do only the tasks the registered nurse or therapist assigns you.
Try to do your best, but you not ask for any help.
Compare assignments with your co-workers.
6. Which of these actions is the home health aide permitted to take relation to drug administration ?
Recording and reporting the patient's reaction to the medication.
Handing out nonprescription medications to the patient who asks for them.
Adjusting the dosage of medications given to the patient.
Adjusting the times medications are given to fit into the patient's activities schedule.
7. Which of these statements about the elderly is true ?
They cannot change.
They can learn new things.
They want to remain independent.
They do not enjoy meeting new people.
8. When working with a person who is disabled, the general goal of care is to:
Provide consistent supervision.
Provide total care.
Promote maximum self-care and independence within the limits of the person's ability.
9. It is Mrs. Smith's usual time for lunch, but she says she is not hungry yet. This is the first time that Mrs. Smith has made this type of statement. What should the home health aide do ?
Insist that Mrs. Smith eat at this time.
Tell Mrs. Smith to let the aide know when she wants to eat, and remind her that it is important that she have lunch.
Tell Mrs. Smith that if she does not eat by herself, she will have to be fed.
Tell Mrs. Smith that it took a lot of time to prepare the food and that she should eat it while it is fresh.
10. It is important to keep the patient covered during a bedbath except for the part being washed.
True
False
11. Massaging of bony areas helps prevent skin breakdown by increasing the blood supply to the area.
True
False
12. When giving peri-care to a patient after BM, wash using a front to back motion in order not to spread fecal material to other areas.
True
False
13. A patient lying on his back has slid down in bed and needs help in moving up again. To start this, the patient should, if possible:
Raise himself on his elbows.
Separate his legs widely.
Arch his back.
Flex his knees and push with his heels.
14. When assisting a patient to walk with his walker, you should:
Clear a pathway and remove all safety hazards.
Stay close to the patient's side.
Stand on the other side of the room.
A and B
15. Before helping a patient into or out of a wheelchair, which of these actions are necessary ?
Have the brakes unlocked and leave the foot pieces down.
Lock the brakes and fold the foot pieces up.
Have the brakes unlocked and the foot pieces up.
Lock the brakes and leave the foot pieces down.
16. Which of these statements describes good body mechanics ?
Carry heavy objects as far away from the body as possible.
Bend the knees when lifting an object off the floor.
Bend over at the waist when lifting an object from the floor.
Lift rather than push a heavy object.
17. The home health aide is taking care of a terminally ill patient who is unconscious. Which of these measures should the aide take ?
Keep the patient's room dimly lit.
Talk to the patient about the care to be given.
Give the patient only clear liquids to drink.
Support the patient in a sitting position.
18. If the patient is to have a fluid intake record kept, the right time to record the patient's fluid is:
When the fluids are served to the patient.
When the patient has drank the fluids.
Every two hours.
After each meal.
19. Patients on low salt diets are usually allowed to have which of these foods ?
Hard cheeses.
Canned soups.
Raisins.
Olives.
20. Patients sometimes express religious beliefs which the home health aide does not agree with ? In dealing with these situations, which of these understandings should the aide use as a guide.
Patients have the right to their own beliefs, which should be respected.
Patients should be told not to discuss their beliefs with aides.
Aides should explain their beliefs to the patient.
Aides should pretend to have the same beliefs as the patient.
21. An aide may reinforce a dressing.
True
False
22. If the patient has a new area of skin breakdown, and the nurse is coming in two days, you do not need to report the skin breakdown to your supervisor.
True
False
23. A rapid pulse and shortness of breath in a patient usually indicates the patient is excited and does not need to be reported to the nurse.
True
False
24. A patient accuses a home health aide of stealing five dollars. The aide has not taken the patient's money, but the patient does not believe this. What should the aide do ?
Ask the other aides who care for the patient if they took the five dollars.
Ask the patient why the aide is being accused.
Offer to give the patient five dollars.
Notify the agency supervisor.
25. When you work in the home, you will be:
Responsible for making decisions without any help.
Working under the supervision of a professional supervisor.
Away from the office and have no way to contact your supervisor.
Responsible for calling the physician with information.
Submit
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