LEGACY HOSPICE

HOME CARE AIDE COMPETENCY EXAM

Employee Name:Date:

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  1. Patient/caregiver sometimes expresses religious beliefs with which the home health aide does not agree. In dealing with these situations, which of these understandings should the aide use as a guide?
  1. Patient/caregivers have a right to their own beliefs, which should be respected.
  2. Patient/caregivers should be told not to discuss their beliefs with the aide.
  3. Aides should explain their beliefs to the patient/caregivers.
  4. Aides should pretend to have the same beliefs that the patient has.
  1. The home health aide leaves the home of Mr. Davis, a terminally ill patient. A neighbor stops her and says,” Mr. Davis is very sick, isn’t he? I hear he is near death.” What is the best response for the aide to give?
  1. “Yes, Mr. Davis is very ill.”
  2. “How do you know Mr. Davis is so sick?”
  3. “I’m sorry, I can’t discuss Mr. Davis.”
  4. “Mr, Davis is doing well as to be expected.”
  1. A home health aide is assigned to care for a Mr. Conway. The home health aide notices that she feels very angry when she is with Mr. Conway. What should the aide do because she feels this way?
  1. Tell Mr. Conway how she feels.
  2. Find out if other aides have felt this way.
  3. Try to pretend that Mr. Conway is someone she likes.
  4. Talk with her PCC about the situation.
  1. A patient/caregiver accuses a home health aide of stealing five dollars. The aide has not taken the money, but the patient/caregiver does not believe this. What should the aide do?
  1. Ask the other aides who care for this patient if they took the money
  2. Ask the patient/caregiver why she is being accused
  3. Offer to give the patient/caregiver five dollars
  4. Notify the PCC
  1. One morning shortly after the home health aide arrives to a patient’s home; the patient says “I have had cramping pains in the calf of my right leg for the last 2 hours.” In addition to reporting this complaint to the nurse, what is the best way for the aide to chart this information in the chart?
  1. “Complains of pain”
  2. “Right leg hurts”
  3. “States he has had cramping pains in the calf of his right leg for 2 hours”
  4. “Says he has leg cramps”
  1. A patient is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula. What safety precautions should the home health aide take?
  1. Keep the TV at least 5 feet from the oxygen tank.
  2. Do not permit the patient to drink soda.
  3. Allow no smoking in the patient’s room.
  4. Do not use lotions that contain oil in the patient’s care.
  1. What is the main reason for covering your mouth and nose when sneezing?
  1. To prevent the escape of bad odors?
  2. To prevent the spread of germs?
  3. To avoid injury to the lining of the nose and mouth.
  4. To avoid getting clothing dirty.
  1. Signs of infection should be reported to the PCC. Which of the following would not be considered a sign of infection?
  1. Elevated temp
  2. Increased appetite
  3. Redness or swelling of an area
  4. Pain
  1. Which of these statements describe good body mechanics?
  1. Carry heavy objects as far away from the body as possible.
  2. Bend the knees when lifting an object off the floor or when kneeling to pick up objects off the floor.
  3. Bend over at the waist when lifting an object off the floor.
  4. Lift rather than push a heavy object.
  1. Which of these substances could be used to put out a fire in a pan of bacon fat?
  1. Sugar
  2. Vinegar
  3. Baking soda
  4. Water
  1. Good sources of protein are:
  1. Green salad and cooked greens
  2. Potatoes and noodles
  3. Apples and oranges.
  4. Beans, peanut butter and eggs
  1. Milk is a good source of calcium. Which of these foods is also high in calcium?
  1. Cheese
  2. Bananas
  3. Orange juice
  4. Raisins
  1. What is the advantage of fiber in the diet?
  1. Helps build strong bones and teeth.
  2. Is used to make red blood cells.
  3. Helps prevent constipation.
  4. Helps regulate the body’s fluid balance.
  1. When taking a patient’s temp by mouth(orally), which of the following temp readings should be reported to the nurse?
  1. 97.6
  2. 98.6
  3. 100.2
  4. 99.5
  1. Why is the thumb not used when taking a patient’s pulse?
  1. The flat part of the thumb is less sensitive that the flat part of other fingertips.
  2. The thumb can place to much pressure on the patient’s pulse
  3. The thumb’s pulse may be felt instead of the patient’s pulse
  4. The thumb’s tip is in a more awkward position that the other fingertips.
  1. Why is it important for a patient to have good mouth care?
  1. Bacteria in the mouth can cause tooth decay and gum infections.
  2. The saliva in the mouth is the source of stomach juices.
  3. Poor oral hygiene causes more saliva to be made.
  4. Poor oral hygiene interferes with the sense of smell.
  1. The home health aide is helping a patient with her bed bath. The patent prefers to wash her genital and rectal area herself. Which of the measures should the aide take?
  1. Have patient use cold water only when washing her genitals.
  2. Have patient use no soap when washing her genitals.
  3. Remind patient to wash from vaginal area toward rectal area.
  4. Remind patient not to wash between the labia of her genitals.
  1. When caring for a bed bound patient, what should the aide do to prevent bed sores?
  1. Keep the top sheet well tucked in.
  2. Keep the bottom sheet free of wrinkles.
  3. Use only 100% cotton sheets on the patient’s bed.
  4. Use only woolen blankets to cover the bed.
  1. In communicating with a patient who is hard of hearing, the aide should;
  1. Stand directly in front of the patient so she/he can hear you speak.
  2. Speak in higher pitched tones.
  3. Shout in the patient’s ear.
  4. Whisper.
  1. Any changes in a patient’s skin should be
  1. Reported to the nurse
  2. Treated by rubbing with lotion
  3. Covered with a bandage
  4. Reported to the doctor