CNA Certification (Written Exam)Resident Rights and Legal/EthicalHard
A resident tells the nurse aide that another staff member touched her inappropriately during a bath. What is the nurse aide's FIRST responsibility?
- AConfront the staff member directly to verify the story
- BReport the allegation immediately to the supervisor or appropriate authority
- CAsk the resident for more details before doing anything else
- DDocument the complaint in the resident's chart and wait to see if it happens again
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Report the allegation immediately to the supervisor or appropriate authority
Any allegation of sexual abuse must be reported immediately to a supervisor or appropriate authority; nurse aides are mandated reporters and must not delay, investigate on their own, or confront the accused. Prompt reporting protects the resident and allows for proper investigation.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Confronting the accused staff member is inappropriate and could compromise investigation.
- C. Aides should not conduct their own investigation before reporting.
- D. Waiting to see if it happens again delays necessary protection and violates mandatory reporting duty.
Reporting Sexual Abuse Allegations
Nurse aides must immediately report any allegation or suspicion of sexual abuse to a supervisor or authority; they must not investigate or confront the accused themselves.
- Mandatory reporters must act immediately
- No independent investigation by aide
- Delay or confrontation is inappropriate
Memory trick: Hear it, report it—now, not later.