CNA Certification (Written Exam)Resident Rights and Legal/EthicalMedium
A nurse aide is assigned to care for a resident who frequently makes disparaging remarks about the nurse aide's cultural background. The nurse aide should:
- ARetaliate with similar disparaging remarks about the resident.
- BPolitely but firmly inform the resident that such remarks are inappropriate and report the incident to the nurse.
- CRefuse to provide care for the resident and request a different assignment.
- DIgnore the remarks and continue providing care as usual.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Politely but firmly inform the resident that such remarks are inappropriate and report the incident to the nurse.
While residents have rights, they do not have the right to harass staff. The nurse aide should address the behavior professionally by stating it's inappropriate, and then report it to the nurse for further action and support, ensuring both resident rights and staff dignity are maintained.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Retaliation is unprofessional and could be considered abuse, violating professional conduct standards.
- C. Refusing care could be considered abandonment unless the environment is unsafe, which should be determined by the nurse/supervisor.
- D. Ignoring persistent offensive remarks can lead to burnout and is not a sustainable solution; it also doesn't address the inappropriate behavior.
Professional Conduct & Resident Behavior
Nurse aides are expected to maintain professional conduct, even when faced with challenging resident behaviors. This includes setting appropriate boundaries and reporting problematic behavior to the charge nurse.
- Staff have a right to a safe work environment.
- Report inappropriate resident behavior to the nurse.
- Professionalism means not retaliating or ignoring harassment.
Memory trick: Report remarks, don't retort or regret.