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Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Exam: Self-Care, Independence, and Restorative Care Concepts

Importance ★★★☆☆ · 11% (estimate)

Overview

This chapter covers helping residents keep or regain their abilities. Questions often ask how to promote independence and how to use assistive devices correctly.

Restorative care means letting residents do as much as they safely can. Give extra time, keep needed items within reach, and praise effort. Doing tasks for a resident who could do them takes away independence, even if it is faster.

Range-of-motion exercises keep joints moving. Move each joint slowly and gently, support the limb above and below the joint, and stop and tell the nurse if the resident has pain. A cane is held on the strong side, opposite the weak leg. With a standard walker, the resident moves the walker forward a short distance and then steps toward it.

Bladder training uses a regular toileting schedule from the care plan, and accidents are handled kindly. Built-up utensils help residents with a weak grip feed themselves. When a leg prosthesis is removed, check the skin of the residual limb for redness or sores and report changes.

Key concepts

  • Restorative care

    Care that helps residents keep or regain their abilities and independence in daily activities.

    Memory tipHelp only with what the resident cannot do.

  • Range of motion (ROM)

    Moving joints through their normal movements; passive ROM is done by the aide for the resident, active ROM by the resident.

    Memory tipSlow, gentle, stop for pain.

  • Cane

    A walking aid held on the resident's strong side, opposite the weak leg, moving forward with the weak leg.

    Memory tipCane opposite the weak leg.

  • Walker

    A frame that supports the resident while walking; a standard walker is moved forward a short distance before each step.

    Memory tipWalker first, then step.

  • Bladder training

    A program to help a resident regain bladder control by toileting on a regular schedule.

    Memory tipRegular schedule, never scold.

  • Adaptive devices

    Tools such as built-up utensils, plate guards, and reachers that help residents do tasks on their own.

    Memory tipThick handle for a weak grip.

Often tested

  • Let residents do all they safely can.
  • Stop range-of-motion exercise if the resident has pain.
  • A resident with a weak left leg holds the cane in the right hand.
  • Check the residual limb skin when a prosthesis is removed.

3 sample questions

Verified practice questions from this unit.

Practice questionReviewedPhysical Care Skills › Self-Care, Independence, and Restorative Care★★★★☆

Question 1. Which action best promotes a resident's independence?

  1. ① Deciding for the resident which tasks she will do
  2. ② Doing all care for the resident to save time
  3. ③ Rushing the resident so she finishes quickly
  4. ④ Letting the resident do as much for herself as she safely can
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation

Answer: ④ Letting the resident do as much for herself as she safely can

Key point: Let residents do all they safely can

Restorative care helps residents keep or regain abilities. Encourage the resident to do what she can, give extra time, and help only with what she cannot do.

Wrong choices

  • Deciding for the resident which tasks she will do: She has the right to take part in decisions about her care.
  • Doing all care for the resident to save time: Doing everything for her makes her weaker and more dependent.
  • Rushing the resident so she finishes quickly: Rushing makes tasks harder and can cause falls.
Practice questionReviewedPhysical Care Skills › Self-Care, Independence, and Restorative Care★★★★☆

Question 2. A resident says it hurts while you are doing range-of-motion exercises. What should you do?

  1. ① Push the joint a little further to stretch it
  2. ② Stop the exercise and tell the nurse
  3. ③ Ignore it, since exercise always hurts
  4. ④ Finish the exercise faster
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation

Answer: ② Stop the exercise and tell the nurse

Key point: Range-of-motion pain: stop and report

Move each joint only as far as it goes comfortably. If the resident reports pain, stop and report it to the nurse. Never force a joint.

Wrong choices

  • Push the joint a little further to stretch it: Forcing a joint past the point of pain can cause injury.
  • Ignore it, since exercise always hurts: Pain is a warning sign and must be reported.
  • Finish the exercise faster: Moving faster does not reduce injury and can make it worse.
Practice questionReviewedPhysical Care Skills › Self-Care, Independence, and Restorative Care★★★☆☆

Question 3. How should passive range-of-motion exercises be done?

  1. ① Past the point of resistance to stretch the muscle
  2. ② Only on the strong side of the body
  3. ③ Slowly and gently, supporting the limb above and below the joint
  4. ④ Quickly, so the joint loosens up
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation

Answer: ③ Slowly and gently, supporting the limb above and below the joint

Key point: Passive ROM: slow, gentle, support above and below

In passive range of motion, the aide moves the resident's joints. Move slowly and gently, support the limb above and below the joint, repeat each movement as the care plan says, and stop if there is pain.

Wrong choices

  • Past the point of resistance to stretch the muscle: Forcing past resistance can cause injury.
  • Only on the strong side of the body: Range of motion is especially important for weak or unused joints.
  • Quickly, so the joint loosens up: Fast movements can injure muscles and joints.
Practice 5 questions from this unit →

AI-written · Verified · Written by AI. Only units that passed a separate AI check (re-reading facts and numbers) are published. Tell us if you find a mistake.