Safety & Infection ControlQuestion 52 of 200
A resident in the dining room suddenly collapses and is unresponsive with no breathing. The CNA should:
a.Wait for the family to arrive before starting any resuscitation effort
b.Move the resident to a bed first so compressions are done on a firm surface
c.Begin chest compressions only after the nurse arrives at the bedside, confirms that there is no pulse, and checks the chart for a valid POLST or DNR order, and then calls the code
d.Call for help/activate the code (per facility procedure), check responsiveness and breathing, and begin CPR if no DNR and trained, while another staff brings the AED
Explanation
AHA Basic Life Support: recognize cardiac arrest, activate emergency response immediately ('Call a code blue / dial 9-1-1'), begin high-quality compressions, and apply AED when available. CNAs trained in BLS within scope start CPR unless a valid DNR/POLST directs otherwise. Delay (c), moving (b), or waiting for family (a) reduce survival; every minute without CPR cuts survival by ~10%. Always verify code status first.
Law Reference: American Heart Association BLS; CNA scopeThis topic, taught in full in the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) guide. CNA — Complete Study Guide (2026) — PDF + EPUB, $19.99 · 14-day refund →
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