Arizona Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Practice Test

When a nurse aide needs to take vital signs and a minister is praying with a resident, the nurse aide should:

1. Interrupt the prayer to take vital signs

2. Wait to take the vital signs after the minister has left

3. Ask the minister to leave

4. Take the vital signs quietly while they pray

The correct answer is: Wait to take the vital signs after the minister has left

In a healthcare setting, maintaining the dignity and emotional well-being of residents is crucial, particularly during deeply personal moments such as prayer. When a nurse aide encounters a resident engaged in prayer with a minister, the most respectful approach is to wait until this private moment has concluded. This allows the resident to maintain their spiritual practice without interruption, which can be significant to their emotional health. Taking vital signs is important, but it can be deferred in this scenario without compromising patient care. By choosing to wait, the aide shows respect for the resident’s needs and beliefs, ensuring that care is provided in a manner that honors their personal space and emotional state. This approach reflects good practice and enhances the therapeutic relationship between the nurse aide, the resident, and any visiting clergy.