Texas Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Practice Exam

A certified nursing assistant (CNA) can play a crucial role in medication management, particularly through observing patients' responses to medications and reporting any effects. This responsibility is essential as it helps healthcare teams monitor the effectiveness of prescribed treatments and identify any adverse reactions. CNAs are trained to notice changes in patients’ conditions, such as improvements or side effects, and to communicate these observations to nurses or other healthcare providers, facilitating timely interventions if something abnormal is detected.

This function contributes to safe and effective patient care, as vigilant observation helps ensure that medications are having the intended effects and that any necessary adjustments can be made quickly. Practically, it means that CNAs act as the eyes and ears for the nursing team regarding the patients' well-being.

Other options involve duties that typically fall outside the CNA's scope of practice. Administering complex medications independently is not permitted as this requires a licensed professional. Advising patients on their prescriptions also goes beyond what CNAs are trained to do, as it requires a deeper understanding of pharmacology and patient education. Lastly, determining dosage levels is a responsibility that falls under the purview of licensed nurses and physicians, rather than CNAs.