BC health care assistant practice test: the Readiness Check

Question 1 · Concepts for Practice

An Indigenous client in assisted living wants to burn sage. The building’s fire‑safety policy allows open flames only in designated areas. The client feels the practice is important for wellbeing. What is the best initial response?

1. A

   Contact the cultural liaison before speaking with the client about the request.

   Not this one. Wrong option – Contacting the liaison first delays addressing the client’s immediate request.

2. B

   Explain fire rules and arrange a safe alternative with the client and supervisor.

   Correct. Balances cultural respect with safety policy.

3. C

   Allow the client to burn sage in their room as they wish.

   Not this one. Wrong option – Allowing open flame in a non‑designated area breaks fire safety rules.

4. D

   Tell the client they must stop the practice because it is not permitted.

   Not this one. Wrong option – Telling the client to stop disregards cultural safety principles.

Cultural safety means respecting traditions while following safety policies. The HCA should explain the fire‑safety rule and work with the client and supervisor to find a safe way to honour the practice.

Question 2 · Lifestyle and Choices

Resident George, 78, wants to walk farther each day. His care plan sets a goal to walk 20 metres. A walker is used. He says he feels able to walk 30 metres without help. What should you do?

1. A

   Discuss George’s desire with the nurse and keep the goal as written in the care plan.

   Correct. Keeps the documented goal and reports the resident’s wish to the nurse.

2. B

   Allow George to walk 30 metres unassisted and note it in the chart.

   Not this one. Lets the resident exceed the prescribed goal without a delegation.

3. C

   Change the walking goal yourself to 30 metres and inform the family in the care plan.

   Not this one. Changes the goal without authority and informs the family instead of the nurse.

4. D

   Encourage George to try 30 metres, record it, and do not tell the nurse.

   Not this one. Encourages an out‑of‑scope goal and fails to inform the nurse.

Only a regulated professional may modify a resident’s goal. The HCA must keep the existing goal and bring the resident’s wish to the nurse for a formal change.

Question 3 · Personal Care and Assistance

You are caring for a pediatric patient in an acute care hospital. The patient missed their scheduled prescription antibiotic eye drops two hours ago because they were asleep. What should you do?

1. A

   Ask the patient to self-administer the eye drops now since they are old enough to follow simple instructions.

   Not this one. Incorrect because delegating medication tasks to a pediatric patient bypasses professional administration protocols.

2. B

   Wait until the next scheduled dose time tonight and then administer both doses together safely.

   Not this one. Incorrect because adjusting or delaying medication schedules is outside the HCA role and requires clinical judgment.

3. C

   Notify the registered nurse immediately that the dose was missed so they can manage the medication schedule.

   Correct. Reporting the missed medication to the nurse respects the HCA scope of practice and ensures proper clinical follow-up.

4. D

   Instill the prescription eye drops right away to make up for the missed dose and record it in the chart.

   Not this one. Incorrect because instilling prescription eye drops is a restricted activity that an HCA cannot perform without delegation.

Administering prescription eye drops is a restricted activity that requires client-specific delegation and is outside the HCA role. The correct action is to report the missed dose to the supervising registered nurse immediately.

Question 4 · Personal Care and Assistance

You are assisting a fatigued adult patient with lunch in an acute care unit. The patient stops chewing, nods off between bites, and coughs lightly after swallowing. What should you do first?

1. A

   Pause feeding, sit with the patient, and report your observations to the nurse.

   Correct. This is correct because pausing prevents aspiration and reporting informs the nurse of potential swallowing issues.

2. B

   Gently tap the tray to help the patient finish the remaining food quickly.

   Not this one. Rushing a tired patient increases the risk of choking and aspiration.

3. C

   Encourage the patient to drink water to wash down the food before continuing.

   Not this one. Giving fluids without assessing swallowing safety can worsen aspiration risk.

4. D

   Crush the remaining solid food items to make swallowing easier.

   Not this one. Altering food texture without an order or delegation is outside the HCA role.

Coughing and nodding off during meals are key signs of fatigue and potential aspiration risk. Pausing and reporting to the nurse ensures patient safety.

Question 5 · Introduction to Practice

In a complex care facility, a resident refuses to get out of bed for breakfast, stating they are too tired. A family member visiting insists that you force the resident to get up because routine is important. What is your best response?

1. A

   Explain that residents have the right to refuse and report the refusal to the nurse.

   Correct. This option is correct because respecting client refusal and reporting it to the nurse upholds resident rights and HCA reporting responsibilities.

2. B

   Follow the family member's instructions because family preferences guide facility routines.

   Not this one. This option is incorrect because family members do not override a resident's right to refuse or professional care direction.

3. C

   Get another staff member to help you lift and transfer the resident into the wheelchair.

   Not this one. This option is incorrect because forcing a transfer after a refusal violates resident autonomy and safety.

4. D

   Modify the care plan yourself to allow sleeping in on alternate days.

   Not this one. This option is incorrect because modifying care plans is outside the HCA role and requires professional nursing assessment.

Residents have the right to refuse care. HCAs respect this choice and report the refusal to the supervising nurse rather than following external family pressure or altering care plans.

Question 6 · Common Health Challenges

You find an expected-palliative client unresponsive and showing signs of death in their assisted living suite. What should you do first?

1. A

   Notify the supervising nurse or professional to confirm the passing.

   Correct. This option is correct because the nurse must be notified first to confirm the death and guide procedures.

2. B

   Begin chest compressions immediately according to emergency rules.

   Not this one. This option is incorrect because CPR is not initiated for an expected palliative death with a care plan.

3. C

   Call family members directly to inform them of the death.

   Not this one. This option is incorrect because staff do not notify family directly before professional verification.

4. D

   Begin bathing and dressing the body for the funeral home.

   Not this one. This option is incorrect because post-mortem care tasks follow professional direction and facility policy.

When an expected death occurs, the HCA reports the observation to the supervising professional so they can verify and direct next steps.

Question 7 · Common Health Challenges

You are working in a group home when an older client suddenly clutches their chest, reports severe pressure, and becomes pale and sweaty. There is no nurse on site. What should you do first?

1. A

   Call 911 immediately and stay with the client

   Correct. This is correct because chest pain in a setting without an on-site nurse requires an immediate 911 call.

2. B

   Call the off-site program supervisor and wait for instructions

   Not this one. This is an unsafe delay because calling a supervisor before 911 wastes critical time in a medical emergency.

3. C

   Help the client lie down and monitor symptoms for ten minutes

   Not this one. This is an unsafe action because waiting during suspected cardiac events delays lifesaving treatment.

4. D

   Retrieve the client's emergency nitroglycerin spray and administer a dose

   Not this one. This is an out-of-scope medication administration error since HCAs do not choose or administer prescription medications.

In settings without a nurse on site, chest pain and cardiac symptoms are emergencies requiring an immediate call to 911, followed by staying with the client.

Question 8 · Interpersonal Communications

An older client sits alone in the common room and says, 'I feel like a burden to everyone here since my mobility got worse.' Which response best demonstrates empathic listening?

1. A

   You are never a burden to us, and your mobility will get better soon.

   Not this one. This offers false reassurance and brushes the client's painful feelings aside.

2. B

   You are feeling overwhelmed by how much your mobility has changed lately.

   Correct. This is correct because it acknowledges the client's emotional reality and invites further sharing.

3. C

   Have you tried talking to the recreation coordinator about joining seated exercises?

   Not this one. This gives premature advice before the client's emotional distress is fully heard.

4. D

   Why do you feel this way when the staff work so hard to help you?

   Not this one. This uses a probing 'why' question that can make the client defensive.

Reflecting the client's emotional state validates their feelings without dismissing them or offering false hope. Empathic listening acknowledges the underlying emotion rather than rushing to fix the problem.

Question 9 · Interpersonal Communications

A client in an assisted living suite sits quietly with slumped shoulders and tightly clenched hands, staring at the floor. When you enter, the client says softly, 'I do not know why I bother waking up anymore.' Which non-verbal listening approach is most appropriate?

1. A

   Suggest that the client join the afternoon social club to cheer up right away

   Not this one. This is a premature advice error that offers a solution before acknowledging the client's feelings.

2. B

   Sit quietly beside the client at eye level, offering an open and attentive posture

   Correct. This is correct because sitting at eye level with an open posture provides supportive non-verbal presence.

3. C

   Pat the client firmly on the shoulder and say cheerfully that tomorrow is a brand new day

   Not this one. This is a well-meant reassurance error that dismisses the client's emotional pain with forced optimism.

4. D

   Stand by the doorway with a clipboard and ask directly if they took their morning medication

   Not this one. This is a task-oriented error that ignores emotional cues by focusing immediately on routines.

Sitting quietly at eye level with an open posture demonstrates true presence and non-verbal active listening. This invites the client to share without pressure or dismissal.

Question 10 · Cognitive and Mental Health Challenges

You care for an older patient in the acute care unit. The patient whispers that a family member took their bank card without permission during a recent visit. You notice unexplained bruising on the patient's upper arm. What is your best action to take right now?

1. A

   Confront the family member privately to demand the return of the bank card.

   Not this one. Asking the family member about the card independently is an investigative action outside the HCA role.

2. B

   Contact the local police department directly to report suspected financial theft.

   Not this one. Reporting directly to outside authorities bypasses internal supervisory reporting structures required by the employer.

3. C

   Ask the family member about the missing bank card during their next visit.

   Not this one. Confronting family members directly places the HCA outside their role and risks escalating tension.

4. D

   Document your observations in detail and report them immediately to the nurse.

   Correct. Documenting observations and reporting them immediately to the nurse follows correct facility policy and HCA scope.

As an HCA, you report observed changes and disclosures directly to the supervising regulated professional. Investigating or confronting family members falls outside your role, and facility reporting routes must be followed.