Manitoba health care aide practice test: the Readiness Check

Question 1 · Activities of Daily Living

You are assisting 45‑year‑old patient Mr. Patel with his lunch. While he is swallowing his sandwich, he coughs twice, pauses, and says, “I feel something stuck.” What should you do first?

1. A

   Finish the meal, then tell the nurse about the coughing episode later.

   Not this one. Correct action delayed – reporting later is not the priority when a possible choking risk is present.

2. B

   Switch to thickened liquids and keep feeding while monitoring his breathing.

   Not this one. Out‑of‑scope – changing texture requires a nurse’s order.

3. C

   Stop feeding, sit him upright, and report the concern to the nurse immediately.

   Correct. Stops risk and reports promptly.

4. D

   Offer him a sip of water to help clear the sensation and continue the meal.

   Not this one. Unsafe – giving water may push material further; HCA cannot assess swallowing.

Coughing and a feeling of something stuck are signs of possible dysphagia. The HCA must stop the oral intake, ensure safe positioning, and report to the nurse right away. Continuing to feed, offering water, or changing texture are actions beyond the HCA’s scope and could worsen the situation.

Question 2 · Communication and Interpersonal Relationships

Mrs. Nguyen, 78, sits at the bedside of her hospital room. She tells you she feels “useless” because she cannot walk to the bathroom alone. The nurse is busy charting and will return in ten minutes. What should you do first?

1. A

   Tell Mrs. Nguyen that many people feel the same and encourage her to smile.

   Not this one. Giving reassurance dismisses her feeling and does not explore her concerns.

2. B

   Ask Mrs. Nguyen to tell you more about how she feels right now.

   Correct. An open question encourages the client to express herself, fulfilling active listening.

3. C

   Offer to hold her hand while you wait for the nurse to finish charting.

   Not this one. Holding her hand is caring but does not address the need to hear her thoughts first.

4. D

   Leave the room and get a nurse to speak with her about her concerns.

   Not this one. Leaving without first listening bypasses the client’s immediate need to be heard.

Active listening requires an open question that lets the client share feelings. Asking her to elaborate invites expression and shows respect. Giving reassurance, offering comfort without listening, or leaving without listening does not meet the communication competency.

Question 3 · Safety, Crisis Prevention and Infection Control

During lunch you notice a tray of baked fish that was prepared at 10 a.m. is still on the serving table at 2 p.m. The room temperature has been 22 °C. One resident, Mr. Chen, asks for a piece because he is very hungry. What should you do?

1. A

   Place the fish in the fridge, label it, and serve it to Mr. Chen later.

   Not this one. Cooling does not make it safe after the time limit; also no report.

2. B

   Give Mr. Chen a different cold item from the pantry while noting his request.

   Not this one. Provides an alternative but does not address the unsafe food that must be reported.

3. C

   Discard the fish, document the waste, and inform the shift supervisor of the incident.

   Correct. Discards unsafe food and reports per policy.

4. D

   Re‑heat the fish in the microwave and serve it to Mr. Chen promptly.

   Not this one. Re‑heating does not guarantee safety; still out of time limit.

Food left at room temperature for more than two hours is unsafe. The HCA must discard it, record the waste, and report the incident to the supervisor. Re‑heating does not make it safe, and serving it would risk illness.

Question 4 · Activities of Daily Living

Mr. Doucet, 78, is recovering from abdominal surgery. His care plan states he requires a two‑person transfer using a slide board. He is sitting on the edge of his bed, wants to go to the bathroom, and asks you for help. You are the only HCA on the unit at the moment. What should you do first?

1. A

   Help him sit upright, then call the charge nurse to request a second staff member.

   Correct. Calling the charge nurse to get a second staff member follows the plan and keeps the patient safe.

2. B

   Leave him seated and call the housekeeping staff to bring a wheelchair.

   Not this one. A wheelchair is not part of the prescribed transfer method and does not address the need for two‑person assistance.

3. C

   Give him his scheduled pain medication before moving him.

   Not this one. Medication may be needed later, but the priority is a safe transfer.

4. D

   Attempt the slide‑board transfer by yourself to get him to the bathroom quickly.

   Not this one. Doing the transfer alone breaks the care plan and is unsafe.

The HCA must first ensure the transfer is done safely according to the care plan, which requires two staff. Calling the charge nurse for assistance is the correct first step. Attempting the transfer alone is unsafe, and medication or wheelchair are not indicated first.

Question 5 · Body Structure, Function and Health Changes

Resident Alex, 45, has a care plan that asks you to check his blood pressure each morning before breakfast. Today you measure 162/102 mm Hg. His usual range is 110‑130/70‑85 mm Hg. What should you do next?

1. A

   Record the reading in the chart and tell the nurse right away.

   Correct. Records and reports immediately, meeting the priority of reporting abnormal values.

2. B

   Tell Alex the reading is high, give him his prescribed antihypertensive, and then record it.

   Not this one. Out‑of‑scope – giving medication is a reserved act and not assigned to the HCA.

3. C

   Record the reading, note it as normal because Alex feels fine, and continue with breakfast.

   Not this one. Does not report the abnormal reading; delay could jeopardise health.

4. D

   Measure Alex’s pulse instead, then report the blood pressure later.

   Not this one. Measuring a different vital sign does not address the assigned task or the abnormal result.

The HCA must both record the assigned observation and promptly report an out‑of‑range value to the nurse. Giving medication or assuming it is normal without reporting is outside scope.

Question 6 · Growth, Development, Aging and Dementia

You are assisting Mr. Ahmed, an 78‑year‑old client, with his morning routine. You notice a small area on his lower leg that is red, warm to the touch and has a thin yellow crust. He says it has been there for two days and he feels a little sore. What should you do first?

1. A

   Offer the client a warm compress and ask if he would like tea.

   Not this one. Comfort measures do not address the potential infection.

2. B

   Document the finding in the care notes and wait to see if it improves tomorrow.

   Not this one. Waiting delays needed assessment; the change is new and concerning.

3. C

   Tell the client you will clean the area with over‑the‑counter ointment and continue the routine.

   Not this one. Applying ointment is a nursing task and may mask infection.

4. D

   Report the new skin change to the home‑care nurse right away.

   Correct. Reporting to the nurse follows the rule to differentiate illness from normal aging.

Red, warm, crusted skin suggests possible cellulitis or infection, not a normal age‑related change. The HCA must promptly report this to the nurse for assessment.

Question 7 · Care in Personal Care Homes and the Community

Resident Mr. Alvarez, 45, lives in your personal care home. His care plan says he should have a warm‑water foot soak each evening to improve circulation. This evening you notice his left foot is swollen, red and feels painful when you touch it. What should you do first?

1. A

   Skip the foot soak, document the swelling, and report it to the nurse now.

   Correct. Correctly withholds the unsafe activity and reports the observation promptly.

2. B

   Ask the resident if he wants the foot soak and then report his answer to the nurse.

   Not this one. Correctly asks the resident, but reporting is delayed and the unsafe activity is not stopped now.

3. C

   Call the resident’s family to let them know the foot is swollen and wait for their advice.

   Not this one. Involves the family instead of the nurse; the HCA’s reporting duty is to the care team.

4. D

   Perform the foot soak as scheduled and tell the nurse later.

   Not this one. Correct plan but fails to report the change; the HCA must notify the nurse first.

The HCA must follow the care‑plan only when the condition is safe. Because the foot is swollen and painful, the planned foot soak must be withheld and the change reported to the nurse immediately. This follows the assignment/delegation rule for unregulated care providers.

Question 8 · The Health Care System and the HCA Role

You are assisting 78‑year‑old resident Mrs. O’Connor in a personal care home. She tells you she has a sharp knee pain and asks if you can give her the extra pain tablet that is on the bedside table. The nurse is on duty but not in the room. What should you do first?

1. A

   Write in her chart that she asked for extra medication.

   Not this one. Documenting medication administration is a nursing task; the HCA should not record it.

2. B

   Tell the nurse about her pain request right away.

   Correct. Reporting to the nurse follows the rule that medication administration is a reserved act.

3. C

   Give her the tablet as she asked because you see it is there.

   Not this one. Giving the tablet is a reserved act and outside the HCA’s scope.

4. D

   Check the tablet’s label to see if it is for her.

   Not this one. Checking the label is part of medication verification, which is a nurse’s responsibility.

Administering a drug is a reserved act. The HCA cannot give the tablet, check the label, or record the request as medication administration. The correct first step is to report the resident’s request to the nurse.

Question 9 · Safety, Crisis Prevention and Infection Control

You arrive at Mr. Patel's home after hearing a thump. He is on the living‑room carpet, eyes open, but cannot move his right arm. The care plan notes he needs a two‑person lift for any transfers. What should you do first?

1. A

   Stay with Mr. Patel, keep him still, and call 911 for emergency assistance.

   Correct. The HCA stays with the client, keeps him still and calls 911, meeting the fall‑response rule.

2. B

   Move Mr. Patel gently onto the nearby sofa to keep him comfortable.

   Not this one. Moving the client without assistance breaches the care plan and may cause harm.

3. C

   Call the home‑care supervisor and wait for two staff to arrive.

   Not this one. Waiting for the supervisor before calling emergency delays needed help; the priority is immediate emergency response.

4. D

   Help Mr. Patel sit up slowly and offer water while you wait for help.

   Not this one. Offering water and sitting him up is caring but requires moving the client, which is not allowed before help arrives.

The HCA must stay with the client, keep him still and obtain emergency help before any movement. Moving him or waiting for staff risks further injury. Calling 911 is the correct first action because a fall with possible injury is an emergency in a home where no nurse is on site.

Question 10 · Care in Personal Care Homes and the Community

Patient Ms. Rivera, 34, has a health care directive naming her brother as proxy. She is able to speak clearly and refuses the scheduled physiotherapy session, stating she wants to rest. What should you do first?

1. A

   Tell the nurse about the refusal and document it in the chart.

   Correct. Reports the refusal and records it, respecting autonomy.

2. B

   Ask the brother to convince her to do the therapy.

   Not this one. The proxy cannot be used to override a competent client’s decision.

3. C

   Proceed with the therapy because it is in the care plan.

   Not this one. Giving therapy against the client’s wish is a breach of consent.

4. D

   Leave the room and note the refusal for your shift report only.

   Not this one. Reporting only in a shift report does not meet the requirement to inform the nurse.

The client has capacity and has refused treatment. The HCA must respect the decision and promptly inform the nurse, who will document and decide next steps. The proxy’s role is not for the aide to bypass the client’s choice.