Saskatchewan continuing care assistant practice test: the Readiness Check

Question 1 · Body Systems and Special Needs

Resident 78‑year‑old Mrs. Liu is two weeks post‑hip replacement. Her care plan lists morning range‑of‑motion exercises and pain monitoring. This morning she says her hip feels “sharp” and she winces when you try to move it. What should you do first?

1. A

   Call her son to let him know she is in pain.

   Not this one. Family is not the appropriate reporting channel.

2. B

   Report the new sharp pain to the nurse immediately.

   Correct. Follows the rule to report changes promptly.

3. C

   Continue the scheduled range‑of‑motion exercises as planned.

   Not this one. May worsen the injury; reporting comes first.

4. D

   Give her an extra over‑the‑counter pain tablet that she keeps in her drawer.

   Not this one. CCA may not give medication without a nurse order.

Any new pain or change after surgery must be reported to the nurse right away. Continuing exercises or giving extra medication without direction are not safe, and contacting family does not replace the required report.

Question 2 · Caregiving Role, Observing and Reporting

Resident Mrs. Nguyen, 87, asks you why you can help with her bathing. You need to explain your role. Which statement best describes your position?

1. A

   I have completed a Saskatchewan Polytechnic certificate, so I am a certified aide

   Not this one. Certificate equals certification – Wrong: the certificate does not create a regulated status.

2. B

   My work is defined by the health authority’s nursing standards

   Not this one. Defined by health‑authority standards – Wrong: standards apply to regulated staff.

3. C

   I am an unregulated care provider; my duties are set by the home’s employer

   Correct. Unregulated provider with employer‑set duties – Correct: matches Saskatchewan fact.

4. D

   I am a regulated health professional licensed by the provincial college

   Not this one. Regulated professional – Wrong: CCAs are not regulated.

In Saskatchewan, CCAs are unregulated care providers; their role and training are determined by the employer, not by a college or health‑authority standards. The other statements incorrectly suggest regulation or external standards.

Question 3 · Growth, Development and Society

Resident Mr. Patel, 84, asks for his glasses every morning but cannot find them in his room. He also reports feeling warm and has a mild cough. The care plan notes he has mild dementia. What should you do first?

1. A

   Offer Mr. Patel a cup of tea while you search for his glasses

   Not this one. Offering tea – Wrong: caring but does not address the urgent health sign.

2. B

   Tell the nurse that Mr. Patel feels warm and has a cough

   Correct. Reporting warmth and cough – Correct: alerts the nurse to possible illness.

3. C

   Help Mr. Patel look for his glasses in the common area

   Not this one. Searching for glasses – Wrong: a normal dementia issue, not the urgent health concern.

4. D

   Measure Mr. Patel’s temperature with a digital thermometer

   Not this one. Measuring temperature – Wrong: a nursing task; the CCA should report the symptom first.

Feeling warm and coughing may signal infection, which must be reported to the nurse promptly. Forgetting glasses is a normal dementia‑related issue and can be addressed after the nurse is informed. The other actions either delay reporting or involve a nursing assessment (temperature).

Question 4 · Body Systems and Special Needs

Mr. Patel, 82, is post‑operative day 2 after a colectomy. The RN assigned you to monitor his vital signs and encourage ambulation. While checking his temperature, you note he feels nauseous and has vomited once. His nausea was not listed in his current orders. What should you do first?

1. A

   Continue encouraging ambulation and reassess his nausea in an hour.

   Not this one. The new symptom requires immediate reporting, not delayed assessment.

2. B

   Notify the RN immediately about the new nausea and vomiting.

   Correct. Combines monitoring role with urgent reporting.

3. C

   Record the temperature, then document the nausea later in the chart.

   Not this one. Reporting must happen before routine documentation.

4. D

   Ask Mr. Patel if he wants an anti‑nausea medication and give it if he says yes.

   Not this one. Administering medication is beyond the CCA’s scope without a delegation.

The CCA’s assignment is to monitor, not to treat. A new symptom like nausea must be reported to the RN right away. Delaying the report or giving medication exceeds the CCA’s scope.

Question 5 · Growth, Development and Society

Resident Jacob, 45, has a recent spinal cord injury. He says he feels lonely and wants to join the weekly art class, but the schedule shows he is assigned to physiotherapy at that time. What should you do first?

1. A

   Move Jacob to the art class and inform the RN later.

   Not this one. Changes the care plan without RN approval.

2. B

   Call Jacob’s family to ask if they want the schedule changed.

   Not this one. Family cannot change the schedule; the RN decides.

3. C

   Write the request in the chart and discuss it at the next team meeting.

   Not this one. Delays action; the RN should be informed promptly.

4. D

   Tell the RN about Jacob’s wish to join the art class.

   Correct. Notifies the RN, who has authority to modify the schedule.

A CCA cannot change a resident’s schedule. The correct step is to report Jacob’s desire to the RN, who can review and adjust the plan if appropriate.

Question 6 · End-of-Life Care

An adult child stands outside a patient's room crying heavily after receiving difficult news. What should you do first?

1. A

   Listen with empathy and report the distress to the nurse.

   Correct. Listening with empathy and reporting distress matches the CCA role.

2. B

   Provide grief counselling to help process the sad news.

   Not this one. Providing grief counselling is out of the CCA scope of practice.

3. C

   Leave the hallway immediately to protect family privacy.

   Not this one. Leaving the hallway ignores the family when supportive presence is needed.

4. D

   Offer a warm blanket and stay quietly nearby.

   Not this one. Offering a blanket is a correct action but not the priority over reporting distress.

CCAs support grieving families with empathy and report significant distress to the nurse in charge. Offering a listening presence meets immediate emotional needs while ensuring the care team is informed.

Question 7 · End-of-Life Care

An unresponsive palliative client lacks capacity and has a valid health care directive. The legally designated proxy tells you to stop the scheduled personal care routine for today. What should you do first?

1. A

   Call 911 immediately because the proxy is refusing essential care.

   Not this one. Misinterprets a legal proxy decision as a medical emergency.

2. B

   Report the proxy's decision to the home care nurse promptly.

   Correct. Proxy decisions must be documented and communicated to the care team.

3. C

   Gently convince the proxy that morning care is essential for comfort.

   Not this one. This is out of scope because the aide should not challenge legal proxy choices.

4. D

   Continue the personal care routine as outlined in the care plan.

   Not this one. Ignores the proxy's legal right to alter decisions.

A named proxy holds legal authority to make health care decisions when a client lacks capacity. The continuing care assistant must respect this authority and report the decision to the home care nurse. Arguing with the proxy or ignoring their direction is inappropriate.

Question 8 · Communication and Helping Skills

Resident James sits alone in the common room and says he feels like his life has no purpose anymore. He asks you why he is still here. What should you do first?

1. A

   Ask an open question to encourage him to share his feelings.

   Correct. This option is correct because it uses active listening and an open question to let the resident share his feelings.

2. B

   Tell him that he brings joy to everyone living in this home.

   Not this one. This option uses false reassurance, which brushes the resident's deep emotional pain aside.

3. C

   Remind him of all the wonderful hobbies he can try today.

   Not this one. This option gives unsolicited advice and activities instead of letting the resident process his feelings.

4. D

   Suggest he speak with the social worker about his sadness.

   Not this one. This option shifts the responsibility away immediately before exploring the resident's feelings through active listening.

Active listening requires validating feelings through open exploration rather than immediately offering reassurance or advice. Asking an open question invites the resident to express further without the worker making assumptions or steering the topic away.

Question 9 · Community and Home Care

Mrs. Patel, 78, lives alone and uses home oxygen. This afternoon you find her breathing fast, using accessory muscles, and the oxygen tank is empty. She also asks you to prepare her lunch. You are the only care provider on site. What should you do first?

1. A

   Prepare the client’s lunch while monitoring breathing.

   Not this one. Assisting with lunch is a correct task but not the priority when the client is in respiratory distress.

2. B

   Replace the empty oxygen tank and resume care.

   Not this one. Replacing the oxygen tank is out of the CCA’s scope and may be unsafe without nurse supervision.

3. C

   Call 911 and stay with the client.

   Correct. Calls emergency services first and remains with the client, matching the emergency‑priority rule.

4. D

   Notify the on‑call nurse about shortness of breath.

   Not this one. Reporting to the nurse is appropriate after emergency services are contacted; priority is incorrect.

New shortness of breath with an empty oxygen tank is a medical emergency. The CCA must call 911 immediately and stay with the client. The CCA cannot replace the tank or wait for a nurse before calling emergency services.

Question 10 · Dementia Care

Your 84‑year‑old client with dementia is pacing the living room repeatedly, looking at the empty kitchen doorway. The client appears restless and says, “I need to go.” What should you do first?

1. A

   Call the nurse immediately to assess the client’s pacing.

   Not this one. Calling the nurse first delays meeting the client’s immediate need; the CCA can address basic needs without a nurse.

2. B

   Ask the client if they need to use the bathroom.

   Correct. Directly asks about the likely unmet need, following the responsive‑behaviour rule.

3. C

   Tell the client to stop pacing and sit down.

   Not this one. Telling the client to stop does not address the need and may increase distress.

4. D

   Document the pacing now and inform the nurse later.

   Not this one. Documentation is required but must follow an immediate response to the need.

Pacing is a responsive behaviour indicating an unmet need, often toileting. The CCA should first ask the client about the need before any documentation or calling the nurse. This aligns with the responsive‑behaviour approach.