Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Practice Exam

What should a nursing assistant do with an additional flat sheet accidentally brought into a resident's room?

1. Use it for extra cushioning on the bed

2. Throw it away in the garbage

3. Leave it on the bedside table

4. Place it in the soiled hamper

The correct answer is: Place it in the soiled hamper

Placing the additional flat sheet in the soiled hamper is the appropriate action because it ensures that the sheet is properly laundered before it can be reused. Maintaining hygiene and infection control standards in a healthcare setting is essential, and this step prevents the risk of contamination. Using the sheet for extra cushioning or leaving it on the bedside table may not align with cleanliness protocols, as the sheet may not be clean or sanitized for direct use in the resident's environment. Throwing it away in the garbage would also be inappropriate since the sheet can be reused after proper cleaning. Therefore, placing it in the soiled hamper promotes effective infection control practices by ensuring that any potentially contaminated linens are processed correctly.