Question

If a resident is lying in bed vomiting, why does the CNA need to help the resident to turn onto the resident's side quickly?

A, to get the resident into a more comfortable position
B. to get towels placed into a more comfortable position
C. to keep the vomit off the resident's face
D. to help prevent aspiration

Answer 1

To prevent aspiration, a CNA needs to turn a vomiting resident onto their side, ensuring that vomit exits the mouth and doesn't enter the respiratory tract. This quick response is crucial for the patient's safety and to avoid potentially life-threatening complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a resident is lying in bed vomiting, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) needs to help the resident to turn onto the resident's side quickly, primarily to help prevent aspiration. Aspiration occurs when vomited material is inhaled into the lungs, which can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia or even death. Turning the patient onto their side ensures that vomit can drain out of the mouth and does not go back down the respiratory tract.

Some people are helped by sleeping with the head of the bed elevated, which utilizes gravity to control the backflow of acids into the esophagus from the stomach. However, in the event of vomiting, this might not be enough to prevent aspiration, hence the immediate response required by turning the patient to their side.

Techniques like the Heimlich maneuver may be used in other situations where a person is choking on a solid object, but they are not the correct response to vomiting. Instead, the side position, as well as giving a few hardback slaps, are more appropriate measures to prevent choking and help keep the airway clear.