Colorado CNA Practice Exam

If a nursing assistant encounters any sexual situation between two consenting adult residents, she should:

1. Inform their families

2. Provide privacy and leave the area

3. Alert the authorities

4. Lecture them about their behavior

The correct answer is: Provide privacy and leave the area

Providing privacy and leaving the area is the appropriate response for a nursing assistant when encountering a sexual situation between two consenting adult residents. This approach respects the autonomy and dignity of the residents involved, acknowledging their right to engage in consensual relationships while also maintaining a professional boundary. Leaving the area allows the residents to express themselves freely without feeling embarrassed or scrutinized, which is essential in a caregiving environment that promotes comfort and security. Additionally, this response highlights the importance of maintaining confidentiality for residents, as their personal lives should be protected from unnecessary exposure to others, including staff and family members. In contrast, informing their families could violate the residents' privacy and autonomy, as adult individuals typically have the right to manage their personal lives without outside interference. Alerting the authorities would be inappropriate unless there was a clear indication of non-consensual behavior or abuse, which is not the case when both parties are consenting adults. A lecture on behavior could also be seen as patronizing and intrusive, failing to recognize the residents as autonomous individuals capable of their own decisions.