Minnesota Basic Home care Competency Exam

Every person who provides direct care to a client in the home must pass a background study examination through the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

• True

• False

The document that describes the rights of a person who receives home care is called:

• The Declaration of Rights

• The Minnesota Statement of Rights

• The Minnesota Home Care Bill of Rights

• The Declaration of Independence

As a home care provider, the services I perform for the client are listed in the client's Service Plan.

• True

• False

I can make changes to the Service Plan if I believe they are necessary.

• True

• False

Which of the following is not a Standard Universal Precaution to prevent the spread of infection:

• Frequent hand-washing

• Use of gloves and other protective equipment.

• Proper techniques for cleaning and disinfection.

• Getting a vaccination for chicken-pox.

What is the number one cause of injuries for the elderly? 

• Depression

• Falls

• Poisoning

• Frostbite

I must be able to prove a client is the victim of maltreatment before I can make a report.

• True

• False

Proper documentation of the care I provide and the client's condition is required for all home care providers.

• True

• False

There is not a special way to handle a client's clothing or bedding that is soiled with the client's body fluids or blood.

• True

• False

When a client complains to me about pain, the first thing I should do is:

• Have them lay down and take a nap.

• Offer them something to eat.

• Ask questions and have them describe the pain.

• Call the client Call the client's physician.

If my list of tasks for a client includes meal preparation, I can prepare what I think is healthy without asking my client.

• True

• False

Jane is providing home care for Mrs. Anderson. At lunchtime Mrs. Anderson tells Jane that she is not hungry. Jane should:

• Prepare a meal anyway and force Mrs. Anderson to eat.

• Tell Mrs. Anderson that she is behaving like a child and needs to eat.

• Tell Mrs. Anderson to let Jane know when she is hungry, but remind her she needs to eat lunch as the day goes on.

• Tell Mrs. Anderson that if she refuses to eat lunch now she cannot eat again until dinner.

Which of the following is NOT true:

• Spills should be wiped up immediately to avoid slips and falls.

• Cleaning supplies and other dangerous substances should be kept in a safe, secure cabinet or area.

• If someone in a house uses a cane or a walker, it is a good idea to cushion the floor by using lots of throw rugs.

• Always be sure electrical cords are not lying in open walk areas.

A client, Mrs. Hayworth, tells you she is very upset with you and demands you to tell her the supervisor's name so she can call and report you.  The correct action is: 

• Tell her she has no reason to be upset and try to calm her down.

• Explain that the complaint process is very complicated and you can work with her to resolve the situation.

• Tell her she has the right to make a complaint at any time and give her the Home Care Manager's phone number.

• Leave her home immediately.

Your client has a big dog who jumps at the fence and barks ferociously at you when you visit. Today the dog is in the house as you arrive and meets you at the front door growling.  What do you do? 

• Call the client from outside and tell the client to put the dog outside.

• Assume the client will control the dog and enter the house.

• Contact the Home Care Manager immediately.

• Tell the client if the client keeps the dog she can no longer receive home services.

Your client, Mrs. Robin, wants to give you a private bonus at Christmas. You should:

• Tell Mrs. Robin that she should donate the money to a charity.

• Accept the money graciously so you do not offend Mrs. Robin.

• Accept the money and tell Mrs. Robin that the gift will help because you don't make enough money.

• Explain to Mrs. Robin that you cannot accept gifts from clients.

Mr. Hayes is a very irritable client. He accuses you of taking a $20 bill from his kitchen counter. You should: 

• Search the kitchen for the missing $20.00.

• Tell Mr. Hayes that you did not take the money and he has offended you.

• Offer to give Mr. Hayes $20 to resolve the situation.

• Contact the Home Care Manager.

When you are working in a client's home you are:

• Working individually and not as part of a team.

• Never able to contact your Home Care Manager for help.

• Solely responsible for whatever happens to the client.

• Working under a Service Plan and the supervision of the Home Care Manager.

The best home care allows the client:

• The greatest amount of independence possible.

• Dignity.

• Respect.

• All of the above.

You arrive at a client’s house and he lets you in but refuses to let you stay for your scheduled visit.  After several attempts to convince him he gets very angry and pushes you. You should: 

• Calmly tell the client he is breaking the law.

• Tell the client you are leaving and he is no longer entitled to receive home care.

• Leave the home and contact the Home Care Manager immediately.

• Try going to the home for the next scheduled visit to see if the client will let you stay for the visit.

Observing changes in the client's condition includes changes in the client's health, mental attitude, and appetite.

• True

• False

A client cannot change or refuse a service that is scheduled for a particular day and redirect a home care provider.

• True

• False

The primary document used to provide care to a client is called:

A care provider who works for an agency with a Basic Home Care License may dispense medications to the client.

• True

• False

My training and Orientation as a home care provider included an overview of legal definitions used in the Minnesota Home Care statutes.

• True

• False

As a home care provider, I need to have an understanding of which of the following:

• The client's rights.

• The client's plan of care.

• The Minnesota Home Care laws.

• All of the above.

The client's Service Plan:

• Can never be changed.

• Is based on the client's needs and preferences.

• Is only used by the Home Care Manager to track client information.

• Is not necessary to provide care correctly.

As a home care provider I am considered a mandatory reporter for purposes of reporting suspected maltreatment or abuse of a client.

• True

• False

A tuberculosis screening is not required for home care providers if they are current on all of their childhood vaccinations.

• True

• False

If a client is choking and cannot breathe or speak, I should:

• Give them a drink of water.

• Lay the client down on their back.

• Call 911.

• Apply a thrust to the back or the Heimlich maneuver.

A regular diet is a diet that is nutritious and has no restrictions.

• True

• False

Grace is making dinner for her client, Mr. Campbell. While she is preparing to place chicken in a dish to put in the oven, the chicken breast falls to the floor. Grace should:

• Pick it up, place it in the dish and bake it. The heat from the oven will kill any bacteria.

• Rinse the chicken under the kitchen faucet to remove germs and bake it.

• Dispose of the chicken in the trash to prevent the spread of bacteria.

Mr. Skinner, who lives alone, is usually talkative.  Today he says very little, appears anxious and worried and has difficulty speaking.  When would you report Mr. Skinner's change of condition to the Home Care Manager?

• I would wait to see how he seems the next time I am scheduled.

• I would report it within 24 hours of noticing it.

• I would document it in the Daily Log because this does not need to be reported.

• I would report it to the Home Care Manager as soon as possible during my shift.

Mrs. Henderson lives alone and never goes out of the house.  When you arrive at her home, the door is locked, and although it is the middle of the day, you can see the lights turned on in the living room.  When you knock, Ms. Henderson does not answer.  You should:

• Call 911.

• Break a window and climb in.

• Call the Home Care Manager immediately.

• Keep knocking and begin shouting to get Mrs. Henderson to answer the door.

While at a client's house, she mentions that she heard you are providing services to her friend Millie, and asks you how Millie is doing. You should:

• Tell her you cannot discuss Millie with her.

• Visit about Millie and how your client knows her.

• Tell her about Millie's care.

• Tell her to mind her own business.

While you are providing care, is perfectly acceptable to use anything in the client's home for personal use.

• True

• False

A client offers you a bonus of $200.00 as a Christmas gift. You should accept the gift and thank the client for being so generous.

• True

• False

When a client is hard of hearing you should:

• Shout when you speak so the client can hear you.

• Try and use sign language.

• Speak slowly and clearly to make sure the client understands what you are saying.

• Tell the client that it may be necessary to get a hearing aid.

Speaking is the only way to communicate with a client.

• True

• False

Which of these statements about the elderly is true:

• They want to depend on others for their care.

• Most elderly people get Alzheimer's Disease.

• They can and want to learn new things.

• They don't want to be social or meet new people.

The supervisor for a home care provider is called:

Under a Basic Home Care Provider's License, which of the following services is an agency prohibited from providing:

• Housekeeping

• Skilled Nursing Care

• Personal Grooming

• Transportation

Personal grooming includes all but which of the following:

• Bathing

• Toileting

• Dressing

• Cutting fingernails and toenails.

The document that I must use to record care I provide to a client is called:

Reports of maltreatment or abuse must be made:

• When injuries or bruises are not reasonably explained.

• To my supervisor.

• Through MAARC.

• All of the above.

Mary is the home care provider for Mrs. Apple. While Mrs. Apple is cutting a tomato in the kitchen she cuts her finger. The cut is bleeding but is not a deep cut. Which of the following is  NOT something Mary should do:

• Contact the Home Care Manager.

• Call 911.

• Wear protective gloves and clean and dress the cut.

• Wear protective gloves to clean and disinfect any areas contaminated with blood.

Which of the following does not occur as people age:

• Bones become weaker and break more easily.

• Senses like taste and smell gradually diminish.

• The brain stops processing information.

• Vision and hearing may become impaired.

Mr. Hayes is on a low-sodium diet. Which of the following is the best meal option for Mr. Hayes:

• Chow Mein

• Canned, condensed soup with saltine crackers.

• Salad and 1/2 turkey sandwich.

• A Big Mac and french fries.