Florida Home Health Aide Competency Practice Test

If a patient has new skin breakdown and the nurse is coming in two days, what should the aide do?

1. Report it to the supervisor

2. Monitor it without reporting

3. Ignore it since a nurse is coming

4. Make a note to report later

The correct answer is: Monitor it without reporting

The most appropriate action for the aide in this scenario is to report the new skin breakdown to the supervisor. Skin breakdown can lead to serious complications such as infections and further deterioration, so timely intervention is crucial. By reporting it to the supervisor, the aide ensures that the issue is documented and addressed promptly, even if a nurse is scheduled to visit in two days. Monitoring the issue without reporting could result in a delayed response or escalation of the condition, which could ultimately harm the patient. Ignoring the problem because a nurse is coming can lead to worsening of the skin condition. Making a note to report later also fails to prioritize the immediate need for assessment and intervention, as this might result in the issue being overlooked until the next scheduled visit, which is not in the best interest of the patient's health.