What should the CNA do after initially washing their hands?

• A. Place resident in a sitting position
• B. Apply clothing protector
• C. Offer & assist resident to wash hands before feeding
• D. Check if resident swallowed before offering next bite

Answer: (C)

After washing their own hands, the CNA should focus on reducing contamination before the meal by ensuring the resident’s hands are clean as well. Offering and assisting the resident to wash their hands before feeding promotes hygiene, helps prevent the spread of germs to food and the mouth, and supports the resident’s participation in self-care when possible. This step sets up a safe, clean mealtime routine.

Placing the resident in a sitting position and applying a clothing protector are also important parts of feeding safety and comfort, but they are not the immediate follow-up to the CNA’s own hand washing in terms of infection control. Checking whether the resident swallowed before offering the next bite relates to safe eating during feeding, not the hand hygiene step that precedes feeding.