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ALBERTA HCA PROVINCIAL EXAM (VERSION 2)
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS DETAILED
RATIONALES GRADED A+
Alberta HCA Provincial Exam (Version 2)
Questions 1–250
1. A client with diabetes is experiencing confusion, trembling, and sweating, so what should
the health care aide do first?
A) Encourage the client to rest immediately
B) Give the client a glass of water to drink
C) Report these symptoms to the nurse immediately
D) Assume the client is having an anxiety attack
Answer: C. Rationale: These symptoms are consistent with hypoglycemia, a medical emergency.
The HCA must immediately notify the nurse so appropriate interventions can be taken quickly.
2. When providing personal hygiene care to a client who is incontinent, what is the most
important consideration?
A) Complete the task as quickly as possible
B) Use cold water to discourage incontinence
C) Maintain client dignity and prevent skin breakdown
D) Restrict fluid intake to reduce incontinence
Answer: C. Rationale: Incontinence care requires maintaining the client's dignity and preventing
skin breakdown, as incontinent clients are at high risk for pressure ulcers and skin infections.
3. A client is refusing to take their prescribed medication, so what should the health care aide
do?
A) Insist that the client take the medication
B) Report this to the nurse and do not administer the medication
C) Leave the medication at the bedside for later
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D) Tell the client they will not get better without the medication
Answer: B. Rationale: Clients have the right to refuse treatment. HCAs must report refusals to
the nurse and must never administer medication against a client's wishes.
4. Which of the following best describes the role of a health care aide in infection control?
A) To diagnose infections in clients
B) To perform hand hygiene and follow standard precautions consistently
C) To decide which clients need isolation precautions
D) To determine which antibiotics should be used
Answer: B. Rationale: The HCA's primary role in infection control is performing hand hygiene
and following standard precautions consistently.
5. A client suddenly becomes confused and disoriented, so what is the HCA's FIRST action?
A) Restrain the client for safety
B) Report the change to the nurse immediately
C) Document the incident and wait for the next shift
D) Assume the client is just tired
Answer: B. Rationale: A sudden change in level of consciousness or confusion requires
immediate reporting to the nurse, as it may indicate a serious medical issue.
6. Which of the following is a sign of dehydration that an HCA should report?
A) Moist mucous membranes
B) Dark, concentrated urine
C) Increased appetite
D) Bounding pulse
Answer: B. Rationale: Dark, concentrated urine is a key sign of dehydration and should be
reported to the nurse.
7. What is the best position to prevent aspiration during feeding?
A) Supine
B) High Fowler's
C) Trendelenburg
D) Left lateral
Answer: B. Rationale: High Fowler's position (sitting upright at 90 degrees) is the best position
to prevent aspiration during feeding.
8. A client refuses to take a bath, so what should the HCA do?
A) Force the client to bathe
B) Report the refusal to the nurse and respect the client's decision
C) Document that the bath was given
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D) Skip the bath and not tell anyone
Answer: B. Rationale: Clients have the right to refuse care. The HCA should respect the refusal
and report it to the nurse.
9. When assisting a resident with mobility, what is the most important safety consideration?
A) Move quickly to save time
B) Use proper body mechanics and gait belt
C) Ask the resident to walk without assistance
D) Only use one hand
Answer: B. Rationale: Proper body mechanics and a gait belt are essential for safe client
handling and injury prevention.
10. Which of the following is a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI) in an older adult?
A) Increased energy
B) Confusion or sudden change in behaviour
C) Weight gain
D) Improved appetite
Answer: B. Rationale: In older adults, confusion or a sudden change in behaviour can be the
only sign of a UTI.
11. An HCA is asked to perform a task that is outside their scope of practice, so what should
the HCA do?
A) Perform the task anyway
B) Refuse and report to the supervisor
C) Ask another HCA to do it
D) Ignore the request
Answer: B. Rationale: HCAs must only perform tasks within their scope of practice and should
refuse and report any request that exceeds their competence.
12. What is the correct order for donning PPE?
A) Gloves, gown, mask, goggles
B) Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
C) Mask, gloves, gown, goggles
D) Goggles, gloves, mask, gown
Answer: B. Rationale: The correct order for donning PPE is gown, mask, goggles, and then
gloves.
13. What is the correct order for removing PPE?
A) Gloves, goggles, gown, mask
B) Mask, gown, gloves, goggles
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C) Gown, gloves, mask, goggles
D) Goggles, mask, gloves, gown
Answer: A. Rationale: The correct order for removing PPE is gloves, goggles, gown, and then
mask.
14. When is hand hygiene required?
A) Only before direct client contact
B) Only after direct client contact
C) Before and after every client contact
D) Only when hands are visibly soiled
Answer: C. Rationale: Hand hygiene must be performed before and after every client contact to
prevent the spread of infection.
15. A client is on isolation precautions, so what should the HCA do?
A) Follow the posted precautions and use appropriate PPE
B) Ignore the precautions if in a hurry
C) Only wear gloves
D) Ask the client to stay in their room without explanation
Answer: A. Rationale: The HCA must follow all posted isolation precautions and use appropriate
PPE to prevent the spread of infection.
16. Which of the following is a sign of an allergic reaction to a medication?
A) Improved mood
B) Rash, swelling, or difficulty breathing
C) Increased appetite
D) Weight gain
Answer: B. Rationale: Rash, swelling, or difficulty breathing are signs of an allergic reaction and
require immediate reporting to the nurse.
17. What is the HCA's role in medication assistance?
A) Administering medication independently
B) Assisting with medications as assigned by a regulated professional
C) Deciding which medications the client needs
D) Changing the dose of medication
Answer: B. Rationale: HCAs may assist with medications only as assigned by a regulated health
care professional.
18. A client's family asks the HCA about the client's medical condition, so what should the
HCA do?
A) Provide detailed information about the condition
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ALBERTA HCA PROVINCIAL EXAM (VERSION 2)
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS DETAILED
RATIONALES GRADED A+
Alberta HCA Provincial Exam (Version 2)
Questions 1–250
1. A client with diabetes is experiencing confusion, trembling, and sweating, so what should
the health care aide do first?
A) Encourage the client to rest immediately
B) Give the client a glass of water to drink
C) Report these symptoms to the nurse immediately
D) Assume the client is having an anxiety attack
Answer: C. Rationale: These symptoms are consistent with hypoglycemia, a medical emergency.
The HCA must immediately notify the nurse so appropriate interventions can be taken quickly.
2. When providing personal hygiene care to a client who is incontinent, what is the most
important consideration?
A) Complete the task as quickly as possible
B) Use cold water to discourage incontinence
C) Maintain client dignity and prevent skin breakdown
D) Restrict fluid intake to reduce incontinence
Answer: C. Rationale: Incontinence care requires maintaining the client's dignity and preventing
skin breakdown, as incontinent clients are at high risk for pressure ulcers and skin infections.
3. A client is refusing to take their prescribed medication, so what should the health care aide
do?
A) Insist that the client take the medication
B) Report this to the nurse and do not administer the medication
C) Leave the medication at the bedside for later
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D) Tell the client they will not get better without the medication
Answer: B. Rationale: Clients have the right to refuse treatment. HCAs must report refusals to
the nurse and must never administer medication against a client's wishes.
4. Which of the following best describes the role of a health care aide in infection control?
A) To diagnose infections in clients
B) To perform hand hygiene and follow standard precautions consistently
C) To decide which clients need isolation precautions
D) To determine which antibiotics should be used
Answer: B. Rationale: The HCA's primary role in infection control is performing hand hygiene
and following standard precautions consistently.
5. A client suddenly becomes confused and disoriented, so what is the HCA's FIRST action?
A) Restrain the client for safety
B) Report the change to the nurse immediately
C) Document the incident and wait for the next shift
D) Assume the client is just tired
Answer: B. Rationale: A sudden change in level of consciousness or confusion requires
immediate reporting to the nurse, as it may indicate a serious medical issue.
6. Which of the following is a sign of dehydration that an HCA should report?
A) Moist mucous membranes
B) Dark, concentrated urine
C) Increased appetite
D) Bounding pulse
Answer: B. Rationale: Dark, concentrated urine is a key sign of dehydration and should be
reported to the nurse.
7. What is the best position to prevent aspiration during feeding?
A) Supine
B) High Fowler's
C) Trendelenburg
D) Left lateral
Answer: B. Rationale: High Fowler's position (sitting upright at 90 degrees) is the best position
to prevent aspiration during feeding.
8. A client refuses to take a bath, so what should the HCA do?
A) Force the client to bathe
B) Report the refusal to the nurse and respect the client's decision
C) Document that the bath was given
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D) Skip the bath and not tell anyone
Answer: B. Rationale: Clients have the right to refuse care. The HCA should respect the refusal
and report it to the nurse.
9. When assisting a resident with mobility, what is the most important safety consideration?
A) Move quickly to save time
B) Use proper body mechanics and gait belt
C) Ask the resident to walk without assistance
D) Only use one hand
Answer: B. Rationale: Proper body mechanics and a gait belt are essential for safe client
handling and injury prevention.
10. Which of the following is a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI) in an older adult?
A) Increased energy
B) Confusion or sudden change in behaviour
C) Weight gain
D) Improved appetite
Answer: B. Rationale: In older adults, confusion or a sudden change in behaviour can be the
only sign of a UTI.
11. An HCA is asked to perform a task that is outside their scope of practice, so what should
the HCA do?
A) Perform the task anyway
B) Refuse and report to the supervisor
C) Ask another HCA to do it
D) Ignore the request
Answer: B. Rationale: HCAs must only perform tasks within their scope of practice and should
refuse and report any request that exceeds their competence.
12. What is the correct order for donning PPE?
A) Gloves, gown, mask, goggles
B) Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
C) Mask, gloves, gown, goggles
D) Goggles, gloves, mask, gown
Answer: B. Rationale: The correct order for donning PPE is gown, mask, goggles, and then
gloves.
13. What is the correct order for removing PPE?
A) Gloves, goggles, gown, mask
B) Mask, gown, gloves, goggles
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C) Gown, gloves, mask, goggles
D) Goggles, mask, gloves, gown
Answer: A. Rationale: The correct order for removing PPE is gloves, goggles, gown, and then
mask.
14. When is hand hygiene required?
A) Only before direct client contact
B) Only after direct client contact
C) Before and after every client contact
D) Only when hands are visibly soiled
Answer: C. Rationale: Hand hygiene must be performed before and after every client contact to
prevent the spread of infection.
15. A client is on isolation precautions, so what should the HCA do?
A) Follow the posted precautions and use appropriate PPE
B) Ignore the precautions if in a hurry
C) Only wear gloves
D) Ask the client to stay in their room without explanation
Answer: A. Rationale: The HCA must follow all posted isolation precautions and use appropriate
PPE to prevent the spread of infection.
16. Which of the following is a sign of an allergic reaction to a medication?
A) Improved mood
B) Rash, swelling, or difficulty breathing
C) Increased appetite
D) Weight gain
Answer: B. Rationale: Rash, swelling, or difficulty breathing are signs of an allergic reaction and
require immediate reporting to the nurse.
17. What is the HCA's role in medication assistance?
A) Administering medication independently
B) Assisting with medications as assigned by a regulated professional
C) Deciding which medications the client needs
D) Changing the dose of medication
Answer: B. Rationale: HCAs may assist with medications only as assigned by a regulated health
care professional.
18. A client's family asks the HCA about the client's medical condition, so what should the
HCA do?
A) Provide detailed information about the condition
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