Colorado CNA Practice Exam

While eating dinner, a client starts to choke. The nurse aide SHOULD:

1. Administer fluids

2. Call for assistance and perform the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrust)

3. Encourage the client to cough

4. Perform back blows

The correct answer is: Administer fluids

If a client is choking, the first response should be to call for assistance. This is the most urgent and important step to ensure the safety and well-being of the client. After assistance is called, the nurse aide should then perform the Heimlich maneuver or abdominal thrusts. Administering fluids, encouraging the client to cough, and performing back blows are not appropriate responses in this situation and could actually worsen the choking. Therefore, A is the correct choice.