Oregon Certified Nursing Assistant State Practice Exam

Before weighing a resident, the scale should be balanced at:

1. Zero.

2. Five pounds.

3. The resident's last known weight.

4. Negative two pounds to account for clothing.

The correct answer is: Zero.

Balancing the scale at zero before weighing a resident is essential for obtaining an accurate measurement. When the scale is balanced at zero, it ensures that any weight added to the scale corresponds directly to the weight of the resident being weighed, free from any extraneous factors. This practice adheres to standard protocol in weight measurement, allowing for precise monitoring of a resident's weight, which is crucial in assessing their overall health and any changes that may occur. Other settings, such as five pounds or adjusting for the resident's last known weight, could lead to inaccuracies that do not reflect the resident's current status. Similarly, setting the scale at negative two pounds to account for clothing could also result in misrepresentation of the actual weight, making zero the only appropriate calibration point for consistency and reliability in measurements.