Oregon Certified Nursing Assistant State Practice Exam

Which of the following represents financial abuse?

1. Leaving a resident alone without supervision

2. Stealing a resident's personal possessions

3. Failing to provide appropriate emotional support

4. Using coercion to obtain a resident's belongings

The correct answer is: Stealing a resident's personal possessions

The selection of stealing a resident's personal possessions as a representation of financial abuse is accurate because financial abuse specifically involves the improper use of a resident's financial resources or property. This form of abuse can manifest in various ways, including outright theft of money, valuables, or personal belongings that belong to the resident. The act of stealing directly violates the trust that residents place in caregivers and deprives them of their rightful financial resources. While leaving a resident alone without supervision may raise concerns about neglect, it doesn't inherently relate to financial matters. Failing to provide appropriate emotional support touches on emotional or psychological abuse but also does not pertain to financial activities. Using coercion to obtain belongings can suggest manipulation; however, the specific act of stealing a resident's possessions clearly highlights a direct theft, which is unmistakably categorized as financial abuse. This distinction is essential in understanding the various forms of abuse that can occur within a caregiving environment.