North Carolina Nurse Aide Practice Exam

Using locked doors with alarms is an effective tactic to prevent elopement because it provides a direct physical barrier while alerting staff to any attempts to leave the facility. This method ensures that residents cannot exit without authorization, which enhances safety, especially for those who may be at risk due to cognitive impairments or other factors. The alarms serve as immediate alerts to staff, enabling a quick response to any potential elopement, thereby protecting residents and ensuring their well-being.

Assigning residents to rooms near exits may inadvertently increase the risk of elopement, as residents in those locations may find it easier to leave the facility. Allowing residents to roam freely does not provide any structure or supervision and could lead to unsafe situations where residents wander without oversight. Supervision by a single staff member may not be sufficient to monitor all residents effectively, especially in larger facilities, reducing the overall ability to prevent elopement incidents.