Role of a CNA

Long term care (LTC)

care given in long-term care facilities for people who need 24-hour, skilled care.

Skilled care

medically necessary care given by a skilled nurse or therapist.

Terminal illness

a disease or condition that will eventually cause death.

Chronic

long-term or long-lasting.

Diagnoses

physicians’ determinations of an illness.

Activities of daily living (ADLs)

daily personal care tasks such as bathing; caring for skin, nails, hair, and teeth; dressing; toileting; eating and drinking; walking; and transferring.

Charting

documenting important information and observations about residents.

Chain of command

the line of authority within a facility.

Scope of practice

defines the tasks that healthcare providers are legally allowed to do and how to do them correctly.

Care plan

a plan developed for each resident to achieve certain goals; it outlines the steps and tasks that the care team must perform.

Verbal communication

communication involving the use of spoken or written words or sounds.

Nonverbal communication

communicating without using words.

Objective information

information based on what a person sees, hears, touches, or smells; also called signs.

Subjective information

information that a person cannot or did not observe, but is based on something reported to the person that may or may not be true; also called symptoms.

Radial pulse

the pulse located on the inside of the wrist, where the radial artery runs just beneath the skin.

Brachial pulse

the pulse located inside the elbow, about one to one-and-a-half inches above the elbow.

Respiration

the process of breathing air into the lungs and exhaling air out of the lungs.

Inspiration

breathing in.

Expiration

exhaling air out of the lungs.

Systolic

first measurement of blood pressure; phase when the heart is at work, contracting and pushing the blood from the left ventricle of the heart.

Diastolic

second measurement of blood pressure; phase when the heart relaxes or rests.

Occupied bed

a bed made while a person is in the bed.

Unoccupied bed

a bed made while no person is in the bed.

Closed bed

a bed completely made with the bedspread and blankets in place.

Open bed

a bed made with linen folded down to the foot of the bed.

Registered Nurse (RN)

coordinates, manages, & provides Skilled care; a licensed professional who has graduated from a 2-4 year program & passed a national licensure exam.

Certified nursing assistant (CNA)

provides or assists with personal care.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

gives medication & treatment. Licensed professional who has completed 1-2 years of education & passed a national licensure exam

Medical Doctor (MD)

Diagnoses disease or disability & prescribes treatment.