Chapter 1 - The Nursing Assistant in Long Term Care (10/13/25)

Definition of medical terms in Hartman's nursing assistant Care - The Basics

Long Term Care

People who need 24 hour skilled care.

Long Term care Facilities

Resident homes

Skilled Care

Is medically necessary care given by a skilled nurse or therapist; 24 hours a day.

Length Of Stay

# of days the person stays within the healthcare facility

Specialized Care

Is offered at long term care facilities, The employees must have specialized training

Terminal Illness

The illness with eventually cause death.

Chronic

Their illness last a long period of time, even lifelong

Diagnosis

A medical condition determined by a doctor.

Home Health Care

Is provided in the home, This care is given to those who are older and chronically ill who are able and wish to remain at home.

Adult Day Services

People who need help and supervision during certain hours.

Assisted Living

Facilities are residents for people who need some help with daily tasks.

Acute Care

24 hour skilled care given in hospitals and ambulatory/ surgical centers for people who require short term, immediate care for illness & injury.

Subacute Care

Care given in hospitals or long term care facilities for people who need less care then an acute illness, but more care than chronic illness.

Outpatient Care

Given to people who have had treatment/procedures or surgeries and need short term skilled care. 

Rehabilitation

Care given by a specialist to help restore or improve function after an illness or injury.

Hospice Care 

Holistic, compassionate care given to people who have 6 months or less to live.

Activities of daily living

Personal care includes: bathing skin nails hair care mouth care assistance with walking eating drinking dressing transferring and elimination.

Person Centered Care

Emphasizes the individuality of the person who needs care, and reconizes and developes the persons capabilities

Trama Informed Care

Is an approach to patient care that recognizes that people may have experienced trauma in their lives, Trauma informed care seeks to consider each person’s trauma, experiences, and preference and provide a person centerd approach to care.

Medicare

A federal health care insurance program for people who are 65 or older, have a certain disability or permanent kidney failure or are ill and cannot work.

Medicare Part A-D

A. Helps pay for care in a hospital or SNF or for care from a HHA or hospice care.

B. Helps pay for doctor services and other medical services and equipment.

C. Allows private health insurance companies to provide medicare benefits.

D. Helps pay for Rx prescribed for treatment.

Medicaid

A medical assistance program for people who have a low income, as well as for people with disabilities. 

What are assistant nurses not able to do?

Insert or remove tubes, give tube feedings or change sterile dressings.

Charting

Is noting and recording important information about the resident.

Occupational Therapist

Helps residents learn to adapt to disabilities.

Assistive Devices

Devices used to help the ill or disabled 

Chain of Command

Describes the line of authority

Liability

Is a legal term that means someone can be held responsible for harming someone else.

Scope of practice

Defines the tasks that healthcare providers are legally allowed to do.

Care plan

Is individualized for each resident, it is developed to help achieve the goals of care and meet the residents specific needs.

Policy

A course of action that should be taken each time a certain event/situation occurs.

Procedure

A method/way of doing something.

Professional

Having to do something with work/job.

Personal

Refers to life outside of a job/profession

Professionalism

Behaving properly when on the job.

Compassionate

Being caring, concerned, empathetic, and understanding.

Empathy

Identifying feeling with the feelings of others.

Sympathy

Sharing in the feelings and difficulties of others.

Tactful

Showing sensitivity and having a sense of what is appropriate when dealing with others.

Conscientious

Guided by the knowing of wrong and right.

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

Passed in the response to reports of poor care and abuse in long term care facilities.

Cite

Document a problem through a survey.

Resident’s Rights

How residents must be treated while living within the facility.

Informed Consent

The process by which a person with a doctors help to make informed decisions about what can directly happen to their body.

Abuse

is purposeful mistreatment that causes physical, mental, emotional pain or injury to someone.

Physical Abuse

Any treatment, intentional or not that causes harm to a persons body.

Psychological Abuse

Is emotional harm caused by threatening, scaring, humiliating, intimidating, isolating, insulting or treating an adult like a child.

Verbal Abuse

The use of spoken, written, pictures, gestures, that threaten embarrass or insult someone.

Sexual Abuse

Nonconsensual sexual contact

Assault

Threat to harm someone resulting in fear

battery

Intentional touching of a person without their consent.

Domestic Violence

Abuse by spouses, intimate or family members.

False Imprisonment

Unlawful restraint that affects the freedom of movement.

Involuntary Seclusion

Separating someone from others against their will.

Workplace Violence

Abuse of staff to other staff, resident, or visitors.

Sexual Harassment

Unwelcomed sexual advances or behavior that creates hostile or offensive environment.

Substance Abuse

Repeated use of legal/illegal drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol in a way that harms oneself or others.

Neglect

The failure to provide needed care that result in physical, mental, or emotional harm to someone.