CNA notes

Long-Term Care (LTC)

Care provided in facilities for individuals needing 24-hour skilled care.

Skilled Care

Medically necessary care given by skilled nurses or therapists, available 24 hours a day.

Terminal Illness

An illness that will eventually lead to death.

Diagnoses

Medical conditions determined by a doctor.

Home Health Care

Care provided in a person's home.

Assisted Living Facilities

Residences for individuals needing help with daily tasks but not 24-hour skilled care.

Acute Care

24-hour skilled care in hospitals for short-term, immediate care.

Subacute Care

Care for individuals needing less care than acute illness but more than chronic illness.

Outpatient Care

Short-term skilled care for individuals not requiring overnight stays.

Rehabilitation

Care by specialists to restore or improve function after illness or injury.

Hospice Care

Care for individuals with about six months or less to live, focusing on comfort.

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

Tasks like bathing, dressing, and eating, essential for daily living.

Person-Centered Care

Emphasizes individuality and capabilities of the person needing care.

Trauma-Informed Care

Approach recognizing individuals may have experienced trauma.

Medicare

Federal health insurance program for individuals aged 65 or older.

Medicaid

Medical assistance program for low-income individuals and those with disabilities.

Nursing Assistant (NA)

Performs nursing tasks, personal care, and promotes independence.

Charting

Noting and recording important resident information.

Chain of Command

Line of authority ensuring proper health care and protecting liability.

Scope of Practice

Tasks healthcare providers are legally allowed to do.

Care Plan

Individualized plan to achieve care goals for residents.

Informed Consent

Process where a person makes informed decisions about their health care.

Residents' Rights

Specify how residents must be treated while living in a facility.

Abuse

Purposeful mistreatment causing physical, mental, or emotional harm.

Workplace Violence

Abuse of staff by other staff, residents, or visitors in a workplace setting.

Sexual Harassment

Unwelcome sexual advance or behavior creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.

Neglect

Failure to provide needed care resulting in harm; can be active (purposeful) or passive (unintentional).

Negligence

Failure to provide proper care, resulting in unintended injury.

Malpractice

Injury due to professional misconduct through negligence, carelessness, or lack of skill.

Substance Abuse

Repeated use of drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol harming oneself or others.

Ombudsman

Legal advocate for residents in long-term care facilities.

Confidentiality

Keeping private information private.

HIPAA

Law ensuring privacy and security of health information.

Protected Health Information (PHI)

Information identifying a person and related to their health care.

Minimum Data Set (MDS)

Detailed form for assessing residents in long-term care.

Incident

Accident, problem, or unexpected event during care.

Communication

Exchanging information through verbal or nonverbal means.

Objective Information

Based on what is seen, heard, touched, or smelled.

Subjective Information

Based on resident-reported symptoms.

Incontinence

Inability to control bladder or bowels.

Defense Mechanisms

Unconscious behaviors to cope with stress.

Body Mechanics

How body parts work together during movement.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Agency protecting workers from job hazards.

Consciousness

Being mentally alert and aware of surroundings.

First Aid

Emergency care given immediately to an injured person.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Medical procedures for heart or lung failure.

Center of Gravity

Point where most weight is concentrated.

Fracture

Broken bone.

Obstructed Airway

Blockage in the tube for air entering the lungs.

Abdominal Thrusts

Method to remove object from choking person's airway.

Cyanotic

Blue-tinted skin.

Shock

Organ and tissue deprivation of adequate blood supply.

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

Warning sign of a stroke.

Grief

Deep distress or sorrow over a loss.

Advance Directives

Legal documents for medical care decisions if unable to decide.

Full weight bearing (FWB)

Both legs can bear 100% of the body weight on a step.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Composed of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Deals with the nerves extending throughout the body.

Hemiplegia

Paralysis on one side of the body.

Hemiparesis

Weakness on one side of the body.

Expressive Aphasia

Trouble communicating thoughts through speech or writing.

Receptive Aphasia

Difficulty understanding spoken or written words.

Emotional Lability

Inappropriate emotional responses like laughing, crying, or anger.

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing.

Paraplegia

Loss of function of the lower body and legs.

Quadriplegia

Loss of function in the legs, trunk, and arms.

Circulatory System

Comprised of the heart, blood vessels, and blood supplying nutrients to cells.

Hypertension (HTN)

High blood pressure.

Angina

Chest pain, pressure, and discomfort due to insufficient oxygen to the heart muscle.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic progressive disease affecting breathing.

Urinary Incontinence

Inability to control the bladder leading to involuntary urine loss.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Bacterial infection of the urinary tract causing pain during urination.

Fecal Incontinence

Inability to control bowel movements.

Constipation

Difficulty in passing stool.

Enema

Introduction of water into the colon to eliminate stool.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Stomach acid backing up into the esophagus.

Diabetes Mellitus

Condition where the body has issues with insulin production or usage.

AIDS

Disease caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) weakening the immune system.

Tumor

Abnormal cell growth, can be cancerous or non-cancerous.

Delirium

State of severe confusion that occurs suddenly.

Dementia

Serious loss of mental abilities like thinking, remembering, and communicating.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

Causes dementia with Tangled nerve fibers and protein deposits in the brain.

Sundowning

Restlessness and agitation in the late afternoon or evening.

Hallucinations

Sensing things that are not there.

Delusions

Believing things that are not true.

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