Unit 3 Personal Care Skills Review

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers essential personal care skills and terminology for C.N.A students, including mobility, hygiene, skin integrity, and positioning.

Ambulation

The act of walking or moving from place to place, with or without assistance, to promote mobility and independence.

Gait Belt

A safety device/belt secured around a patient's waist to provide a safe handhold for caregivers to support them while walking or transferring.

Transfer Belt

Another name for a gait belt, used to steady a patient during transfers or short ambulation.

Transfer Safety

Guidelines including locking wheels, using proper body mechanics, counting to three, and moving on the patient's stronger side to prevent injury.

Wheelchair Placement for Bed Transfer

Positioning the chair at a $45^{\circ}$ angle to the bed on the patient's stronger side with brakes locked and footrests removed.

ADL (Activities of Daily Living)

Basic self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and eating.

IADL (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living)

More complex tasks required for independent living, such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, and managing finances.

Pressure Ulcer Risk Factors

Conditions including immobility, moisture, poor nutrition, decreased sensation, friction, shearing, and age that increase skin breakdown risk.

Pressure Ulcer Stage 1

Characterized by intact skin with non-blanchable redness.

Pressure Ulcer Stage 2

Partial-thickness skin loss appearing as a blister or shallow wound.

Pressure Ulcer Stage 3

Full-thickness skin loss where subcutaneous fat may be visible.

Pressure Ulcer Stage 4

Full-thickness skin loss with exposed muscle, tendon, or bone.

Unstageable Pressure Ulcer

A wound where the base is covered by dead tissue (slough or eschar), making it impossible to see the true depth.

Deep Tissue Pressure Injury

Damage under intact skin appearing dark purple or maroon, or as a blood-filled blister due to pressure or shear.

Pressure Points

Areas of the body that bear weight or contact surfaces most at risk for sores, such as heels, hips, sacrum, and elbows.

Bony Prominences

Sites where bone is close to the skin surface, such as the ankles, sacrum, trochanter, and scapula.

Pressure Relief Measures

Interventions such as repositioning at least $q2h$, floating heels, and using gel pads or special mattresses to reduce skin pressure.

Personal Care

Assistance with hygiene, grooming, perineal care, and comfort measures like a back massage.

Pediculosis

Infestation of lice, categorized as capitis (head), corporis (body), or pubis (pubic area).

Turning & Positioning

Regularly changing a patient's body position using pillows for alignment to prevent bed sores and increase comfort.

Perineal Care

The process of cleaning the genital and anal areas; cleaned front to back for females and tip to base for males.

Catheter Care

Cleaning around the urethral meatus and the catheter tubing ($4-6\,\text{in}$ or $10-15\,\text{cm}$ away from the body) to prevent infection.

Complete Bath

A full-body bath provided by a caregiver for a dependent patient, maintaining privacy and warmth.

Partial Bath

Bathing only specific key areas including the face, hands, underarms, back, and perineal area.

Sitz Bath

A warm water bath for the perineal and rectal area used to reduce pain, swelling, and promote healing.

Whirlpool

A therapeutic tub using moving water to cleanse skin and increase circulation and comfort.

Hand & Nail Care

The act of soaking, cleaning, and trimming nails; caregivers should not cut nails for diabetics without a specific order.

Foot Care

Washing and inspecting feet, drying well between toes; essential for diabetics to prevent complications.

Shaving Safety

The practice of shaving in the direction of hair growth and using electric razors specifically for patients on anticoagulants to reduce bleeding risk.

Affected Side / Weak Side

The side of the body impaired by stroke, injury, or illness which must be protected and supported during care.

Dressing a Patient

The protocol of dressing the affected/weak side first and undressing the strong side first.

Intravenous (IV) Therapy Care

Protecting the IV site and tubing while dressing by threading the bag through the sleeve and gowning the IV side first.

Anti-Embolism Stockings (TED hose)

Elastic stockings worn to improve venous return, improve circulation, and help prevent blood clots or DVT.

Oral Care

Cleaning the teeth, gums, tongue, and mouth; includes using suction for unconscious patients to prevent aspiration.

Denture Care

Brushing artificial teeth with cool water and storing them moist in a labeled container when not in use.

Aspiration Precautions

Techniques to prevent inhalation of substances into lungs, including sitting upright at $\ge 75-90^{\circ}$ and checking for pocketing food.

Lateral Position

A side-lying position with pillows supporting the head, back, and between the knees/ankles.

Sim's Position

A left-side semi-prone position with the right knee and hip flexed, often used for rectal procedures and enemas.

Dorsal Recumbent Position

A position where the patient lies on their back with knees flexed and feet flat.

Prone Position

Lying face down on the abdomen with the head turned to one side.

Supine Position

Lying flat on the back, face up, with pillows used to maintain alignment.

Shearing

Skin and tissue damage resulting from skin layers sliding against each other, often when a patient slides down in a bed or chair.

Semi-Fowler's Position

A sitting position where the head of the bed is raised to a $30-45^{\circ}$ angle.

High Fowler's Position

A sitting position where the head of the bed is raised to a $60-90^{\circ}$ angle.

Logrolling

A method of turning a patient as a single unit to maintain spinal alignment, commonly used after spinal surgery or injury.

Open Bed

A bed with sheets folded down, indicating it is ready for a patient's use.

Closed Bed

A bed made after a patient's discharge with top covers pulled up, kept empty and neat for a new admission.

Surgical Bed

A bed prepared specifically for a patient returning from a surgical procedure.

Draw Sheet

A small sheet placed under the patient to assist with lifting and repositioning.

Mitered Corner

A specific folding method used to tuck and secure linens neatly under the mattress.

Occupied Bed

The process of making a bed while the patient remains in it.

Orthotics

Support devices such as leg braces or hand splints used to support weak body parts and improve mobility.

Fractured Bedpan

A shallow, wedge-shaped bedpan designed for patients with limited mobility or hip/back injuries.

Commode

A portable toilet chair; types include bedside, bariatric, and 3-in-1 (can be a raised toilet seat or shower chair).

Urinal

A container used for urination in bed, with specific designs for male and female anatomy.

OSHA Standards / Ergonomics

Workplace safety practices focused on proper body mechanics to reduce injuries from lifting and bending.

Mechanical Lifts

Hydraulic or electric equipment, such as a Hoyer lift, used to move dependent patients who cannot bear weight.

Pivot Transfer

A transfer method where the patient stands and turns to move from one surface to another.

Trapeze

An overhead bar above the bed that allows patients to assist in their own repositioning.

Ace Wrap

An elastic bandage used to provide support and reduce swelling.

Incontinent Care

The practice of cleaning and protecting skin after the loss of bladder or bowel control to prevent breakdown.

Foot Drop

A condition involving weakness or nerve damage that causes an inability to lift the front of the foot, causing toes to drag.

Stasis Ulcers

Open wounds on the lower legs caused by poor circulation.

Paralysis vs. Paresis

Paralysis refers to the full loss of movement, while paresis refers to partial weakness.