CNA Exam 1

activity director

individual who plans the activities for the resident and assists them to socialize and stay physically/mentally active

activities of daily living (ADL)

refers to activities of daily living such as bathing, toileting, grooming, dressing, etc.

acute

refers to an illness with a sudden onset, severe symptoms, and short duration

administrator

individual at the top of the chain of command who has ultimate responsibility for all aspects of facility operation and resident care

adult day care centers

facilities where care is provided during the day for individuals who reside in the community; generally for those who need some assistance and/or supervision but are not seriously ill or disabled

advanced practice nurse

registered nurse having education beyond the basic education required who is certified by a nationally recognized professional organization in a nursing specialty (nurse practitioner) or meeting other criteria established by a Board of Nursing

assisted living

centers where individuals live who need limited assistance rather than skilled care

call light

device used by residents to summon staff for assistance

certified nursing assistant (CNA)

individual who has completed a state-approved course and successfully passed the required competency evaluation

chain of command

line of authority in the facility which designates to whom each department/employee reports

chronic

refers to an illness with a gradual onset and long duration

clichés

phrases that are used frequently and which often have a different meaning than the words would indicate

communication

exchange of information

cultural differences

beliefs, values, habits, diets, and health practices; refers to the differences in a population; the varity of people living and working together

culture

a system of behaviors people learn from those with whom they live

culture change

a philosophy that focuses on providing person-centered care to the residents and creates a positive work environment for healthcare workers

denial

rejection of a thought or feeling; defense mechanism used to reduce stress by refusing to accept what is a reality

dependent

refers to a resident who requires staff assistance with ADL

dietitian

employee whose responsibility it is to plan menus, write special diets, and monitor the nutritional status of the residents

displacement

defense mechanism used to reduce stress by transferring a strong negative feeling to something or someone else

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

federal law that requires the security and privacy of health information

home health care

care provided in a person's home

hospice care

care/services for individuals who have an estimated 6 months or less to live with the focus on palliative care

housekeeping department

facility employees responsible for maintaining the building in a clean and sanitary manner

independent

having the ability to meet one's own needs without assistance

interdisciplinary care team

professionals from each discipline within the healthcare facility who meet, discuss, and plan the care of the resident

laundry department

facility employees responsible for laundering facility linens and the residents' personal clothing

licensed practical nurse (LPN)

nurse who completed a nursing program of 1-2 years and passed a state licensing examination; called LVN (licensed vocational nurse) in some states

long term care (LTC)

level of care for persons needing care on a 24-hour per day basis over an extended period of time

maintenance department

facility employees responsible for maintaining facility property

medical doctor (MD)

physician

non-verbal communication

communication without words; i.e. facial expressions, tone of voice, body language, gestures, posture, touch, etc.

objective information

factual information obtained through use of the senses, i.e. what is seen, heard, touched, or smelled; a direct observation

occupational therapist (OT)

therapist who helps residents learn to compensate for disabilities and be able to perform the necessary activities of daily living; individual who promotes therapeutic use of self-care, work, and recreational activities to increase independent function, enhance development, and prevent disability; may include adaptation of tasks or environment to achieve maximum level of functioning and optimal quality of life

ombudsman

a resident advocate; one who investigates complaints and helps achieve a resolution; advocates for the rights of residents

optometrist

professional responsible for examining the eyes and prescribing glasses

palliative care

care that focuses on the comfort and dignity of the person in the terminal stages of an illness; care that affords comfort rather than cure

person-centered care

a philosophical approach to nursing home care that honors and respects the opinions and preferences of the elderly and those working closes with them; it involves a continuing process of listening, trying new things, seeing how they work, and changing things in an effort to individualize care and de-institutionalize the nursing home environment

physical therapist (PT)

professional who provides therapy in the form of heat, cold, massage, ultrasound, electricity, and exercise to resident with muscle, bone, and joint problems

podiatrist

practitioner responsible for examining and caring for the feet

policy

a written course of action determined by the facility that should be followed every time a specific situation occurs

procedure

the steps to be taken to complete a particular task

professionalism

characteristics and behaviors suitable for persons engaged in a profession, i.e. maintaining a positive attitude, keeping information confidential, being polite, keeping a neat appearance, etc.

projection

defense mechanism use to relieve stress that involves seeing behaviors/feelings in others that are really one's own

qualified medication aide (QMA)

a CNA who completes a state approved pharmacology course and passes a state competency exam that qualifies him/her to administer certain types of medications in some healthcare facilities within a specific scope of practice

rationalization

defense mechanism used to relieve stress that makes an excuse to justify a behavior

registered dietitian (RD)

a professional who creates special diets for residents with specific needs and plans menus to ensure residents' nutritional needs are met

registered nurse (RN)

an individual who completed a 2, 3, or 4-year nursing program and passed a state licensing examination

regression

defense mechanism that helps relieve stress by returning to an old, immature behavior

repression

defense mechanism that helps relieve stress by blocking painful thoughts or feelings from entering the mind

respiratory therapist (RT)

individual who provides treatment and/or management of acute and chronic breathing disorders through the use of respirators or the administration of medication in aerosol form

scope of practice

refers to the tasks required for the job that are part of the CNA's training and education, i.e. feeding residents, assisting residents with toileting, making beds, etc.

skilled care

medically necessary care given by a physician, nurse, or therapist

slang

words or phrases specific to a generation that may not be recognizable and/or easily misinterpreted by someone of another generation

social worker

an individual who assesses the psychosocial functioning of residents/families and intervenes as necessary to arrange needed services

speech therapist (ST)

a person specially trained and qualified to assist residents in overcoming speech, language, and swallowing disorders

standard 14

the scope of practice for CNA's in Indiana as set by the Indiana State Department of Health

subjective information

information that is based on what a person thinks or something that was reported by another person which may or may not be true; information not personally observed

terminal illness

disease or condition that will eventually cause death

verbal communication

written or spoken messages

abuse

willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or punishment resulting in physical harm, pain or mental anguish

confidentiality

privacy of information

informed consent

consent given after having been informed of potential negative outcomes

involuntary seclusion

separation of a resident from others, from his/her room, or confinement against his/her will

misappropriation

misuse of property belonging to someone else (theft/destruction)

neglect

failure to take reasonable caution or care

OBRA (Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act)

law passed by the federal government establishing minimum standards for nursing homes and the training of nursing assistants

privacy

free of being disturbed or observed by others

resident rights

rights identified by OBRA relative to residents in long-term care facilities

restraints

chemical or physical devices that restrict voluntary movement or revise/restrict behavior

slander

malicious gossip with intent to harm someone's reputation

airborne precautions

special precautions taken when someone has a disease that is transmitted by microorganisms that remain suspended in the air or become trapped in dust and move with air currents

blood-borne pathogens

microorganisms in human blood which can cause infection and disease

body fluids

saliva, sputum, urine, feces, semen, vaginal secretions, and pus/wound drainage

causative agent

biological agent (pathogen) that causes a disease

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

federal governmental agency that issues guidelines relative to protection of health and methods to improve health

chain of infection

description of how a disease is transmitted from one person/source to another

contact precautions

special precautions taken when someone has a disease that is transmitted by touching a contaminated object, surface, or infected person

direct contact

touching an infected person or his/her secretions

disinfection

process in which chemicals are used to destroy microorganisms

droplet precautions

special precautions taken when someone has a disease that is transmitted through the air and only travels a short distance after being expelled

hand hygiene

hand washing with soap and water or cleaning hands with an alcohol-based foam/gel

healthcare associated infection (HAI)

infection acquired in a healthcare facility; nosocomial infection

indirect contact

transmission of a disease by touching an object that is contaminated

infection control

methods used to prevent and control the spread of infection

isolation

measures taken to separate someone with potentially harmful microorganisms from others to prevent the spread of infection

localized infection

an infection contained to a specific body part/site

mode of transmission

how a pathogen travels from one person to another

nosocomial infection

an infection acquired in a healthcare institution; also known as HAI (healthcare associated infection)

pathogen

disease-producing microorganism

personal protective equipment (PPE)

barrier between a person and a potentially harmful microorganism, e.g., gowns, gloves, masks, etc.

portal of entry

the way a pathogen enters the body

portal of exit

the way a pathogen leaves the body

reservoir

location where pathogens live and multiply

standard precautions

precautions taken when there is contact with any body fluid or non-intact skin/mucous membrane

sterilization

process that destroys all microorganisms

susceptible host

someone who could more easily be infected than a healthy person, e.g., the elderly, people with other illnesses, individuals who do not practice good infection control, etc.

systemic infection

infection that occurs when pathogens enter the bloodstream and move throughout the body causing generalized symptoms, e.g., fever, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.

transmission-based precautions

special precautions implemented on the basis of how the disease spreads

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

disease of the human immune system caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which makes the infected person more susceptible to other infections