NURSE AIDE UNIT 3 TEST REVIEW

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering Modules I through W of the Nurse Aide Unit 3 review, focusing on body mechanics, nutrition, restraints, resident care, cognitive changes, mental health, pain management, and end-of-life care.

Body Mechanics

Refers to the way you hold your body when you move around.

Alignment

Also known as posture; how the head, trunk, arms, and legs are aligned with one another.

Base of Support

The foundation that supports an object; for a person, the feet are the base of support.

Center of Gravity

For a standing person, the pelvis is the center of gravity; a low center of gravity provides a more stable base of support.

Supine

Lying flat on the back with the chest facing the ceiling.

Prone

Lying on the abdomen.

Fowler’s

A reclined sitting position at an angle of $45-60$ degrees.

High Fowler’s

Sitting up almost straight at an angle of $60-90$ degrees.

Lateral

Lying on the right or left side.

Log rolling

Turning the patient/resident as a unit while maintaining the head, back, and legs in a straight line.

Nutrition

When the body takes and uses food and fluids to maintain health.

Malnutrition

Lack of proper nutrition due to lack of food intake, improper diet, or impaired use of food by the body.

Water

The most essential nutrient; it moves oxygen and nutrients into cells, removes waste, helps digestion, and maintains temperature.

Fats

Nutrient that helps the body store energy but may increase cholesterol levels and lead to heart disease.

Carbohydrates

Nutrient that supplies energy and helps use fats; extra fiber can help with elimination.

Protein

Nutrient essential for tissue growth and repair.

Vitamins

Nutrients needed to help the body function normally, such as Vitamins A and C.

Minerals

Nutrients that help build bones, make hormones, and help blood formation, such as Calcium and Iron.

1 serving size of meat, poultry or fish

Equivalent to the size of a deck of cards or the palm of the hand.

1 cup of rice, fruit, veggies or pasta

Equivalent to the size of a baseball or a hand/fist.

Special Diet

Also called a therapeutic or modified diet; ordered by the MD and planned by the dietician.

Advancing diets

When food is gradually re-introduced (usually after surgery), starting with NPO to ice chips, clear liquids, full liquids, mechanical soft, and finally regular food.

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing, which can lead to aspiration.

Dehydration

Occurs when fluid intake is less than fluid output.

Edema

Occurs when fluid intake is greater than fluid output, causing tissues to swell with water.

Restraint

A physical or chemical way to restrict voluntary movement or behavior.

Restraint Alternative

Measures used instead of restraints to distract the patient, such as encouraging attendance at activities or using an activity apron.

Restraint free care

An environment in which restraints are not kept or used for any reason.

Chemical Restraint

Drugs or drug doses used to control behavior or restrict movement.

Physical Restraint

Any manual method or physical/mechanical device attached to the body that cannot be removed easily and restricts freedom of movement.

False Imprisonment

The legal term associated with unnecessary restraint use.

Patient-centered Care

The practice of basing care on individual resident needs, preferences, and expectations.

Cognition

The ability to store knowledge in memory, recover it, and use it to answer questions or perform tasks.

Learning

The gaining of information, skills, and knowledge measured by an improvement.

Memory

Involves storing information in the brain for later use and the ability to recall it when needed.

Social Breakdown Syndrome

When a resident becomes cautious or chooses not to do a task for fear of failure, leading to feelings of incompetence and helplessness.

Basic Human Needs

Elements necessary for survival and physical/mental well-being, including oxygen, food, water, shelter, sleep, elimination, and activity.

Projection

A defense mechanism involving blaming others.

Rationalization

A defense mechanism involving giving a false reason for a situation.

Denial

A defense mechanism involving pretending a problem does not exist.

Displacement

A defense mechanism involving transferring feelings.

Alzheimer’s Disease

A progressive disease characterized by a gradual decline in memory, thinking, and physical ability over several years, typically progressing through $7$ stages.

Dementia

A progressive condition marked by multiple cognitive deficits such as memory impairment, aphasia, and inability to plan complex behavior.

Delirium

A state of severe sudden confusion that is usually reversible and triggered by acute illness or physical changes.

Delusion

A false belief.

Paranoia

An extreme or unusual fear.

Sundowning

Increased agitation, confusion, and hyperactivity that begins in the late afternoon and builds throughout the evening.

Wandering

Moving about the facility with no purpose and usually being unaware of safety.

Trigger

An event (environmental, physical, or emotional) that causes other events or behavioral reactions.

Mental Health

The ability to cope with and adjust to daily stressors with socially acceptable behaviors.

Mental Illness

A disturbance in the ability to cope or adjust to stress where behavior and function are impaired.

De-escalate

To cause a situation to become less dangerous or difficult.

Acute Pain

Temporary pain that can last from a few hours up to $6$ months, usually coming on suddenly due to injury or disease.

Chronic Pain

Long-term pain lasting $6$ months or longer that comes on gradually.

Grief

Deep distress or sorrow over a loss.

Advanced Directives

Legal documents such as Living Wills and Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney that allow people to decide their medical care in advance.

Living Will

A document that outlines the medical care a person wants, written while they are mentally competent.

Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney

A document that appoints someone to make healthcare decisions for a person if they become unable to do so.

DNR

Do Not Resuscitate; a medical order instructing professionals not to perform CPR if a person's pulse or breathing stops.

Hospice Care

A program for people who are dying (usually with less than $6$ months to live) that focuses on quality of life and comfort.

Palliative Care

Care focused on relieving pain, controlling symptoms, and minimizing side effects and complications.

Cheyne-Stokes breathing

A breathing pattern involving several shallow breaths followed by periods of no breathing for $5$, $30$, or $60$ seconds.

Apnea

The stopping of respiration.