Basic Human Needs, Cultural Diversity, and End-of-Life Care

Vocabulary flashcards covering basic human needs, cultural sensitivity, coping mechanisms, stages of grief, end-of-life care, and postmortem procedures for nursing assistants.

Basic Human Needs

A hierarchy of five levels of needs shared by all people regardless of age, sex, or status, where physical survival needs must be met before psychological or emotional needs can be addressed.

Level 1: Physical Needs

The essential survival needs of a resident, which include food, water, air, shelter, clothing, proper rest, and waste elimination.

Level 2: Security Needs

The need to feel secure, stable, protected, and free from fear and anxiety, often supported by the nursing assistant projecting calmness, order, courtesy, and respect.

Level 3: Love and Belonging Needs

Also known as social needs, these relate to affection, closeness, love, and meaningful relationships with family, friends, or caregivers.

Level 4: Esteem Needs

The worth, value, or opinion one has of oneself; satisfied by feeling useful, feeling good about oneself, receiving praise for accomplishments, and having cultural, spiritual, and psychological supports.

Level 5: Self-actualization

The highest level of human needs, defined as living up to one's full potential by continuing to learn and grow throughout life.

Personal Space (U.S. Standard)

The comfortable physical distance between two people in the United States, typically defined as 18 to 26 inches.

Cultural Diversity

The variation in beliefs, values, religious traditions, clothing, healthcare practices, hygiene habits, and nonverbal communication across different cultures.

Grieving Process

A 5-step emotional response to loss or impending death that individuals experience in unique ways, moving through stages smoothly, out of order, or omitting some entirely.

Denial

The stage of the grieving process in which a resident refuses to accept the truth of a loss or impending death.

Anger

The stage of grief in which a resident acts out their feelings, directing hostility or frustration at those around them.

Bargaining

The stage of grief in which a resident attempts to make a deal or negotiate for more time.

Depression

The stage of grief characterized by sadness, feeling down, and becoming withdrawn.

Acceptance

The final stage of grief where a resident realizes death is a natural progression of life and experiences a sense of peace.

Coping Mechanisms

Responses to stress developed throughout a person's life that serve to protect feelings of self-esteem.

End-of-life Care

Care focused on addressing a resident's quality of life, comfort, dignity, and physical, emotional, and spiritual needs when death is near.

Hearing (in Dying Residents)

The last human sense to disappear before death, persisting even when a resident can no longer focus or speak.

Physical Signs of Impending Death

Clinical signs indicating death is near, including decreased responsiveness, relaxed lower jaw, pale/moist/cool skin, dusky lips and fingertips, rapid weak pulse, slow labored breathing, lower blood pressure, involuntary waste discharge, and unreactive pupils.

Postmortem Care

Care given to a deceased resident's body after a physician or nurse pronounces death, involving gentle handling, body positioning, closing eyelids, providing mouth care, bathing, and replacing soiled linens.