CNA VOCAB

Job Description

Job Description

Duties and responsibilities involved in a work position

Body Mechanics

Correct use and positions of the NA's body and muscles. Correct positions make the best use of strength to lift or move objects.

Transmission

To pass or spread germs from one person or place to another.

Fever

Higher than normal temperature indicating infection or illness.

Pulse Rate

Measures the number of times the heart beats per minute

Paraplegia

Loss of the ability to move the lower part of the body and both legs.

Durable Power of Attorney

A person appointed by the client to make decisions should the client be unable to do so due to illness or incapacitation

Cyanosis

Blue or gray color to the lips due to not enough oxygen in the blood

Hypoxia

Lack of oxygen in the body tissues

Active Range of Motion

AROM. Range of motion exercises that the resident does by him or herself to improve his/her range of motion.

Abuse

Hurting someone on purpose or threatening their safety. Can affect the residents mental or physical health. Abuse can include verbal, elder, financial, rape, and sexual assault. Can also include the use of technology.

Advance Directives

A legal that makes a persons wishes known regarding life support issues. The document is used in the event the person is unable to speak for him/herself

Aphasia

A brain injury that impairs the expression and understanding of language. The injury also affects reading and writing.

Bill of Rights

A state and federal law that protects the rights of residents in a long term care facility or community

Chain of command

A list of who reports or answers to whom

Confidentiality

Not sharing spoken and/or written words about a resident

Ethics

A standard of behavior for what is right or wrong

Etiquette

Rules of polite, courteous, kind, and respectful actions.

Exploitation

Taking advantage of a resident for personal gain

Facility

Provides rehabilitative, restorative, and/or ongoing skilled nursing care. Care is provided for residents in need of help with activities of daily living.

Involuntary Seclusion

Isolating a resident to his/her room or to a specific area in a nursing home. The isolation is against the resident or legal representatives consent.

Living Will

A type of advanced directive. A written, legal document that lists what medical treatments you would or would not want to be used to keep yourself alive. Also includes other decisions such as pain management or organ donation.

Neglect

When the resident is ignored and doesn't get proper care from the facility, its employees or service providers. The lack of proper care causes physical harm, pain, mutual anguish, or emotional distress.

Nursing Assistant (NA)

The person who provides personal care for residents. This person is under the supervision of a licensed nurse.

Ombudsman

The person who handles complaints between a resident and the nursing home.

Patient

A person that is receiving care from healthcare workers. The care is for physical and/or emotional illness.

Person-Centered Care

Supportive care centered on the resident. The resident makes their own choices over their daily lives.

Resident

Person, often elderly, living in a long-term care facility.

Resident Representative

A person chosen by the resident to act on their behalf. The person supports the resident in decision-making. The person accesses medical, social, or other personal information, receives notifications, and manages finances.

Team Work

Working and helping each other to reach a shared goal

Basic Human Needs

Requirements everyone needs for life. All people have the same basic needs. Basic needs include food, water, shelter, protection from environmental, and love.

Cognitive

The ability to think, reason, make decisions, and have memory.

Coping Mechanism

Things we do to help us handle stressful situations.

Culture

Pattern of living for group of people. Includes the groups values and beliefs

Development

The increase in mental, emotional, and social skills.

Developmental Tasks

Social, emotional, and psychological behaviors that are part of the life experience. Tasks change at different stages of life

Dignity

Maintain and improve the resident's self-esteem and self-worth

Diversity

Differences among people that include race, culture, gender, age and abilities

Ethnicity

Social group that has a common national or cultural tradition

Growth

Physical change that occur in the body such as increase in size and strength

Intervention

Actions taken to improve a situation

Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs

A system of five basic needs. These basic needs are considered to be necessary for all people.

Mental Health

A person's adjustments to life. The adjustments allow feelings of self-worth and comfort with life situations.

Race

Group of people with shared physical characteristics. Characteristics can include skin, color, facial features, blood type, or hair texture

Self Actualization

Reach your highest potential, and being satisfied with yourself.

Self Esteem

The need for sense of identity and to feel important and useful

Stereotyping

Placing a group of people into a category assuming they are all the same

Body Language

Use of postures, facial expressions, gestures, and movement to send a message. The person may or may not be aware of the message sent.

Care Plan

A written outline that identifies a resident's unique needs. Includes how health workers will assist the resident in meeting those needs.

Chart

The resident's medical record. A legal document that tells the resident's history, progress, and care plan.

Checklist

A written form used by the NA to check ongoing resident observations such as appetite or vital signs. Also called flow charts or flow sheets.

Communication

The exchange of thoughts, feelings, and information by verbal and nonverbal messages. The exchange can be by written, spoken, sign language, or electronic methods

Continuity of Care

Care of a resident that continues without interruption. All caregivers using the same methods and approaches. This allows the needs of the residents to be met.

Extremities

Arms or legs

Incident

An unexpected event that may cause harm to residents, employees, or any other person.

Non-Verbal Communication

Messages sent by means other than spoken or written words. Includes facial expressions, gestures, and body movements.

Objective

Observations measured by the NA by seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling and sometimes tasting

Receiver

The person who gets the message

Report

Communication of resident activity between team members. It occurs routinely at the change of shift.

Sender

The person who gives a message

Sign

A measurement or observation such as pulse, temperature, or amount eaten. Observed through sight, hearing, touch, or smell.

Subjective

Feelings measured only by the person; must be shared with others to be recognized.

Symptom

Statement made by the resident that you cannot see, hear, or touch. Example: "I have a headache."

Alcohol-Based hand rub (ABHR)

Refers to an alcohol containing solution designed to be rubbed into the hands to reduce germs

Assistive Device

Any item that is used by or in the care of a resident to promote their safety and function. Examples include handrails, grab bars, canes, wheelchairs, etc.

Body alignment

Position of the body so it can function properly

Chain on infection

Process of events that cause infectious disease in people

Contaminated

Dirty or soiled; having disease causing germs.

Disinfect

A cleaner or chemical used to kill most germs. The solution usually contains chlorine.

Gait Belt

Name given to a transfer belt when it is used to assist a resident when walking.

Germ

A common word for pathogens. Microorganisms that cause disease.

Hand Hygiene

Washing hands with soap and water or applying an antiseptic hand sanitizer or alcohol-based hand rub

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the virus that causes AIDS

Host

Plant, animal, or human that harbors an organism

Infection

The invasion of body by a pathogen which causes disease. Produces clinical signs of fever, redness, heat, or exudate

Infection Control

Practices which help to prevent the development and spread of disease

Intact

Unbroken, undamaged

Isolation

Keeping someone with a contagious disease in a special room, so they do not have contact with other people.

Medical Asepsis

Techniques used to control and reduce the spread of pathogens.

Microorganism

Tiny living bodies that cannot be seen with the naked eye; can only be seen with the microscope. Includes bacteria, germs, pathogens, and viruses

Pathogen

A kind of microorganism that causes disease or infection. Also known as a germ

Physical Restraint

Anything near or on the body which restricts a residents movement. Restrains prevent freedom of movement

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Special clothing or equipment worn for protection of employees and residents against infectious disease. Includes gown, gloves, and face-mask.

Respiratory Mask

A special mask that is fitted to the healthcare worker and protects against airborne diseases.

Safety

Practices that prevent harm or injury

Sputum

Mucus coughed up from the lungs

Standard Precautions

Steps used to protect residents and staff from contact with body fluids. These practices are used with all residents.

Sterilization

Removing or destroying all microorganisms on a surface

Transfer Belt

A special safety belt used to help move or walk with a resident.

Blood Pressure

One of the vital signs that checks the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries

BPM

Beats per minute

Bradycardia

Pulse rate under 60 beats per minute

Cannula

Plastic prongs placed in nose to deliver oxygen

Diastolic Pressure

Number at which the last sound is heard when taking a blood pressure. The lowest number is recorded

Dyspnea

Difficulty breathing

Expiration

Breathing out air

Hypertension

High blood pressure, 130/80 or higher

Hypotension

Low blood pressure, lower than 90/60

Inspiration

Breathing in air

Pulse

The beats of the heart. Felt by pressing an artery against a bone. Average is 60 to 100 beats per minute in an adult