Foundations of Resident Care - Infection Control, Safety, and Communication

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering infection control, Standard Precautions, PPE donning/doffing, medical emergencies, body mechanics, and therapeutic communication from Foundations of Resident Care.

Donning PPE

The correct sequence for putting on personal protective equipment: 1st wash hands, 2nd gown, 3rd mask, 4th goggles, and 5th gloves.

Doffing PPE

The correct sequence for removing personal protective equipment: 1st gloves, 2nd goggles, 3rd gown, 4th mask, and 5th wash hands.

Sterilization

A cleaning measure that destroys all microorganisms, not only pathogens.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

A bacterium almost always spread by direct physical contact, though it can spread through indirect contact with contaminated objects; controlled effectively through handwashing.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)

A bacterium that causes life-threatening infections in people with weak immune systems; spread can be prevented by frequent handwashing.

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)

A spore-forming organism causing diarrhea whose risk increases with antibiotic use; hands must be washed with soap and water because alcohol hand sanitizers are not equally effective.

Employer Infection Prevention Responsibilities

Facility requirements including providing PPE and training, offering continuing in-service education, establishing exposure control plans, and providing free hepatitis B vaccinations.

Employee Infection Prevention Responsibilities

Staff requirements including immediately reporting exposure incidents, following facility policies and care plans, using provided PPE as indicated, participating in annual education, and receiving the hepatitis B vaccine.

Hand Hygiene

A cleaning procedure defined by the CDC as handwashing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rubs, requiring friction lathering for at least 20 seconds.

Standard Precautions

Infection prevention practices applied to every single resident under a nursing assistant's care, such as wearing gloves whenever there is a possibility of contact with blood or body fluids.

Transmission-Based Precautions

Targeted infection control measures applied in addition to Standard Precautions for residents who have or are suspected of having specific contagious diseases.

Dedicated Equipment

Care equipment assigned to and used by only one resident to prevent cross-contamination.

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)

Infections acquired by patients or residents while receiving care within healthcare settings.

Mode of Transmission

The link in the chain of infection representing how a disease travels or spreads, which is broken by wearing gloves.

Susceptible Host

The link in the chain of infection referring to a person likely to contract a disease, which is protected or fortified by receiving vaccinations such as the hepatitis B vaccine.

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)

A bloodborne disease spread through contaminated blood or needles, for which employers must offer a free vaccine to nursing assistants.

Tuberculosis

An infectious airborne disease that is transmitted through pathogens suspended in the air.

Biohazard Containers

Specially designated, puncture-resistant disposal receptacles used strictly for sharp items such as needles.

First Aid

Initial care given by the first individuals to respond to a medical emergency before advanced medical help arrives.

PASS

An acronym describing fire extinguisher operation: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep back and forth at the base of fire.

RACE

An acronym describing emergency fire response: Remove the residents, Activate alarm, Contain fire if possible, and Extinguish.

Stop, Drop, and Roll

A fire safety response used if clothing ignites: stop what you are doing, drop onto the ground, and roll to extinguish the fire.

Proper Lifting Technique

The body mechanics shown in drawing B: lifting with the legs and bending the knees while keeping the back straight to prevent back injury.

Signal Coordination

The practice of using a shared count (such as counting to three) so everyone involved moves simultaneously when transferring a resident.

Insulin Reaction

A complication of hypoglycemia in diabetes requiring immediate consumption of rapidly absorbed food or a glucose tablet.

Root

The fundamental part of a medical word that contains its core, basic meaning.

Prefix

A word part attached before the root to help form a new word or modify meaning.

Suffix

A word part added to the end of a root that alters or completes the word's meaning.

Open-Ended Questions

Questions structured to elicit descriptive responses from residents rather than a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer.

Clichés

Overused phrases that lack genuine meaning and should be avoided by nursing assistants when communicating.

Body Language

A form of nonverbal communication consisting of posture, gestures, and facial expressions that caregivers must monitor when speaking.

Objective Observation

Information gathered directly through the senses that a nursing assistant can see, hear, smell, or touch (e.g., skin rash, rapid pulse, swelling, cloudy urine, wheezing).

Subjective Observation

Information that cannot be observed directly by the senses and must be reported by the resident (e.g., headache, nausea, chest pain, toothache, feeling sad).