Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

amb

ambulatory

BM

bowel movement

BP, B/P

blood pressure

c̄

with

c/o

complains of

DX

diagnosis

f/u

follow up

isol

isolation

p.c.

after meals (post cibum)

prn

as necessary

q (with a bar over it)

every

q.2h.

every 2 hours

q.h.

every hour

s (with line above)

without

stat

immediately

T

temperature

TID

three times a day (ter in die)

TPR

temperature, pulse, respiration

v.s.

vital signs

w/c

wheelchair

confusion can be caused by

UTI
low blood sugar
CVA
head trauma or head injury
dehydration
nutritional problems
fever
sudden drop in body temp
lack of oxygen
medication
infection
brain tumor
illness
loss of sleep
seizures
not using a hearing aid when necessary

cerebral palsy (CP)

condition characterized by lack of muscle control and partial paralysis, caused by a brain defect or lesion present at birth or shortly after

Spina Bifida

a congenital defect that occurs during early pregnancy when the spinal canal fails to close completely around the spinal cord to protect it

localized infection

redness
swelling
pain
heat
drainage

systemic infection

fever
chills
headache
change in other vital signs
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
mental confusion

activities of daily living (ADLs)

personal daily care tasks, including bathing, skin, nail, and hair care, walking, eating and drinking, mouth care, dressing, transferring, and toileting

acute care

24-hour skilled care for short-term illnesses or injuries; generally given in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers

animal-assisted therapy (AAT)

the practice of bringing pets into a facility or home to provide stimulation and companionship

assisted living

residences for people who do not need skilled, 24-hour care, but do require some help with daily care

charge nurse

a nurse responsible for a team of healthcare workers

cite

in a long-term care facility, to find a problem through a survey

continuity of care

an ongoing coordination of a resident's care over time, during which the care team is regularly exchanging information and is working toward shared goals

functional nursing

method of care that involves assigning specific tasks to each team member

holistic care

care that involves the whole person; this includes his or her physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs

hospice care

holistic, compassionate care for people who have approximately six months or less to live; care is available until the person dies

Joint Commission

an independent, not-for-profit organization that evaluates and accredits healthcare organizations

long-term care

24-hour skilled care provided for people with ongoing conditions who are generally unable to manage their ADLs

Medicaid

a medical assistance program for people with low incomes, as well as for people with disabilities

Medicare

A federal program of health insurance for persons 65 years of age and older, have certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure, or are ill and cannot work

Who makes up the majority of residents in long-term care - men or women?

women

what are three tasks that NAs do not usually perform?

1) insert or remove tubes
2) give tube feedings
3) change sterile dressings

Who is the most important member of the care team?

patient

List the "five rights" of delegation.

1. Right task
2. Right circumstance
3. Right person
4. Right direction/communication
5. Right supervision/evaluation

person-centered care

a type of care that places the emphasis on the person needing care and his or her individuality and capabilities

When surveyors visit a facility, what do they study and observe?

How well the staff cares for residents. They focus on how residents' nutritional, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs are met. They observe how staff interact with residents/patients.

When a surveyor asks an NA a question she does not know the answer to, how should she respond?

Tell the surveyor that you do not know the answer but will find out as quickly as possible. Follow up with the surveyor after you have the answer.

If an NA is following the chain of command, to whom would she normally report a problem?

Nurse

If an NA has forgotten the correct order in which to perform a procedure, which of the following would be the best way for her to proceed?

The NA should review the procedure before beginning.

age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

a condition in which the macula degenerates, gradually causing central vision loss

Alzheimer's disease (AD)

a progressive disease that destroys the brain's neurons, gradually impairing memory, thinking, language, and other cognitive functions, resulting in the complete inability to care for oneself; the most common cause of dementia.

bipolar disease

a type of mental health disorder that causes a person to have mood swings and changes in energy levels and the ability to function

cataract

a condition in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, causing vision loss

catastrophic reaction

reacting to something in an unreasonable, exaggerated way

central nervous system

the part of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord

cerebral vascular accident (CVA)

a condition that occurs when blood supply to a part of the brain is blocked or a blood vessel leaks or ruptures within the brain; also called a stroke

cogntive behavioral therapy (CBT)

a type of psychotherapy that is usually short-term and focuses on skills and solutions that a person can use to modify negative thinking and behavior patterns; often used to treat anxiety disorders

concussion

a head injury that occurs from a banging movement of the brain against the skull

dementia

a serious, progressive loss of mental abilities such as thinking, remembering, reasoning, and communicating

elope

in medicine, when a person with Alzheimer's disease wanders away from a protected area and does not return

epilespsy

a disorder of the nervous system that is characterized by recurrent seizures

Farsightedness

the ability to see distant objects more clearly than objects that are near; also called hyperopia

Glaucoma

a condition of increased pressure within the eyeball, causing gradual loss of sight.

Hallucinations

seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling things that are not there

hearing aid

a small device placed in the ear that amplifies sound

hemianopsia; hemianopia

loss of vision in one-half of the visual field, due to CVA, tumor, or trauma

Ménière's disease

A disorder of the inner ear caused by a build-up of fluid, which causes vertigo (dizziness), hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), pain, or pressure.

multiple sclerosis (MS)

a progressive disease in which the protective covering of the nerves, spinal cord, and white matter of the brain breaks down over time; without this covering, nerves cannot send clear messages to and from the brain in a normal way

nearsightedness

the ability to see objects that are near more clearly than distant objects; also called myopia

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

a type of mental health disorder characterized by intrusive, repetitive thoughts or behaviors that cause anxiety or stress

otits media

an infection in the middle ear that causes pain, pressure, fever, and reduced ability to hear

panic disorder

a type of mental health disorder characterized by panic attacks, which are repeated episodes of intense fear, along with physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, and an upset stomach

paraplegia

paralysis from the waist down

Parkinson's disease

a progressive disease that causes a portion of the brain to degenerate; causes rigid muscles, shuffling gait, pill-rolling, mask-like face, and tremors

peripheral nervous system

part of the nervous system made up of nerves that extend throughout the body and connect to the spinal cord

perseveration

the repetition of words, phrases, questions, or actions

phobia

an intense and irrational fear of a particular object or situation

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

a type of mental health disorder caused by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event

Psychotherapy

a method of treating mental health disorders that involves talking about one's problems with mental health professionals

quadriplegia

paralysis of all four limbs

reminiscence therapy

type of therapy that encourages people with Alzheimer's disease to remember and talk about the past

remotivation therapy

type of group therapy that promotes self-esteem, self-awareness, and socialization for people with Alzheimer's disease

rummaging

going through items that belong to other people

Schizophrenia

a type of mental health disorder that may involve acute episodes; affects a person's ability to think, communicate, make decisions, and understand reality

social anxiety disorder

a type of mental health disorder characterized by excessive anxiety about social situations; also called social phobia

spinal cord

the part of the nervous system inside the vertebral canal that conducts messages between the brain and the body and control spinal reflexes

sundowning

a condition in which a person gets restless and agitated in the late afternoon, evening, or night

validation therapy

a type of therapy that lets people with Alzheimer's disease believe they are living in the past or in imaginary circumstances

abandonment

Leaving a patient after care has been initiated and before the patient has been transferred to someone with equal or greater medical training.

abdominal thrust

a method of attempting to remove an object from the airway of someone who is choking

abductor wedge

designed to separate the legs of a patient. It is often used after hip surgery to prevent the new hip from "popping out". Prevents adduction.

abnormal vital signs

any reading outside of these ranges: Heart Rate 60-100, Blood Pressure 120/80, Temperature 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, 37 degrees Celsius, Respiratory rate 12-20 breaths/minute, Pulse Ox >95%; You report/Communicate to charge nurse.

absorption

The process by which nutrient molecules pass through the wall of the digestive system into the blood

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS)

group of clinical signs and symptoms associated with suppression of the immune system and marked by opportunistic infections, secondary neoplasms, and neurologic problems

acute

New, usually of rapid onset and of concern, opposite of chronic

adaptive equipment

Items such as eating utensils which are altered to make them easier to use by residents with functional limitations

adduction

Movement toward the midline of the body

advance directives

legal documents that allow people to choose what medical care they wish to have if they are unable to make those decisions themselves

afebrile

without fever

ambulation

walking

anemia

A condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood cells, in hemoglobin, or in total volume.