CNA Key Terms

Acute Illness

A sudden illness where a person is expected to recover

Assisted Living Residence (ALR)

Provides housing, personal care, support services, healthcare, and social activities in a home-like setting to person’s needing help with daily activities.

Case Management

A case manager (RN) coordinates a person’s care from admission through discharge and into the home or long-term care setting.

Chronic Illness

An ongoing illness, slow or gradual in onset, it had no known cure; it can be controlled and complications can be prevented with proper treatment.

Functional Nursing

Focuses on tasks and jobs; each nursing team member has certain tasks and jobs to do.

Health Team

The many healthcare workers whose skills and knowledge focus on the person’s total care. Also known as Interdisciplinary care.

Hospice

A healthcare agency or program for person’s who are dying.

Licensed Practical Nurse/ Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN)

A nurse who has complete a one-year program and has passed a licensing exam to provide basic nursing care under the supervision of Registered Nurses or doctors.

Nursing Assistant

Someone who has passed a nursing assistant training and competency evaluation program; preforms delegated nursing tasks under the supervision of a licensed nurse.

Nursing Team

Those who provide nursing care; RN’s, LPN/LVN’s, and Nursing Assistants.

Patient Focused Care

Services are moved from departments to bedside.

Primary Nursing

An RN or primary nurse is responsible for the person’s total care.

Registered Nursing (RN)

A nurse who has complete a 2+ year program and has passed a licensing test.

Team Nursing

A team of nursing staff led by an RN who decides the amount and kind of care each person needs.

Terminal Illness

An illness or injury where a person will not likely recover.

Involuntary seclusion

Separating a person from others against his or her will, keeping the person to a certain area, or keeping the person away from his or her room without consent.

Ombudsman

Someone who supports or promotes the needs and interests of another person.

Representative

Any person who has legal right to act on the resident’s behalf when he or she cannot do so for himself or herself.

Treatment

The care provided to maintain or restore health, improve function, or relieve symptoms.