Chapter 1: The Nursing Assistant in Long-Term Care

accountable

answerable for one's actions

activities of daily life (ADLs)

daily personal care tasks, such as bathing; caring for skin; fingernails and hair; eating; drinking; caring for the mouth and teeth; dressing; walking; transferring; eliminating; and communicating

acute care

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

adult day services

care for people who need some assistance or supervision during certain hours, but who do not live in the facility where care is given

allergy

an immune response by the body after exposure to a substance called an allergen; reactions may be mild or life-threatening

animal-assisted therapy (AAT)

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

assisted living

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

care team

group of people with different kinds of education and experience who provide resident care

chain of command

the order of authority within a facility

charge nurse

a nurse responsible for a team of healthcare workers

chronic

long-term or long-lasting

cite

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

conscientious

guided by a sense of right and wrong; principled

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

courteous

polite, kind, considerate

delegation

the assignment of tasks to another person that are within their scope of practice

dementia

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

diagnosis

the identification of a disease or condition by its signs and symptoms and through test results

empathetic

being able to identify with and understand the feelings of others

first impression

a way of classifying or categorizing someone or something at first meeting

functional nursing

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

holistic care

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

home health care

health care that is provided in a person's home

hospice care

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

intergenerational care

caring for children and the elderly in the same setting

joint commission

an independent, not-for-profit organization that evaluates and accredits different types of healthcare facilites

length of stay

the number of days a person stays in a healthcare facility

liability

the state of being legally responsible for something

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

a licensed nurse who provides skilled nursing care and gives treatments and medications

long-term care

24-hour care provided in long term care facilities for people with ongoing conditions

Medicaid

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

Medicare

the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, have certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure, or are ill and cannot work

nursing assistant (NA)

an unlicensed healthcare worker who performs assigned nursing tasks and gives personal care

outpatient care

care given to people who have had treatments, procedures, or surgeries had need short-term skilled care

person-centered care

a type of care that emphasizes the person needing care and their individuality and capability

policy

a course of action to be followed every time a certain situation occurs

primary nursing

a method of nursing care in which the registered nurse provides much of the daily care to residents

procedure

a method or way of doing something

professionalism

he use of proper standards of behavior at work and in work-related settings

registered nurse (RN)

a licensed nurse who assesses residents, creates the care plan, monitors progress, provides skilled nursing care, gives treatments and medications, and supervises the care given by nursing assistants and other members of the care team

rehabilitation

a program of care given by specialists, such as physical therapists, to restore or improve function after an illness or injury

resident

a person living in a long-term care facility

sandwich generation

people responsible for the care of both their children and aging relatives

skilled care

medically necessary care given by a killed nurse of therapist

subacute care

care given in hospitals or in long-term care facilities for people who need less care than for an acute (sudden onset, short-term) illness, but a higher level of care than for a chronic illness

team leader

a nurse in charge of a group of residents for one shift of duty

team nursing

method of nursing care in which a nurse acts as a leader of a group of people giving care

trustworthy

deserving the trust of others