Matching Definitions in Nursing and Infection Control

Denial

Refusing to experience or accept a situation

Autism

A neurological disorder that impairs communication and social interaction

Verbal communication

Expressing information or ideas through the use of speech

Ethnicity

The national, cultural, or racial group that a person belongs to

Communication disorder

A speech or language problem that results in impaired interactions with others

Defense mechanisms

A way to protect one's self when feeling anxious or upset; may include denial, repression, or projection

Nonverbal communication

The use of body language and facial expressions to convey ideas or emotions

Therapeutic communication

A way of combining active listening skills and acknowledging feelings

Culture

A set of traditions and attitudes that are shared within a group of people

Projection

Attributing feelings or thoughts to another person

Empathy

To have understanding and compassion for others

Expressive aphasia

The inability to speak or to speak clearly

Repression

When the subconscious brain ignores thoughts or situations to protect oneself

Receptive aphasia

The ability to understand spoken language

Cultural competence

When one can accept the differences between one's self and the resident; willingly incorporating the resident's belief system into the caregiving process

Hospice

Offers specialty end-of-life care for clients who have less than 6 months to live

RCAC

A facility that is comparable to senior apartment living and that offers minimal care

CBRF

Offers care for residents needing skilled nursing care for a long period of time

Acute care facility

A healthcare facility that provides short-term care for clients who have an immediate illness or injury

Joint Commission

An entity that accredits and surveys most acute care facilities in the United States; formerly known as JCAHO

Scope of practice

Legislation that mandated many regulations regarding the care of residents, resident rights, and the training requirements for nursing assistants

Chain of command

A system that outlines the order of authority within an organization

Ombudsman

A volunteer who helps to protect the rights of residents by investigating complaints or reports of violations of resident rights

Respite care

Services that provide a safe environment for older adult clients or developmentally disabled clients over the age of 18

Long-term care facility

A facility that bridges the gap between living independently and living in a healthcare facility such as a nursing home

OBRA

Legislation that mandated many regulations regarding the care of residents, resident rights, and the training requirements for nursing assistants

Delegated task

A task assigned to a nursing assistant by a licensed nurse

Infection control

Preventing or limiting the spread of germs

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Specialty equipment that acts as a barrier between the healthcare worker and potentially infectious bodily fluid

Immunity

Bodily defenses (antibodies) that prevent illness from occurring upon exposure to a specific germ

Primary prevention

Preventing disease before it starts

Antibody

A body defense against a specific invader, produced by either a vaccine or exposure to the disease itself

Germ theory

The idea that microorganisms are the cause of most illnesses