Certified Nursing Assistant Vocabulary

200 flashcards covering CNA vocabulary terms from the transcript.

Abandonment

Leaving a resident unattended without staff coverage or proper authorization.

Abdominal thrust

An emergency technique used to dislodge a foreign object from the airway of a choking person.

Abuse

Purposeful mistreatment, harm, or injury inflicted on a resident.

Accidents

Unintentional occurrences that cause injury, damage, or harm to a resident.

Accountable

Being answerable and responsible for one's own actions and professional duty.

Activities

Planned physical, social, or mental tasks designed to engage residents in daily life.

Acute

A sudden, sharp, or severe condition of short duration.

Adaptive devices

Special equipment designed to assist residents with physical disabilities in performing daily tasks.

Adduction

Moving a body part toward the midline of the body.

ADL

Activities of Daily Living, including basic daily self-care tasks such as eating, bathing, dressing, and toileting.

Admitting resident

The formal process of receiving and orienting a new resident into a care facility.

Advance directives

Legal documents specifying a person's preferences for medical treatments if they become unable to make decisions.

Aging process

The natural physiological changes and developmental progression that occur as a person grows older.

AIDS

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, a chronic condition caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) affecting the immune system.

Alzheimer's

A progressive disease that causes brain cells to degenerate, leading to memory loss and cognitive decline.

Ambulation

The ability or act of walking independently or with assistance.

Angina

Chest discomfort or pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.

Anti-embolic/elastic stocking/TED hose

Specialized footwear or elastic stockings used to prevent blood clots and promote blood circulation in the legs.

Antibiotics

Medications designed to destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria.

Aphasia

The total or partial loss of the ability to use or understand spoken or written language.

Arthritis

Inflammation or degeneration of one or more joints causing pain, stiffness, and reduced movement.

Aspiration

Inhaling food, fluid, or foreign objects into the airway or lungs.

Assistive device

An item or piece of equipment used to help a resident perform tasks or move safely.

Basic needs

Fundamental requirements for human survival and well-being, including air, water, food, shelter, safety, and comfort.

Bathing

Cleaning the body to maintain hygiene, skin health, and comfort.

Blindness

Partial or total loss of sight.

Body mechanics

The efficient and safe use of the body to move objects or people without causing strain or injury.

Body systems

Groups of related organs that work together to perform specific bodily functions.

Call light

A communication device that allows residents to signal nursing staff for assistance.

Cardiac arrest

Sudden loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness.

Care plan

An individualized document outlining the resident's medical needs, goals, and daily care routines.

Catheter care

The process of cleaning and maintaining a urinary catheter to prevent infection.

Chain of command

The official hierarchy that outlines reporting procedures and line of authority in a healthcare facility.

Charge nurse

A registered or licensed practical nurse responsible for managing a nursing unit or shift.

Choking

Blockage of the airway caused by food or foreign objects, preventing breathing.

Chronic

A long-lasting or recurring health condition that develops over time.

Circulatory system

The body system consisting of the heart, blood, and blood vessels that transports oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.

Clergy

Authorized religious leaders who provide spiritual guidance and emotional support to residents.

Cognitively impaired

A state of reduced mental functioning affecting memory, thinking, or judgment.

Combative resident

A resident who exhibits aggressive, violent, or physically resistive behavior.

Communication

The exchange of information, thoughts, ideas, or feelings through speaking, writing, or body language.

Confidentiality

The practice of keeping medical records and personal information private and secure.

Conflict resolution

The process of addressing and settling disagreements or disputes peacefully.

Confused resident

A resident experiencing mental disorientation regarding person, place, time, or situation.

Constipation

Difficulty or irregularity in passing hard, dry stool from the bowels.

COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, a progressive lung disease causing airflow blockage and breathing difficulty.

Cultural

Relating to the shared beliefs, customs, values, and practices of a specific group of people.

CVA

Cerebrovascular Accident, commonly known as a stroke, caused by interrupted blood flow to part of the brain.

Death and dying

The natural, terminal end stage of life and the processes surrounding end-of-life care.

Decubitus ulcer

An open skin wound caused by prolonged pressure on a specific area of the body, also known as a pressure injury or bedsore.

Dehydration

Excessive loss of water and fluids from the body.

Dementia

A general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life.

Denial

A psychological defense mechanism involving the refusal to accept or acknowledge reality or facts.

Dentures

Artificial replacement teeth used by individuals who have lost their natural teeth.

Depression

A mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and decreased energy.

Diabetes

A metabolic disease in which the body's ability to produce or respond to insulin is impaired, leading to elevated blood glucose levels.

Diet

The specific food and drink consumed by a resident, often tailored to individual health needs.

Discharging resident

The official process of releasing a resident from a care facility to another setting or home.

Disease process

The progression and development of a health condition or pathological state within the body.

Disinfection

The process of using chemicals to destroy most harmful microorganisms on non-living surfaces.

Disoriented

Being unable to recognize or place time, location, or personal identity.

DNR

Do Not Resuscitate, a legal order indicating that CPR should not be administered if a resident's heart or breathing stops.

Documentation

Written or electronic recording of resident care, observations, and vital statistics.

Dorsiflexion

The upward bending or movement of the foot or toes toward the shin.

Dressing

The process of putting on clothing or applying a protective covering to a wound.

Dysphagia

Difficulty or pain when swallowing.

Edema

Swelling caused by an abnormal accumulation of fluid in body tissues.

Elimination

The bodily process of expelling waste products via urine and feces.

Emergency procedures

Established action steps followed by healthcare workers during unexpected critical situations.

Emesis

The act of vomiting or expelling stomach contents through the mouth.

Emotional needs

Psychosocial requirements for affection, respect, security, and emotional comfort.

Empathy

The ability to understand, share, and appreciate another person's feelings and perspective.

End of life care

Healthcare and supportive services provided to individuals in the final stage of terminal illness.

Ethics

Moral principles that govern a person's behavior and conduct in a professional environment.

Falls

Unintentional events resulting in a person coming to rest on the floor or ground.

Feeding

The act of assisting or providing food and nourishment to a resident.

Fire safety

Protocols and procedures implemented to prevent, manage, and protect against fires in a facility.

Gait belt/transfer belt

A safety belt applied around a resident's waist to assist with safe transfers and ambulation.

Gloves

Personal protective equipment worn on the hands to prevent cross-contamination and control infection.

Grieving process

The psychological and emotional response experienced after suffering a loss.

Hair care

Daily grooming activities related to washing, brushing, and styling a resident's hair.

Hand washing

Cleansing hands with soap and running water to remove pathogens and prevent infection spread.

Health-care team

A multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals collaborating to care for a resident.

Hearing aid

An electronic battery-operated device designed to improve hearing for individuals with hearing loss.

Hearing impaired

Having a partial or total inability to hear sounds.

HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a federal law protecting resident health information privacy.

Incontinence

The inability to control the release of urine or bowel movements.

Indwelling catheter

A flexible tube inserted into the bladder to continuously drain urine over an extended period.

Infection control

Procedures and practices implemented in healthcare facilities to prevent the transmission of infections.

Insulin

A hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood glucose levels in the body.

Intake and output

The measurement and recording of all fluids taken into and excreted from the body over a specified period.

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills and personal qualities used when interacting and communicating with others.

Isolation

Measures used to separate contagious residents from others to prevent infection spread.

Lift/draw sheet

A sheet placed under a resident to assist staff in turning, repositioning, or moving them in bed.

Linen

Bedding materials including sheets, pillowcases, and blankets used in resident care areas.

Masturbation

Self-stimulation of the genitals for sexual pleasure, which is a natural private behavior requiring privacy.

Medications

Drugs or substances prescribed to treat, prevent, or manage medical conditions.

Microorganism

A microscopic organism such as bacteria, virus, fungus, or protozoa that may cause infection.

Mobility

The ability of a resident to move freely and independently.

Mouth care

Oral hygiene procedures involving cleaning the teeth, gums, tongue, and interior of the mouth.