health sci final
Personal Qualities of a Healthcare Worker
How should a healthcare worker dress?
Clean, wrinkle-free uniform, supportive shoes, limited jewelry, neutral undergarments.
How should healthcare workers keep their fingernails?
Short, rounded, clean, with only clear/neutral polish.
What are desirable traits of a healthcare worker?
Positive attitude, honesty, flexibility, communication, professionalism, enthusiasm.
Why should a healthcare worker set goals?
To grow personally and professionally and monitor progress.
Safety Precautions
How should you greet and identify a patient?
Knock, introduce yourself, respect privacy, check wristband, ask full name and DOB.
What should a healthcare worker do after a safety violation?
Report it immediately to a supervisor.
Which agency enforces workplace safety standards?
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Difference between negligence, malpractice, and liability?
Negligence = failure to provide care; malpractice = professional misconduct causing harm; liability = legal responsibility.
Most common healthcare worker injury?
Back injuries, strains, sprains.
What should you do if a patient starts falling?
Lower them safely and call for help.
What are supine, prone, Fowler’s, and Semi-Fowler’s positions?
Supine = flat on back; prone = face down; Fowler’s = sitting upright; Semi-Fowler’s = reclined at 45°.
When lifting, what should you do?
Bend at knees/hips and use leg muscles.
What if the main exit is blocked by fire?
Use a secondary exit.
Purpose of Safety Data Sheets (SDS)?
Explain chemical safety, handling, and spill procedures.
What acronym helps remember fire procedures?
RACE = Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish/Evacuate.
PASS = Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.
What sickness comes from contaminated food?
Foodborne illness.
Infection Control
What causes infectious disease?
Pathogens/microorganisms invading the body.
What are the 4 pathogens?
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites.
What are the steps in the chain of infection?
Infectious agent → reservoir → portal of exit → transmission → portal of entry → susceptible host.
Best way to prevent infection spread?
Handwashing.
Examples of medical and surgical asepsis?
Medical = handwashing/PPE; surgical = sterilization.
How can you identify biohazard waste?
Red bags/containers with biohazard symbols.
How are sharps disposed of?
In puncture-proof sharps containers; never recap needles.
Order of donning PPE?
Gown → mask → goggles → gloves.
Order of doffing PPE?
Gloves → goggles → gown → mask.
How long can gloves be used?
One patient/procedure only.
Which patients should be considered infectious?
All patients.
When should sterile gloves be worn?
During invasive procedures/open wound care.
What are standard, contact, airborne, and droplet precautions?
Standard = basic precautions for all patients.
Contact = gloves and gown.
Airborne = gloves, gown, N95 mask.
Droplet = gloves, gown, surgical mask/face shield.
Healthcare Systems
Who is the “Father of Medicine”?
Hippocrates
First pandemic during the Dark Ages?
Black Plague/Black Death.
Difference between epidemic and pandemic?
Epidemic = local spread; pandemic = worldwide spread.
What slowed disease spread in ancient times?
Sewer systems and water pipes.
Health Career Exploration
Advantages/disadvantages of healthcare jobs?
Advantages: good pay, stability, helping others.
Disadvantages: long hours, germs, emotional stress.
Healthcare career pathways?
Therapeutic, Diagnostic, Health Informatics, Support Services, Biotechnology Research & Development.
What does a phlebotomist, physical therapist, and pharmacy technician do?
Phlebotomist draws blood; PT helps movement/recovery; pharmacy tech assists pharmacists.
Medical Terminology
Prefixes: brady = slow, tachy = fast, bi = two, intra = inside.
Root words: ophthalm = eye, arthr = joint, hemat = blood.
Suffixes: -emia = blood condition, -ectomy = removal, -scopy = visual exam.
Abbreviations: qd = daily, bid = twice daily, tid = 3x daily, NPO = nothing by mouth, dx = diagnosis, rx = prescription.
Medical Math
Temperature conversion formula:
F=\frac{9}{5}C+32
Be able to convert standard ↔ 24-hour time.
Cultural Diversity
What is a generalization?
Broad observation about a culture.
What is a stereotype?
Assuming all people in a group are the same.
What is cultural competency?
Understanding and respecting different cultures in healthcare.
Wellness and Nutrition
Purpose of a Snellen chart?
Tests distance vision.
What medication requires written authorization?
Prescription medication.
Main source of energy?
Carbohydrates.
Define social, emotional, spiritual, and physical wellness.
Social = relationships; emotional = managing feelings; spiritual = values/purpose; physical = healthy body habits.
How much daily physical activity is recommended?
20–30 minutes.
Purpose of routine physical exams?
Prevent and detect health problems.
According to MyPlate, half your plate should be?
Fruits and vegetables.
What nutrient can the body survive only days without?
Water.
Therapeutic diet for heart disease?
Low sodium/low fat/low cholesterol.
Examples of simple carbohydrates?
Candy, soda, pastries, white bread.
Emergency Care / CPR / FBAO
Basic principles of first aid?
Assess, provide care, know limitations.
What is triage?
Prioritizing emergency care.
What does EMS stand for?
Emergency Medical Services.
What are dressings used for?
Control bleeding and prevent infection.
When are slings/splints used?
To immobilize injuries; always check circulation.
What are triangular bandages used for?
Head injuries and slings.
What is a cravat?
Folded bandage for limbs/head injuries.
Priority in treating shock?
Control cause, improve blood flow, provide oxygen.
Most important step for major open wounds?
Control bleeding.
What burn is partial-thickness?
Second-degree burn.
What wound tears tissue away?
Avulsion.
A stroke affects what organ?
Brain.
How do you treat a seizure?
Protect from injury, do not restrain, do not place objects in mouth.
Which is more dangerous: heart attack or cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrest because the heart stops beating.
What do you do when an AED analyzes rhythm?
Stand clear.
When should CPR stop?
AED/EMS arrives, victim recovers, exhaustion, or unsafe scene.
How are abdominal thrusts given?
Quick inward and upward thrusts.
How many back blows for a choking infant?
5 between the shoulder blades.
Communication
How can healthcare workers help patients understand information?
Use simple language and have them repeat instructions.
How can hearing challenges be overcome?
Sign language, gestures, writing, face patient while speaking.
Behavioral Health
Preoccupation with food/body weight is called?
Eating disorder.
What should you do if someone shows signs of depression?
Tell a trusted adult/professional and get help.