Chapter 1 

Chapter 1

Key Terms

• Acute Illness: An illness of rapid onset and short duration; the person is expected to recover.
• Admission: The official entry of a person into a health care setting.
• Assisted living residence (ALR); Provides housing, personal care, support services, health care, and social activities in a home-like setting to persons needing help with daily activities.
• Chronic illness: A long-term health condition that may not have a cure; it can be controlled and complications prevented with proper treatment.
• Discharge: The official departure of a person from a health care setting.
• Health team: The many health care workers whose skills and knowledge focus on the person’s total care; interdisciplinary health care team.
• Hospice: A health care agency or program that promotes comfort and quality of life for the dying person and the person’s family.
• Licensed practical nurse(LPN): A nurse who has completed a practical nursing program and had passed a licensing test; also known as a licensed vocational nurse(LVN).
• Nursing assistant: A person who has passed a nursing assistant training and competency evaluation program (NATCEP): performs delegated nursing task under supervision of a licensed nurse.
• Nursing team: Those who provide nursing care - RNs, LPNs/LVNs, and nursing assistants.
• Registered nurse (RN): A nurse who has completed a 2-,3-, or 4-year nursing program and has passed a licensing test.
• Regulations: Rules made by government agencies.
• Survey: The formal review of an agency through the collection of facts and observations.
• Surveyor: A person who collects information by observing and asking questions.
• Terminal illness: An illness or injury from which the person will not likely recover.

Key Abbreviations

• ALR: Assited living residence.
• APRN: Advanced practice registered nurse.
• DON: Director of nursing.
• HHS: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
• LPN: Licensed practical nurse.
• LVN: Licensed vocational nurse.
• RN: Registered nurse.
• SNF: Skilled nursing facility.

Other Vocabulary

• Licensure: A state license is required to operate and provide care.
• Certification: Required to receive Medicare and Medicaid funds.

Chapter Review

1. Who is the focus of care? The persons total care.
2. What are the purposes of health care? Health promotion and disease prevention, detection and treatment of disease, rehabilitation and restorative care.
3. Who is responsible for the entire nursing staff and nursing care given? The Director of Nursing (DON).
4. Who oversees a work shift, nursing unit, or certain nursing functions? Nursing supervisors and nurse managers.
5. What is the charge nurse responsible for? All nursing care and nursing staff actions during that shift.
6. What do RN’s do? they assess, make nursing diagnoses, plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care.
7. Do RN’s prescribe treatments or drugs? No
8. What is functional nursing? It focuses on the task and jobs. Each nursing team member has certain task and jobs to do. Ex: One nurse gives all drugs.
9. What is team nursing? It involves a team of nursing staff lef by an RN “team leader”.The team leader delegates care to other nurses and nursing assistants.
   10. What is primary nursing? The primary nurse is responsible for the persons total care. The nursing team assists as needed.
   11. What is Case management? A nursing care manager coordinates the care of specific groups of patients from admission through discharge and into the home or long-care setting.
   12. What is patient-focused care? Services are moved from departments to the bedside. Besides nursing care, the nursing team performes basic skills usually done by other health members. Ex: The RN draws blood.
   13. What programs help pay for health care? Private insurance, Group insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, ad health insurance marketplace.
   14. What is private insurance? Its bought by individuals and families.
   15. What is group insurance? Its bought by groups or organizations for individuals. (Often an employee benefit.)
   16. What is Medicare? Its a federal program for persons 65 years of age or older.
   17. What is Medicaid? Its jointly funded by the federal government and the states.
   18. What is Health insurance marketplace? Its a service that helps people shop for and enroll in affordable health insurance.
   19. Who is responsible for protecting the health and well-being of Americans? The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).
   20. What will a survey team do? -Review policies, procedures, and medical records. -Interview staff, patients and residents, and families. -Observe how care is given. -Observe if dignity and privacy are promoted. -Check for cleanliness and safety. -Make sure staff meet state requirements.
   21. What is your role in the survey process? -Provide quality care. -Protect the persons rights. -Provide for the persons and your own safety. -Help keep your agency clean and safe. -Act in a professional manner. -Have good work ethics. -Follow agency policies and procedures. -Answer the questions honestly and completely.
   22. what is the role of the nursing case manager? Coordinates care of specific groups of patients from admission through discharge.
   23. What is the role of the nurse in charge of staff development? To provide nursing education to the staff.