Unit 2 FCS: Medical Assisting
Objectives
______________________________Infection Control and Safety ___________________
Define
Pathogenic: microorganism that causes infection
Communicable disease: illnesses/infections that spread from person to person
Medical asepsis: state of cleanliness
Biohazard waste: waste contaminated with infectious diseases
Normal flora: necessary for health human microbiome
Nonpathogens: does not harm/ cause disease to another organism
Universal precautions: safety precautions used with every client
Standard precautions: basic precautions
PPE: gloves, lab coat, wash hands, goggles
Microorganism: seen only through a microscope
needle safety and prevention act: include safer medical devices, such as sharps with engineered sharps injury protections and needleless systems,
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): protects workers from potential hazards & workers rights
Sanitization: cleaning + disinfection of an area & item
Disinfection: process of cleaning something, especially with a chemical, in order to destroy bacteria.
Give examples of a
Virus: infective agent that has a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat
Parasite: organism that lives in another organism (host)
Bacteria: single-celled organisms
Understand the infection cycle
Know all six components of the cycle
1. Infectious Agent
2. Reservoir
3. Portal of Exit
4. Mode of Transmission
5. Portal of Entry
6: Susceptible Host
Understand the difference between signs and symptoms
Signs: manifestation of disease physician observes
Symptoms: manifestation of disease patient observes
Understand the difference between Category I, II, and III
Category 1: not infectious
Category 2: mild infection
Category 3: serious biohazardous infectious agents
Discuss what living organisms need to survive
Water, food, habitat, air, sunlight
Understand what SDS
Safety Data Sheet: detailed informational sheet prepared by manufacturer to describe hazardous chemical product
Discuss how long someone should be washing their hands
20 sec (length of happy birthday song)
Discuss when someone should be using hand sanitizer and what percentage?
60% alcohol; only use when not able to wash hands
Understand what goes in a sharps container vs a biohazard bin
Sharps: any pointy material that can pierce/tear
Biohazard: any substance contaminated with blood/bodily fluid
____________________________Wound closures and cultures_______________________
(General Patient Care Part 2)
Define
Incision: surgical cut made in flesh/skin
Avulsion: tearing away body part surgically/accidently
Abrasion: scraping wearing something away
Puncture: wound made by pointed object
Sprains: injury to ligaments around bones
Laceration: underlying tissues are cut/torn
Strains: muscle is overstretched & tears
Maturation phase: final phase of wound healing when wound heals
Inflammatory phase: right after the injury when the injured blood vessels leak transudate (made of water, salt, and protein) causing localized swelling
Proliferating phase: 5-7 days where fibroblasts release new collagen to heal wound
Serous Drainage: clear to yellow fluid that drains. Healthy drainage
Sanguineous Drainage: fresh blood leaking from wound during beginning of inflammatory process
Purulent Drainage: synonym for infection. Thick, milky fluid oozing from wound
Exudate: fluid leaking from nearby blood vessels into nearby tissues
Discuss the difference between arterial and venous bleeding
Arterial: most severe, urgent bleeding when artery ruptures
Venous: flowing dark blood that lacks support from arterial system
Discuss the differences between 1st degree, 2nd degree, 3rd degree and 4th degree burns
1st Degree: red, non blistered skin
2nd Degree: blisters & thickening of skin
3rd Degree: widespread thickness, white appearance, nerve damage
Understand the difference between fractures
Closed fracture: bone is broken, skin intact
Comminuted fracture: bone broken in 2 places
Open fracture: injury exposed to external environment
Greenstick fracture: partial thickness fracture interrupted on 1 side, but fine on the other
Transverse fracture: bone is broken perpendicular to length
Oblique Fracture: bone broken at an angle
Spiral fracture: bone is broken in a twisting manner
_____________________________ The integumentary system _______________________
Define
Keratinization: epidermis cells are replaced w/ cells filled w/ protein
Dermis: 2nd layer of skin filled with blood vessels, cells, etc
Epidermis: top layer of skin that focuses on protection
Melanocytes: skin cells that produce melanin
Ceruminous glands: glands producing earwax
Hypodermis: deepest, 3rd layer of skin connecting skin to muscles
Melanin: protects skin from UV Rays & produces skin pigmentation
Sudoriferous glands: produces sweat
Sebaceous glands: produces sebum
Subcutaneous layer: synonym for hypodermis
Understand the A,B,C,D,E to skin cancer
Asymmetric, Borders, Color, Diameter, Evolving
Discuss what is considered cancerous
Tumors that can spread to other regions of the body w/ cells abnormally dividing uncontrollably
Discuss the function(s) to skin
Protection against microorganisms, dehydration, UV lights
Sensations: touch, temperature
Impetigo: common highly contagious skin infection caused by bacteria
Tinea: fungal skin infection
Psoriasis: chronic disease causing overactive immune system → skin cells over divide
Discuss what can cause the yellowish pigmentation in the skin
Blood levels of bilirubin increase (jaundice)
Discuss how basic skin color is caused
Melanin & environmental effects (tanning)
Basal cell carcinoma: cancer starting at the lower part of epidermis; appearing as a small white bump that grows slowly & bleeds
Label the 3 layers of the skin
Epidermis (top), dermis (middle), hypodermis (bottom)
Urticaria: itchy raised red areas as a reaction to allergies, environment, food
Decubitus Ulcers: damage to an area of skin caused by constant pressure on skin
Alopecia: no hair growth
Tetanus vaccine: vaccine protecting you from tetanus (lockjaw) an infection caused by bacteria
_______________ Autoclave, Handwashing, Suture & Staple removal _________________
Define
Sterilization: eliminate all microbial life
Non-adherent pad: sterile dressing without adhesive
Steri Strips: wrapped around wound to keep sterile
C&S:
Autoclave: strong, heated container used for chemical processes like sterilization
Forceps: tweezers used during surgery/lab
Benzoin Tincture: mild antiseptic to clean sores, cuts, wounds
Instrument Lubricant: prolongs instrument life
Discuss the appropriate time frame sutures and staples need to stay before they they are removed
Sutures/Stitches: 5-14 days
Staples: 7-10 days
Discuss why might a patient need sutures vs staples (purpose)
Sutures: more serious wounds to hold tissues together
Staples: quick wound closure; reduce surgery time;
Understand when can a medical assistant remove sutures
Only when injuries are superficial lacerations/ incisions
Discuss what should NOT go in an autoclave
Paper towels, clothes, rubber gloves
Discuss the purpose to the indicator strip inside the autoclave packaging
Changes to blue color when materials are properly autoclaved
Discuss how long an autoclave cycle should go
Approximately 30 min.
Discuss what's the process to packing the autoclave
How to package instruments: instruments should fit snugly w/ padding to provide cushioning and fill in gaps
How to load the autoclave: use cart to transfer items to be autoclaved; make sure machine is balanced & not overloaded
Discuss what information goes on the tape of the autoclave pouch (when the package is sealed)
Date, Time, Signature of MA, CCMA/SMA sign off