AMCA NAC flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Scope of practice
- The legally permitted tasks a nursing assistant may perform under licensed nurse supervision; it excludes assessment, care planning, and resident teaching.
- Normal adult oral temperature
- Approximately 97.6 to 99.6 degrees Fahrenheit (36.5 to 37.5 degrees Celsius); values outside this range are reported to the nurse.
- Normal adult pulse range
- 60 to 100 beats per minute; count for a full 60 seconds when the rhythm is irregular or the rate is outside this range.
- Apical pulse
- A pulse counted at the apex of the heart with a stethoscope for a full 60 seconds, used for irregular rhythms or when ordered before digoxin.
- Normal adult respirations
- 12 to 20 breaths per minute; one breath equals one inspiration plus one expiration, and depth, rhythm, and effort are noted.
- Fowler position
- A position with the head of the bed elevated 45 to 60 degrees, often used for eating, breathing difficulty, or nasogastric tube feeding.
- Passive range of motion
- Exercises in which the nursing assistant moves the resident's joint through its range; the resident does not perform the movement. Stop if pain occurs.
- Intake and output conversion
- One ounce equals 30 milliliters, one cup equals 240 milliliters, and one teaspoon equals 5 milliliters; all fluids taken and measured output are recorded.
- Fall prevention measures
- Keep the bed low with brakes locked, call light within reach, non-skid footwear on, and side rails used only as facility policy allows.
- Restraint monitoring
- Restraints require a physician order and must be released, repositioned, and checked for circulation at least every 2 hours.
- Gait belt use
- A belt placed around the resident's waist to give a secure grip during transfers and ambulation; keep the resident close and bend at the knees.
- Pressure injury prevention
- Reposition at least every 2 hours, keep skin clean and dry, and inspect bony prominences such as the sacrum, heels, and hips each shift.
- Seizure first aid
- Lower the resident to the floor, protect the head, do not restrain or put anything in the mouth, time the seizure, and report if it lasts over 5 minutes.
- Incident reporting
- Any fall, injury, medication error, or skin change is reported to the nurse immediately and documented with objective facts only, without blame.
- Safe bath water temperature
- Approximately 105 degrees Fahrenheit or per facility policy; water is checked before use, especially for residents with decreased sensation.
- Standard precautions
- Infection control practices applied to every resident regardless of diagnosis, including hand hygiene, gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection as exposure requires.
- Hand hygiene priority
- Hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent infection; wash with soap and water when hands are visibly soiled or after C. difficile care.
- Alcohol-based hand rub
- Used when hands are not visibly soiled; rub all hand surfaces for at least 20 seconds and allow to dry completely before touching anything.
- Glove use rules
- Gloves never replace hand hygiene; change gloves between residents and between dirty and clean tasks on the same resident.
- PPE removal order
- Remove gloves first, then goggles, gown, and mask, performing hand hygiene last; when donning, gown first and gloves last.
- Airborne precautions
- Used for diseases such as tuberculosis or measles; requires an N95 respirator and a private room with negative pressure ventilation.
- Contact precautions
- Used for infections spread by direct or indirect contact; requires a private room when possible plus gloves and gown for all room entry.
- Body fluid exposure
- Wash the area with soap and water, report immediately, and follow the facility post-exposure protocol; do not squeeze or scrub the site.
- Sterile field rule
- Only sterile items may touch a sterile field; keep the field above waist level and never turn away from it.
- Objective documentation
- Recording only what can be observed or measured, such as vital signs and behavior, rather than opinions, guesses, or judgments.
- Correcting a chart error
- Draw a single line through the error, write 'error,' and initial and date it; never erase, white out, or write over an existing entry.
- SBAR handoff
- A structured report format using Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation to communicate a resident change concisely to the nurse.
- Resident confidentiality
- Resident information is shared only with the care team on a need-to-know basis and is never discussed in public areas or on social media.
- Reporting a change
- Any change in vital signs, mental status, pain, skin, intake and output, or behavior is reported to the nurse immediately; the assistant does not diagnose.
- Interpreter use
- A professional interpreter is used for residents with limited English; speak directly to the resident, not the interpreter, and avoid medical jargon.
- Resident right to refuse
- A resident may refuse care or treatment; the assistant respects the refusal, offers alternatives, and reports the refusal to the nurse.
- Hearing aid care
- Check that the hearing aid is clean, working, and properly in place; face the resident when speaking and keep the tone low and clear.