California CNA flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Normal adult oral temperature

About 97.6 to 99.6 degrees Fahrenheit (36.5 to 37.5 Celsius); rectal and tympanic readings run about 0.5 to 1 degree higher than an oral reading.

Normal adult pulse range

60 to 100 beats per minute at rest. Count for 30 seconds and multiply by two when the rhythm is regular, or count a full minute when it is irregular.

Normal adult respiratory rate

12 to 20 breaths per minute. One rise and fall of the chest equals one breath; count a full minute when the rhythm is irregular or abnormal.

One ounce in milliliters

One ounce equals 30 milliliters, and a standard 8-ounce cup holds 240 milliliters. Both values are used when recording intake and output.

Perineal care washing direction

Wash from front to back, from the urethra toward the rectum, using a clean part of the cloth for each stroke so bacteria are not moved toward the urinary opening.

Caring for a resident's dentures

Handle dentures over a sink lined with a towel or filled with water to prevent breakage, and store them in a labeled cup covered with water when out of the mouth.

Repositioning an immobile resident

Turn and reposition residents who cannot move themselves at least every two hours, and more often if the skin is fragile or the care plan specifies a different schedule.

Dressing a resident with weakness

Put clothing on the weak or affected side first, then the strong side. When undressing, remove clothing from the strong side first.

Right to refuse treatment

A resident may refuse any treatment or medication. The nursing assistant accepts the refusal, does not force care, documents it, and reports it to the nurse.

Restraint release requirement

Restraints require a physician's order and must be released with repositioning and circulation checks at least every two hours, or more often according to facility policy.

Suspected abuse reporting duty

Report any suspicion of abuse, neglect, or exploitation immediately to the charge nurse and administrator; California law also requires reporting to the appropriate state agency.

Confidentiality of resident information

Share resident information only with the care team. Do not discuss residents in hallways, elevators, or dining rooms, or with family members not involved in care.

RACE fire response

Rescue anyone in danger, Alarm by pulling the fire station, Contain the fire by closing doors, then Extinguish or Evacuate as directed by facility protocol.

PASS fire extinguisher use

Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep from side to side until the fire is extinguished.

Care during a seizure

Ease the resident to the floor, protect the head, do not restrain or place anything in the mouth, then turn the resident to the side after the seizure ends.

Signs of shock

Pale, cool, clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, shallow breathing, restlessness, and falling blood pressure. Lay the resident flat, raise the legs, keep warm, and call the nurse.

When to wash with soap

Use soap and water instead of alcohol rub when hands are visibly soiled and after caring for a resident with Clostridioides difficile, because alcohol does not kill spores.

Order for removing PPE

Remove gloves first, then goggles or face shield, then the gown, and the mask last. Perform hand hygiene immediately after all PPE is removed.

Sharps disposal rule

Never recap, bend, or break a needle by hand. Drop it directly into the sharps container at the point of use, and never overfill the container.

Standard precautions apply to whom

All residents, regardless of diagnosis, because every person's blood and body fluids are treated as potentially infectious under standard precautions.

Aspiration warning signs during meals

Coughing, choking, a wet or gurgly voice, watery eyes, or food pocketed in the cheek. Stop feeding, keep the resident upright, and report to the nurse.

Positioning for a resident with dysphagia

Sit the resident upright at about 90 degrees, offer small bites, check the mouth for pocketed food, and keep them upright for at least 30 minutes after eating.

Meaning of NPO

Nothing by mouth: no food, no fluids, no ice chips, and no oral medications unless specifically ordered by the practitioner.

Signs of dehydration

Dry mouth, thirst, dark concentrated urine, poor skin turgor, confusion, and dizziness. Offer fluids and report the change to the nurse.

Responding to dementia-related delusions

Do not argue or try to prove the resident wrong. Acknowledge the feeling, offer reassurance, and redirect the conversation to a safe topic or activity.

Sundowning

Increased confusion and agitation that some people with dementia show in the late afternoon or evening; reduce noise and activity and keep evening routines predictable.

Behavior as communication

Unwanted behavior often signals an unmet need such as pain, hunger, needing the toilet, fatigue, or too much noise; look for and remove the trigger.

Signs of depression to report

Withdrawal from activities, loss of appetite, sleeping too much or too little, crying, hopeless statements, or talk of dying. Report any of these to the nurse.

Communicating with a hearing-impaired resident

Face the resident when speaking, get their attention first, lower the pitch of your voice rather than shouting, reduce background noise, and use written notes if needed.

Communicating with a resident who has aphasia

Speak slowly, use short sentences and yes-or-no questions, allow extra time, and use gestures, pictures, or a communication board. Do not finish their sentences.

Objective versus subjective charting

Objective entries record what you saw, heard, or measured, such as 'ate 50 percent of breakfast.' Subjective entries record opinions or judgments and should be avoided.

Working with a medical interpreter

Use a qualified interpreter, not a family member or another resident, for medical information; speak directly to the resident and keep sentences short.