Delaware CNA flashcards

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

Normal adult pulse range

Sixty to one hundred beats per minute. Count the radial pulse for 30 seconds and multiply by two, or count for a full minute when the rhythm is irregular.

Counting respirations

Count for one full minute while the resident believes you are still taking the pulse; one rise and fall of the chest is one breath. Normal adult rate is 12 to 20 per minute.

Apical pulse

Heard through a stethoscope at the fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line, and counted for a full minute. Used when the radial pulse is irregular or before certain heart medicines.

Intake and output conversion

One ounce equals 30 milliliters and one standard cup equals 240 milliliters. All fluids taken by mouth and all urine, vomitus, and drainage are recorded in milliliters.

Orthostatic hypotension

A drop in blood pressure when a resident moves from lying to sitting or standing, which can cause dizziness and falls. Blood pressure is checked lying, sitting, and standing.

Sputum specimen collection

Collected in a sterile container from a deep cough, not from saliva, and sent to the laboratory promptly. The container is labeled with the resident's name and the time of collection.

Blanching test

Press a finger against a reddened area over a bony prominence. If the redness does not fade and return after the finger is removed, report a possible pressure injury.

Perineal care direction

Wash from front to back, cleaning the urethral area first and the anal area last, and use a fresh part of the washcloth for each stroke to prevent urinary infection.

Dressing a resident with hemiplegia

Dress the weak or affected side first, then the strong side. When undressing, remove clothing from the strong side first and the affected side last.

Denture care

Remove dentures, brush them with a soft brush over a sink lined with a towel or partly filled with water to prevent breakage, and store them in a labeled cup.

Water temperature for bathing

Use water no hotter than 105 degrees Fahrenheit, about 40.5 degrees Celsius. Test the temperature on your inner wrist before it touches the resident's skin.

Repositioning schedule

Turn and reposition an immobile resident at least every two hours to relieve pressure over bony prominences and prevent skin breakdown, and document the position used each time.

NPO

Nothing by mouth: the resident takes no food or fluids orally. Still provide mouth care, keep the lips moist, and report thirst or hunger to the nurse.

Fowler's position

A semi-sitting position with the head of the bed raised 45 to 60 degrees. Used for eating, for breathing difficulty, and to help prevent aspiration.

RACE fire response

Rescue anyone in immediate danger, pull the Alarm, Contain the fire by closing doors, then Extinguish or Evacuate. This is the order used when a fire is discovered.

PASS extinguisher use

Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side while staying a safe distance from the flames.

Adult CPR ratio

A single rescuer gives 30 chest compressions and then 2 rescue breaths. Compressions are at least 2 inches deep at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute.

Seizure care

Protect the head, move nearby objects away, and loosen tight clothing. Never restrain the person or put anything in the mouth; turn the resident on the side when the seizure ends.

Abdominal thrusts

Used for a conscious choking adult: stand behind the person, make a fist just above the navel, and deliver quick inward and upward thrusts until the object is expelled.

Incident report

A confidential form completed after any accident, error, or injury, using objective facts only. It is not part of the medical record and does not go in the chart.

Oxygen safety

Post no-smoking signs, keep oxygen away from open flames, avoid petroleum-based skin products, and store cylinders upright and secured so they cannot fall.

Aphasia

Loss or impairment of the ability to speak or understand language after brain injury. Speak slowly, use short sentences and yes/no questions, and allow extra time to answer.

Objective observation

A description of what you actually see, hear, or measure, such as "ate 25 percent of lunch," rather than an opinion or judgment about the resident.

Call light rule

Place the call light within the resident's reach before leaving the room, and answer it promptly, because answering lights is a priority that protects safety and dignity.

Hearing aid care

Check the battery, turn the aid off and remove it before bathing or sleeping, clean the earmold as instructed, and store it in a labeled container.

Validation approach

Responding to the feelings behind a confused resident's statement instead of correcting the facts. This reduces distress and avoids arguments about who is right.

HIPAA

A federal law protecting the privacy of a person's health information. Share details only with the care team and never discuss a resident in public areas.

Scope of practice

The set of tasks a nursing assistant may legally perform under delegation and supervision of a licensed nurse. Medication administration, sterile procedures, and teaching are excluded.

Chain of command

The reporting order for a nursing assistant: the licensed nurse in charge first, then the director of nursing. Concerns about care move up this chain.

Mandatory reporting

A nursing assistant must report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a resident immediately to the nurse in charge and the administrator, as required by law.

Documentation timing

Record care right after it is given and never chart in advance. Charting another person's work or altering a record is falsification and grounds for discipline.

Resident right to refuse

A competent resident may refuse any care or treatment. Honor the refusal, do not force care, document what happened, and notify the licensed nurse.