Georgia CNA cheat sheet

Bath or shower water is about 105°F (40.5°C); check the temperature with a thermometer or your inner wrist before the resident enters the water.

When dressing a resident with a weak or paralyzed side, put clothing on the affected limb first; when undressing, remove clothing from the unaffected limb first.

Reposition an immobile resident at least every 2 hours, including during the night, and inspect the skin over bony prominences at each turn.

Perineal care is performed front to back, using a clean part of the washcloth for each stroke, to move bacteria away from the urethra.

Oral care for an unconscious resident: position on the side with the head tilted toward the basin, keep suction available, and introduce no fluids into the mouth.

Clean dentures over a basin lined with a towel or filled with water; store them in a labeled, covered cup of water when they are not being worn.

NPO means nothing by mouth - no food, fluids, ice chips, or oral medications; mouth care is still provided.

Bed bath sequence: eyes (inner canthus outward) first, then face, neck, chest, arms, abdomen, legs, back, and finally the perineal area.

Use an electric razor rather than a blade for residents who take anticoagulants or who have a bleeding disorder.

Fire response follows RACE: Rescue anyone in danger, Alarm activated, Contain the fire by closing doors, then Extinguish or Evacuate.

Fire extinguisher use follows PASS: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side.

Adult CPR ratio is 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths, at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute and a depth of at least 2 inches.

During a seizure: protect the head, move objects away, do not restrain the resident, place nothing in the mouth, time the seizure, and report it.

Standard precautions apply to all blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes; hand hygiene is the single most effective infection-control measure.

Airborne precautions (tuberculosis, measles, varicella) require an N95 respirator, a negative-pressure room, and a closed door.

Droplet precautions (influenza, pertussis, mumps) require a surgical mask when working within about 3 feet of the resident.

Contact precautions (MRSA, C. difficile, scabies) require gown and gloves plus dedicated equipment for that resident.

A restraint requires a physician's order, checks at least every 15 minutes, and release with repositioning every 2 hours.

Sharps are never recapped, bent, or broken; they are dropped immediately into a puncture-resistant sharps container.

Typical adult ranges: oral temperature 97.6–99.6°F (36.5–37.5°C), pulse 60–100 beats per minute, respirations 12–20 per minute, blood pressure below 120/80 mm Hg.

Volume equivalents: 1 ounce = 30 mL, 1 cup (8 oz) = 240 mL, 1 liter = 1000 mL.

Objective data are measurable findings you observe (temperature 101°F, reddened sacrum); subjective data are what the resident reports (pain, nausea).

Rectal temperature is the most accurate core reading; axillary is the least accurate; the oral route is avoided with confusion, unconsciousness, or mouth breathing.

Count respirations for a full minute without announcing it, so the resident does not change the breathing pattern.

An irregular radial pulse is counted for a full minute; an apical-radial pulse is counted by two staff members at the same time.

Blood pressure cuff placement: bladder encircles about 80% of the arm, lower edge 1 inch above the antecubital space, arm supported at heart level.

Report immediately: any fall, new confusion, difficulty breathing, chest pain, temperature above 100°F, bleeding, skin breakdown, or refusal of care.

Nursing assistant scope includes measuring, observing, and recording; the licensed nurse performs assessment and interpretation of findings.

Speak face to face at the resident's eye level, use the resident's preferred name, and get attention before beginning to speak.

With hearing loss, lower the pitch of the voice, speak clearly at normal volume, reduce background noise, and never cover your mouth.

With aphasia, use short sentences, yes-or-no questions, gestures or pictures, and allow extra time; do not finish the resident's sentences.

With vision loss, identify yourself on entry, describe actions before performing them, offer your arm to guide, and announce when you leave.

Confidential information is shared only with the care team - never in hallways, elevators, or on social media.

Observations are reported to the licensed nurse, not directly to the physician or the family.

Use plain language rather than medical jargon, and confirm understanding by asking the resident to repeat the message back.

Use a qualified interpreter for important information when available; avoid relying on a child to interpret.

Document objectively, quoting the resident's own words rather than applying labels such as "depressed" or "difficult".

Residents have the right to dignity, privacy, choice, and to refuse any treatment or care; a refusal is documented and reported to the nurse.

Nursing assistants are mandated reporters: suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation is reported immediately to the nurse and administrator and to the state hotline.

A restraint is used only for a medical reason, with a physician's order, in the least restrictive form available - never as punishment or for staff convenience.

The long-term care ombudsman is an independent advocate who investigates complaints and helps resolve grievances; contact information must be accessible to residents.

Independence is supported by letting residents perform the care they can, offering choices (which shirt, what time), and allowing extra time to complete tasks.

For delusions or hallucinations, do not argue and do not pretend to agree; acknowledge the feeling and redirect to a safe activity.

Validation therapy accepts the feelings behind a confused resident's statement instead of correcting the facts.

Signs of depression - withdrawal, poor appetite, sleep changes, hopelessness, loss of interest - are observations to report to the nurse.

Resident property is protected: items are labeled, belongings are not borrowed or moved without permission, and missing items are reported.