Kansas CNA flashcards

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

Resident right to refuse

A resident may refuse any treatment, medication, or food. The CNA stops the task, tells the nurse, and documents the refusal without arguing or forcing care.

Physical restraint requirements

A physical restraint needs a physician's order, documented medical need, the least restrictive design, and regular release for range of motion, toileting, and meals; never for convenience.

Filing a grievance

Residents may complain to staff, the state survey agency, or the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Retaliation or punishment for filing a grievance is prohibited by federal law.

Promoting resident independence

Encourage residents to do whatever self-care they can, such as brushing teeth or choosing clothes, and provide adaptive devices so they keep maximum control over daily life.

R.A.C.E. fire response

Rescue anyone in immediate danger, Alarm by pulling the fire alarm, Contain fire by closing doors, and Extinguish or Evacuate as directed by facility policy.

Care during a seizure

Ease the resident to the floor, protect the head, turn onto the side, loosen tight clothing at the neck, time the seizure, and never place anything in the mouth.

Fall prevention basics

Keep the bed low and locked, call light within reach, non-skid footwear on, floor clear, and answer call lights promptly; report any new weakness or dizziness.

Stroke warning signs (FAST)

Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call for emergency help; note when symptoms started and report immediately to the nurse.

When to use soap and water

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

Order for removing PPE

Remove gloves first, then goggles or face shield, then gown, then mask, performing hand hygiene after each step and immediately after removing all equipment.

Airborne precautions

Used for tuberculosis, measles, and varicella; requires an N95 respirator, a private room with negative air pressure, and a closed door.

Standard precautions apply to

All residents at all times regardless of diagnosis; gloves are worn when touching blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, and non-intact skin.

Perineal care direction

Wash from front to back using a fresh area of the washcloth each stroke, then dry thoroughly; this prevents bringing rectal bacteria to the urinary opening.

Dressing a weak side

Dress the weak or affected arm and leg first, and undress that side last, so the resident can use the stronger side to help with the clothing.

Denture care

Remove dentures, clean them over a basin lined with a washcloth to prevent breakage, and store them in a labeled cup of cool water when not in the mouth.

Bath water temperature

Use water between about 100 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit, check it with a thermometer and the resident's hand, and never leave the resident alone in the tub.

Normal adult pulse range

A normal adult resting pulse is 60 to 100 beats per minute; count for a full minute if the rhythm is irregular, and never use your thumb.

Normal adult respiratory rate

Normal adult respirations are 12 to 20 breaths per minute; report rates outside this range along with any shortness of breath, noisy breathing, or cyanosis.

Converting ounces to milliliters

One ounce equals 30 milliliters; record all intake and output in milliliters, measuring at eye level on a flat surface with a calibrated container.

Counting respirations

Keep your fingers on the wrist after taking the pulse, watch the chest rise and fall for a full minute, and do not tell the resident you are counting breathing.

Communicating with aphasic resident

Ask yes-or-no questions, allow extra time for a response, use gestures or picture boards, and never finish the resident's sentences or talk about them as if absent.

Objective charting example

Record what you saw or did, such as 'Resident ate 50% of lunch,' rather than opinions like 'Resident was uncooperative,' because charting must be factual and measurable.

Hearing aid check

Before assuming confusion, check that the hearing aid is turned on, the battery works, the volume is set correctly, and the ear mold is clean and free of wax.

HIPAA at work

Share resident information only with the care team and only as much as needed; do not discuss residents in hallways, elevators, or on social media.

Maslow's hierarchy order

Physiological needs come first, then safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization; a resident in pain or hungry cannot focus on higher-level needs.

Signs of depression

Withdrawal, loss of appetite, sleep changes, crying, and statements of hopelessness; report these to the nurse rather than assuming they are a normal part of aging.

Suicidal statement response

Take every statement seriously, stay with the resident, remove dangerous items from the area, and notify the nurse immediately; never promise to keep it secret.

Behavior as communication

Treat behavior as a message: check for pain, hunger, toileting, loneliness, or overstimulation before labeling the resident as difficult or deliberately uncooperative.

Dementia versus delirium

Dementia declines slowly and steadily, while delirium starts suddenly with fluctuating attention and is often caused by infection, dehydration, or medication; report sudden changes.

Validation approach

Accept and acknowledge the resident's feelings instead of arguing about facts; respond to the emotion behind a statement rather than correcting the details of it.

Sundowning management

Confusion that worsens in late afternoon and evening is eased by bright daytime light, a calm predictable routine, reduced evening noise, and limiting caffeine.

Wandering safety

Provide supervised activity, secure the unit according to policy, use identification such as a bracelet, and never restrain; report any change in wandering or exit-seeking behavior.