Mississippi CNA cheat sheet

Under OBRA, residents retain rights to privacy, dignity, respect, personal choice, and freedom from abuse and neglect.

A competent resident may refuse care or treatment; the CNA documents the refusal and reports it to the nurse without forcing care.

Share resident health information only with the care team and authorized persons; avoid discussing it in halls, elevators, or public areas.

Knock, announce yourself, close doors and curtains, and expose only the body part being cared for during personal care.

Address the resident by the name they prefer; avoid baby talk and terms of endearment unless the resident requests them.

Residents have the right to send and receive mail, use a telephone, receive visitors, and keep personal belongings according to facility policy.

Report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation immediately to the nurse or administrator and follow state mandatory reporting law.

Support independence by allowing the resident to make choices and do as much self-care as safely possible.

Face the resident when speaking, reduce background noise, and allow extra time for a response.

For aphasia, use short sentences, yes-or-no questions, gestures, pictures, and writing; do not finish sentences unless asked.

For hearing loss, lower the pitch of your voice, speak clearly, and avoid shouting; use written notes if needed.

Use open-ended questions and restate the resident's message to confirm understanding.

Avoid medical jargon and elderspeak; use respectful adult language and the resident's preferred name.

When a resident is upset, acknowledge the feeling, stay calm, ensure safety, and report the concern to the nurse.

Report new confusion, difficulty speaking, hearing loss, or vision changes to the nurse promptly.

Use an interpreter for non-English-speaking residents when possible; avoid using a family member for sensitive information unless the resident requests it.

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

Use PASS on a fire extinguisher: Pull the pin, Aim at the base, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side.

For a conscious choking adult, give abdominal thrusts; if the resident becomes unresponsive, call 911 and start CPR.

For a seizure, protect the head, loosen tight clothing, clear dangerous objects, do not restrain or put anything in the mouth, and turn to the side afterward.

Fall prevention includes bed low and locked, call light within reach, non-skid footwear, clear pathways, and prompt toileting.

For any restraint, follow the order and facility policy: monitor circulation, skin, and range of motion; release and reposition at ordered intervals; document.

Never use a restraint for punishment, convenience, or retaliation; use the least restrictive alternative first.

Never leave a resident unattended in a bathtub or shower; check water temperature with a thermometer before bathing.

Standard precautions apply to every resident regardless of diagnosis because blood and body fluids can carry infection.

Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; use alcohol-based rub when hands are not visibly soiled.

Perform hand hygiene before and after every resident contact and after removing gloves.

Wear gloves when touching blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, or non-intact skin; never substitute gloves for handwashing.

Remove PPE in order: gloves, goggles or face shield, gown, then mask; perform hand hygiene immediately afterward.

Never recap, bend, or break a used needle; drop it into a puncture-resistant sharps container immediately.

Clean blood or body-fluid spills with gloves and an approved disinfectant, following the product's contact time.

For isolation precautions, follow the posted sign, remove PPE before leaving the room, and perform hand hygiene.

Encourage self-care and assist only with the parts of hygiene the resident cannot safely do alone.

Provide privacy during bathing and toileting by closing doors and curtains and exposing only the area being cleaned.

Brush teeth and gums at least twice daily; clean dentures over a towel-lined or water-filled sink to prevent breakage.

Wash the perineal area from front to back using a clean part of the cloth for each stroke.

When dressing, put the garment on the weak or affected side first, then the strong side; reverse the order when undressing.

Inspect skin at least daily, especially over bony areas; report redness that does not blanch, open areas, rash, or pain.

Check water temperature before bathing; use a thermometer and follow facility policy for safe temperature.

Shave in the direction of hair growth; use an electric razor when the resident is on anticoagulants or has bleeding risk per policy.

Check the diet order, allergy list, and thickened-liquid order before feeding or offering fluids.

Sit the resident upright for meals and fluids; offer small bites and allow time to chew and swallow.

Stop feeding and report coughing, choking, pocketing, drooling, or a wet voice during meals.

Record intake and output accurately: 1 ounce = 30 mL, 1 cup = 8 ounces = 240 mL, 1 teaspoon = 5 mL.

Offer fluids frequently and report signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, dark urine, or low urine output.

Report no bowel movement for three days, hard stool, straining, or abdominal pain to the nurse.

Report blood in urine or stool, change in color or odor, pain, or inability to urinate.

Encourage fluids, fiber, and activity as allowed to prevent constipation; follow the care plan.

Turn and reposition an immobile resident at least every two hours, or as ordered, and document each position change.

Keep the body in alignment with the spine straight and joints supported; avoid pressure on bony areas.

Use a gait belt around the waist for transfers and ambulation; grasp it with an underhand grip.

When ambulating, walk on the resident's weak side slightly behind, and let the resident do as much as safely possible.

Passive range of motion moves the joint gently through available range without forcing; stop if pain occurs.

Lock bed and wheelchair wheels before transfers; keep the bed low and the path clear.

If a resident starts to fall, do not catch by the arms; lower the resident safely to the floor, protect the head, call for help, and stay with them.

Use pressure-relieving devices and offload heels for immobile residents; keep skin clean and dry.

Common adult vital-sign ranges: oral temperature about 98.6°F (37°C), pulse 60–100 beats/min, respirations 12–20/min, blood pressure below 120/80 mmHg.

Count pulse for 30 seconds and multiply by two if regular; count for a full minute if irregular.

Count respirations without telling the resident; count for 30 seconds and multiply by two if regular, or a full minute if irregular.

Place the blood pressure cuff at heart level, use the correct size, and deflate at 2–3 mmHg per second.

Wait 15–30 minutes after a hot or cold drink before taking an oral temperature.

Report changes in vital signs, pain, skin, mental status, intake/output, or behavior to the nurse promptly.

Pain is often called the fifth vital sign; ask the resident, use the facility scale, and report unrelieved pain.

Document objective findings such as 'skin warm and dry' rather than opinions, and record measurements exactly.