Nebraska CNA flashcards

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

Active listening

A communication technique in which the nurse aide faces the resident, maintains eye contact, nods, and restates the message to confirm understanding.

Aphasia communication technique

For a resident who cannot speak, ask yes-or-no questions, use gestures and picture boards, and allow extra time; never rush or finish the resident's sentences.

Elderspeak

Baby talk or childish speech directed at older adults, such as calling them sweetie or good girl; it can demean residents and should be avoided in professional communication.

Right to refuse treatment

Residents may decline any care or treatment; the aide should not coerce them, should notify the nurse, and should document the refusal.

Restraint use rules

Restraints require a physician's order, must be the least restrictive option, and must be released with repositioning at least every two hours; never used for punishment or convenience.

Resident privacy during care

Knock before entering, close the door or curtain, and expose only the body part being cared for to protect the resident's dignity and confidentiality.

RACE fire response

Rescue anyone in danger, Alarm and activate the alarm, Contain the fire by closing doors, and Extinguish or Evacuate; used for fire emergencies in a facility.

Seizure first aid

Protect the head, clear dangerous objects away, do not restrain the person or place anything in the mouth, time the seizure, and turn the resident on their side afterward.

Adult CPR ratio

For adult CPR, give 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths, compressing at 100 to 120 per minute to a depth of at least 2 inches.

Chain of infection

Six links: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host; breaking any one link prevents transmission.

Standard precautions

Treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious; wear gloves for contact with fluids, mucous membranes, or non-intact skin, and perform hand hygiene before and after.

PPE removal order

Remove gloves first, then goggles, then gown, then mask, performing hand hygiene immediately after; the mask is removed last because it covers the face.

Hand hygiene duration

Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use alcohol-based rub, before and after every resident contact and after removing gloves.

Normal adult vital signs

Adult temperature 97.6 to 99.6 F orally, pulse 60 to 100 beats per minute, respirations 12 to 20 per minute, and blood pressure below 120 over 80.

Counting respirations

Count for a full minute without telling the resident, because awareness of being watched can change the breathing rate; observe chest rise or place a hand on the chest.

Orthostatic hypotension measurement

Measure blood pressure and pulse with the resident lying, then sitting, then standing to detect a drop that causes dizziness and falls when the resident rises.

Intake and output units

Record all fluids taken in and all output produced; one ounce equals 30 milliliters, and one measuring cup equals 240 milliliters.

Perineal care direction

Wash from front to back using a separate part of the washcloth for each stroke, cleaning the perineum last during a bath to prevent spreading microorganisms.

Pressure injury repositioning

Reposition an immobile resident at least every two hours, inspect the skin at each turn, keep skin clean and dry, and keep heels off the mattress.

Bath water temperature

Use water at about 105 degrees Fahrenheit, tested on the inner wrist, and wash from cleanest to dirtiest areas, saving the perineum and feet for last.

Maslow's hierarchy

Needs are met in order: physiologic needs first, then safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization; unmet lower needs take priority over higher ones.

Signs of depression

Withdrawal from activities, sad or flat mood, poor appetite, weight loss, sleep changes, and loss of interest; report these observations to the nurse.

Validation therapy

Accepting and acknowledging a confused resident's feelings and reality without arguing or correcting, which reduces distress and preserves the resident's dignity.

Delirium versus dementia

Delirium has a sudden onset, fluctuates, and is often reversible; dementia is gradual, progressive, and usually irreversible, with memory loss affecting daily function.

Sundowning

Increased confusion and agitation in late afternoon or evening in residents with dementia; managed with calm routine, reduced noise, and adequate lighting.

Wandering safety

Do not restrain or lock the resident in; provide supervision, secure exits, use an identification bracelet, and redirect the resident to a safe activity.

Passive range of motion

The aide moves each joint through its full range slowly and gently; stop if the resident reports pain, and never force a joint beyond resistance.

Gait belt use

A wide belt fastened around the resident's waist that gives the aide a secure grip during transfers and ambulation; check the fastener and walk on the weak side.

Cane held on which side

A cane is held on the strong side, opposite the weak leg, and moved forward with the weak leg while the resident bears weight on the strong leg.

Mandatory reporting of abuse

Nurse aides are legally required to report suspected abuse or neglect immediately to the charge nurse and administrator; failure to report can be a crime.

Scope of practice

The tasks a nurse aide may legally perform as defined by state law and facility policy and delegated by a licensed nurse; aides never assess or perform sterile procedures.

Negligence definition

Failure to provide the care that a reasonably prudent nurse aide would give in similar circumstances, resulting in harm to the resident.