Nevada CNA key terms

Measurements of body temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation that show how well the body is working. The nurse aide takes them accurately and reports abnormal results to the nurse.

Moving a joint through its full, normal movement to keep muscles and joints flexible and to prevent stiffness. The resident may do it alone, or the aide may move the limb for them.

A permanent tightening and shortening of a muscle or tendon that keeps a joint from moving normally. It develops when a limb is not exercised or positioned correctly over time.

Damage to skin and the tissue beneath it caused by steady pressure, friction, or shearing, usually over a bony area. It may begin as a reddened spot that does not fade.

A force that pulls the skin one way while the deeper tissue stays in place, stretching and tearing small blood vessels. It often happens when a resident slides down in bed.

The safe way to use the body when lifting, moving, or turning a resident: keep the back straight, bend the knees, hold the load close, and ask for help when needed.

A wide strap buckled around a resident's waist that gives the aide a firm, safe grip during walking and transfers. It is not used on a resident who has had abdominal surgery.

Breathing food, liquid, vomit, or saliva into the lungs instead of swallowing it. It can cause choking, coughing, and a serious lung infection.

Difficulty swallowing. A resident with this problem may cough, choke, drool, or hold food in the cheek, and may need thickened liquids, special positioning, or feeding help.

A record of how much fluid a resident takes in by mouth or tube, and how much leaves the body as urine, vomit, or drainage, usually measured in milliliters.

A flexible tube placed in the bladder to drain urine into a collection bag. The aide keeps the bag below bladder level and gives routine perineal care.

The loss of control over urine or bowel movements. The aide responds quickly, cleans and dries the skin, and offers scheduled toileting to protect skin and dignity.

A drop in blood pressure that happens when a person sits or stands up quickly, causing dizziness, blurred vision, or fainting. The aide helps residents rise slowly.

A medical order meaning nothing by mouth, so no food or fluids are given. The aide removes the water pitcher, notes the order, and explains the reason to the resident.

The basic infection-control steps used with every resident, including hand hygiene, gloves, gown, mask, and safe handling of body fluids and sharps.

Any device or method that limits a resident's movement and cannot be easily removed by the resident. Restraints need a doctor's order and are used only as a last resort.

Understanding how another person feels and showing that you care, without taking the feeling on yourself. An empathetic aide listens and says, "That sounds very hard."

Giving full attention to a speaker by facing them, making eye contact, nodding, and repeating back what you heard to check that you understood.

Purposeful conversation that supports a resident's well-being, using open questions, silence, and respect rather than advice, judgment, or changing the subject.

Accepting and acknowledging the feelings and reality of a confused resident instead of arguing or correcting. It lowers distress by meeting the person where they are.

Gently reminding a confused resident of the date, time, place, and people using calendars, clocks, and steady routines, to reduce disorientation and increase safety.

A lasting low mood that can bring sadness, withdrawal, poor appetite, and loss of interest in things once enjoyed. In older adults it is often mistaken for normal aging.

The normal response to a loss, which may include sadness, anger, guilt, denial, and crying, and can return in waves over many months or years.

The shared beliefs, values, customs, language, food, and religious practices of a group of people. Respectful care honors these differences in daily routines and personal care.

Loss or damage to the ability to understand or use language, often after a stroke. The aide speaks slowly, uses gestures, gives time, and never pretends to understand.

Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation in the late afternoon or evening, common in people with dementia. Calm routines and less evening noise and light can help.

The tasks and duties a nurse aide is legally allowed to perform under state law and facility policy. Doing tasks beyond this range is unsafe and illegal.

The licensed nurse's act of assigning a specific nursing task to a nurse aide who is trained and checked as competent. The nurse keeps responsibility for the resident's outcome.

The line of authority in a facility that shows whom each worker reports to. A nurse aide reports changes and problems to the licensed nurse first.

The state law that defines nursing practice, sets licensing rules, and states what licensed nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel may and may not do.

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, a federal law that set minimum training hours, competency testing, and care standards for nursing home aides and strengthened residents' rights.

The legal protections of a person living in a long-term care facility, including dignity, privacy, choice, visitors, personal belongings, and freedom from abuse and unnecessary restraints.

A legal document, such as a living will or durable power of attorney for health care, that records a person's treatment wishes in case they cannot speak for themselves.

Keeping a resident's personal and medical information private and sharing it only with care team members who need it to give care.

The legal duty of a nurse aide to report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation right away to the nurse and the proper outside authorities, even when there is no proof.

Deliberate harm to a resident that may be physical, emotional, sexual, or financial, such as hitting, threatening, unwanted touching, or stealing money or property.

Failing to give a resident the care they need, such as food, fluids, cleanliness, safety, or medical attention, whether done on purpose or through carelessness.

An internal written record of an unexpected event such as a fall, injury, or medication error, used to find causes and prevent repeats. It is not copied into the chart.

The written plan for a resident that lists their problems, goals, and the care to be given. Nurse aides follow it and report changes to the nurse.