Texas CNA key terms

The set of tasks and duties a nurse aide is legally allowed and trained to perform, as defined by state law and facility policy; anything outside that list must be reported to a licensed nurse instead.

A licensed nurse assigning a specific nursing task to a nurse aide who has been trained to do it; the nurse keeps overall responsibility for the resident's care and outcome.

The order in which staff report to one another, from the nurse aide up through the charge nurse, director of nursing, and administrator; it shows who to go to with questions or concerns.

Keeping a resident's personal and health information private and sharing it only with care team members who need it, as required by federal privacy law and facility policy.

The legal protections every nursing home resident holds, including privacy, dignity, personal choice, voicing grievances, keeping belongings, and being free from abuse and unnecessary restraint.

The legal duty of a nurse aide to tell a supervisor right away about any suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or theft of resident property, without trying to investigate it personally.

An independent advocate, usually appointed by the state, who looks into complaints made by or for residents in long-term care and helps work toward a resolution.

Using correct posture, balance, and lifting technique - bending the knees, keeping the load close, and never twisting - so that moving a resident does not injure the aide or the resident.

Steps taken for residents at risk of falling, such as keeping the call light and needed items within reach, clearing clutter, using non-skid footwear, and answering requests promptly.

Any device or method that limits a resident's freedom of movement and cannot be easily removed by the resident; used only with a doctor's order for a specific medical reason.

The sequence by which germs spread: a germ, a place where it lives, a way out, a mode of travel, a way in, and a person who can get sick. Breaking any link stops spread.

Infection-control practices used with every resident no matter the diagnosis, including hand hygiene, gloves, gowns, masks, and safe handling of sharps and body fluids.

Cleaning the hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based rub at key moments, such as before and after resident contact and after removing gloves, to stop germs from spreading.

A written account of an unexpected event such as a fall or injury, completed promptly and given to the nurse; it records facts for the facility's safety review and is not charted in the resident's notes.

A document required by workplace safety rules that lists a chemical product's hazards, safe handling steps, and first-aid measures, kept where staff can find it quickly.

Moving a joint through its full normal arc, either by the resident alone (active) or with the aide's help (passive), to keep joints flexible when a resident cannot move independently.

A permanent tightening and shortening of muscle or tendon that locks a joint in a bent position; it is prevented by regular range-of-motion exercise and careful positioning.

Damage to skin and tissue underneath caused by unrelieved pressure, usually over a bony area. It begins as redness that does not fade and can worsen into an open wound.

Regularly changing a resident's body position, often at least every two hours while in bed, so pressure is relieved from bony areas and skin and lungs stay healthy.

A wide strap fastened around a resident's waist that gives the aide a firm hold while helping the person stand, walk, or transfer, lowering the chance of a fall.

Planning care around each resident's own preferences, routines, culture, and goals instead of staff convenience, so the person keeps as much control over daily life as possible.

Care that helps a resident regain or keep the highest possible level of function by practicing everyday skills such as eating, walking, and dressing, rather than doing everything for the person.

The everyday self-care tasks a person performs, such as bathing, dressing, eating, grooming, toileting, and moving about; nurse aides frequently assist residents with these tasks.

Measuring and recording all fluids a resident takes in and all fluids that leave the body, such as urine, vomit, or drainage, over a set period, usually 24 hours.

Cleaning the genital and anal area, always wiping from front to back, to remove secretions and reduce skin irritation and urinary or genital infection.

Brushing teeth or dentures, cleaning the gums and tongue, and checking the mouth for sores; done at least twice a day and after meals for residents who need help.

Basic body measurements - temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and often pain or oxygen level - taken to show how well the body is working and to spot changes early.

Tight stretchy stockings worn on the legs to help blood flow back to the heart and reduce swelling or clot risk; they must go on smooth, with no wrinkles or rolled edges.

A sample of urine collected in a clean container using a method that keeps out germs, often caught midstream after cleansing; it is sent to the lab for testing.

Changing the linens while a resident stays in the bed; the aide works from one side to the other, keeps the resident covered and safe, and never leaves the bed raised.

Difficulty swallowing that raises the risk of food or liquid getting into the airway; it is managed with special diets, thickened liquids, and careful positioning and feeding pace.

Breathing food, liquid, vomit, or saliva into the lungs instead of swallowing it, which can cause choking or pneumonia; risk drops with upright positioning and slow, careful feeding.

Routine care of a tube that drains urine from the bladder: keeping the bag below bladder level, cleaning around the tube, and never pulling on it, all to prevent infection.

Blood sugar that has dropped too low, causing shakiness, sweating, confusion, or fainting; the aide reports these signs at once because it can become an emergency quickly.

A group of brain conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, that gradually damage memory, thinking, and judgment; care focuses on routine, safety, and patience instead of arguing with the person.

Loss of or trouble with language - speaking, understanding, reading, or writing - caused by brain damage such as a stroke; the aide allows extra time and uses simple words and gestures.

Care given to the body after death, such as cleansing, positioning, and identifying it according to facility policy, while treating the person with dignity and supporting the family.

A legal document a person completes while still able to decide, stating wishes about future medical treatment or naming someone to decide; staff follow it and report it to the nurse.