Utah CNA flashcards

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

OBRA 1987

A federal law, the Nursing Home Reform Act, that established residents' rights and minimum care standards for nursing homes certified to receive Medicare or Medicaid payment.

Mandated abuse reporting

CNAs must report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a resident immediately to the charge nurse or administrator; failure to report can bring legal penalties.

Right to refuse care

A competent resident may decline any treatment or care; the CNA documents the refusal, informs the nurse, and never forces care or threatens consequences.

Chemical restraint

A drug given to control behavior or restrict movement, used only to treat a medical symptom with a physician's order and never for staff convenience or discipline.

RACE

Fire response sequence: Rescue anyone in immediate danger, Alarm by pulling the fire alarm, Contain the fire by closing doors, and Extinguish or Evacuate as directed.

PASS

Technique for using a fire extinguisher: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep from side to side.

Seizure care

Protect the head, do not restrain the resident or put anything in the mouth, note the time and body parts involved, then turn the resident to the side.

Incident report

A factual, objective form completed after any accident or unusual event such as a fall; it describes what happened without blame or opinion and is not copied into the record.

Active listening

Fully focusing on the resident, using eye contact and nods, and restating or clarifying what was said to confirm understanding before responding.

Aphasia

Loss or impairment of the ability to understand or express speech after brain injury or stroke; the CNA allows extra time and uses yes/no questions and gestures.

Objective reporting

Reporting only what can be seen, heard, measured, or smelled, such as eating 25 percent of lunch, rather than opinions or guesses about the resident.

Communication with hearing loss

Face the resident, get attention before speaking, lower voice pitch, reduce background noise, avoid shouting, and use written notes if needed.

Chain of infection

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

Alcohol-based hand rub

Used when hands are not visibly soiled: apply, rub all surfaces including fingertips and thumbs, and rub until dry; it does not kill C. difficile spores.

Airborne precautions

Used for tuberculosis, measles, and varicella: an N95 or higher respirator, a negative-pressure private room with the door closed, and limited resident transport.

Standard precautions

Infection-control practices applied to every resident regardless of diagnosis, including hand hygiene, gloves for body fluids, and safe handling of sharps and soiled linen.

Perineal care

Cleans the genital area from front to back using a separate washcloth for each stroke, rinsing and drying well to help prevent urinary tract infection.

Dressing the weak side

When dressing, place the garment on the affected or weaker arm or leg first, and remove it from the unaffected side first.

Pressure injury prevention

Reposition a resident who cannot move at least every two hours, inspect the skin at each turn, keep skin clean and dry, and report redness that does not blanch.

Denture care

Remove dentures, clean them over a towel-lined or water-filled sink, use cool water and denture cleanser, and store them in a labeled cup.

Normal adult respirations

Twelve to twenty breaths per minute; count for a full minute without telling the resident, since awareness of being watched can change the rate.

Radial pulse measurement

Place two fingers on the thumb side of the wrist, press lightly, and count beats for 30 seconds times two, or a full minute if the rhythm is irregular.

Passive range of motion

The CNA moves a joint through its full range for a resident who cannot move it, stopping at resistance or pain and never forcing the joint.

Intake and output

Record all fluids taken by mouth or tube and all urine, vomit, or drainage in milliliters; one ounce equals 30 milliliters.

Dysphagia precautions

Sit the resident upright at 90 degrees, give small bites, remind them to swallow, check for food pocketing, and keep them upright 30 minutes after eating.

Signs of aspiration

Coughing, choking, a wet or gurgling voice, and difficulty breathing during or right after eating or drinking; stop feeding and report immediately.

Dehydration signs

Dry mouth, thirst, dark concentrated urine, low urine output, poor skin turgor, and new confusion; report these findings and offer fluids as allowed.

Thickened liquids

Liquids thickened to nectar, honey, or pudding consistency as ordered for residents with swallowing problems, to slow the flow and reduce aspiration risk.

Sundowning

Increased confusion, agitation, or restlessness in late afternoon or evening in a person with dementia; managed with calm routines, reduced noise, and adequate lighting.

Validation therapy

Accepting and acknowledging a confused resident's feelings and reality rather than correcting or arguing, which reduces distress and builds trust.

Wandering safety

For a resident who wanders: provide safe walking areas, keep the environment hazard-free, use identification per policy, and never restrain or lock the resident in.

Kubler-Ross stages

Five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance; they may occur in any order and not every person experiences all of them.