CNA Glossary - Vocabulary Flashcards
24 hr. Urine Collection
a urine specimen consisting of all urine voided in a 24-hr period
Abandonment
the action of abandoning a helpless senior (can be illegal)
Adominal Thrust
method of attempting to remove an abject from the airway of someone who is choking
Adbuction
moving a body part away from the midline of the body
Abduction Pillow/Wedge
a wedge-shaped pillow positioned between the legs to immobilize and position the hips and lower extremities, usually used after hip surgery
Ability
the means or skill to be able to do something
Abuse
purposeful mistreatment that causes physical, mental, or emotional pain or injury to someone
Abuse Registry
includes names of persons who have abused, neglected,, exploited, or misappropriated the property of vulnerable adults.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in which the body’s immune system is weakened and unable to fight infection
Active Range of Motion (AROM)
move a joint through its range of motion without assistance
Acute Care
24-hour skilled care for short-term illnesses or injuries (typically given in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers)
Adaptive/Assistive Devices
special equipment that helps a person who is ill or disabled to preform activities of daily living
Adduction
moving a body part toward the midline of the body
ADLs
Activities of Daily Living; daily personal care tasks such as bathing; caring for skin; nails, hair, and teeth; dressing; toiling; eating and drinking; walking; and transferring
Adult Protective Series (APS)
social services provided to abused, neglected, or exploited older adults and adults with significant disabilities
Advance Directive
legal documents that allow people to choose what medical care they wish to have if they are unable to make those decisions themselves
Affected
a side of the body or limb that is weakened due to a stroke or injury (also called the weaker or involved side)
Ageism
Prejudice toward, stereotyping of, and/or discrimination against older persons or the elderly
Agitation
the state of being excited, restless, or troubled
Airborne Precautions
infection control measures taken to prevent the spread of pathogens that can be transmitted through the air after being expelled and remain floating in the air for a long time. These measures include using a special mask such as an N95 or HEPA respirator
Alignment
arrangement in a straight line, or in correct or appropriate relative positions
Alveoli
any of the may tiny air space of the lugs which allow for rapid gaseous exchange
Alzheimer’s Disease
a progressive, incurable disease that causes tangled nerve fibers and protein deposits to form in the brain, eventually causing dementia
AM Care
cares normally performed in the morning such as bathing, dressing, breakfast, etc
Ambulate/Ambulation
Walk; move about
Amputation
the surgical removal of some or all of the body part, usually a hand, arm, leg, or foot
Amputee
a person who has had a limb amputated
Anaphylaxis
an acute allergic reaction to an antigen (e.g, a bee sting) to which the body has become hypersensitive
Anemia
a condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells or of hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness
Angina
chest pain, pressure, or discomfort usually associated with heart muscle that is not getting enough oxygen
Anti-Microbial
an agent that destroys, resists, or prevents the development of pathogens
Antiembolism Stocking
a special stocking that helps prevent swelling and blood clots and aids in circulation by gently squeezing the legs to increase blood flow
Anxiety
uneasiness or fear, often about a situation or condition
Aphasia
a general term for a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to communicate with others
Apical
the adjective for apex, the tip of a pyramidal or rounded structure, such as the lung or the heart. An — pulse is measured the listening over the apex (lower tip) of the heart with a stethoscope.
Apnea
temporary cessation of breathing, especially during sleep
Artery
any part of the muscular-walled tubes forming part of the circulation system by which blood )mainly that which has been oxygenated) is conveyed from the heart to all parts of the body
Asepsis
the process of removing pathogens, or the state of being free of pathogens
Aspiration
the inhalation of food, fluid, or foreign material into the lungs
Aspiration Precautions
interventions to reduce the risk of aspiration of food, liquids, and/or secretions during the swallowing process
Assault
a threat to harm a person, resulting in the person feeling fearful that he or she will be harmed
Assisted Living
residences for people who do not need skilled, 24-hour care, but do require some help with daily care
Asthma
a respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing
Atrophy
the wasting away, decreasing in size, and weakening of muscles from lack of use
Autism
a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concept
Axillary
relating to the armpit
Bacteria
a one-celled organism including some that can cause disease
Base of Support
refers to the area beneath a person that includes every point of contact that the person makes with the supporting surface (to maintain balance when standing, your — is your feet)
Battery
the intentional touching of a person without his or her consent
Bed Cradle
a frame placed over the body of a patient in bed for application of heat or cold or for protecting injured parts from coming into contact with the bedclothes
Bedpan
a receptacle used by a bedridden patient as a toilet
Bed Protector/Linen Protector
this is an item of removable bedding that sits on top of, or encases, a mattress to protect it
Belief
an acceptance that a statement is true of that something exists
Belonging
to be a member or part of (a particular group, organization, or class)
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH)
a common, noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland
Bedside Commode
a device used for elimination when a person is able to get out of bed but unable to walk to the bathroom; it consists of a chair-like Fram with a toilet seat and a removable collection bucket
Bias
prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair
Biohazard/Biohazardous
a risk to human health of the environment arising from biological work, especially with microorganisms
Bipolar Disorder
a type of depression that causes a person to swing from periods of deep depression to periods of extreme activity; also called manic-depressive illness
Bladder
a membranous sac in humans and other animals, in which urine is collected for excretion
Bladder Retraining
this is an important form of behavior therapy that can be effective in treating urinary incontinence
Bland
a diet that contains food that is easy to digest, soft, low-fiber, and gentle on the digestive tract
Blindness
the state or condition of being unable to see because of injury, disease, or a congenital condition
Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP)
pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans
Blood Clot
a semi-solid mass of coagulated red and white blood cells (thrombus)
Blood Pressure
the pressure of the blood in the circulatory system, often measured for diagnosis since it is closely related to the force and rate of the heartbeat and the diameter and elasticity of the arterial walls
Blood Glucose
the concentration of glucose in the blood
Body Language
the process of communicating nonverbally through conscious or unconscious gestures and movements
Body Mechanics
the way the parts of the body work together when a person moves
Bone
a hard, rigid form of connective tissue constituting most of the skeleton composed of mostly calcium
Bony Prominences
areas of the body where the bone lies close to the skin
Bowel Movement (BM)
an act of defecation
Bowel Obstruction
also known as intestinal obstruction, is a mechanical or functional obstruction of the intestines that prevents the normal movement of the products of digestion
Bowel Retraining
this is a program that helps people who have chronic constipation or a frequent loss of bowel control
Brachial Artery
this is the major blood vessel of the upper arm
Brain
an organ of soft nervous tissue contained in the skull of vertebrates, functioning as the coordinating center of sensation and intellectual and nervous activity
Briefs
close-fitting legless underpants that are cut so as to cover the body to the waist, used for persons who are incontinent
Bronchi
the two main branches leading from the trachea to the lungs
Bronchitis
the inflammation of the mucous membrane in the bronchial tubes. it typically causes bronchospasm and coughing
Burns
an injury caused by exposure to heat or flame
Call Light
a bedside button tethered to the wall in a patient’s room, which directs signals to the nursing station
Cancer
a general term used to describe a disease in which abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way
Cane
a length of cane or a slender stick, especially one used as a support, or as a walking stick
Capillary
any of the fine branching blood vessels that form a network between the arterioles and venules
Carbohydrates
any of a large group of organic compounds occurring in foods and living tissues and including sugars, starch, and cellulose
Cardiac
relating to the heart
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
medical procedure used when a person’s heart or lungs have stopped working
Care Plan
a plan developed for each resident to achieve certain goals; it outlines the steps and tasks that the care team must perform
Cataracts
a medical condition in which the lens of the eye becomes progressively opaque, resulting in blurred vision
Catastrophic Reaction
reacting to something in an unreasonable, exaggerated way
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
a government agency under the U.S Department of Health and Human Services that issues information to protect the health of individuals and communities
Centigrade
relating to, conforming to, or having a thermometric scale on which the interval between the freezing point of water and the boiling point of water is divided into 100 degrees
Central Nervous System (CNS)
the part of the nervous system which consists of the brain and spinal cord, to which sensory impulses are transmitted and from which motor impulses pass out, and which coordinates the activity of the entire nervous system
Cerebral Palsy
a condition marked by impaired muscle coordination (spastic paralysis) and/or other disabilities, typically caused by damage to the brain before or at birth
Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA, Stroke)
a condition that occurs when blood supply to a part of the brain is blocked or a blood vessel leaks or ruptures within the brain
Certification
the action or process of providing someone or something with an official document attesting to a status or level of achievement
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
this is a person who assists patients with healthcare needs and cares for a patient who is ill or recovering from a surgery or disease. These people have duties that are assigned by a nurse
Chain of Infection
a way of describing how disease is transmitted from one being to another
Cheyne-Stokes
alternating periods of slow, irregular breathing and rapid, shallow breathing
Choking
having severe difficulty in breathing because of a constricted or obstructed throat or a lack of air