While smoking by clients and visitors may not be appropriate, the nurse aide may not take away their cigarettes or matches. However, the nurse aide can certainly report these actions to the charge nurse. The nurse aide should also be familiar with policies regarding smoking or smoking areas, to inform smokers if there are designated places. All staff must be aware of fire extinguisher locations and what to do in the event of a fire. Notifying the nurse or maintenance department of any damaged electrical wiring or sockets, as well as faulty electrical equipment can prevent a fire.
Enteric precautions are used for infections such as C. difficile, rotavirus, or norovirus, as well as severe diarrhea of an unknown cause. Precautions for staff include proper hand washing and putting on gown and gloves before entering the patient's room. All linen is bagged in the patient's room. Visitors may not eat in the room and must wash their hands with soap and water when leaving the room.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease. The patient's immune system attacks the lining of the membranes that surround the joints, causing severe pain, swelling, and redness. Over time, the joints become deformed. Women are more likely than men to develop RA.
When admitting a patient, after giving care, or when leaving the patient's room, always ensure that the patient's call signal is within reach. Patients must always have access to their care providers. For safety, bed should be in the lowest position.
As a CNA, you may be the first to observe any unusual or abnormal marks on a client's skin. Bruises, reddened areas, or dry patches are examples that you should note. Describe your observation accurately. Also tell the nurse.
Preventing a fall is important when helping a client ambulate. Proper footwear should always be worn for any type of walking, even a short distance. Rubber-soled slippers or shoes provide traction to prevent falls. Socks, stockings, or slippers made from fabric can make the client slip or lose balance. Walking in bare feet can lead to foot injuries, which is especially dangerous for diabetic clients.
An indwelling urinary catheter is used to drain the bladder into a bag outside the body. In males, it is a long tube with a balloon that is inflated after being inserted. The tube that drains the urine must not be tugged or become kinked. In males, it is attached to the client's inner thigh by tape or a special fastening device. Never attach the tube to anything except the client's inner thigh. The drainage bag should remain lower than the client's bladder to prevent backflow of urine.
A prosthesis is a device that replaces a part of the body that is missing from surgery, accidents, or at birth. It helps restore function for the client. Lt can also improve a client's appearance. A prosthesis can be made for eyes, teeth, arms, legs, joints, or breasts.
Side rails are important for keeping clients from falling out of bed. They also allow a way for clients to grab on to the railing to reposition themselves. However, if the client is agitated, confused, has a head injury or history of seizures, padding the side rails can prevent injuries or entrapment. Some facilities have bed rail pads or bumpers in stock. Use a mattress pad to make a side rail pad. Make sure the bed is always in the lowest position.
300 cc is a metric measurement meaning 300 cubic centimeters. In medicine around the world, the metric system is used for all length, weight, volume, and temperature measurements. The metric system is based on units of ten, and is more precise than other methods of measurement.
Up to 50% of nursing home residents have constipation. Besides having a slower digestive process, older people often don't drink enough water or eat a balanced diet. Lack of activity can also contribute to constipation.
Urinary incontinence is the inability to hold or control urine. Normal aging or some conditions cause the sphincter, or valve, that controls urination, to become weak.
Once linen has been in a client's room, it is no longer considered to be clean. Each client's room can have pathogens or sources of possible infection that could be spread by objects from that room. Opened supplies or items with sterile packaging that has been opened should also be discarded, even if not used.
The term "BID" means twice a day. It is an abbreviation for Latin "bis in die." It is used in medicine and pharmacy, and can also be written as b.i.d. or bid.
Diabetes is a disease that results when the pancreas does not make enough insulin to decrease or control the amount of sugar in the blood. Clients with diabetes must check their blood sugar levels every day. They require medication, which can include insulin injections, in order to remain healthy.
When working a manual bed, be sure to first lock the bed by pressing down the levers on the wheels at the head and foot of the bed. At the end of the bed there are three cranks which control the bed height, as well as raising and lowering the head and feet. Cranks are turned clockwise (left to right) to raise each section, and counter-clockwise to lower them. After positioning the client, always fold the cranks under the bed to prevent others from tripping or falling.
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