Basic Restorative Services Flashcards

A contracture (tightening, or shortening of a muscle) is caused by

Answer: lack of movement of the muscle

A contracture is the permanent shortening of a muscle or joint, often resulting from prolonged immobility or lack of movement. When muscles and joints are not regularly moved through their full range of motion, the connective tissues can stiffen and shorten, leading to a fixed, often painful, position. Regular range of motion exercises are crucial in preventing contractures.

Proper body mechanics dictates that when lifting an object, the nurse aide place his feet

Answer: 12in – 18in apart

Proper body mechanics for lifting involves maintaining a wide base of support to ensure stability and balance. Placing feet 12 to 18 inches apart, roughly shoulder-width, helps distribute weight evenly and provides a strong foundation. This stance allows the lifter to use their powerful leg muscles, rather than their back, to lift safely and prevent injury.

A patient is leaving the hospital. The family has been told to give her medications bid. The wife asks what that means. The nurse aide tells her to give the medication

Answer: twice a day.

The medical abbreviation 'bid' stands for 'bis in die,' which is Latin for 'twice a day.' This instruction indicates that a medication or treatment should be administered two times within a 24-hour period. It is crucial for CNAs to understand these abbreviations to accurately relay information and ensure proper patient care.

Mr. Johnson has just returned from surgery. Which of the following things do you do?

Answer: Turn, cough, and deep breathe, leg exercises

After surgery, patients are at risk for complications like pneumonia (due to shallow breathing) and blood clots (due to immobility). Turning, coughing, and deep breathing exercises help expand the lungs and prevent fluid buildup, while leg exercises promote circulation and reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis. These actions are vital for post-operative recovery and fall within the CNA's scope of practice under nurse supervision.

A patient has had hip surgery. Her legs should be

Answer: abducted

After hip surgery, especially total hip replacement, it is crucial to prevent adduction (moving the leg toward the midline) and internal rotation to avoid dislocating the new hip joint. Abduction, or keeping the legs spread apart, often with an abductor pillow, helps maintain proper alignment and stability of the hip. This position prevents the femoral head from popping out of the acetabulum.

A nursing assistant is helping a resident to walk. If the resident becomes faint and begins to fall, the assistant should

Answer: Ease the resident to the floor and call for help

If a resident begins to fall, the safest action is to ease them gently to the floor, controlling the fall as much as possible, to minimize injury to both the resident and the aide. Attempting to hold them up completely can result in injury to both parties due to the sudden shift in weight. Once safely on the floor, the aide should call for help and assess the resident for injuries before attempting to move them.

What is the process of restoring a disabled client to the highest level of functioning possible?

Answer: Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is the process of helping a person recover, improve, or regain skills and independence lost due to illness, injury, or disability. The goal is to restore the individual to the highest possible level of functioning and quality of life. This often involves a multidisciplinary approach including physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

Exercises that move each muscle and joint are called

Answer: range of motion

Range of motion (ROM) exercises involve moving a joint through its full extent of movement to maintain or improve flexibility and prevent stiffness and contractures. These exercises can be active (performed by the patient), active-assistive (patient assists), or passive (performed entirely by the caregiver). Regular ROM helps preserve joint health and mobility.

Goals of arthritis care include

Answer: all of the above.

Comprehensive arthritis care aims to manage symptoms and improve quality of life by addressing multiple aspects of the condition. This includes decreasing inflammation and preserving joint function to reduce pain and damage, preventing contractures through movement and positioning, and strengthening surrounding bones and muscles to support affected joints. Therefore, all listed options are crucial goals.

The nurse aide documents that about 45 minutes after the resident is put to bed for an afternoon nap, the resident urinates in bed. To help with bladder training, the nurse aide should

Answer: take the resident to the bathroom right before going to bed

Bladder training involves establishing a predictable voiding schedule to help residents regain bladder control. If a resident consistently urinates in bed 45 minutes after being put to bed, taking them to the bathroom *before* that time, specifically right before going to bed, can help them void successfully and prevent incontinence. This proactive approach reinforces the training and helps the resident achieve continence.

What can you do to allow a helpless resident some independence when he must be fed?

Answer: Ask which foods the resident would like to eat first

Even when a resident requires assistance with feeding, offering choices, such as which food to eat first, promotes their independence and dignity. This allows them to exert some control over their meal, fostering a sense of autonomy despite their physical limitations. It respects their preferences and encourages participation in their care.

The primary goal of restorative care is

Answer: return the resident to a normal life at home

The primary goal of restorative care is to help residents regain their highest possible level of physical, mental, and psychosocial functioning. This often means working towards returning them to their home environment and enabling them to live as independently as possible. It focuses on rehabilitation and maximizing their capabilities, rather than just maintaining comfort in the facility.

ROM exercises will help prevent

Answer: Contractures

Range of motion (ROM) exercises are crucial for preventing contractures, which are the permanent shortening of muscles and tendons, leading to stiffness and limited joint movement. By regularly moving joints through their full range, ROM exercises maintain flexibility, improve circulation, and prevent the tissues from becoming rigid and fixed. This helps preserve mobility and function.

You are delegated to provide passive R.O.M. to L lower and upper extremities. This means you

Answer: Support each joint and provide extension and flexion movements on the Left side of the body

Passive Range of Motion (PROM) means the caregiver moves the patient's joints through their full range of motion without the patient's assistance. 'L lower and upper extremities' specifies the left arm and leg. Supporting each joint and performing flexion and extension movements ensures the exercises are done safely and effectively to maintain joint mobility and prevent contractures.

The nurse aide just admitted a new resident. Which of the following is the most restorative approach?

Answer: encourage the resident to participate in unpacking

A restorative approach focuses on promoting independence and self-care. Encouraging a new resident to participate in unpacking their belongings, even if it's just directing where things go, helps them feel more in control, fosters a sense of ownership over their new space, and utilizes their existing abilities. This promotes dignity and helps them adjust to their new environment.

When the nurse aide moves a joint during ROM (range of motion) exercises, and the resident complains of pain, the nurse aide should

Answer: stop the movement at the point the pain occurs and report to the nurse

When performing ROM exercises, pain is a critical indicator that the movement should be stopped immediately to prevent injury or further discomfort. The nurse aide should never push past the point of pain. Reporting the pain to the nurse is essential for assessment and to determine if the exercise plan needs adjustment or if there's an underlying medical issue.

Pressure sores can often be prevented if the client is

Answer: turned or repositioned every two hours

Pressure sores (also known as decubitus ulcers or bedsores) develop when sustained pressure on the skin reduces blood flow, leading to tissue damage. Regularly turning or repositioning a client, typically every two hours, relieves this pressure, allowing blood to circulate and preventing skin breakdown. This is a fundamental and highly effective preventative measure.

The role of the ombudsman is to

Answer: work with the nursing home to protect clients’ rights

An ombudsman is an advocate for residents in long-term care facilities. Their primary role is to investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents, ensuring that residents' rights are protected and that they receive proper care. They act as a liaison between residents, families, and the facility, working to improve quality of life and care.

The nurse aide is making an occupied bed. Which of the following is the most restorative approach?

Answer: encourage the resident to help

Encouraging the resident to help with tasks like making an occupied bed promotes their independence and self-esteem, which is central to restorative care. This approach helps maintain their physical abilities and sense of control, rather than fostering dependency. Doing everything for them or telling them to get out of bed are not restorative or respectful approaches.

Equipment used to help the resident maintain correct body alignment includes all of the following EXCEPT

Answer: cones

Splints, bed cradles, and foot supports are all devices specifically designed to help maintain correct body alignment, prevent deformities, and support limbs. Cones, however, are not typically used for maintaining body alignment in this context. They might be used for other purposes, but not for the primary goal of alignment support.