CNA Common Medical Terms and Abbreviations 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'CVA' stand for in medical terms?
- Cardiac valve abnormality
- Cerebrovascular accident (Correct answer)
- Central venous access
- Chronic ventricular arrhythmia
Correct answer: Cerebrovascular accident
CVA stands for cerebrovascular accident, the medical term for a stroke, caused by interrupted blood flow to the brain.
Question 2: What does the suffix '-itis' indicate in a medical term?
- Surgical removal
- Inflammation (Correct answer)
- Disease process
- Abnormal condition
Correct answer: Inflammation
The suffix '-itis' means inflammation, as in arthritis (joint inflammation) or appendicitis (appendix inflammation).
Question 3: A care plan states 'HOB elevated 30°.' What does 'HOB' stand for?
- Head of bed (Correct answer)
- History of bleeding
- Height on back
- Hand over bed
Correct answer: Head of bed
HOB stands for head of bed, and elevating it is a common intervention to prevent aspiration or improve breathing.
Question 4: The medical term 'cyanosis' describes which finding?
- Yellowing of the skin
- Bluish discoloration of the skin (Correct answer)
- Reddening due to inflammation
- Paleness from blood loss
Correct answer: Bluish discoloration of the skin
Cyanosis is a bluish or purplish discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes due to low oxygen levels in the blood.
Question 5: What does 'ADL' stand for in nursing care?
- Advanced directive list
- Activities of daily living (Correct answer)
- Admission diagnosis log
- Ambulation and dressing level
Correct answer: Activities of daily living
ADL stands for activities of daily living, which include bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, and toileting — tasks CNAs assist patients with.
Question 6: What does the prefix 'hemi-' mean in medical terminology?
- Half (Correct answer)
- One and a half
- Double
- Around
Correct answer: Half
The prefix 'hemi-' means half, as in hemiplegia, which refers to paralysis on one side (half) of the body.
Question 7: In charting, what does 'WNL' stand for?
- With no limitations
- Within normal limits (Correct answer)
- Watched nightly log
- Without notable loss
Correct answer: Within normal limits
WNL stands for within normal limits and is used to indicate that findings are in the expected normal range.
CNA Common Medical Terms and Abbreviations 5
What does 'CVA' stand for in medical terms?