Nurse Assistant Key Concepts

• Persons residing in long-term care facilities are referred to as residents.
• A successful Nurse Assistant (NA) should be honest, dependable, and organized.
• An NA's scope of practice includes bathing and dressing residents.

Gifts

• An NA should refuse a gift from a resident but must thank the resident for the gesture.
• If asked to perform a task they are unsure of, an NA must inform the nurse and ask for assistance.
• The Nurse Assistant provides the most hands-on care to residents in long-term care.
• A California NA must complete 48 hours of in-service/continuing education every two years to renew their certification.
• The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA) is a federal law.
• Appearance sends messages through body language.
• The Physician (MD) diagnoses disease and prescribes treatment.
• Licensed professionals like Nurses, Physical Therapists (PTs), and Occupational Therapists (OTs) delegate jobs to NAs.
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) refers to confidentiality.
• The care team revolves around the resident, their condition, treatment, and progress.

Responsibilities

• An NA must not perform an activity if it's not listed in the care plan.
• The role of the Ombudsman is to listen to and resolve resident problems.
• A typical task for an NA is assisting residents with toileting needs.
• Inserting tubes into a resident’s body is outside an NA's scope of practice.
• A professional relationship between an NA and a resident includes keeping resident information confidential.

Proper Grooming

• Proper personal grooming for an NA means keeping hair clean and neatly brushed

Dignity

• An NA may ensure a resident's dignity by knocking before entering, introducing themselves, and addressing the resident by their proper name.
• Documenting carefully exemplifies a professional relationship with an employer.
• An NA should control body language when a resident's bowel movement has a strong odour.
• An NA should report suspected abuse by the nurse in charge to the Director of Nursing.
• The best way for an NA to manage time efficiently is by planning ahead with a task list.
• Ethics pertains to the knowledge of right and wrong.

Ethical Behaviour

• Protecting a resident’s privacy is an example of ethical behavior by an NA
• OBRA was passed in response to reports of poor care and abuse in long-term care facilities.
• A mandated reporter must report suspected abuse, actual abuse, and abuse reported to them by a visitor.
• An NA suggesting a resident's grandchildren should be left at home violates the resident’s right to have visitors.
• Encouraging a resident to participate in care planning promotes Residents’ Rights.
• Confidentiality for NAs means keeping resident information private.
• An NA may share a resident’s medical information with other members of the care team.
• HIPAA was created to protect the privacy of health information.

Confidentiality

• The best way for an NA to maintain confidentiality is by storing, filing, or shredding documents according to facility policy.
• A responsible NA will arrive with enough time to be ready to start work at the designated time.
• After completing NA training, a candidate has two years to complete the state competency exam.
• An NA may be dismissed for falsifying documents, resident neglect, or theft.
• Title 22 refers to Health and Safety Codes.
• Title 22 outlines Residents Rights.
• Patient Rights violations can be prevented by knowing and maintaining patient confidentiality.
• The NA should not ask about the resident's bank account.
• Elderly persons admitted to long-term facilities have the right to have personal items in their room.
• Long-term care facilities provide care for persons who cannot care for themselves.
• Changes in a resident's condition should be reported as soon as possible.
• End-of-shift reports should include facts, specific observations, and care provided by the NA.
• The NA needs to be familiar with the Bill of Rights.
• Residents have the right to know about their prognosis or diagnosis.
• Residents can refuse treatment.
• It is not appropriate to tell a visitor about a resident's condition.
• An ombudsman helps resolve grievances between a resident's family and the facility.
• An NA noticing unexplained bruises on a resident’s back should report them to a licensed nurse.
• An NA can assist a visually impaired resident by using the face of an imaginary clock to explain object positions.
• An NA using medical terminology with a resident is an example of a barrier to communication.
• Pointing to a cookie is an example of nonverbal communication.

Observations

• Taste is not used in making observations.
• If a resident does not hear or understand, the NA should speak slowly and clearly.
• An NA should immediately report chest pain or high fever in a resident to the nurse.
• Avoiding eye communication is an example of non-verbal communication.
• NAs should use open-ended questions to avoid communication barriers.
• NAs can softly pat residents' shoulders to communicate caring.
• Positive responses to cultural diversity include valuing and respecting each person as an individual.
• It helps an NA communicate better with a resident if they consider the resident's cultural background.
• An NA can use communication boards to convey information to a resident who has had a stroke.
• Writing is a type of verbal communication.

Communication

• The correct order of the three-step communication process is: Sender sends message -> Receiver receives message -> Receiver provides feedback.
• Documentation should be recorded immediately after care is given.
• If a resident misses religious activities, the NA should encourage discussion.
• Information that can be seen, heard, or smelled is called objective data.
• The appropriate way to answer a resident's telephone is "Good Morning, this is Mrs. Williams room, Nurse assistant speaking".
• An NA can visit her uncle on her lunch break if her uncle lives on a different floor of the facility she works at.