VS and Observations
Before administering heart medication, a healthcare worker must measure this vital sign for one full minute and report to the nurse if it is under 60 bpm.
What is the apical pulse?
According to CDC standards, this single procedure remains the most critical action for preventing healthcare-associated infections.
What is hand hygiene (or handwashing)?
Right Resident, Right Drug, Right Dose, Right Route, and Right Time collectively form this core medication safety protocol.
What are the Five Rights of Medication Administration?
CNAs and CMAs must perform all assigned tasks under the direct supervision of this licensed professional.
Who is a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)?
Residents have the legal authority to decline any medication or procedure, an application of this fundamental principle.
What is the right to refuse care?
This blood pressure reading represents the pressure in the arterial walls when the heart muscle contracts.
What is systolic blood pressure?
When doffing (removing) Personal Protective Equipment, this item must be removed first because it is considered the most heavily contaminated.
What are gloves?
A CMA must compare the medication label to the Medication Administration Record (MAR) at least this many times before administration.
What is three times?
Unlike a standard CNA certification, a CMA has completed state-approved training allowing them to legally perform this task.
What is administering non-parenteral medications?
Sharing a resident's medical condition or medication list with unauthorized individuals violates this federal privacy law.
What is HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)?
This non-invasive temperature measurement route typically yields a reading that is approximately one degree Fahrenheit lower than an oral temperature.
What is the axillary (or underarm) route?
This category of transmission-based precautions requires negative air pressure rooms and an N95 respirator for diseases like tuberculosis.
What are airborne precautions?
Liquid or solid medication placed directly under the tongue to dissolve and absorb into the bloodstream uses this route.
What is the sublingual route?
If a resident experiences sudden chest pain or acute distress during care, the worker's immediate required response is this.
What is reporting to the person in charge immediately?
The failure to provide required care, treatment, or supervision that results in harm or potential danger is defined legally as this.
What is neglect?
Resting a resident's arm significantly above heart level during a blood pressure check will lead to this type of measurement error.
What is a falsely low reading?
Prior to administering any medication or performing personal care, staff must confirm identity using at least this number of resident identifiers.
What is two?
If a resident refuses a pill after it has been poured or removed from a blister pack, it must never be returned to this container.
What is the original bottle (or stock container)?
CMAs are universally prohibited from administering medications via this route, which includes intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM) injections.
What is the parenteral route?
Confining a resident to a room or using unauthorized physical or chemical restraints against their will constitutes this legal violation.
What is false imprisonment?
A resident taking a new medication develops abnormally rapid, shallow breathing, documented using this clinical term.
What is tachypnea?
When assisting with patient transfers or heavy lifting, healthcare workers must keep their feet shoulder-width apart to maintain this key ergonomic principle.
What is a wide base of support?
This legal documentation system is where CMAs record scheduled doses, refusals, held medications, and administration times.
What is the MAR (Medication Administration Record)?
When a provider delegates a medication task to a CMA, ultimate legal responsibility for patient assessment and care evaluation remains with this individual.
Who is the delegating/supervising provider?
Federal mandates established under OBRA guarantee resident privacy, dignity, and autonomy through this formal declaration.
What is the Resident Bill of Rights?