Lippincott Essentials for Nursing Assistants

Pamela Carter is a registered nurse and an award-winning teacher. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Pamela immediately began a career as a perioperative nurse. Over the course of her nursing career, she also worked in a physician’s office and as a staff nurse in an intensive care unit.Pamela started teaching informally while serving as an officer in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps. She formally entered the field of health care education by accepting a position at the Athens Area Technical Institute in Athens, Georgia, where she taught surgical technology. After obtaining a master’s degree in adult vocational education from the University of Georgia, Pamela moved to Florida and took a position teaching nursing assisting students. She continued teaching nursing assisting after accepting a position at Davis Applied Technology College in Kaysville, Utah. During her first year at Davis Applied Technology College, Pamela piloted a new “open-entry/open-exit” method of curriculum delivery for the nursing assistant program at the college and was awarded the Superintendent’s Award for Outstanding Faculty for her work. She then opened a surgical technology program at the college and has obtained national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) for delivery of this program using the “open-entry/open-exit” method. In 2002,and again in 2014 and 2015, Pamela received a National Merit Award for having her program rank in the top 10% in the nation for students passing their national certification exam. In addition to authoring this textbook, Pamela has also authored Lippincott’s Textbook for Nursing Assistants, “Lippincott’s Textbook for Long-Term Care Nursing Assistants,” as well as Lippincott’s Advanced Skills for Nursing Assistants. Pamela’s writing style reflects her love of teaching, and of nursing. She is grateful for the opportunity teaching and writing have afforded her to share her experience and knowledge with those just entering the health care profession, and to help those who are new to the profession to see how they can have a profound effect on the lives of others.

Table of Contents

UNIT ONE: INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH CARE

Chapter 1: The Health Care System

A Holistic Approach to Health Care
Health Care Organizations
Patients, Residents, and Clients
Oversight of the Health Care System
Paying for Health Care

Chapter 2: The Nursing Assistant’s Job

Education of the Nursing Assistant
The Nursing Assistant as a Member of the Nursing Team
Legal and Ethical Aspects of the Nursing Assistant’s Job

Chapter 3: Professionalism and Job-Seeking Skills

Working as a Professional
Finding a Job

Chapter 4: Communication Skills

Introduction to Communication
Communicating with People with Special Needs
Resolving Conflicts
Using the Telephone
Communication Among Members of the Health Care Team
Electronic Health Records

Chapter 5: Those We Care For

Growth and Development
Basic Human Needs
Human Sexuality and Intimacy
Culture and Religion
Quality of Life
What is it Like to be a Patient or Resident
A Person’s Family

Chapter 6: The Patient’s or Resident’s Environment

The Physical Environment
Furniture and Equipment


UNIT TWO: THE HUMAN BODY IN HEATLH AND DISEASE

Chapter 7: Basic Body Structure and Function

How is the Body Organized?
The Integumentary System
The Musculoskeletal System
The Respiratory System
The Cardiovascular System
The Nervous System
The Sensory System
The Endocrine System
The Digestive System
The Urinary System
The Reproductive System

Chapter 8: Common Disorders

Introduction to Disorders
Integumentary Disorders
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Respiratory Disorders
Cardiovascular Disorders
Nervous System Disorders
Sensory Disorders
Endocrine Disorders
Digestive Disorders
Urinary Disorders
Reproductive Disorders
Mental Health Disorders

Chapter 9: Rehabilitation and Restorative Care

Introduction to Rehabilitation and Restorative Care
Types of Rehabilitation
The Role of the Nursing Assistant


UNIT THREE: LONG-TERM CARE (New Unit)

Chapter 10: Overview of Long-Term Care

Types of Long-Term Care Settings
Ownership and Operation of Long-Term Care Facilities
Oversight of Long-Term Care
The Survey Process
Paying for Long-Term Care

Chapter 11: The Long-Term Care Resident

Our Aging Population
Factors Leading to Long-Term Care Admissions
Making the Adjustment to Long-Term Care
Living with a Chronic Condition
The Young Resident

Chapter 12: Caring for People With Dementia

Introduction to Dementia
Types of Dementia
Behaviors Associated with Dementia
Caring for a Person With Dementia
Effects on the Caregiver


UNIT FOUR: SAFETY

Chapter 13: Infection Control

Causes of Infection
Defenses Against Infection
Ways Infections are Transmitted
The Chain of Infection
Methods of Infection Control
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

Chapter 14: Workplace Safety

Protecting Your Body
Following Procedures
Fire Safety
Preventing Chemical and Electrical Injuries
Disaster Preparedness
Workplace Violence

Chapter 15: Patient and Resident Safety

Accidents and Incidents in the Health Care Setting
Restraints and Restraint Alternatives

Chapter 16: Basic First Aid and Emergency Care

Responding To An Emergency
Basic Life Support (BLS) Measures
Emergency Situations


UNIT FIVE: BASIC PATIENT AND RESIDENT CARE

Chapter 17: Assisting With Repositioning and Transferring

Assisting With Repositioning
Assisting With Transferring

Chapter 18: Assisting With Exercise

Assisting With Walking (Ambulation)
Assisting With Range-of-Motion Exercises

Chapter 19: Bedmaking

Linens
Standard Bedmaking Techniques

Chapter 20: Measuring and Recording Vital Signs, Height, and Weight

Introduction to Vital Signs
Body Temperature
Pulse
Respiration
Pulse oximetry
Blood Pressure
Height and Weight

Chapter 21: Assisting With Hygiene

Introduction to Personal Hygiene
Assisting with Oral Care
Assisting with Perineal Care
Assisting with Bathing

Chapter 22: Preventing Pressure Ulcers and Assisting With Wound Care

Preventing Pressure Ulcers
Assisting With Wound Care

Chapter 23: Assisting With Grooming

Introduction to Grooming
Assisting with Hand Care
Assisting With Foot Care
Assisting with Dressing and Undressing
Assisting with Hair Care
Assisting with Shaving
Assisting with Vision and Hearing Accessories

Chapter 24: Assisting With Nutrition

Introduction to Nutrition
Factors that Affect Food Choices and Eating Habits
Special Diets
Assisting With Meals
Assisting With Fluids
Alternative Ways of Providing Nutrition and Fluids

Chapter 25: Assisting With Urinary Elimination

Introduction to Urinary Elimination
Assisting With Bedside Commodes, Bedpans, and Urinals
Caring for a Person With an Indwelling Urinary Catheter
Caring for a Person Who is Incontinent of Urine
Obtaining a Urine Specimen
Measuring Urine Output

Chapter 26: Assisting With Bowel Elimination

Introduction to Bowel Elimination
Problems With Bowel Elimination
Obtaining a Stool Specimen
Assisting With Enemas
Assisting With Ostomy Care


Chapter 27: Assisting With Comfort and Rest

The Benefits of Rest and Sleep
General Comfort Measures
Managing Pain
Heat and Cold Applications


UNIT SIX: SPECIAL CARE CONCERNS

Chapter 28: Caring for People Who Are Dying

Terminal Illness
Advance Directives and Wills
Attitudes Toward Death and Dying
Care and Support of the Dying Person and the Family
Postmortem Care

Chapter 29: Caring for People with Developmental Disabilities

Introduction to Developmental Disabilities
Education and Protection of Rights
Caring for People With Developmental Disabilities

Chapter 30: Caring for People with Cancer

Introduction to Cancer
Detecting and Treating Cancer
Caring for a Person with Cancer

Chapter 31: Caring for People with HIV/AIDS

Introduction to HIV/AIDS
Attitudes Toward People With HIV/AIDS
Caring for a Person with HIV/AIDS

Chapter 32: Caring for People Who Are Having Surgery

Introduction to Surgery
Pre-Operative Care
Intra-Operative Care
Post-Operative Care
Oxygen Therapy

Chapter 33: Caring for People in the Home Environment

Introduction to Home Health Care
The Home Health Aide
The Home Health Care Environment
Infection Control


Appendix A: Answers to What Did You Learn? Questions
Appendix B: Introduction to the Language of Health Care

Glossary
Index