Certified Nursing Aide Vocabulary Tutorial

The following words are all terms which a Certified Nursing Aide should understand and be able to use in a discussion with a nurse, doctor, or patient while performing care as a nursing aide. These are also terms which a caregiver could expect to appear in questions on a Certified Nursing Aide and Home Health Aide exam. You may use this list as a refresher prior to interviewing for a position as a senior caregiver.

• abdominal thrust
• abuse
• acceptance
• accidents
• activities
• acute
• adduction
• ADL
• admission
• admitting resident
• affected side
• aging process
• AIDS
• alarms
• Alzheimer's
• ambulation
• amputees
• anemia
• anger
• Angina pectoris
• anorexia
• anterior
• antibiotics
• aphasia
• apical
• appropriate response
• arteries
• arteriosclerosis
• arthritis
• aseptic
• aspiration
• assistive device
• atrophy
• attitudes
• axillary temperature
• bacteria
• bargaining
• basic needs
• bath water temperature
• bathing
• bathing resident
• bed height
• bed position
• bedrest
• biohazard
• bladder training
• blindness
• blood pressure
• blood pressure reading
• bodily fluids
• body alignment
• body fluids
• body language
• body mechanics
• body temperature
• bowel program
• break time
• breathing
• burnout
• call light
• cancer
• cardiac arrest
• cardiopulmonary
• resuscitation
• cardiovascular system
• care plan
• cast
• cataracts
• catheter care
• central nervous system
• cerebral vascular accident
• charge nurse
• chemotherapy
• choking
• chronic
• circulation
• clarification
• cleaning
• cleaning spills
• clear liquid diet
• clergy
• cold compress
• colostomy
• colostomy bag
• combative resident
• communication
• compressions
• confidentiality
• confused resident
• congestive heart failure
• constipation
• constrict
• contact isolation
• contamination
• contracture
• converting measures
• COPD
• coping mechanisms
• coughing excessively
• CPR
• CVA
• cyanosis
• decubitus ulcer
• dehydration
• demanding resident
• dementia
• denial
• dentures
• depression
• dermatitis
• diabetes
• dialysis
• diaphragm
• diet
• dietitian
• digestion
• discharging resident
• disinfection
• disoriented
• disoriented resident
• disposing of contaminated
• materials
• disrespectful treatment
• dizziness
• DNR
• documentation
• draw/lift
• dressing
• droplets
• dry skin
• dying
• dysphagia
• dyspnea
• dysuria
• edema
• elastic stockings
• electrical equipment
• elimination
• emesis basin
• emotional abuse
• emotional needs
• emotional support
• empathy
• end of life care
• endocrine system
• enema
• ethics
• evacuation
• extension
• extremity
• eye glasses
• facility policy
• falls
• fatigue
• faulty equipment
• fecal impaction
• feeding
• fingernail care
• fire
• fire safety
• flexion
• Foley catheter
• foot board
• foot care
• foot drop
• Fowler's position
• fractures
• frequent urination
• gait belt
• gastrostomy tube
• geriatrics
• germ transmission
• gerontology
• gloves
• grand mal seizure
• grieving process
• group settings
• hair care
• hand tremors
• hand washing
• health-care team
• hearing aid
• hearing impaired
• heart
• heart muscle
• height
• Heimlich maneuver
• hemiplegia
• hepatitis B
• hereditary
• hip prosthesis
• HIPAA
• HIV
• hydration
• hypertension
• hypoglycemia
• ice bag
• immobility
• immune system
• incontinence
• indwelling catheter
• infection
• infection control
• initial observations
• in-service programs
• insulin
• intake and output
• integumentary system
• interpersonal skills
• intravenous therapy
• ischemia
• isolation
• job description
• job interview
• kidney failure
• lift/draw sheet
• linen
• low sodium diet
• mask
• Maslow
• material safety data
• mealtime
• measuring height
• mechanical soft diet
• medical asepsis
• medical record
• medications
• memory loss
• mentally impaired
• microorganisms
• minerals
• mistakes
• mistreatment
• mobility
• money
• mouth care
• moving
• mucous membrane
• Multiple Sclerosis
• muscle spasms
• musculoskeletal system
• myocardial infarction
• nasal cannula
• neglect
• non-contagious disease
• nonverbal communication
• nosocomial infection
• NPO
• nurses station
• nurse's station
• nursing assistant's role
• nutrition
• objective
• official records
• ombudsman
• open bed
• oral care
• oral hygiene
• oral temperature
• orientation
• oriented
• orthotic device
• osteoarthritis
• osteoporosis
• overbed table
• oxygen
• paralysis
• paranoia
• Parkinson's
• partial assistance
• passive
• pathogens
• pathologic process
• patience
• perineal care
• peristalsis
• personal care
• personal hygiene
• personal items
• personal protective
• equipment
• personal stress
• pet therapy
• phantom pain
• physical needs
• physical therapist
• physician's authority
• plaque
• plate rim
• podiatrist
• policy book
• positioning resident
• positive attitude
• post mortem care
• postural supports
• precautions
• pressure ulcers
• preventing falls
• privacy
• progressive
• prone
• prostate gland
• prosthesis
• protective equipment
• providing privacy
• psychiatrist
• psychological needs
• pulmonary disease
• pulse
• quadrant
• quadriplegia
• radial
• ramps
• range of motion
• reality orientation
• rectal
• reddened/discolored area
• rehabilitation
• religious service
• reminiscing
• reporting
• reposition resident
• resident abuse
• resident belongings
• resident independence
• resident rights
• resident unit
• Resident's Bill of Rights
• resident's chart
• resident's environment
• resident's families
• respectful treatment
• respirations
• respiratory symptoms
• responding to resident
• behavior
• restorative care
• restraints
• resuscitation
• right to equal care
• rights
• saliva
• scabies
• scale
• secretions
• seizure
• self-actualization
• self-esteem
• sexual activity
• sexual expression
• sexual needs
• sexually transmitted
• diseases
• sharps container
• shaving
• shearing of skin
• side rails
• Sims position
• Sitz bath
• skin integrity
• smoking
• social needs
• social worker
• soiled linen
• specimen
• spilled food
• spills
• spiritual needs
• standard precautions
• state survey
• stealing
• stereotypes
• sterilization
• stethoscope
• stool specimen
• stress
• stroke
• strong side
• subjective
• suicide
• sundowning
• supine
• supplemental feedings
• suspected abuse
• swelling
• systolic
• tachycardia
• telephone etiquette
• temperature
• terminal illness
• threatening resident
• thrombus
• tips
• toenails
• toileting schedule
• trachea
• transfers
• transport bag
• transporting food
• treating residents with
• respect
• tub bath
• tube feeding
• tubing
• twice daily
• tympanic temperatures
• unaffected
• unconscious
• uniform
• unopened mail
• unsteady
• urinary catheter bag
• urinary system
• urination
• urine
• urine specimen
• vaginal drainage
• validation therapy
• vision change
• vital signs
• vitamins
• vomitus
• walker
• wandering resident
• water faucets
• water temperature
• weakness
• weighing
• weight
• wheelchair safety
• white blood cells
• withdrawal