Chapter 6 - Personal Care Skills

Chapter 6 - Personal Care Skills Detailed Study Guide with Chapter 6 Exam Review Study purpose: This guide follows the eight Chapter 6 learning objectives in Hartman's Nursing Assistant Care: The Basics, 6th Edition Instructor's Guide. It includes definitions, detailed NA responsibilities, observations to report, safety points, and all 36 Chapter 6 exam concepts as paraphrased study questions. 1. Personal Care of Residents Key Definitions Hygiene: Practices that keep the body clean and help maintain health. Grooming: Care that helps a person maintain a neat, clean, and comfortable appearance. A.M. Care P.M. Care NA Responsibilities During Personal Care Observe and Report During Personal Care EXAM ALERT: Q3 - An ADL example is eating. Q5 - Promote dignity by encouraging the resident to do as much as possible independently. 2. Skin Care and Preventing Pressure Injuries Key Definitions Pressure points: Areas where body weight places pressure on the skin and underlying tissue. Bony prominences: Areas where bones lie close to the skin and are more vulnerable to pressure. Pressure injury: Damage to skin and underlying tissue caused by prolonged pressure or pressure combined with friction/shearing. Shearing: When skin stays in place while deeper tissues move, which can damage tissue. Draw sheet: A small sheet used under a resident to help move or reposition the resident. Foot drop: A condition in which the foot falls downward because the muscles are weak or shortened. Orthotic device: A device used to support, align, prevent, or correct deformities or improve function. Pressure-Injury Risk and Danger Zones What the NA Should Observe and Report on the Skin Skin-Care Guidelines High-Risk / Bedbound Residents Positioning Devices to Know EXAM ALERT: Q6 - Early skin breakdown may first appear as skin color different from surrounding tissue. Q7 - Restricted mobility increases pressure-injury risk. Q8 - Pressure injuries can lead to life-threatening infection. Q9 - Sacrum/tailbone is high risk. Q10 & Q27 - Bedbound residents: reposition at least every 2 hours. Q11 - Bed cradle keeps covers off legs/feet. 3. Assisting With Bathing Key Definitions Partial bath: A bath that cleans only selected body areas rather than the entire body. Perineum: The area between the genitals and anus. Bathing Guidelines Perineal Care Tub/Shower Safety EXAM ALERT: Q12 - Perineum should be washed every day. Q14 - Make sure the room is warm enough before bathing. Q15 - Perineal care is front to back. 4. Assisting With Grooming Key Definitions Pediculosis: Infestation with lice. Safety razor: A reusable razor with a protected blade. Disposable razor: A single-use razor that is discarded after use. Electric razor: An electrically powered razor used for shaving. General Grooming Guidelines Foot Care - Observe and Report Hair Care Shaving EXAM ALERT: Q17 - Nail care should be provided when nails are dirty; do not share nail tools. Q18 - Honor resident preferences. Q19 - Wear gloves when shaving. Q20 - Handle hair gently. 5. Assisting With Dressing Key Definitions Affected or involved side: The weaker or impaired side of the body; avoid calling it the 'bad' side. Intravenous (IV) therapy: Therapy in which fluids or medications are delivered into a vein. Embolism: A blockage of a blood vessel by material such as a blood clot. Dressing and Undressing Guidelines Dressing a Resident With an IV Antiembolic Stockings EXAM ALERT: Q21 - Use 'involved' or 'affected' side. Q22 - Dress weaker side first. 6. Proper Oral Hygiene Key Definitions Oral care: Care of the teeth, tongue, gums, lips, and dentures. Aspiration: Breathing food, liquid, saliva, or another substance into the airway/lungs. Dentures: Artificial teeth used to replace missing natural teeth. What Oral Care Includes Observe and Report Oral Care for an Unconscious Resident Denture Care EXAM ALERT: Q23 - Oral care should be done at least twice daily. Q24 - Clean dentures should be returned to the resident or stored in a denture cup. Q25 - For unconscious residents, use as little liquid as possible to reduce aspiration risk. Q36 - Unconscious residents may still be able to hear. 7. Assisting With Elimination Key Definitions Fracture pan: A shallow bedpan used for residents who cannot raise their hips easily. Portable commode: A chair-like toilet that can be placed near the bed. Bedpans and Toileting EXAM ALERT: Q34 - A fracture pan is used when the resident cannot raise the hips onto a regular bedpan. Q35 - Standard bedpan: wider end toward the buttocks. 8. Safely Positioning and Moving Residents Key Definitions Positioning: Placing the resident's body in proper alignment and a safe, comfortable position. Supine: Lying flat on the back. Lateral: Lying on either side. Prone: Lying on the stomach. Fowler's: Semisitting position with head and shoulders elevated. Sims': A left side-lying position with the upper knee flexed. Logrolling: Moving the body as one unit while keeping the spine aligned. Dangle: Sitting on the side of the bed with the legs hanging over the edge. Ergonomics: The science of designing work/tasks to reduce strain and injury. Transfer belt: A belt placed around a resident's waist over clothing to provide a secure handhold during transfers. Five Basic Positions Transfers and Wheelchairs If a Resident Starts to Fall Mechanical Lift Safety EXAM ALERT: Q1 - Transfer belt goes over clothing. Q2 - Place wheelchair on stronger side. Q4 - If resident starts to fall, widen stance and bring resident close. Q13 - Mechanical lifts help prevent injury. Q16 - Check skin whenever repositioning. Q26 - Dangling = sitting at bedside with legs over edge. Q28 - Wheelchair repositioning at least every hour. Q29 - Lateral = side-lying. Q30 - Fowler's = semisitting, head/shoulders elevated. Q31 - Prone = lying on stomach. Q32 - Sims' = left side with upper knee flexed. Q33 - Supine = flat on back. Chapter 6 Exam Review - 36 Tested Concepts The following are paraphrased study questions based on the official Chapter 6 exam. The correct answers were verified against the Instructor's Guide answer key. # Paraphrased Exam Question Correct Answer / Key Concept 1 Where should a transfer belt be placed? Over the resident's clothing. 2 Where should the wheelchair be positioned for a bed-to-wheelchair transfer? On the resident's stronger side. 3 Which common self-care task is an ADL? Eating. 4 What should the NA do if a resident begins to fall? Widen stance, bring the resident close, bend the knees, and lower the resident safely. 5 How can the NA promote dignity and independence during care? Encourage the resident to do as much as possible independently. 6 What may be an early sign that skin is beginning to break down? Skin color that differs from the surrounding area. 7 What condition raises pressure-injury risk? Restricted mobility. 8 Why are pressure injuries serious? They can lead to life-threatening infection. 9 Which area is especially vulnerable to pressure injury? The sacrum/tailbone. 10 How often should an immobile/bedbound resident be repositioned according to this chapter? At least every 2 hours. 11 What device keeps top linens from resting on the legs/feet? A bed cradle. 12 Which body area should be washed every day? The perineum. 13 What is true about mechanical lifts? They help prevent injury when used correctly. 14 What environmental check is important before bathing? Make sure the room is warm enough. 15 What direction should perineal care be performed? Front to back. 16 What should the NA do each time a resident is repositioned? Check the resident's skin. 17 What is a correct principle of nail care? Provide care when nails are dirty and do not share nail equipment between residents. 18 How should the NA promote dignity during grooming? Honor the resident's preferences. 19 During which grooming procedure must gloves be worn? Shaving. 20 What is a key rule for hair care? Handle hair gently. 21 What term should be used for a weakened side? Affected or involved side. 22 When dressing a resident with one-sided weakness, which side goes first? The weaker/affected side. 23 How often should oral care be provided at minimum on this exam? At least twice a day. 24 How should clean dentures be handled? Return them to the resident or store them in a labeled denture cup. 25 How can aspiration be reduced during oral care of an unconscious resident? Use as little liquid as possible and position on the side. 26 What does 'dangle' mean? Sit on the side of the bed with legs hanging over the edge. 27 How often should bedbound residents be repositioned? At least every 2 hours. 28 How often should residents in wheelchairs who cannot reposition themselves be repositioned? 29 What position means lying on either side? 30 What position is semisitting with head/shoulders elevated about 45-60 degrees? At least every hour. Lateral. Fowler's. 31 What position means lying on the stomach? Prone. 32 What position is left side-lying with the upper knee flexed? Sims'. 33 What position means lying flat on the back? Supine. 34 What bedpan is used when the resident cannot raise the hips? Fracture pan. 35 How is a standard bedpan positioned? With the wider end aligned with the resident's buttocks. 36 What sense may remain in an unconscious resident? Hearing. High-Yield Memory Review