Key Terms

• Ombudsman


  A volunteer who helps to protect the rights of residents by investigating complaints or reports of resident rights violations
• Respite Care


  Services that provide a safe environment for older adults residents or developmentally disabled residents over the age of 18
• Joint Commission


  An entity that accredits and surveys most acute care facilities in the United States
• Acute Care Facility


  A healthcare facility that provides short-term care for residents who have an immediate illness or injury
• OBRA


  Legislation that mandated many regulations regarding the care of residents, resident rights, and the training requirements for nursing assistants.
• Chain of Command


  A hierarchical route of communication from one member of the healthcare team to the next
• Informed Consent


  The right to know what treatment options are available, and the risks associated with those treatments; the residents then has the right to make a choice about those options.
• CBRF


  One type of assisted-living community
• Delegated Task


  A job or action that a supervisor asks you to complete either verbally or through a written care plan.
• Rights


  Certain beliefs or laws that determine our freedoms
• Scope of Practice


  The responsibilities, skills, and actions that you are permitted and expected to follow after you have completed your training
• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)


  A law that allows an employee to take a leave of absence from his job for a total of 12 weeks out of any 12-month period for certain medical needs without the risk of losing his job
• Responsibility

  Accountability for one's choices and actions
• RCAC

  A facility that is comparable to senior apartment living and that offers minimal care
• Title 22

  The California Code of Regulations that provides information about nurse aide training programs and other healthcare licensing regulations
• Hospice

  Offers specialty end-of-life care for residents who have less than 6 months to live
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)


  A privacy law created in 1996 that protects all healthcare information that can be linked to an individual, known as individually identifiable health information.
• Assisted-Living Community


  A facility that bridges the gap between living independently and living in a healthcare facility such as a nursing home
• Mandatory Reporter


  Someone who, as part of her job, must report any abusive or unlawful activity immediately
• Long-Term Care Facility 


  Offers care for residents needing skilled nursing care for a long period of time
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

  Legislation created in 1970 that ensures that all employees have safe and healthy working conditions
• Abuse


  A single or repeated action that is purposeful and meant to cause harm; can be mental, physical, sexual, or emotional
• Neglect


  When a treatment or service is not provided and the resident is then harmed.
• Assault


  Threatening a resident with physical, mental, or emotional harm
• Negligence


  When a caregiver does not follow the standards or scope of practice or the role that she is working in; she is not doing what a reasonable person would do in a given situation
• False Imprisonment


  When a resident is limited from moving freely about their environment
• Misappropriation of Funds


  Intentionally using another person's money or belongings without that person's permission.
• Caregiver Strain


  When caregivers emotionally can give no more to residents and start to treat residents or others poorly
• Ethics


  Principles of right and wrong that drive behavior
• Battery


  Physically touching a resident when you do not have permission to do so
• Abandonment


  When a caregiver walks away from her assignment before the end of the shift or before her replacement is there to relieve her, leaving residents alone and at risk
• Cultural Competence


  When one can accept the differences between one's self and the resident; willingly incorporating the resident's belief system into the caregiving process
• Autism


  A neurological disorder that impairs communication and social interaction
• Projection


  Attributing feelings or thoughts to another person
• Nonverbal Communication


  The use of body language and facial expressions to convey ideas or emotions
• Repression


  When the subconscious brain ignores thoughts or situations to protect oneself
• Defense Mechanisms


  A way to protect one's self when feeling anxious or upset; may include denial, repression, or projection
• Ethnicity


  The national, cultural, or racial group that a person belongs to
• Empathy 


  To have understanding and compassion for others
• Therapeutic Communication


  A way of combining active listening skills and acknowledging feelings