CNA Vocabulary:Question and Answers
Hormones - ANSchemicals that control numerous body functions.
Abduction - ANSmoving a body part away from the body.
Abuse - ANSpurposely causing physical, mental, or emotional pain or injury to someone.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) - ANSpersonal care tasks a person does every day to care for him- or herself;
include bathing, dressing, caring for teeth and hair, toileting, eating and drinking, and moving around.
Activity Therapy - ANStherapy for people with Alzheimer's djsease that uses activities to prevent boredom and
frustration.
Acute - ANSan illness that has severe symptoms.
Acute care - ANScare performed in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers.
Adaptive devices - ANSspecial equipment that helps a person who is ill or disabled to perform ADLs; also called
assistive devices.
Adduction - ANSmoving a body part toward the body.
Adult daycare - ANScare given at a facility during daytime hours; generally for people who need some help but
are not seriously ill or disabled.
Advance directives - ANSdocuments that allow people to choose what kind of medical care they wish to have if
they are unable to make those decisions themselves.
,Affected side - ANSa weakened side from a stroke or injury; also called the "weaker" or "involved" side.
Ageism - ANSprejudice toward, stereotyping of, and/or discrimination against older persons or the elderly.
Airborne Precautions - ANSused for diseases that can be transmitted through the air after being expelled.
Ambulation - ANSwalking.
Amputation - ANSremoval of some or all of a body part.
Angina pectoris - ANSchest pain.
Anxiety - ANSuneasiness or fear, often about a situation or condition.
Apathy - ANSa lack of interest.
Aphasia - ANSthe inability to speak or to speak clearly.
Asepsis - ANSterm meaning that no infection is present.
Aspiration - ANSthe inhalation of food or drink into the lungs; can cause pneumonia or death.
Assault - ANSwhen a person feels fearful that he will be touched without his permission.
Assisted living - ANSfacilities where residents live who need some assistance; they do not usually require skilled
care.
,Assistive devices - ANSspecial equipment that helps a person who is ill or disabled to perform ADLs; also called
adaptive devices.
Atrophy - ANSthe wasting away, decreasing in size, and weakening of muscles.
Autoimmune illness - ANScondition in which the body's immune system attacks normal tissue in the body.
Battery - ANSwhen a person is touched without his or her permission.
Bloodborne pathogens - ANSmicroorganisms found in human blood; can cause infection and disease in
humans.
Body mechanics - ANSthe way the parts of the body work together whenever a person moves.
Bony prominences - ANSareas of the body where the bone lies close to the skin.
C. difficile (C. diff clostridium difficile) - ANSa bacterial illness that can cause diarrhea and colitis; spread by
spores in feces that are difficult to kill.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) - ANSmedical procedures used when a person's heart or lungs have
stopped working.
Care plan - ANSa plan developed for each resident to achieve certain goals.
Care team - ANSpeople with different education and experience who help care for residents.
Catastrophic reaction - ANSoverreacting to something in an unreasonable way.
, Catheter - ANSa tube used to drain urine from the bladder.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - ANSa federal government agency that issues guidelines to
protect and improve health.
Chain of command - ANSthe order of authority within a facility.
Chain of infection - ANSa way to describe how disease is transmitted from one living being to another.
Charting - ANSwriting down information.
Chronic - ANSrefers to the fact that a disease or condition is long-term or long-lasting.
Cliches - ANSphrases that are used over and over again and do not really mean anything.
Closed bed - ANSa bed completely made with the bedspread and blankets in place.
Cognition - ANSthe ability to think logically and quickly.
Combative - ANSviolent or hostile behavior.
Combustion - ANSthe process of burning.
Communication - ANSthe process of exchanging information with others.
Compassionate - ANScaring, concerned, empathetic, and understanding.
Hormones - ANSchemicals that control numerous body functions.
Abduction - ANSmoving a body part away from the body.
Abuse - ANSpurposely causing physical, mental, or emotional pain or injury to someone.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) - ANSpersonal care tasks a person does every day to care for him- or herself;
include bathing, dressing, caring for teeth and hair, toileting, eating and drinking, and moving around.
Activity Therapy - ANStherapy for people with Alzheimer's djsease that uses activities to prevent boredom and
frustration.
Acute - ANSan illness that has severe symptoms.
Acute care - ANScare performed in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers.
Adaptive devices - ANSspecial equipment that helps a person who is ill or disabled to perform ADLs; also called
assistive devices.
Adduction - ANSmoving a body part toward the body.
Adult daycare - ANScare given at a facility during daytime hours; generally for people who need some help but
are not seriously ill or disabled.
Advance directives - ANSdocuments that allow people to choose what kind of medical care they wish to have if
they are unable to make those decisions themselves.
,Affected side - ANSa weakened side from a stroke or injury; also called the "weaker" or "involved" side.
Ageism - ANSprejudice toward, stereotyping of, and/or discrimination against older persons or the elderly.
Airborne Precautions - ANSused for diseases that can be transmitted through the air after being expelled.
Ambulation - ANSwalking.
Amputation - ANSremoval of some or all of a body part.
Angina pectoris - ANSchest pain.
Anxiety - ANSuneasiness or fear, often about a situation or condition.
Apathy - ANSa lack of interest.
Aphasia - ANSthe inability to speak or to speak clearly.
Asepsis - ANSterm meaning that no infection is present.
Aspiration - ANSthe inhalation of food or drink into the lungs; can cause pneumonia or death.
Assault - ANSwhen a person feels fearful that he will be touched without his permission.
Assisted living - ANSfacilities where residents live who need some assistance; they do not usually require skilled
care.
,Assistive devices - ANSspecial equipment that helps a person who is ill or disabled to perform ADLs; also called
adaptive devices.
Atrophy - ANSthe wasting away, decreasing in size, and weakening of muscles.
Autoimmune illness - ANScondition in which the body's immune system attacks normal tissue in the body.
Battery - ANSwhen a person is touched without his or her permission.
Bloodborne pathogens - ANSmicroorganisms found in human blood; can cause infection and disease in
humans.
Body mechanics - ANSthe way the parts of the body work together whenever a person moves.
Bony prominences - ANSareas of the body where the bone lies close to the skin.
C. difficile (C. diff clostridium difficile) - ANSa bacterial illness that can cause diarrhea and colitis; spread by
spores in feces that are difficult to kill.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) - ANSmedical procedures used when a person's heart or lungs have
stopped working.
Care plan - ANSa plan developed for each resident to achieve certain goals.
Care team - ANSpeople with different education and experience who help care for residents.
Catastrophic reaction - ANSoverreacting to something in an unreasonable way.
, Catheter - ANSa tube used to drain urine from the bladder.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - ANSa federal government agency that issues guidelines to
protect and improve health.
Chain of command - ANSthe order of authority within a facility.
Chain of infection - ANSa way to describe how disease is transmitted from one living being to another.
Charting - ANSwriting down information.
Chronic - ANSrefers to the fact that a disease or condition is long-term or long-lasting.
Cliches - ANSphrases that are used over and over again and do not really mean anything.
Closed bed - ANSa bed completely made with the bedspread and blankets in place.
Cognition - ANSthe ability to think logically and quickly.
Combative - ANSviolent or hostile behavior.
Combustion - ANSthe process of burning.
Communication - ANSthe process of exchanging information with others.
Compassionate - ANScaring, concerned, empathetic, and understanding.
