Hartman's Nursing Assistant Care: The Basic
Chapter 5, 6, & 7 Questions And Verified
Answers|Graded A+
Confusion - Correct Answer The inability to think clearly or make decisions
Delirium - Correct Answer Severe confusion which occurs suddenly - usually temporary-
Drugs and alcohol usually involved but could also be due to disease, illness, fluid
imbalance, poor nutrition
Causes of Confusion - Correct Answer UTI, Low Blood Sugar, Dehydration, Fever, Lack
of Oxygen, Infections, Brain Tumor
Guidelines of Care for Residents experiencing Confusion - Correct Answer Do NOT
leave resident alone, provide a quiet environment, introduce self each time you see the
resident and use their name, Keep a routine and talk to residents about plan for the day,
use calendars - remind them of date, time, place
Signs of Delirium - Correct Answer Agitation, Irritability, Anger, Depression,
Diorientation, Trouble focusing, Aphasia, Changes in Perspective & Sensations,
Changes in Consciousness, STM loss
Goal of Treatment for Delirium - Correct Answer Control or Reverse the cause
Cognition - Correct Answer The ability to think logically and clearly & make decisions
Cognitive Impairment - Correct Answer Inability to think logically & clearly (Not rational)
Dementia - Correct Answer Symptom not a diagnosis. Loss of thinking, reasoning,
remembering, & communicating. No recovery. Difficulty to perform ADL's.
Cause Dementia - Correct Answer Alzheimer's, Multi-Infarc/Vascular Dementia (series
of CVAs causes damage to the brain, Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson's, Huntington's.
Lewy Body Dementia - Correct Answer Most common type of dementia. It involves
fluctuations between alertness and attention, meaning that one moment resident may
seem completely fine and the next he is staring into space and drowsy. It also involves
frequent hallucinations and gradual loss of motor skills.
Huntington's Disease - Correct Answer Caused by a faulty gene on chromosome 4. The
faulty gene leads to a damage of the nerve cells in areas of the brain, including the the
basal ganglia and cerebral cortex.
This leads to gradual physical, mental and emotional changes. It is a dominant
hereditary disease.
, The hallmark symptom is uncontrolled movement of the arms, legs, head, face and
upper body. Also causes a decline in thinking and reasoning skills, including memory,
concentration, judgment and ability to plan and organize.
Other symptoms include alterations in mood, especially depression, anxiety, and
uncharacteristic anger and irritability, obsessive-compulsive behavior, leading a person
to repeat the same question or activity over and over.
Alzheimer's Disease - Correct Answer Most common cause of dementia in the "elderly".
Women are more prone to the disease (possibly hormone imbalances). Causes
"tangled nerve fibers (tangles)" and protein deposits to form in the brain. No known
cause or cure. Only sure way to "diagnose is by autopsy".
Skills a person has used over a lifetime (playing instruments) are usually kept longer.
Alzheimer's Care Guidelines - Correct Answer Encourage independence to keep mind
and body active as possible. Problem solving, socializing , reading, working/projects all
help slow the disease.
CNA's attitude when dealing with Alzheimer's should be: - Correct Answer Empathetic,
DON"T take things personally, "Let's..." Team Effort Approach
Strategies for better communication with Alzheimer's patients - Correct Answer
Approach from front (so as not to startle)
Determine patient's "space bubble" comfort zone
Reduce distractions
Always identify yourself and address resident by name
Lower tone of voice
Use same words and phrases & repeat yourself
Use signs, pictures & gestures
Break complex tasks into smaller, simpler ones
Give simple step by step instructions (treat as an adult but use toddler logic...limited
choice etc.)
Strategies for helping frightened or agitated Alzheimer's patients - Correct Answer Get
rid of noise & distractions
Keep them calm
Always describe what you are going to do
Toddler logic while treating patient as an adult (Don't say don't, limited choice,
distractions work well)
Watch for non-verbal cues
Touch & Smiles reassure them
Place pictures on cabinets/bathroom doors/resident's door
"Let's..." get dressed now, bathe, walk etc. "Team effort"
Chapter 5, 6, & 7 Questions And Verified
Answers|Graded A+
Confusion - Correct Answer The inability to think clearly or make decisions
Delirium - Correct Answer Severe confusion which occurs suddenly - usually temporary-
Drugs and alcohol usually involved but could also be due to disease, illness, fluid
imbalance, poor nutrition
Causes of Confusion - Correct Answer UTI, Low Blood Sugar, Dehydration, Fever, Lack
of Oxygen, Infections, Brain Tumor
Guidelines of Care for Residents experiencing Confusion - Correct Answer Do NOT
leave resident alone, provide a quiet environment, introduce self each time you see the
resident and use their name, Keep a routine and talk to residents about plan for the day,
use calendars - remind them of date, time, place
Signs of Delirium - Correct Answer Agitation, Irritability, Anger, Depression,
Diorientation, Trouble focusing, Aphasia, Changes in Perspective & Sensations,
Changes in Consciousness, STM loss
Goal of Treatment for Delirium - Correct Answer Control or Reverse the cause
Cognition - Correct Answer The ability to think logically and clearly & make decisions
Cognitive Impairment - Correct Answer Inability to think logically & clearly (Not rational)
Dementia - Correct Answer Symptom not a diagnosis. Loss of thinking, reasoning,
remembering, & communicating. No recovery. Difficulty to perform ADL's.
Cause Dementia - Correct Answer Alzheimer's, Multi-Infarc/Vascular Dementia (series
of CVAs causes damage to the brain, Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson's, Huntington's.
Lewy Body Dementia - Correct Answer Most common type of dementia. It involves
fluctuations between alertness and attention, meaning that one moment resident may
seem completely fine and the next he is staring into space and drowsy. It also involves
frequent hallucinations and gradual loss of motor skills.
Huntington's Disease - Correct Answer Caused by a faulty gene on chromosome 4. The
faulty gene leads to a damage of the nerve cells in areas of the brain, including the the
basal ganglia and cerebral cortex.
This leads to gradual physical, mental and emotional changes. It is a dominant
hereditary disease.
, The hallmark symptom is uncontrolled movement of the arms, legs, head, face and
upper body. Also causes a decline in thinking and reasoning skills, including memory,
concentration, judgment and ability to plan and organize.
Other symptoms include alterations in mood, especially depression, anxiety, and
uncharacteristic anger and irritability, obsessive-compulsive behavior, leading a person
to repeat the same question or activity over and over.
Alzheimer's Disease - Correct Answer Most common cause of dementia in the "elderly".
Women are more prone to the disease (possibly hormone imbalances). Causes
"tangled nerve fibers (tangles)" and protein deposits to form in the brain. No known
cause or cure. Only sure way to "diagnose is by autopsy".
Skills a person has used over a lifetime (playing instruments) are usually kept longer.
Alzheimer's Care Guidelines - Correct Answer Encourage independence to keep mind
and body active as possible. Problem solving, socializing , reading, working/projects all
help slow the disease.
CNA's attitude when dealing with Alzheimer's should be: - Correct Answer Empathetic,
DON"T take things personally, "Let's..." Team Effort Approach
Strategies for better communication with Alzheimer's patients - Correct Answer
Approach from front (so as not to startle)
Determine patient's "space bubble" comfort zone
Reduce distractions
Always identify yourself and address resident by name
Lower tone of voice
Use same words and phrases & repeat yourself
Use signs, pictures & gestures
Break complex tasks into smaller, simpler ones
Give simple step by step instructions (treat as an adult but use toddler logic...limited
choice etc.)
Strategies for helping frightened or agitated Alzheimer's patients - Correct Answer Get
rid of noise & distractions
Keep them calm
Always describe what you are going to do
Toddler logic while treating patient as an adult (Don't say don't, limited choice,
distractions work well)
Watch for non-verbal cues
Touch & Smiles reassure them
Place pictures on cabinets/bathroom doors/resident's door
"Let's..." get dressed now, bathe, walk etc. "Team effort"
