Minnesota CNA Terms
Assisted Living* - "Housing with services" renting the housing and buying assisted living services.
Can be all within the same company but isn't always
Body Language* - Use of body and facial positions and movement to send a message, the person
may or may not be aware of the message sent
Abduction - Movement away from the body
Abuse - The willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or punishment
with resulting physical harm, pain, or mental anguish
Active Range of Motion* - Range of motion exercises completed by the resident without
assistance. Also referred to as AROM
Acute* - Sudden, short term
Adaptive Equipment - Items such as eating utensils which are altered to make them easier to use
by residents with fictional limitations
Adduction - Movement towards the body
Advance Directives - A document that makes a person's wishes known regarding life support
issues in the event they are unable to speak for themselves
Agitation* - Change in physical activity, usually increased activity such as wandering or pacing.
May be seen in sleeplessness
,Alarm Systems* - Methods of alerting people to potential dangers
Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs (ABHR) - Refers to 60-70%ethanol or isopropyl (types of alcohol)
containing preparation designed for application to the hands to reduce micro-organisms
Ambulate* - To walk or assist the resident to walk
Anxiety* - Feeling uneasy, apprehensive, worried
Aphasia* - A brain injury that impairs the expression and understanding of language as well as
reading and writing
Aspiration* - Inhaling liquid into the lungs
Assessment - A plan of care that states the specific needs of a client and how those needs will be
addressed by the home health care agency. Not performed by nursing assistants
Assistive Device - Any item (handrails, grab bars, canes, wheelchairs) that is being used by or used
in the care of a resident to promote their safety and function
Atrophy* - Decrease in size or strength
Abduction - Movement away from the body
Autism - A disorder of unknown cause which results in difficulty communicating and relating
people and surroundings. Mental retardation may or may not be present
Basic Human Needs* - Requirements everyone needs for life that may be achieved by different
methods
Blood Pressure* - Measurements of the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries (B/P)
, Body Alignment* - Position of the body so it can function properly
Body Language* - Use of body and facial positions and movement to send a message, the person
may or may not be aware of the message sent
Body Mechanics* - Using muscles of the body to make the best use of strength to lift or move
objects
BPM* - Abbreviation for "beats per minute"
Bradycardia* - Pulse rate under 60 beats per minute
Burping an Infant* - The sound produced when air escapes from the stomach while patting or
rubbing the back of the infant while they are being held in an upright position. This promotes the burp
and removes the air swallowed when eating, and may also be referred to as "belching"
Cannula - Plastic prongs placed in the nose to deliver oxygen
Carbon Monoxide Detectors - Installed in homes to detect odorless lethal gas usually from
malfunctioning furnaces
Cardiovascular Disease - A disease which affects the heart and blood vessels like arteriosclerosis
(hardening of the arteries)
Care Plan* - A written method or outline identifying a resident's needs and how health workers
will assist them in meeting those needs
Case Manager* - Usually an RN or social worker who screens and manages health and social
services for a client
Assisted Living* - "Housing with services" renting the housing and buying assisted living services.
Can be all within the same company but isn't always
Body Language* - Use of body and facial positions and movement to send a message, the person
may or may not be aware of the message sent
Abduction - Movement away from the body
Abuse - The willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or punishment
with resulting physical harm, pain, or mental anguish
Active Range of Motion* - Range of motion exercises completed by the resident without
assistance. Also referred to as AROM
Acute* - Sudden, short term
Adaptive Equipment - Items such as eating utensils which are altered to make them easier to use
by residents with fictional limitations
Adduction - Movement towards the body
Advance Directives - A document that makes a person's wishes known regarding life support
issues in the event they are unable to speak for themselves
Agitation* - Change in physical activity, usually increased activity such as wandering or pacing.
May be seen in sleeplessness
,Alarm Systems* - Methods of alerting people to potential dangers
Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs (ABHR) - Refers to 60-70%ethanol or isopropyl (types of alcohol)
containing preparation designed for application to the hands to reduce micro-organisms
Ambulate* - To walk or assist the resident to walk
Anxiety* - Feeling uneasy, apprehensive, worried
Aphasia* - A brain injury that impairs the expression and understanding of language as well as
reading and writing
Aspiration* - Inhaling liquid into the lungs
Assessment - A plan of care that states the specific needs of a client and how those needs will be
addressed by the home health care agency. Not performed by nursing assistants
Assistive Device - Any item (handrails, grab bars, canes, wheelchairs) that is being used by or used
in the care of a resident to promote their safety and function
Atrophy* - Decrease in size or strength
Abduction - Movement away from the body
Autism - A disorder of unknown cause which results in difficulty communicating and relating
people and surroundings. Mental retardation may or may not be present
Basic Human Needs* - Requirements everyone needs for life that may be achieved by different
methods
Blood Pressure* - Measurements of the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries (B/P)
, Body Alignment* - Position of the body so it can function properly
Body Language* - Use of body and facial positions and movement to send a message, the person
may or may not be aware of the message sent
Body Mechanics* - Using muscles of the body to make the best use of strength to lift or move
objects
BPM* - Abbreviation for "beats per minute"
Bradycardia* - Pulse rate under 60 beats per minute
Burping an Infant* - The sound produced when air escapes from the stomach while patting or
rubbing the back of the infant while they are being held in an upright position. This promotes the burp
and removes the air swallowed when eating, and may also be referred to as "belching"
Cannula - Plastic prongs placed in the nose to deliver oxygen
Carbon Monoxide Detectors - Installed in homes to detect odorless lethal gas usually from
malfunctioning furnaces
Cardiovascular Disease - A disease which affects the heart and blood vessels like arteriosclerosis
(hardening of the arteries)
Care Plan* - A written method or outline identifying a resident's needs and how health workers
will assist them in meeting those needs
Case Manager* - Usually an RN or social worker who screens and manages health and social
services for a client
