Beginning and Ending Steps1

A resident's room is his home. Residents have the right to privacy, the right to know who is providing their care, and the right to be protected from errors in care. Which of the following beginning steps will help the NA uphold all of these rights?

• Wash your hands before and after patient care, put dirty linen in a bag, and place the call light within reach.

• knock before entering the room, identify yourself, identify and greet the resident.

• Explain the procedure to the resident, wash your hands, adjust the bed to a safe level.

• maintain face to face contact, document the procedure, and lock the bed.

Which of the following beginning steps are done to prevent infection?

• washing your hands before touching the resident

• adjust the bed to a safe level

• pull the privacy curtain

• lock the bed wheels.

Residents have the legal right to know exactly what care you will provide. Residents are able to do more for themselves if the know what needs to happen. NA's can promote understanding, cooperation, and independence by doing which of the following beginning step?

• identify yourself

• adjust the bed to a safe level

• provide for privacy

• explain procedures to the resident by speaking clearly, slowly, and directly and maintain face-to-face contact whenever possible.

Residents have the right to dignity and privacy. Which of the following beginning steps done by the nurse aide violates these resident's rights?

• NA knocks on the door and waits for the resident to respond.

• NA pulls the privacy curtain around the resident when giving care in the bed.

• NA removes resident's top sheet so that it does not get dirty during incontinent care.

• NA drapes the resident with a bath blanket when undressing them.

The NA should raise the bed to a safe level, about waist high, and lock the bed wheels. Why should the nurse aid do this important beginning step?

• to show courtesy and respect to the resident.

• for safety so the bed does not move when performing care, and to remember to use proper body mechanics.

• to maintain the resident's privacy

• to prevent the spread of infection

Every procedure done for, or on, a resident should be done with appropriate beginning and ending steps. The nurse aide should make the resident comfortable before leaving the room. Which of the following is way to make a resident comfortable after the procedure is done?

• make sure the sheets are wrinkle free and lie flat under the resident, check the resident's body is in proper alignment, place pillows to support their limbs and head, and cover them back up.

• wash your hands after removing gloves. Make sure to wash for 20 seconds and scrub all parts of your hands including your fingernails.

• Return the bed to the lowest position and lock the wheels so the the bed does not move if the resident tries to get out.

• Report any changes in the resident to the nurse and document the procedure using facility procedure.

The call light allows the resident to communicate with staff as necessary and it should be answered promptly. Mr. Jones is alert and oriented and is usually very pleasant during morning care. He had a stroke recently and has left sided paralysis to both his left arm and left leg. Which of the following is the least appropriate action by the NA after completing his morning care?

• remove the privacy measures used during care, like his privacy curtain, and drape/bath blanket.

• place the call light in his left hand

• report any changes to the nurse and document the procedure as needed.

• Return the bed to the lowest position and wash your hands.

Which of the following is true about documenting?

• If you make a mistake, carefully use white out tape (not liquid) and the write the correct information.

• To save time, documentation for all residents should be done at the beginning of your shift before you start taking care of the residents.

• If you do not document the care you gave then, legally it did not happen.

• pages in the patient record should be shredded after 30 days.