UNIT 1

INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH CARE

1

The Health Care System

1

2

The Nursing Assistant’s Job

7

3

Professionalism and Job-Seeking Skills

13

4

Communication Skills

19

5

Those We Care For

25

6

The Patient’s or Resident’s Environment

29

UNIT 2

THE HUMAN BODY IN HEALTH AND DISEASE

7

Basic Body Structure and Function

33

8

Common Disorders

47

9

Rehabilitation and Restorative Care

61

UNIT 3

SAFETY

10

Infection Control

65

11

Workplace Safety

73

12

Patient and Resident Safety

79

13

Basic First Aid and Emergency Care

85

UNIT 4

BASIC PATIENT AND RESIDENT CARE

14

Assisting with Repositioning and Transferring

91

15

Assisting with Exercise

97

16

Bedmaking

101

17

Measuring and Recording Vital Signs, Height, and Weight

105

18

Assisting with Hygiene

113

19

Preventing Pressure Ulcers and Assisting with Wound Care

119

20

Assisting with Grooming

125

21

Assisting with Nutrition

131

22

Assisting with Urinary Elimination

139

23

Assisting with Bowel Elimination

145

24

Assisting with Comfort

149

UNIT 5

SPECIAL CARE CONCERNS

25

Caring for People Who are Dying

153

26

Caring for People with Dementia

159

27

Caring for People with Developmental Disabilities

165

28

Caring for People with Cancer

169

29

Caring for People with HIV/AIDS

173

30

Caring for People Who are having Surgery

175

Appendix B

179

Procedure Checklists

185