566 © iStock.com/mediaphotos Providing Holistic Care: A Framework Holistic Care Body, Mind, Spirit Holistic Nursing Assistant Requirements Professionalism Self-Refl ection Self-Care Critical Thinking Caring and Communication Skills Interpersonal and Team Relationships Cultural Humility Skill Competence Time, Energy, and Priority Management Legal, Ethical, Safe, Quality Practice Resident Factors Affecting Well-Being Disease Process or Condition Needs and Development Independence and Self-Reliance ADL and Mobility Environment Culture Spirituality Relationships Healthcare Environment Delivery Systems Facilities Workplace Policies and Procedures Healthcare Team Family Friends Signifi cant Others Chapter Outline Section 4.1 A Culture and Environment of Safety Section 4.2 Fall Prevention Section 4.3 Restraint-Free Care Section 4.4 Fire, Electrical, Chemical, and Oxygen Safety Welcome to the Chapter This chapter provides information you will need to understand to maintain a safe culture and environment for yourself and those in your care. This chapter will focus on identifying potential hazards, the importance of proper body mechanics, preventing common accidents and injuries, properly reporting safety issues, and keeping residents free from harm. You will also learn about quality measures for maintaining a safe culture, the need for safety plans, safety awareness, and the importance of safety checks. What you learn in this chapter will help you develop your knowledge and skills to become a holistic nursing assistant. The topics discussed in the chapter are highlighted on the Providing Holistic Care Framework. You are now ready to start this chapter, Maintaining a Safe Environment and Practice. Maintaining a Safe Environment and Practice 4 The Nursing Assistant: Essentials of Holistic Care, Brief Edition presents all the key knowledge and skills students need to succeed when taking the certification competency exam in their state and beginning their nursing assistant careers. The text and its supplements also include abundant reinforcement opportunities and practice questions, challenging students to apply what they have learned, and preparing them for success when taking their state’s certification competency examination. Designed for a short course, this text is accessible for students of all levels. Emphasis on Holistic Care The Nursing Assistant: Essentials of Holistic Care, Brief Edition takes a holistic approach to nursing assistant information, skills, and procedures. At the beginning of each chapter, a Providing Holistic Care Framework helps prospective nursing assistants visualize the aspects of holistic care and identify the areas they will learn about in each chapter. Becoming a Holistic Nursing Assistant features also introduce important skills and knowledge needed to deliver holistic care. These features cover such topics as providing care in isolation, answering call lights, and the effects of aging. Providing Holistic Care: A Framework Holistic Care Body, Mind, Spirit Holistic Nursing Assistant Requirements Professionalism Self-Refl ection Self-Care Critical Thinking Caring and Communication Skills Interpersonal and Team Relationships Cultural Humility Skill Competence Time, Energy, and Priority Management Legal, Ethical, Safe, Quality Practice Resident Factors Affecting Well-Being Disease Process or Condition Needs and Development Independence and Self-Reliance ADL and Mobility Environment Culture Spirituality Relationships Healthcare Environment Delivery Systems Facilities Workplace Policies and Procedures Healthcare Team Family Friends Signifi cant Others 5 BECOMING A HOLISTIC NURSING ASSISTANT Answering Call Lights These guidelines will help improve the quality of care you provide, will promote resident safety and comfort, and will reduce the number of unnecessary calls. In facilities, a call light may cause a light to turn on above or on the side of the door to the resident’s room and may be accompanied by a ringing sound outside the room. In other facilities, staff members carry mobile electronic devices, such as pagers or cell phones, which receive the alert. When you answer a call light, do so quickly and according to facility policy and procedure. If the call comes from a resident’s bathroom, consider it an emergency and respond immediately. Be courteous when responding to the call. Many call lights now have an intercom that allows nursing staff members to talk to the resident. If you use the intercom, make sure you can be heard. Do not rely only on the intercom to respond to a resident’s needs. If the call comes from a bathroom, never use the intercom. Go directly to the room. When you enter a resident’s room, be polite and attentive to the resident’s requests. If you feel the resident has inconvenienced you, your body language may tell the resident how you feel. Be sure your nonverbal communication is as considerate as your words. The following guidelines can help you respond well to and reduce a resident’s need to use the call light: • Observe the resident’s position and ask if the resident is comfortable. Reposition the resident, if needed. • Make sure the resident can reach the call light. For example, if a resident has a weak left arm and hand, place the call light on his or her right, or stronger, side. • Put the telephone, TV remote control, and bed light switch within the resident’s reach. • Place the overbed table next to the bed, if needed. • Position the tissue box and drinking water so they can be easily reached. • Put the waste container next to the bed. • Ask about the resident’s pain level. If the resident is experiencing pain, notify the licensed nursing staff immediately. Before leaving the room, ask the resident if there is anything else you can do before you go. Be sincere and show interest in the resident’s response. If appropriate, remind the resident that you (or another member of the nursing staff) will be back again to check on him or her during your shift. Apply It 1. A resident has used the call light five times in the last hour. When you answered the last call light, the resident requested ice for his water and help picking up a piece of paper he could not reach. When the call light goes on for the sixth time, what should you do? 2. What actions can you take to help reduce a resident’s frequent use of the call light? Guided Tour