Urinary incontinence the inability to control the bladder, which leads to an involuntary loss of urine.
Transparency 4-21: Care Guidelines for Urinary Incontinence Offer to assist with toileting often. Follow toileting schedules. Answer call lights and requests for help promptly. Document carefully and accurately any time a residents skin or anything touching residents skin is wet from urine, even if it is a small amount. Wash urine off immediately and completely. Incontinent residents who are bedbound should have plastic, latex or disposable sheets under them to protect the bed. Place a draw sheet over it to absorb moisture and protect skin. Use disposable incontinence pads or briefs as needed to keep body wastes away from skin. Change wet briefs promptly. Do not refer to them as diapers. Be reassuring and understanding.
Transparency 4-22: Preventing Urinary Tract Infections Encourage residents to wipe front to back and do the same when providing perineal care. Give careful perineal care when changing incontinent briefs. Encourage plenty of fluids. Offer to assist with toileting often. Answer call lights promptly. Taking showers, rather than baths, helps prevent UTIs. Report cloudy, dark, or foul-smelling urine, or if resident urinates often and in small amounts.
Digestion the process of preparing food physically and chemically so that it can be absorbed into the cells. Elimination the process of expelling solid wastes made up of the waste produts of food that are not absorbed into the cells. Fecal/anal incontinence the inability to control the bowels, leading to involuntary passage of stool.
Constipation the inability to eliminate stool, or the difficult and painful elimination of a hard, dry stool. Enema a specific amount of water, with or without an additive, that is introduced into the colon to eliminate stool. Suppository a medication given rectally to cause a bowel movement.
Ostomy a surgically-created opening from an area inside the body to the outside. Stoma an artificial opening in the body.
Glands structures that produce substances in the body. Hormones chemical substances created by the body that control numerous body functions.
Diabetes a condition in which the pancreas does not produce enough or does not properly use insulin. Insulin a hormone that converts glucose into energy for the body. Glucose natural sugar.
Pre-diabetes a condition in which a persons blood glucose levels are above normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes type of diabetes that appears in pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high glucose levels during pregnancy.
Transparency 4-25: Care Guidelines for Diabetes Follow diet instructions exactly. Encourage exercise. Observe residents management of insulin doses. Perform urine and blood tests as directed. Give foot care as directed. Encourage comfortable, leather footwear and cotton socks.
Handout 4-1: Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Infections Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also called venereal diseases, are diseases passed through sexual contact with an infected person. This contact includes sexual intercourse, contact of the mouth with the genitals or anus, and contact of the hands to the genitals. A person may be infected, and may potentially infect others, without showing signs of the disease. This is called a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Using latex condoms during sexual contact can reduce the chances of being infected with or passing on some STDs and STIs. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and some kinds of hepatitis can be sexually transmitted. STDs are very common. They can cause serious health problems. Residents may be unaware of or embarrassed by symptoms of an STD. Be professional when dealing with STDs and STIs. This can help put residents at ease.
Handout 4-1: Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Infections (contd.) Chlamydia infection is caused by organisms in the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract. Chlamydia can cause serious infection, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women. PID can cause sterility. Signs of chlamydia infection are yellow or white discharge from the penis or vagina and burning with urination. It is treated with antibiotics. Syphilis can be treated effectively in the early stages, but if left untreated, it can cause brain damage, mental illness, and even death. Babies born to mothers with syphilis may be born blind or with other serious birth defects. Syphilis is easier to detect in men than in women. This is due to open sores called chancres that form on the penis soon after infection.
Handout 4-1: Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Infections (contd.) The chancres are painless and can go unnoticed. If untreated, the infection spreads to the heart, brain, and other vital organs. Common symptoms at this stage include rash, sore throat, or fever. When detected, syphilis can be treated with penicillin or other antibiotics. The sooner it is treated, the better the chances of preventing long-term damage and avoiding infection of others. Gonorrhea, like syphilis, can be treated with antibiotics and is easier to detect in men than in women. If untreated, gonorrhea can cause sterility in both men and women. Most women with gonorrhea show no early symptoms. This makes it easy for women to spread the disease. Men with gonorrhea will often show a greenish or yellowish discharge from the penis within a week after infection. Burning with urination is another common symptom in men.
Handout 4-1: Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Infections (contd.) Herpes simplex 2, unlike the other STDs discussed here, is caused by a virus. It cannot be treated with antibiotics. Once infected with the herpes virus, a person cannot be cured. The person may have repeated outbreaks of the disease for the rest of his or her life. A herpes outbreak includes burning, painful, red sores on the genitals. These heal in about two weeks. The sores are infectious, but a person with herpes virus can also spread the infection when sores are not present. Some people infected with herpes never have repeated outbreaks. The later episodes may not be as painful as the first outbreak. Antiviral drugs can help people stay symptom-free longer. Babies born to women infected with herpes simplex 2 can be infected during birth. Pregnant women experiencing a herpes outbreak are usually delivered by cesarean section, or C-section.
Lymph
A clear yellowish fluid that carries disease-fighting cells called lymphocytes.
Handout 4-2: Myths About HIV and AIDS Myth: If I am HIV positive, that means I have AIDS. Fact: HIV positive means that your body was exposed to the virus. Since your body was exposed, there is a good chance that you are infected with the virus. But it does not mean that you have AIDS. AIDS develops over time. Myth: HIV is the same as AIDS. Fact: HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. AIDS is a group of symptoms that develop during the last stage of HIV infection.
Handout 4-2: Myths About HIV and AIDS Myth: I can get HIV from an infected person by shaking hands, hugging, or kissing. Fact: HIV is not spread through casual contact. There is a slight possibility that you could become HIV infected through kissing if you and the infected person both have open bleeding sores in your mouths and the infected persons blood gets into yours. If you are really worried about this, do an oral exam on your partner before kissing him or her. Myth: I can get HIV from telephones. Fact: The HIV virus can't live outside of the body. You cannot become infected through saliva. Myth: I can get HIV from doorknobs, tables, chairs, or push buttons. Fact: The HIV virus can't live outside of the body.
Handout 4-2: Myths About HIV and AIDS (contd.) Myth: I can get HIV from eating food that was prepared by an infected person. Fact: Once again, HIV dies very quickly outside the body. Even if the food prep person cut his finger and then attractively arranged your food on your plate, you would not become infected from eating this food. Once any body fluid is dry, you can be absolutely sure that the virus is dead. Just about the only way you could become infected this way is if the food prep person cuts off a finger, and as he is bleeding in your food, you are eating it at that exact moment. This scenario is rather extreme.
Handout 4-2: Myths About HIV and AIDS (contd.) Myth: I can get HIV from toilets. Fact: Toilets have been blamed for just about everything, from getting you pregnant to giving you sexually transmitted diseases (STD). The only way you might possibly become HIV infected from a toilet seat is to have unprotected sex while sitting on it! Myth: I can get HIV from mosquitoes. Fact: Although it sounds very possible, you cannot become HIV infected through mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, or lice. For this to happen, the HIV would have to survive in the insect saliva and salivary glands. HIV is a human virus and cannot survive outside of the human body. As a result, HIV will not and does not survive in mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, or lice. If this were a route of transmission, we would all have been infected a very long time ago.
Handout 4-2: Myths About HIV and AIDS (contd.) Myth: I can get HIV from breathing the same air as an infected person. Fact: HIV does not spread through the air. You cannot get HIV by being in the same room with someone who is infected with the virus.
Transparency 4-28: Care Guidelines for HIV/AIDS Wash hands often. Follow Standard Precautions, and keep everything clean. High-protein, high-calorie, high-nutrient meals can help maintain healthy weight. Help make mealtimes pleasant and relaxing. Know residents favorite foods. Notify nurse of appetite loss/ difficulty eating. If residents have infections in the mouth they may need food that is low in acid/spice and neither cold nor hot. Good mouth care is vital. Small, frequent meals can help with nausea. Help ensure adequate fluid intake.
Transparency 4-28: Care Guidelines for HIV/AIDS (contd.) If diarrhea is severe, doctor may order BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apples, toast). This is helpful short-term. Good rehydration fluids include water, juice, soda and broth. Avoid caffeinated beverages. Numbness, tingling, and pain in the feet and legs is usually treated with medications. Going barefoot or wearing loose, soft slippers may help. Bed cradle may be used. Treat residents with respect and provide emotional support. Provide safe environment and close supervision in ADLs.
Transparency 4-29: Care Guidelines Cancer Each case is different. Do not make assumptions. Respect residents needs and be sensitive. Have a positive attitude. Try plastic utensils for residents receiving chemotherapy. Encourage a variety of food. Watch for signs of pain and report them to the nurse. Give back rubs for comfort. Reposition residents. Use lotion on dry skin. Do not remove markings. Give back rubs. Assist with oral care often. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and baking soda rinse. Provide help with grooming. Encourage visitors. Suggest good times of the day for visits. Get to know residents interests. Be alert to needs not being met or stresses.