Duration: 3 hoursI. Feeding and Nutrition (1 hour)
A. Importance of Nutrition in Healthcare
1. Role of nutrition in maintaining health and promoting recovery
Example: Proper nutrition is essential for supporting patients' immune systems, promoting wound healing, and maintaining overall health and well-being.
2. Dietary needs and modifications for specific health conditions
Example: Patients with dysphagia may require a modified diet with thickened liquids and soft or pureed foods to reduce the risk of aspiration.
B. Assisting Patients with Feeding
1. Techniques for feeding patients safely and effectively
Example: Nursing assistants should sit at eye level with the patient, provide small bites or sips, and allow ample time for chewing and swallowing to prevent choking.
2. Monitoring and documenting food intake and tolerance
Example: Nursing assistants should record the percentage of food consumed during meals and report any signs of difficulty or intolerance, such as coughing, gagging, or refusing to eat.II. Elimination and Toileting Assistance (1 hour)
A. Bowel and Bladder Function in Healthcare
1. Factors affecting bowel and bladder function
Example: Medications, immobility, and dehydration can contribute to urinary retention or constipation in patients.
2. Importance of monitoring and documenting elimination patterns
Example: Regularly documenting patients' bowel movements and urine output can help identify changes or issues that may require intervention.
B. Toileting Assistance and Devices
1. Assisting patients with bedpans, urinals, and commodes
Example: To assist a patient with a bedpan, nursing assistants should position the patient on their side, place the bedpan beneath them, and help them roll back onto the pan, ensuring proper positioning.
2. Incontinence care and prevention
Example: Nursing assistants should promptly change soiled linens and provide perineal care to maintain skin integrity and reduce the risk of infection or skin breakdown.III. Hydration and Fluid Balance (1 hour)
A. Importance of Hydration in Healthcare
1. Role of hydration in maintaining health and preventing complications
Example: Proper hydration is crucial for maintaining normal body temperature, supporting digestion, and preventing complications such as urinary tract infections or pressure ulcers.
2. Signs of dehydration and overhydration
Example: Symptoms of dehydration may include dry skin, dark-colored urine, and dizziness, while overhydration can manifest as swelling, shortness of breath, or confusion.
B. Assisting Patients with Hydration
1. Encouraging and monitoring fluid intake
Example: Nursing assistants should offer fluids to patients regularly, provide drinking aids such as straws or cups with handles, and document the amount consumed to ensure adequate hydration.
2. Fluid restrictions and modifications for specific health conditions
Example: Patients with kidney disease or heart failure may require a restricted fluid intake, and nursing assistants should closely monitor and document their fluid consumption to prevent complications.Upon completing Week 10, students will have gained essential nursing skills related to feeding, elimination, and hydration. These foundational skills are critical for providing effective, patient-centered care and promoting overall health and well-being for patients in various healthcare settings.

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Nursing Assistant Certification Course
Non-FictionThe AMCA NAC (American Medical Certification Association Nursing Assistant Certification) Course is a training program designed to prepare individuals for a career as a nursing assistant. The course equips students with the necessary knowledge and s...