Providing Oral Care for A Patient
If passing the CNA test is standing in the way of your healthcare career, PassCNAnow.com is here to help! While there is no way of knowing exactly which questions you’ll encounter on test day, we put together a comprehensive review and exam questions that should help you review the material you need to know for test day and pass.
In order to practice as a certified nurse’s assistant (CNA) you must have at least 75 hours of state-approved training, as well as pass a competency exam. The exam, as with many standardized tests, is designed to prove that students who pass are qualified to work as a CNA.
CNA Skill: Providing Oral Care for A Patient
Oral care procedures are used for patients who are unconcious or who are not able to eat or drink. Keeping the mouth and teeth clean will protect your patient’s oral health and allow quicker recovery by preventing infections from developing. Before you begin, wash your hands and put on a pair of gloves. Greet your patient, and explain what you are going to do in order to allow the patient to assist if they are able. For an unconcious patient, provide care as follows:
Drape a towel over the patient’s chest. Raise the bed to allow you to comfortably work. Raise the head to an angle no greater than 30 degrees.
Gently turn the patient’s head toward you, and open the mouth using a tongue depressor in one hand.
Using a toothbrush, clean the patient’s mouth including teeth, gums, and tongue. Be careful to use only a small amount of toothpaste to preven excess from being swallowed.
When you have completed brushing, suction saliva and toothpasted from the patient’s mouth. Assist your patient back into a comfortable position. Dispose of gloves and wash your hands.
For a patient who is concious, the procedure is as follows:
Wash hands, put on a pair of gloves, and place a towel over the patient’s chest. Raise the head to an angle no greater than 30 degrees.
Using a toothbrush, clean the patient’s mouth including teeth, gums, and tongue. Be careful to use only a small amount of toothpaste to preven excess from being swallowed.
As you brush the patient’s teeth, inspect themouth for signs of infection such as lesions or abscesses.
If the patient is able, allow him or her to take a small amount of water into the mouth and swish to remove remaining toothpaste. Otherwise, you will need to suction saliva and toothpaste from the mouth.
Assist your patient back into a comfortable position. Dispose of gloves and wash your hands.
Helping your patient with this self care task contributes to overall health as well as comfort. Oral infections can become both painful and dangerous if not treated, and you may be able to detect these infections by careful observation during the oral care process.
Before you begin your career, here is the information needed to help you prepare and Pass the Nursing Assistant ( CNA ) exam:
1. Join PassCNAnow.com and choose one of our packages
2. Watch all the video reviews included in PassNeclexnow.com at least 2 times
3. Find study partners to help you prepare. Talking through what you are learning will help you better understand the material. Having a conversation about the concepts you are learning will help those concepts stick.
4. Do your research to learn about what to expect from the exam. These are included in our online learning website.
5. Take the practice examinations to get you ready for your exam. We suggest that you take the exams until you can get 2 tests in a row per unit at 78% or higher
6. When practicing clinical skills utilize neighbors, your spouse, or friends. Talk through your processes, explaining to your “patients” what you are doing. This will help you retain the information.
7. Watch and review the Videos for CNA skills included in the training
8. Think about the most common skills you will be asked to perform and do them often. Practice things like moving a patient with right or left-side paralysis, taking blood pressure, and recording vital signs. Your test prep books and online resources will be a good guide to knowing what you need to practice in order to help you prepare.
9. Be sure your fingernails are trimmed and free of polish, make these grooming habits a part of your test preparation.
10. This career path is a calling and there are reasons why you are pursuing this path. If you are overwhelmed remind yourself why you answered the call and believe in your abilities.
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