Healthcare assistants, care assistants, home carers and support workers in nursing homes, hospitals and the community.
In care work
What the nurse in charge, the residents and the families say to you on a shift. Listen, read what it means, hear it in a sentence, then try the quick check.
52 words and phrases10 sentence check20 minutes, aboutFree no sign-up
1 Play the word, then the sentence2 Read what it means3 Say it back out loud4 Do the check at the end
52 words and phrases
What you will hear
Tap the play button on any card. The word first, then how it sounds in a sentence.
- 1
the resident
A person who lives in a nursing home or care home.
The resident in room twelve likes her tea without milk.
- 2
the service user
A person who receives care, used in community and disability services.
Every service user has their own plan, read it before the first visit.
- 3
the client
A person you care for in their own home.
Your first client this morning is at half eight in Salthill.
- 4
handover
The meeting at the start and end of a shift where staff pass on what happened.
Handover is at eight sharp in the nurses station, bring your notes.
- 5
the nurse in charge
The nurse running the floor or the unit on that shift. Also the CNM.
Tell the nurse in charge straight away if anyone has a fall.
- 6
the care plan
The written plan for each person: their needs, risks, likes and how they want to be helped.
The care plan says two staff for the hoist, never one.
- 7
two assist
A person who needs two staff to move or wash them.
Mary is two assist for the shower, wait for me.
- 8
the hoist
The machine with a sling that lifts a person from bed to chair.
Check the sling is the right size before you use the hoist.
- 9
the sling
The fabric seat that goes under a person for the hoist.
Her sling is the blue medium, it is on the back of the door.
- 10
manual handling
Lifting and moving people and things safely. You must do the training.
Your manual handling cert is due, the course is on Thursday.
- 11
transfer
Moving someone from one place to another: bed to chair, chair to toilet.
Use the turntable for the transfer, he can stand but not step.
- 12
mobilise
Walk or move about.
He mobilises with a frame, stay beside him on the corridor.
- 13
the frame
A walking frame. A rollator has wheels.
Bring her frame to the dining room, it is at the bed.
- 14
bed bound
Unable to get out of bed.
He is bed bound now, so turn him every two hours.
- 15
turn
Change the position of someone in bed to protect their skin.
Turn him onto his left side and put the pillow behind his back.
- 16
pressure area
A part of the body where skin can break down from lying or sitting too long.
Check her pressure areas at every change and report any redness.
- 17
pad
An incontinence pad.
Change the pad and record it on the chart.
- 18
the commode
A chair with a toilet pan under the seat.
Leave the commode by the bed at night, she will not make it to the bathroom.
- 19
the call bell
The button a person presses for help.
Never leave the room without putting the call bell within reach.
- 20
obs
Observations: blood pressure, pulse, temperature, oxygen.
Do the obs on the new admission and give them to the nurse.
- 21
the chart
The sheet or screen where you record what you did: food, fluids, turns, pads.
If it is not on the chart, it did not happen.
- 22
fluid balance
Recording everything a person drinks and passes.
He is on fluid balance, write down every cup.
- 23
intake
How much someone has eaten and drunk.
Her intake was poor today, she only took half the soup.
- 24
thickened fluids
Drinks with thickener added for people who choke on thin liquids.
She is on thickened fluids, level two, never give her plain water.
- 25
soft diet
Food that is easy to chew and swallow.
He is on a soft diet since his teeth were out.
- 26
nil by mouth
Nothing to eat or drink, usually before a procedure or because of swallowing.
She is nil by mouth from midnight for the scan.
- 27
choking risk
Someone who may choke on food or drink.
He is a choking risk, sit with him for every meal.
- 28
falls risk
Someone likely to fall.
She is a high falls risk, the sensor mat has to be on at night.
- 29
the sensor mat
A mat by the bed that rings when someone stands on it.
The sensor mat went off twice last night.
- 30
a fall
When someone falls. Always reported, even with no injury.
Any fall gets an incident form, even if they are grand.
- 31
incident form
The report filled in after a fall, an injury or a mistake.
Fill in the incident form before you go home.
- 32
safeguarding
Protecting people from abuse or neglect. If you see something, you must report it.
If you have a safeguarding concern, tell the nurse in charge today, not next week.
- 33
dignity
Treating the person with respect: knock, explain, close the door, cover them.
Knock and wait, it is her room, dignity first.
- 34
confused
Not clear about where they are or what is happening. Common with dementia.
He gets confused in the evenings, keep your voice calm and slow.
- 35
sundowning
When a person with dementia becomes restless or upset in the late afternoon and evening.
She sundowns around five, so take her for a walk before tea.
- 36
wandering
Walking about without a clear purpose, a risk for people with dementia.
He was wandering towards the front door, bring him back gently.
- 37
agitated
Restless, upset or angry.
She is agitated this morning, give her space and try again in ten minutes.
- 38
PRN
A medicine given only when needed, like a painkiller. Said as three letters.
He has PRN paracetamol if his knee is sore, ask the nurse.
- 39
meds
Medicines. Only nurses give them in most settings.
The meds round is at eight, keep the corridor clear.
- 40
the GP
The family doctor.
The GP is in on Wednesdays, put her name down.
- 41
end of life
The last days or weeks of a person's life. Care changes to comfort.
He is end of life now, the family are staying over.
- 42
comfort care
Care that keeps a person comfortable rather than treating the illness.
She is on comfort care, mouth care every hour.
- 43
mouth care
Cleaning and moistening the mouth of someone who cannot do it.
Do his mouth care with the sponge swabs, he is very dry.
- 44
personal care
Washing, dressing, toileting.
Personal care starts at seven, the ladies on the top corridor first.
- 45
the sluice
The room where commodes and bedpans are cleaned.
Empty it in the sluice, not the bathroom.
- 46
infection control
Hand washing, gloves, aprons, cleaning, to stop infection spreading.
Infection control audit on Monday, gel in and gel out of every room.
- 47
isolation
When a person is kept apart because of an infection.
Room four is in isolation, full PPE and gown up outside the door.
- 48
the roster
The shift timetable.
The roster is up for next month, check your weekends.
- 49
a long day
A twelve or thirteen hour shift.
You are on a long day Saturday, eight to eight.
- 50
the sleepover
A night shift where you sleep on site and are woken if needed.
The sleepover is paid at a flat rate unless you are up.
- 51
next of kin
The family member to contact.
Ring the next of kin and let them know about the fall.
- 52
HIQA
The inspector of nursing homes in Ireland. Said "hee-kwa".
HIQA were in last week, keep the charts up to date.
In England the inspector is the CQC.
Quick check
10 sentences. What did they mean?
Play each one and pick the answer. You can replay as often as you like. Your score shows at the end, and you can keep it against your name if you want to.
What next
Ready to work, not just to practise?
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