AL (assisted living) and ALF are both short for assisted living facilities. Assisted living facilities are, in a way, like nursing homes. Both are types of senior communities but assisted living offers more independence. With assisted living, residents may need help with transportation, medication management, housekeeping duties, and other activities of daily living (ADLs). However,…
ASC/AST means active surveillance culture/testing for a facility but is NOT used in patient diagnosis and treatment. For purposes of The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) surveillance, ASC/AST refers to active testing that is intended to identify the presence of microorganisms to create or suspend isolation precautions. Examples of this would include: Nasal swab for…
APRN means “Advanced Practice Registered Nurse,” and APN means “Advanced Practice Nurse.” It is the same as “Advanced Practice Registered Nurse” but is not recommended as a legally recognized title. Both titles refer to the four recognized general areas of advanced professional specialization: CRNA, NP, CNM, and CNS: CRNA- Certified Nurse Anesthetist NP- Nurse Practitioner…
Whenever a foreign protein from a pathogen enters your system, your antibodies are designed to protect you. Suppose it’s a new protein that your already established antibodies aren’t familiar with. In that case, your white blood cells (namely the b-cells) will continue producing antibodies until they can fight the foreign protein properly. Since this is…
Antibody blood tests look for antibodies in your system. Having these antibodies means your immune system is built to protect against certain germs, and you are unlikely to get reinfected by that same germ in the future. The time for protection depends on several factors, including the type of virus or bacteria. Different serology tests…
Activities of daily living commonly referred to as ADLs, are based on an individual’s personal care needs and tasks of everyday life. Some examples of ADLs are: Bathing – the ability to maintain personal hygiene, including brushing teeth and combing hair. Getting dressed – the ability to dress independently and pick appropriate clothes for the…