Glossary of Terms

The following terms and definitions are used on this web site. These terms are specific to our section's regulatory activities. Some of these terms may be defined differently in other settings. If you do not see the definition you need, or if you need clarification of any term or definition, please contact us.

A-Z Index

A

Abuse
“Abuse” means the willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation or punishment with resulting physical harm, pain or mental anguish [10A NCAC 13O .0101(1) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.; 42 CFR § 488.301 Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.].
AHEC
"AHEC" is the abbreviation for "Area Health Education Center."
Allegation
"Allegation", when used in connection with the Health Care Personnel Registry, means one of the following [N.C. § 131E-256(a)(1) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.]:
  • Abuse of a resident;
  • Neglect of a resident;
  • Diversion of drugs belonging to a resident;
  • Diversion of drugs belonging to a health care facility;
  • Fraud against a resident;
  • Fraud against a health care facility;
  • Misappropriation of the property of a health care facility;
  • Misappropriation of resident property; or
  • Injury of unknown source.

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B

C

Competency Evaluation
"Competency evaluation", when used in conjunction with Nurse Aide I, refers to state-approved testing that measures nurse aide related knowledge, skills, and abilities. The purpose of the competency evaluation is to make sure that a person understands and can safely perform the job of an entry-level nurse aide. State-approved Nurse Aide I competency evaluation meets the requirements of federal regulations [42 CFR 483, Subpart B 483.75(e) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.; Subpart D 483.150-158 Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.].

"Competency evaluation", when used in conjunction with Medication Aide, refers to state-approved testing that measures medication aide-related knowledge, skills, and abilities. The purpose of the evaluation is to make sure that person understands and can safely perform the job of an entry-level medication aide. The state-approved medication aide competency evaluation meets the requirements of state laws and regulations [N.C. § 131E-114.2(b) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.; N.C. § 131E-270 Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.; 10A NCAC 13O .0202 Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.].
Competency Exam
See "Competency Evaluation."
Competency Test
See "Competency Evaluation."
Curriculum
A course of study in a particular field.

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D

Department
"Department" means the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services [10A NCAC 13D .2001 (13) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.].
Direct Access
"Direct access", when used in connection with the Health Care Personnel Registry means any health care facility unlicensed staff that during the course of employment has the opportunity for direct contact with an individual or an individual’s property, when that individual is a resident or person to whom services are provided [N.C. § 131E-256(c) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.].
Diversion of Drugs
“Diversion of drugs” means the unauthorized taking or use of any drug [10A NCAC 13O .0101(2) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.].
Drug
“Drug” means any chemical compound that may be used on or administered to humans or animals as an aid in the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease or other condition or for the relief of pain or suffering or to control or improve any physiological pathologic condition [10A NCAC 13O .0101(3) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.].

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E

Evaluation
See "Competency Evaluation."
Exam
See "Competency Evaluation."
Examination
See "Competency Evaluation."
 

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F

Feeding Assistant
A "feeding assistant" is a single-task worker used to feed residents in nursing homes (42 CFR 483, Subpart B 483.35 Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS., 483.75 Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS., Subpart D 483.160 Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS., and 42 CFR 488, Subpart E 488.301 Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.).
Finding
  1. “Finding” (when used in conjunction with the Health Care Personnel Registry) means a determination by the Department that an allegation of resident abuse or neglect, misappropriation of resident or health care facility property, diversion of drugs belonging to a resident or health care facility, and fraud against a resident or health care facility has been substantiated [10A NCAC 13O .0101(4) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.].
  2. "Finding" (when used in conjunction with the Nurse Aide program) means a determination by the Department that an allegation of patient abuse or neglect, or misappropriation of patient property has been substantiated (in nursing facilities) [10A NCAC 13D .2001(21) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.].
Fraud
“Fraud” means an intentional deception or misrepresentation made by a person with the knowledge that the deception could result in some unauthorized benefit to himself or some other person. It includes any act that constitutes fraud under applicable Federal or State law [10A NCAC 13O .0101(5) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.].

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G

Geriatric Aide
"Geriatric Aide", in North Carolina, means a Nurse Aide I who has passed a state-approved geriatric aide training course and who has a record of the training entered on the N.C. Geriatric Aide Registry.
Good Standing
"Good standing", when used in connection with an aide's registry listing status, means that the aide's listing is active (not expired) and that there are no findings entered into the Nurse Aide I Registry concerning abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property in a nursing home.

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H

Health Care Facility
“Health Care Facility”, when used in connection with the Health Care Personnel Registry, includes all of the following [10A NCAC 13O .0101(6) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.; N.C. § 131E-256(b) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.]:
  • Adult Care Homes
  • Hospitals
  • Home Care Agencies
  • Nursing Pools
  • Hospices
  • Nursing Facilities
  • State-Operated Facilities
  • Residential Facilities
  • 24-Hour Facilities
  • Licensable Facilities for mentally ill, developmental disabled, and substance abusers
  • Multiunit Assisted Housing with Services
  • Community-Based Providers of Services for the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, and substance abusers
  • Agencies providing in-home aide services funded through the Home and Community Care Block Grant Program
Health Care Personnel
“Health Care Personnel” when used in connection with the Health Care Personnel Registry means any unlicensed staff of a health care facility that has direct access to residents, clients, or their property [10A NCAC 13O .0101(7) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.; N.C. § 131E‑256(c) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.].
 
Home Care Aide
"Home Care Aide", in North Carolina, means a Nurse Aide I who has passed a state-approved home care aide training course and who has a record of the training entered on the N.C. Home Care Aide Registry.
 

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I

Incident
"Incident", when used in reference to the Health Care Personnel Registry, refers to any happening, event, or occurrence, which is unplanned, unusual, or unwanted and has the potential for causing or has caused harm to a resident.
Issuing Source
"Issuing Source" refers to any agency or authority that issued a document, certification, or credential (for example, a county or state vital records agency).

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J

K

L

M

Medication Aide
"Medication Aide", when used in connection with a person listed by the Health Care Personnel Registry Section on the N.C. Medication Aide Registry, means anyone who has passed a medication aide training program approved by the N.C. Board of Nursing Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS. and passed the state medication aide competency exam in accordance with rules and requirements for nursing homes (N.C. § 131E-114.2(b) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.; N.C. § 131E-270 Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.; and 10A NCAC 13O .0202 Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.).
Misappropriation of resident property
“Misappropriation of resident property” means the deliberate misplacement, exploitation or wrongful temporary or permanent use of a patient's belongings or money without the patient/resident's consent. [10A NCAC 13O .0101(8) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.; 10A NCAC 13D .2001(32) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.; 42 CFR § 488.301 Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.].
Misappropriation of facility property
See "Misappropriation of the property of a health care facility."
Misappropriation of the property of a health care facility
“Misappropriation of the property of a health care facility” means the deliberate misplacement, exploitation, or wrongful, temporary or permanent use of a health care facility’s property without the facility’s consent [10A NCAC 13O .0101(9) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.].

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N

Neglect
“Neglect” means a failure to provide goods and services necessary to avoid physical harm, mental anguish or mental illness [10A NCAC 13O .0101(10) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.; 42 CFR § 488.301 Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.].
Nurse Aide
"Nurse Aide" means a person who is listed on the N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry and is in compliance with 42 CFR Part 483 [10A NCAC 13D .2001 (35) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.]. Nurse aide means any individual providing nursing or nursing-related services to residents in a skilled nursing facility who is not a licensed health professional, a registered dietitian, or someone who volunteers to provide such services without pay. Nurse aides do not include paid feeding assistants [42 CFR 483, Subpart B 483.75(e) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.; Social Security Act 1819(b)(5)(F) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS. and 1919(b)(5)(F) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS.].
Nurse Aide I
A "Nurse Aide I" is anyone who is listed on the N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry and meets the federal training and competency requirements to work as a nurse aide in a nursing home. See "Nurse Aide."

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O

OBRA
"OBRA" is the abbreviation for Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. When used in reference to the Nurse Aide I Registry, this means the federal legislative changes (1987 and 1989) made to the Social Security Act mandating nursing home reform, which required each state to establish a registry of nurse aides who meet the federal requirements to work in a nursing home.

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P

Pending Allegation Investigation
A "Pending Allegation Investigation" is information entered onto the Health Care Personnel Registry about a health care personnel (an unlicensed health care facility employee who has direct access to resident, clients, or their property) that the individual is under investigation for an allegation that was made against him/her.  The listing of a pending allegation investigation on the Health Care Personnel Registry takes place only after the Health Care Personnel Registry has determined that an investigation is required.

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Q

Qualified Work Date
"Qualified Work Date" is a term used in reference to a Nurse Aide I or a Medication Aide renewal. It means a date on which an aide performed work that meets all of the individual requirements for his or her listing renewal.

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R

Reciprocity
"Reciprocity", when used in reference to a Nurse Aide I or a Medication Aide, refers to accepting and adding an aide to the registry of one state, based on the aide's registry listing and requirements met in another state. (North Carolina does not accept reciprocity from other states for Medication Aide Registry listing.)
Resident
“Resident” when used in conjunction with the Health Care Personnel Registry means all the individuals residing in or being served by a health care facility as defined by N.C. § 131E-256 (b) Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS..

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S

Substantiated Finding
See "Finding."

T

U

Unlicensed Health Care Personnel
See "Health Care Personnel."
Unlicensed Health Care Worker
See "Health Care Personnel."

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V

W

X

Y

Z

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Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS. Denotes link to site outside of N.C. DHHS