Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Terminology Jan 2011
Nursing Terminology
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Apical Pulse | 4th to 5th intercostal space at left midclavicular line |
| Afebrile | without fever |
| Antipyretics | drugs that reduce fever |
| Basal metabolic rate | heat produced by body at absolute rest |
| Bradycardia | Slow heart rate, below 60 bpm in adults |
| Cardiac output | volume of blood pumped by the heart in 1 minute |
| Conduction | transfer of heat from one object to another with direct contact |
| Convection | transfer of heat away by air movement |
| Diaphoresis | visible perspiration primarily occurring on the upper thorax and forehead |
| Diffusion | The tendency of molecules of a substance to move from areas of high concentration to low concentration - how O2 and CO2 move in body |
| Evaporation | change from liquid to vapor or loss of volume due to conversion of liquid to vapor |
| Febrile | fever |
| Hematocrit | expressed as the percentage of total blood volume of erthrocytes; helps assess normal blood volume levels in patients quickly |
| Hypertension | high blood pressure - higher than 140/90 mm Hg |
| Hypotension | low blood pressure - systolic pressure lower than 90 mm Hg |
| Hypoxemia | low oxygen concentration - low O2 saturation in blood <90% SpO2 |
| Orthopnea | labored breathing that occurs when lying flat, but improves when sitting up or standing |
| Orthostatic hypotension | low blood pressure upon moving from supine, to sitting to standing position - positive findings if patient becomes dizzy or decrese of 20 mm Hg |
| Postual hypotension | orthostatic hypotension |
| Radial pulse | pulse felt over the radial artery |
| Radiation | emission from a common center in all directions - heat |
| Sphygmomanometer | device attached to blood pressure cuff used for measuring aterial pressure |
| Tachycardia | abnormally rapid heart rate; >100 bpm in adults |
| Aerobic | taking place in the presence of O2; an organism that requires O2 for life |
| Anaerobic | taking place in the absence of O2; an organism not requiring O2 for life |
| Asepsis | condition free from germs, infection and life forms |
| Bacteriostasis | the arrest of bacterial growth |
| Colonization | growth of micoororganims (bacteria) in a particular body site |
| Edema | body tissues containing an excessive amount of tissue fluid in the interstitial spaces - swelling |
| Exudate | fluid released from body having a high concentration of protein, cells or debris |
| Granulation tissue | newly formed vascular and connective tissue produced in the early stages of wound healing |
| Iatrogenic infection | infection caused or arising due to a medical or surgical intervention |
| Inflammatory response | vascular and cellular responses (edema, erythemia) formation of inflammatory exudates tissure repair |
| Leukocytosis | an increase in the number of leukocytes circulating in the blood; usually >10,000/mm3 |
| Medical asepsis | clean technique; using gloves, hand hygiene, standard precautions to prevent transfer of organisms from one client to the next |
| Necrotic | death of a portion of tissue |
| Nosocomial infection | hospital acquired infection |
| Phagocytosis | 3-stage process in which a types of WBC's engulf and destroy microorganisms, foreign antigens and cell debris |
| Pathogen | a microorganism capable of producing disease |
| Purulent | suppurative; forming or containing pus (cloudy) |
| Sanguineous | bloody |
| Serous | having the nature of serum; thin or watery |
| Standard precautions | always wear gloves to protect against all body fluids (except sweat) |
| Surgical asepsis | sterile technique; eliminate all microorganisms, including pathogens and spores from an area or object |
| Systemic | involving entire system |
| Virulence | relative power and degree of pathogenicity possessed by organisms |
| Alopecia | absence or loss of hair especially of the head |
| Epidermis | the outermost layer of the skin |
| Gingivitis | inflammation of the gums characterized by redness, swelling, and the tendency to bleed |
| Neuropathy | syndrome in which muscle weakness, paresthesias, impaired reflexes, and autonomic symptoms in the hands and feet are common |
| Foot board | when used properly it helps to prevent footdrop; letting the soles of the feet just touch the board |
| Center of gravity | at the center of inanimate objects and at the midline (55% - 57%) standing height of a person |
| Friction | rubbing or two objects together; should be avoided in nursing lifts/transfers |
| Hemiparesis | hemi-paralysis |
| Hemiplegia | loss of movement or mobility in half of the body |
| Isometric contraction | increase in muscle tension or muscle work but no shortening (ex. tightening a muscle group and relaxing it) |
| Isotonic contraction | Necessary for active movement, causes muscle shortening |
| Proprioception | the awareness of posture, movement, and changes in equilibrium and the knowledge of position, weight, and resistance of objects in relation to the body |
| Status epilepticus | continuous seizure activity w/o a pause; can include two back-to-back seizures w/o a lucid moment or any seizure lasting more than 5 to 10 mins |
| Atelectasis | secretions block bronchiole or bronchus and the distal lung tissue collapses as the existing air is absorbed, producing hypoventilation - caused by lack of movement or exercise |
| Disuse osteoporosis | bone tissue becomes less dense or atrophied due to immobilization |
| Embolus | occlusion of vessels (solid, liquid, or gaseous) usually results in infarcts |
| Hypostatic pneumonia | pneumonia occurring in elderly or bed-ridden patients who remain constantly in the same position - decreased ventilation results in alveolar collapse (atelectasis) and a pulmonary invironment that supports bacterial growth |
| Thrombus | a blood clot that adheres to the wall of a blood vessel or organ |
| Joint contracture | an abnormal and possibly permanent condition characterized by fixation of the joint |
| Pressure ulcer | impairment of the skin resulting from prolonged ischemia |
| Muscle atrophy | wasting |
| Debridement | the removal of dead or damagaded tissue or foreign material, especially from the wound |
| Dehiscence | a bursting open |
| Evisceration | spilling out of abdominal contents due to wound dehiscence |
| Hemostasis | an arrest of bleeding or circulation |
| Induration | area of hardened tissue |
| Primary intention | wound that is closed; edges are approximated and infection risk is low |
| Secondary intention | wound involving tissue loss ex. pressure ulcer, burn or severe laceration |
| Serosanguineous | of the nature of serum and blood |
| Tertiary intention | wound left open for several days and then approximated; delayed until risk for infection is less |
| Slough | dead matter or necrosed tissue seperated from living tissue or an ulceration |
| ac | before meals |
| pc | after meals |
| hs | hour of sleep |
| prn | as needed or necessary |
| ad lib | as desired |
| BR | bedrest |
| LMWH | heparin |
| > | greater than |
| less than | |
| PO | by mouth |
Created by:
bryantl3
Popular Health & Social Care sets