305 Fundamentals Of Nursing

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acute care nurse practitioner(ACNP)

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Nurse trained to function in the absence of a physician.

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advanced practice nurse (APN)

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Nurse with a master's degree in nursing, advanced education in pharmacology and physical assessment, and certification and expertise in a specialized area of practice. An APN usually works in a critical, acute, restorative, or community health care agency.

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American Nurses Association (ANA)

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Organization of professional nurses in the United States that focuses on standards of health care, nurses' professional development, and economic and general welfare of nurses.

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caregiver

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One who contributes the benefits of medical, social, economic, or environmental resources to a dependent or partially dependent individual.

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certified nurse-midwife (CNM)

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Nurse who is educated in midwifery and possesses certification in accordance with criteria of the American College of Midwives.

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certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)

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An RN who has received advanced training in an accredited program in anesthesiology.

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client advocate

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Role in which the nurse protects the client's human and legal rights and provides assistance in asserting those rights if the need arises.

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clinical nurse specialist (CNS)

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Nurse with a master's degree in nursing and expertise in a specific area of practice.

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continuing education

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Formal educational programs designed to further the knowledge, skills, and professional attitudes of practicing nurses.

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in-service education

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Instruction or training provided by an agency or institution to nurses practicing within that agency or institution.

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International Council of Nurses (ICN)

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International organization for professional nurses; the ANA and Canadian Nurses Association (CAN) are members.

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National League for Nursing (NLN)

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Organization of nurses and laypeople concerned with improving nursing education, nursing service, and the delivery of health care in the United States. The NLN is the official accrediting agency for nursing schools.

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nurse administrator

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Nurse in a management position with an agency who focuses on the delivery of nursing services.

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nurse practitioner

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Nurse with advanced training or education who provides primary care for nonemergency clients, usually in an outpatient or community setting.

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nurse researcher

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Nurse with graduate nursing education who investigates problems related to nursing practice.

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professional organization

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Association of professionals created to deal with issues of concern to the profession as a whole.

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registered nurse (RN)

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Health care professional who has completed a course of study at an accredited school of professional nursing and has passed an examination administered by a State Board of Nursing or the Canadian Nurses Association Testing Service.

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adult day care centers

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Centers that provide a variety of health and social services to specific client populations who live alone or with family in the community.

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assisted living

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Attractive long-term care setting with a homier environment and greater resident autonomy.

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capitation

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Method of paying a physician, hospital, or managed care system for annual services based on a fee per client.

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discharge planning

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Set of decisions and activities involved in providing continuity and coordination of nursing care when a client is discharged from a health care agency.

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extended care facility

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Institution providing medical, nursing, or custodial care for clients over a prolonged period.

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home care

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The provision of medically related professional and paraprofessional services and equipment to clients and families in their homes for health maintenance, education, illness prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, palliation, and rehabilitation.

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integrated delivery networks (IDNs)

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A set of providers and services organized to deliver a coordinated continuum of care to the population of clients served at a capitated cost.

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managed care

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Health care system in which there is administrative control over primary health care services. Redundant facilities and services are eliminated, and costs are reduced. Preventive care and health education are emphasized.

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Medicaid

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State medical assistance based on Title XIX of the Social Security Act. States receive 50% in matching federal funds to provide medical care and services to people meeting categorical and income requirements; covers home care services based on Medicare guidelines. Many innovative home care programs can be covered by Medicaid, as long as they meet the recipient's needs and cost less than institutionalization.

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Medicare

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Federal government insurance coverage for persons over 65 years of age (or disabled and under 65) who have paid into the Social Security or Railroad Retirement system; covers inpatient hospital charges and some home care services.

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professional standards review organization

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Organization that focuses on the evaluation of nursing care provided in a health care setting. The quality, effectiveness, and appropriateness of nursing care for the client are the foci of evaluation.

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prospective payment system (PPS)

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Method of reimbursement for health care services. It involves a fixed reimbursement for a medical condition/procedure regardless of client's length of stay.

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rehabilitation

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Restoration of an individual to normal or near-normal function following a physical or mental illness, injury, or chemical addiction.

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resource utilization groups

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A system for reimbursement used in the long term care setting.

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respite care

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Care that gives the primary care provider the opportunity to have time away. Respite care services can take place in the client's home, a hospital, or an extended care setting.

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restorative care

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Care settings that include but are not limited to inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation facilities, subacute care facilities, clinics, and home care agencies. The services provided in restorative care settings are designed to bring the client to the maximal level of health and function.

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skilled nursing facility

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Institution or part of an institution that meets criteria for accreditation established by the sections of the Social Security Act that determine the basis for Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement for skilled nursing care, including rehabilitation and various medical and nursing procedures. Law requires that policies designate which level of caregiver is responsible for the implementation of each policy; that the care of every client be under the supervision of a physician; that a physician be available on an emergency basis; that records be maintained regarding the condition and care of every client; that nursing service be available 24 hours a day; and that at least one full-time registered nurse be employed.

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utilization review (UR)

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Assessment of the appropriateness and economy of an admission to a health care facility or continued hospitalization.

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vulnerable populations

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Clients who are more likely to develop specific health problems.

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acute care

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Secondary and tertiary care; short-term care for medical conditions

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globalization

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The ability of health care providers to make their services more accessible globally.

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Independent Practice Association (IPA)

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Managed care organization contract physicians who are not members of the group and whose practices include fee-for-service and capitated patients

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minimum data set (MDS)

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Part of the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) discussing the most appropriate health care interventions to support the health care needs of the residential population.

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outliers

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Clients with extended lengths of stay, well beyond allowed inpatient DRG days.

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subacute care

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Care for clients who need a greater intensity of care that usually provided in a skilled nursing facility who no longer require acute care.

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utilization review (UR) committees

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Committee that reviews the admissions, diagnostic testing, and treatments provided by physicians for clients receiving Medicare.

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work redesign

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The redesign of nursing units to make more services available on those units minimizing the need to transfer and transport clients across multiple diagnostic and treatment areas

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community-based nursing

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Acute and chronic care of individuals and families that enhances their capacity for self-care and promotes autonomy in decision-making.

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community health nursing

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Approach that merges knowledge from the public health sciences with professional nursing theories to safeguard and improve the health of populations in the community.

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population

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Collection of individuals who have in common one or more personal or environmental characteristics.

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public health

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Measures that we, as a society, collectively pursue to ensure the conditions in which people can be healthy.

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public health nursing

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An approach to nursing care that addresses the health of populations and their communities.

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assumptions

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Statements that describe concepts or connect two concepts that are factual and that are accepted as truths.

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concepts

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Mental formulations of objects or events that come from individual perceptual experience.

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domain

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Perspective and territory of a professional discipline.

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environment situation (environment/situation)

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All possible conditions affecting the client and the setting in which health care needs occur.

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grand theory

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Theory that requires further specification through research before it can be fully tested and applied.

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input

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Information that enters the system.

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interdisciplinary theory

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Theory that suggests a purposive and systematic view of phenomena specific to the discipline of the inquiry.

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middle-range theory

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Theory that is limited in scope and less abstract; it addresses specific phenomena or concepts and reflects nursing practice.

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nursing theory

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Organized framework of concepts and purposes designed to guide the practice of nursing.

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output

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End product of a system.

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paradigm

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Term used to denote the linkages of science, philosophy, and theory accepted by a discipline.

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person

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Recipient of care.

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prescriptive theory

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Theory addressing nursing therapeutics and the consequences of interventions.

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theory

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Set of concepts, definitions, relationships, and assumptions that project a systematic view of phenomena.

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nursing's paradigm

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Links the person, health, environment/situation and nursing to direct the activities of the nursing profession, including knowledge development, philosophy, theory, education experience, research and practice.

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anonymity

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Nondisclosure of a client's or other person's name or identification; used in research to ensure the privacy of research subjects.

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empirical data

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Information that has been collected with use of the human senses and that can be verified through research.

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evaluation research

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Form of quantitative research that involves finding out how well a program, practice, procedure, or policy is working.

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experimental study

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Study designed to test cause-and-effect relationships between a treatment/intervention (independent variable) and a measured dependent variable.

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hypothesis

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Statement derived from a theory that predicts a relationship among variables representing concepts, constructs, or events.

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nursing research

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Detailed process in which a systematic study of a problem in the field of nursing is performed.

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qualitative nursing research

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Qualitative research involves inductive reasoning used to develop generalizations or theories from specific observations or interviews.

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quantitative nursing research

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Quantitative research focused on numerical data, statistical analysis, and controls to eliminate bias in findings.

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research process

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Systematic collection and analysis of data to obtain new knowledge, add to existing knowledge, or find solutions to problems.

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surveys

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Instruments designed to obtain information from populations.

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bias

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A preference or an inclination, especially one that inhibits impartial judgment; the opinions of the researcher will influence the results of the research.

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clinical guidelines

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Systematically developed statements about a plan of care for a specific set of circumstances involving a specific client population

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generalizable

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Results obtained from a scientific study that can be applied to the larger population

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inductive reasoning

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Making a conclusion based on a empirical data; develop generalizations or theories from specific observations or interviews.

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performance improvement

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An organization analyzes and evaluates current performance to use the results to develop focused improvement activities.

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PICO question

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Format to help state a research question discussing the Patient population of Interest; Intervention of interest; Comparison of interest; and Outcome

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reliable

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The results of the research can be replicated in other studies.

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valid

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The results of the research are true outside of the research environment.

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variable

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Concept, characteristic or trait that varies within the subjects

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active strategies of health promotion

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Activities that depend on the client being motivated to adopt a specific health program.

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acute illness

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Illness characterized by symptoms that are of relatively short duration, are usually severe, and affect the functioning of the client in all dimensions.

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chronic illness

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Illness that persists over a long period of time and affects physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual functioning.

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health

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A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

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health behavior change

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Five stages of change from no intention to change (precontemplation) to maintaining a changed behavior (maintenance stage).

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health behaviors

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Activities through which a person maintains, attains, or regains good health and prevents illness.

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health belief model

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Conceptual framework that predicts a person's health behavior as an expression of personal health beliefs.

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health promotion

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The concept of motivating people to seek ways of decreasing the incidence and minimizing the results of illness or disability.

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holistic health model

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This model attempts to create conditions that promote optimal health. The model focuses on the all dimensions of the client, not just a physiological dimension, as important aspects of physical wellness.

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illness

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Abnormal process in which any aspect of a person's functioning is diminished or impaired as compared with the previous condition.

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illness behavior

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Ways in which people monitor their bodies, define and interpret their symptoms, take remedial actions, and use the health care system.

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illness prevention

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Health education programs or activities directed toward protecting clients from threats or potential threats to health and toward minimizing risk factors.

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passive strategies of health promotion

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Activities that involve the client as the recipient of actions by health care professionals.

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risk factor

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Any internal or external variable that makes a person or group more vulnerable to illness or an unhealthy event.

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secondary prevention

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Activities directed toward early diagnosis and prompt intervention, thereby lessening the severity of a condition and enabling the client to return to the highest level of health at the earliest possible point.

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primary prevention

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True prevention; precedes disease or dysfunction and is applied to clients who are considered physically and emotionally healthy

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tertiary prevention

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Occurs when a defect or disability is permanent and irreversible.

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evidence-based practice

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The integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values taking into account a nurse's clinical experience, practice trends, and individual client preferences.

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nurse educator

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Nurse with a background in clinical nursing who works in a school of nursing as a faculty member, in a staff development department of a health care agency, or in an inpatient education department.

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primary care

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First contact in a given episode of illness that leads to a decision regarding a course of action to resolve the health problem.

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cancer related fatigue

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One of the most common side effects of cancer and its treatment; fatigue that can be described as paralyzing; the exact cause is unknown although a cancer relationship is present.

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cancer survivor

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An individual is considered a cancer survivor from the time of diagnosis, through the balance of his or her life.

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chemotherapy

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The use of chemicals to treat and eliminate cancer

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hormone therapy

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Treatment of disease or the processes of aging with the use of hormone replacement

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lumpectomy

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Removal of a lump for biopsy; most commonly used for diagnosing breast cancer.

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mastectomy

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Removal of the breast, usually for breast cancer

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neuropathy

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Damage to the nerves

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oncology

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The study of cancer

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parethesias

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Feeling of tingling or "pins and needles" in an extremity

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posttraumatic stress disorder

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Ongoing psychological reaction to a stressor

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radiation therapy

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Use of radiation to remove or destroy cancer cells

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caring

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Sense of dedication to another person.

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comforting

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Skillful and gentle performance of a nursing procedure.

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acculturation

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Process of intercultural borrowing between diverse peoples, resulting in a new and blended pattern.

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assimilation

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The result of an individual giving up his or her ethnic identity in favor of the dominant culture.

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biculturalism

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Term used to describe a person who has two culture's lifestyles or sets of values.

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bilineal

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Kinship extended to both the father's and mother's side of the family.

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confianza

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A Spanish term for caregivers who interact with the client in a personalistic, warm, friendly, and respectful manner.

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cultural backlash

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A counterculture effect when experience with the new or different culture is extremely negative and the culture is then rejected.

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cultural care accommodation or negotiations

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Adapt or negotiate with others for a beneficial or satisfying health outcome.

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cultural care preservation and maintenance

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Retain and/or preserve relevant care values so that clients can maintain their well-being, recover from illness, or face handicaps and/or death.

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cultural care repatterning and restructuring

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Reorder, change, or greatly modify clients' lifeways for a new, different, and beneficial health care plan.

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cultural imposition

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Using one's own values and lifeways as the absolute guide in dealing with clients and interpreting their behaviors.

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cultural pain

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May be suffered by a client whose valued way of life is disregarded by practitioners.

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culturally congruent care

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Care that fits the people's valued life patterns and set of meanings.

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culture

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Nonphysical traits such as values, beliefs, attitudes, and customs shared by a group and passed from one generation to the next.

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culture bond syndrome

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Illnesses constituted by the personal, social, and cultural explanations and reactions of a given society to perceived dysfunctions or abnormalities in its members.

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emic worldview

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An insider or native perspective of any intercultural encounter.

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enculturation

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Socialization into one's primary culture as a child.

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ethnicity

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Cultural group's sense of identification associated with the group's common social and cultural heritage.

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ethnocentrism

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Strong belief that one's own cultural group is the best and that all that this group believes and teaches is truth.

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ethnohistory

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Knowledge of a client's country of origin and its history and ecological contexts.

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etic worldview

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An outsider's perspective of an intercultural encounter.

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fictive

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Nonblood kin.

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Halal

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Foods that are permissible for Muslims to eat; includes meat (that has been slaughtered during a prayer ritual), fish, fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs, milk, and cheese.

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haram

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Foods that are prohibited for Muslims to eat; includes non-Halal meat, animals with fangs, pork products, gelatin products, and alcohol.

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hilot

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The name Filipinos use for a practitioner other than medical doctors attending childbirth.

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Hmongs

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A culture that believes in the global causation of illness that goes beyond the mind and body of the person to forces of nature.

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Hwa-Byung

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A Korean culture-bound syndrome observed among middle-age, low-income women who are overwhelmed and frustrated by the burden of caregiving for their in-laws, husbands, and children.

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Igbos

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A culture in West Africa that greatly celebrates the birth of a son.

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invisible culture

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The less visible components of a culture.

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kosher

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The diet of the Jewish people, including avoiding meat from carnivores, pork products, and fish without scales or fins.

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matrilineal

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Kinship to the mother's side of the family.

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naturalistic practitioners

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Attribute illness to natural, impersonal, and biological forces that cause alteration in the equilibrium of the human body.

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patrilineal

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Kinship to the father's side of the family.

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personalismo

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Mexican-American term for caregivers who interact with them in personalistic manner.

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personalistic practitioners

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Cultural healers who believe that health and illness can be caused by active influence of an external agent, which can be human (e.g., sorcerer) or nonhuman (e.g., ghosts, evil, or deity).

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phenomena

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Data that can be observed in reality.

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rabbi

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A Jewish cleric or teacher.

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Ramadan

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A Muslim time of fasting during daylight hours for the 28 days of the ninth lunar month.

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resiliency

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The ability to cope with expected and unexpected stressors.

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respeto

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Spanish word for respectful.

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rites of passage

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Significant social markers of changes in a person's life.

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Sabbath

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The day God appointed to be observed as a day of rest. Jewish people refrain from using electrical appliances on the Sabbath.

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shaman

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A priest or conjurer among those who profess shamanism, such as the Hmongs, an Asian culture.

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Sikh (Sikhism)

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An Indian culture, half religious, half military; Sikh man easily identified by visible artifacts that he wears (uncut hair with wooden comb, beard, turban, cotton underwear, steel bracelet, and short sword).

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simpatia

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Spanish word for warm and friendly.

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subcultures

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Cultures that represent various ethnic, religious, and other groups with distinct characteristics from the dominant culture.

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transcultural nursing

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Nursing style that represents an effort by nurses from all cultural backgrounds and clinical areas to come together and define concepts that enable them to develop the knowledge and skills needed to provide culturally sensitive care.

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visible culture

Back 163

A culture that has easily seen components. It is important to understand that the invisible value-belief system of a particular culture is the major driving force behind visible practices.

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family

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Group of people related by heredity, such as parents, children, and siblings; group of interacting individuals composing a basic unit of society. Although concepts of what constitutes a family vary, the family usually has some degree of permanence, commitment, and attachment.

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family as client

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Nursing perspective in which the family is viewed as a unit of interacting members having attributes, functions, and goals separate from those of the individual family members; the nurse provides care to the family as a whole.

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family as context

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Nursing perspective in which the primary focus of care is on an individual within a family.

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family as system

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Nursing perspective in which both family as client and context are included.

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hardiness

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Combination of three personality characteristics that are thought to mediate against stress: a sense of control over life events, a commitment to meaningful activities, and an anticipation of challenge as an opportunity for growth.

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reciprocity

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Care recipient shows appreciation for the caregiver, which leads to a more productive and healthy relationship.

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family forms

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Patterns of people considered by family members to be included in the family

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Erikson's eight stages of life

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Theory that describes the development of identity of the self and the ego through successive stages that unfold throughout the life span.

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Freud's psychoanalytic model of personality development

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Five stages associated with a sequencing of sensual pleasurable zones.

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Gould's development themes

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Set of stages in adulthood that dismantle the protective thinking of childhood.

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heteronomous (conventional) stage

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The stage of moral development when children follow the rules set up by those in authority, such as their parents, teachers, clergy, or police.

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Kohlberg's moral development theory

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Theory that suggests a link between moral development and Piaget's cognitive development.

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moral development

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Advancement of moral reasoning.

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temperament

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Child's characteristic style of approaching and reacting to people and situations.

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conventional reasoning

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Moral reasoning based on his or her own personal internalization of societal and others' expectations.

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modeling

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Observation and learning of behavior

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post conventional reasoning

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Finding a balance between basic human rights and obligations and societal rules and regulations in this level

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preconventional reasoning

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reflections on moral reasoning based on personal gain

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psychoanalytic-psychosocial development (psychoanalytic/psychosocial development)

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The psychoanalytic/psychosocial theories describe human development from the perspectives of personality, thinking, and behavior

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adolescence

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Period of development between the onset of puberty and adulthood.

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Apgar score

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Rating describing a newborn's physiological status at birth and thereafter; assists with the determination of the newborn's ability to adjust to extrauterine life.

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bonding

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Parent's emotional tie to a child; usually develops soon after birth as a result of such close interaction.

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embryo

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Stage of human development from implantation of the fertilized ovum to the eighth week of intrauterine life.

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estrogen

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Hormonal steroid compound that promotes the development of female secondary sex characteristics.

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fetus

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Stage of human development from the end of the embryonic period until birth.

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fontanel

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Space covered by tough membranes between the bones of an infant's cranium.

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hyperbilirubinemia

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Greater than normal amounts of the bile pigment bilirubin in the blood.

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inborn errors of metabolism

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Genetic disorders caused by the absence or deficiency of a substance, usually an enzyme.

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infancy

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Stage of life from 1 month to 1 year of age.

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lanugo

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Fine hair that normally covers the fetus after the fifth month of intrauterine life and that is mostly shed by birth.

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menarche

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Onset of a girl's first menstruation, usually occurring between the ages of 9 and 16 years.

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molding

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Overlapping and shaping of the soft skull bones during birth, usually resolved during the first few days of life.

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morning sickness

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Pregnant woman's symptoms of nausea and vomiting related to changes in serum hormone levels.

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Nägele's rule

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Concept that the estimated due date for a pregnant woman can be determined by counting back 3 months from the last menstrual period and adding 7 days; this calculated due date is based on the belief that the average length of pregnancy is 9 months.

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neonatal period

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Stage of life from birth to 1 month of age.

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object permanence

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Piagetian term for the understanding that a person or object out of sight still exists.

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placenta

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Organ surrounding the embryo and fetus through which nutrients and other substances from the mother and waste products from the fetus pass.

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prematurity

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Condition in which an infant is born between 20 and 37 weeks' gestation.

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prenatal care

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Routine examination of a pregnant woman by an obstetrician.

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preschool period

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Stage of life from 3 to 5 years of age.

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puberty

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Developmental period of emotional and physical changes, including the development of secondary sex characteristics and the onset of menstruation and ejaculation.

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school age

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Period that begins when the child starts elementary school, around the age of 6 years, and that ends with the onset of puberty.

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testosterone

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Naturally occurring male sex hormone.

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toddlerhood

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Stage of life from 1 to 3 years of age.

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fertilization

Back 208

The penetration of the ova by a sperm

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Braxton Hicks contractions

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Irregular, short uterine contractions.

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doula

Back 210

Support person.

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lactation

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Process and period in which the mother produces milk for the infant.

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menopause

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Natural cessation of menses by the ovaries; normally occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 60.

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puerperium

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Period of approximately 6 weeks after childbirth during which the woman's reproductive system is in transition to the nonpregnant state.

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sandwich generation

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Adults caught between the responsibilities of caring for dependent children and those of caring for aging and ailing parents.

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ageism

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Attitude that disadvantages, separates, and stigmatizes older adults on the basis of age-related characteristics.

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Alzheimer's disease

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Brain disorder that causes a gradual and progressive decline in cognitive functioning: the most frequent cause of irreversible dementia; also known as senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT).

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delirium

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Syndrome involving impairment of memory and other cognitive abilities and characterized by clouding of consciousness.

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dementia

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Progressive, organic mental state characterized by chronic personality disintegration, confusion, disorientation, decreased intellectual function, and other cognitive changes, which can have a variety of causes.

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geriatrics

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Branch of health care dealing with the physiology and psychology of aging and with the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses affecting the older adult.

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gerontic nursing

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Seldom-used term that considers the nursing care of older adults to be the art and practice of nurturing, caring, and comforting rather than merely the treatment of disease.

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gerontological nursing

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Nursing specialty that focuses on the health care needs of the older adult. Gerontological nurses have a broad focus and assist older adults in maximizing their functional capabilities.

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gerontology

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Study of all aspects of the aging processes and their consequences.

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nonstochastic theory

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Biological theory of aging that states that the occurrence of aging changes are predetermined by mechanisms within the body.

Front 224

stochastic theories

Back 224

Biological theories that consider that aging is caused by random damage that accumulates over time.

Front 225

reality orientation

Back 225

Communication technique used to make an older adult more aware of time, place and person with the purpose of restoring a sense of reality, improving the level of awareness, promoting socialization, elevating independent functioning and minimizing confusion, disorientation, and physical regression.

Front 226

reminiscence

Back 226

Recalling the past.

Front 227

validation therapy

Back 227

Alternative approach to communication with a confused older adult which accepts the description of the time and place as stated by the confused older adult.

Front 228

critical thinking

Back 228

Active, organized, cognitive process used to carefully examine one's thinking and the thinking of others.

Front 229

database

Back 229

Information about a client's level of health, health practices, past illnesses, present illnesses, and physical examination combined to serve as the basis for the plan of care.

Front 230

decision making

Back 230

Process involving critical appraisal of information that results from recognition of a problem and ends with the generation, testing, and evaluation of a conclusion.

Front 231

functional health patterns

Back 231

Method for organizing assessment data based on the level of client function in specific areas (e.g., mobility).

Front 232

problem solving

Back 232

Methodical, systematic approach to explore conditions and develop solutions and that includes analysis of data, determination of causative factors, and selection of appropriate actions to reverse or eliminate the problem.

Front 233

reflection

Back 233

Process of thinking back or recalling an event or discovering the meaning and purpose of that event.

Front 234

evidence-based knowledge

Back 234

Knowledge that comes from scientific investigation or knowledge that is based on clinical expertise

Front 235

prognosis

Back 235

A prediction of the probable outcome of a disease or condition of a client and the usual course of the disease as observed in similar situations

Front 236

assessment

Back 236

First step of the nursing process. Activities required in the first step are data collection, data validation, data sorting, and data documentation; the purpose is to gather information for health problem identification.

Front 237

back channeling

Back 237

Active listening techniques that indicate that the nurse has heard what the client says.

Front 238

clinical decision making

Back 238

The use of critical thinking skills throughout the nursing process to obtain relevant information about the client and to plan and provide effective care and measure the outcomes of the care provided. Clinical decision making may occur alone or in collaboration with other health care providers.

Front 239

interview

Back 239

Type of communication with a client that is initiated for a specific purpose and focused on a specific content area.

Front 240

nursing health history

Back 240

Data collected about a client's present level of wellness, changes in the client's life patterns, sociocultural role, and mental and emotional reactions to an illness.

Front 241

objective data

Back 241

Data relating to a client's health problem that are obtained through observation or diagnostic measurements.

Front 242

open-ended questions

Back 242

Inquiries aimed at obtaining a full client response and discussion between the client and the nurse.

Front 243

review of systems

Back 243

Systematic method for collecting data on all body systems.

Front 244

standards

Back 244

Measure or guide that serves as a basis for comparison when evaluating similar phenomena or substances.

Front 245

subjective data

Back 245

Data relating to a client's health problem that are given in the client's own words.

Front 246

cue

Back 246

Information that you obtain through use of the senses

Front 247

data analysis

Back 247

A process of reviewing available data for patterns or trends and forming conclusions about the meaning of the data.

Front 248

validation

Back 248

The process of comparing data with another source to confirm its accuracy

Front 249

actual nursing diagnosis

Back 249

Human response to health conditions/life processes that exist in an individual, family, or community.

Front 250

collaborative problem

Back 250

Actual or potential physiological complications that can result from disease, trauma, treatment, or diagnostic studies for which nurses intervene in collaboration with personnel of other health care disciplines.

Front 251

etiology

Back 251

Identification of the cause of a problem. The cause may be a direct or a contributing factor in the development of a client problem or need.

Front 252

medical diagnosis

Back 252

Identification of a specific disease or pathological process.

Front 253

risk nursing diagnosis

Back 253

Human response to health conditions/live processes that may develop in a vulnerable individual, family, or community.

Front 254

wellness nursing diagnosis

Back 254

Human response to levels of wellness in an individual, family, or community that have a readiness for enhancement.

Front 255

clinical criteria

Back 255

Objective or subjective signs and symptoms that lead to a diagnostic conclusion

Front 256

diagnostic label

Back 256

The name of a nursing diagnosis as approved NANDA International

Front 257

related-factor

Back 257

A condition or etiology identified from the client's assessment data

Front 258

nursing diagnosis

Back 258

Nursing direction response to a problem ; provides the basis for selection of nursing interventions for which the nurse is accountable.

Front 259

expected outcome

Back 259

Likely condition of a client at the end of therapy or of a disease process, including the degree of wellness and the need for continuing care, medications, support, counseling, or education.

Front 260

goals

Back 260

Desired results of nursing actions, set realistically by the nurse and client as part of the planning stage of the nursing process.

Front 261

long-term goal

Back 261

Objective that is expected to be achieved over a longer period of time, usually over weeks or months.

Front 262

nursing care plan

Back 262

Written guidelines of nursing care that document specific nursing diagnoses for the client and goals, interventions, and projected outcomes.

Front 263

planning

Back 263

Process of designing interventions to achieve the goals and outcomes of health care delivery.

Front 264

scientific rationale

Back 264

Reason for choosing a specific nursing action that is based on supporting literature.

Front 265

short-term goal

Back 265

Objective that is expected to be achieved in a short period of time, usually less than a week.

Front 266

client-centered goal

Back 266

A specific and measurable behavior or response that reflects a client's highest possible level of wellness and independence in function.

Front 267

collaborative intervention

Back 267

Therapies that require the combined knowledge, skill and expertise of multiple health care professionals.

Front 268

dependent nursing intervention

Back 268

Those actions that require an order from a physician or another health care professional

Front 269

nurse-sensitive client outcome

Back 269

Individual, family or community state behavior or perception that is measured along a continuum in response to a nursing intervention

Front 270

priority setting

Back 270

The order of nursing diagnoses using notations of urgency and/or importance, in order to establish a preferential order for nursing actions

Front 271

independent nursing intervention

Back 271

Actions that a nurse initiates without direction from a physician or other health care professional.

Front 272

adverse reaction

Back 272

Harmful or unintended effect of a medication, diagnostic test, or therapeutic intervention.

Front 273

client adherence

Back 273

Refers to the degree to which the client, and in some cases the caregiver, follows the therapeutic regimen with respect to medications, exercise, treatments, and/or diet.

Front 274

counseling

Back 274

Implementation method that helps the client use a problem-solving process to recognize and manage stress and that facilitates interpersonal relationships between the client and the family, significant others, or the health care team.

Front 275

diagnostic reasoning

Back 275

Process that enables an observer to assign meaning and to classify phenomena in clinical situations by integrating observations and critical thinking.

Front 276

direct care

Back 276

Treatments preformed through interaction with the client.

Front 277

indirect care

Back 277

Treatments performed away from the client but on behalf of the client or group of clients.

Front 278

interdisciplinary care plans

Back 278

Plans that represent the contributions of all disciplines caring for the client.

Front 279

lifesaving measure

Back 279

Implemented when a client's physiological or psychological state is threatened.

Front 280

nursing intervention

Back 280

Any action by a nurse that implements the nursing care plan or any specific objective of the plan.

Front 281

preventive nursing actions

Back 281

Interventions directed toward preventing illness and promoting health to avoid the need for secondary or tertiary health care.

Front 282

standing order

Back 282

Written and approved document containing rules, policies, procedures, regulations, and orders for the conduct of client care in various stipulated clinical settings.

Front 283

clinical guideline

Back 283

A document that guides decisions and interventions for specific health care problems or conditions

Front 284

implementation

Back 284

The fourth step of the nursing process, the nurse initiates the interventions that are most likely to achieve the goals and expected outcomes needed to support or improve the client's health status.

Front 285

evaluation

Back 285

Category of nursing behavior in which a determination is made and recorded regarding the extent to which the client's goals have been met.

Front 286

functional nursing

Back 286

Division of tasks in which one nurse assumes responsibility for certain tasks while another nurse assumes responsibility for others.

Front 287

outcomes management

Back 287

A term that encompasses managing the individual clinical outcomes of clients as a result of prescribed treatments to the formal measurement of system level performance and effectiveness.

Front 288

scientific method

Back 288

Codified sequence of steps used in the formulation, testing, evaluation, and reporting of scientific ideas.

Front 289

performance improvement

Back 289

Term interchangable with quality improvement that describes and approach to the continuous study and improvement of the processes of providing health care services to meet the needs of clients and others.

Front 290

authority

Back 290

Right to act in areas in which the individual has been given and accepts responsibility.

Front 291

decentralized management

Back 291

Process by which managers and staff become more actively involved in shaping a health care organization's identity and determining its success.

Front 292

nursing

Back 292

Diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems.

Front 293

primary nursing

Back 293

Nursing services designed to maintain continuity of care across shifts, days, or visits.

Front 294

shared governance

Back 294

Senior clinical staff groups are empowered to establish and maintain care standards for nursing practice on their work unit.

Front 295

team nursing

Back 295

A delivery of care model that has an RN as leader of the team and team members consisting of other RNs, LPN/LVNs, and assistive personnel. Team members provide direct client care to a group of clients, under the direction and coordination of the RN team leader.

Front 296

total patient care

Back 296

A delivery of care model where a registered nurse is responsible for all aspects of one or more clients' care. The model has a shift-based focus.

Front 297

beneficence

Back 297

The doing or active promotion of doing good. One of the four principles of the ethical theory of deontology.

Front 298

consequentialism

Back 298

Utilitarian system of ethics that proposes that the value of something is determined by its usefulness.

Front 299

deontology

Back 299

Study that proposes a system of ethics that defines actions as right or wrong based on their "right-making characteristics such as fidelity to promises, truthfulness, and justice" (Beauchamp and Childress, 2001).

Front 300

ethics

Back 300

Principles or standards that govern proper conduct as they apply to professional issues or problems.

Front 301

fidelity

Back 301

Quality or state of being faithful.

Front 302

justice

Back 302

Fairness or equity of the manner in which decisions are made; one of the principles of the ethical theory of deontology.

Front 303

nonmaleficence

Back 303

Duty to do no harm to another person; one of the principles of the ethical theory of deontology.

Front 304

teleology

Back 304

Concept that proposes the greatest good for the greatest number of people as the guiding principle for determining right action.

Front 305

value

Back 305

Personal belief about the worth of a given idea or behavior.

Front 306

value system

Back 306

Values that are related to one another (e.g., religious and cultural values can shape health values).

Front 307

active listening

Back 307

Listening attentively with one's whole being— mind, body, and spirit.

Front 308

administrative law (also known as regulatory law)

Back 308

Law created by administrative bodies such as State Boards of Nursing when they pass rules and regulations.

Front 309

assault

Back 309

Unlawful threatening or inflicting of harm on another.

Front 310

battery

Back 310

Legal term for touching of another's body without consent.

Front 311

civil laws

Back 311

Laws established by a nation or state for its own jurisdiction.

Front 312

code of ethics

Back 312

Code that defines the ethical principles by which nurses function.

Front 313

common law

Back 313

Law that is created by judicial decisions as opposed to law created by legislative bodies (statutory law).

Front 314

criminal law

Back 314

Law of crimes and their punishment.

Front 315

defamation of character

Back 315

Harm of the reputation of a person by libel or slander.

Front 316

delegation

Back 316

Process of assigning another member of the health care team aspects of client care (e.g., assigning nurse assistants to bathe a client).

Front 317

felony

Back 317

Crime of a serious nature that carries a penalty of imprisonment or death.

Front 318

libel

Back 318

Written false statement about a person that may injure that person's reputation.

Front 319

living wills

Back 319

Instruments by which a dying person makes wishes known to caregivers; a living will has no legal validity in most states.

Front 320

malice

Back 320

Spirit with which the person publishing information knows it is false and publishes it anyway or publishes it with reckless disregard as to the truth or falsity of the statement.

Front 321

malpractice

Back 321

Injurious or unprofessional actions that harm another.

Front 322

misdemeanor

Back 322

Lesser crime; penalty is usually a fine or imprisonment for less than 1 year.

Front 323

negligence

Back 323

Careless act of omission or commission that results in injury to another.

Front 324

regulatory law (also known as administrative law)

Back 324

Law created by administrative bodies such as State Boards of Nursing when they pass rules and regulations.

Front 325

risk management

Back 325

System of ensuring appropriate nursing care.

Front 326

slander

Back 326

Utterance of a false statement about another that harms that person's reputation.

Front 327

statutory law

Back 327

Of or related to laws enacted by a legislative branch of the government.

Front 328

tort

Back 328

Act that causes injury for which the injured party can bring civil action.

Front 329

intentional torts

Back 329

Willlful acts that violate another's rights, such as assault, battery and false imprisonment.

Front 330

occurrence reports

Back 330

Provides a database for further investigation in an attempt to determine deviations from the Standards of Care, corrective measures needed to prevent recurrence and to alert risk management to a potential claim situation.

Front 331

privacy

Back 331

Privacy is the right of clients to keep information about themselves from being disclosed.

Front 332

assertiveness

Back 332

Comprises respect for others, respect for yourself, self-awareness, and effective, clear and consistent communication.

Front 333

channels

Back 333

Means of conveying and receiving messages through visual, auditory, and tactile senses.

Front 334

communication

Back 334

Means by which people interact.

Front 335

empathy

Back 335

Ability to understand and accept another person's reality.

Front 336

interpersonal communication

Back 336

Exchange of information between two persons or among persons in a small group.

Front 337

interpersonal variables

Back 337

Factors within both the sender and receiver that influence communication.

Front 338

intrapersonal communication

Back 338

Communication that occurs within an individual (e.g., a person who talks with the self silently or who forms an idea in the mind).

Front 339

message

Back 339

Information sent or expressed by the sender in the communication process.

Front 340

metacommunication

Back 340

Communication that includes not only what is said but also the relationship of those involved in the interaction. It is a message that conveys the sender's attitude toward the self, the message, and the attitudes, feelings, and intentions toward the listener.

Front 341

nonverbal communication

Back 341

Communication using expressions, gestures, body posture, and positioning rather than words.

Front 342

perceptional biases

Back 342

Human tendencies that interfere with accurately perceiving and interpreting messages from others.

Front 343

public communication

Back 343

Interaction between one person and a large group of people.

Front 344

receiver

Back 344

Person to whom the message is sent during the communication process.

Front 345

referent

Back 345

Factor that motivates a person to communicate with another individual.

Front 346

sender

Back 346

Person who initiates interpersonal communication by conveying a message.

Front 347

small-group communication

Back 347

Interaction that occurs when a small number of persons meet together.

Front 348

symbolic communication

Back 348

Verbal and nonverbal symbolism used by others to convey meaning.

Front 349

sympathy

Back 349

Concern, sorrow, or pity felt for the client, generated by the nurse's personal identification with the client's needs.

Front 350

therapeutic communication techniques

Back 350

Specific responses that encourage the expression of feelings and ideas and convey the nurse's acceptance and respect.

Front 351

transpersonal communication

Back 351

Interaction that occurs within a person's spiritual domain.

Front 352

verbal communication

Back 352

Sending of messages from one individual to another or to a group of individuals through the spoken word.

Front 353

affective learning

Back 353

Acquisition of behaviors involved in expressing feelings in attitudes, appreciations, and values.

Front 354

analogies

Back 354

Comparisons made between things otherwise unalike.

Front 355

cognitive learning

Back 355

Acquisition of intellectual skills that encompass behaviors such as thinking, understanding, and evaluating.

Front 356

compliance

Back 356

Person's fulfillment of the prescribed course of treatment.

Front 357

functional illiteracy

Back 357

Inability to read or comprehend above a fifth-grade level.

Front 358

learning

Back 358

Acquisition of new knowledge and skills as a result of reinforcement, practice, and experience.

Front 359

learning objective

Back 359

Written statements that describe the knowledge or skill a teacher expects an individual to gain following a learning activity.

Front 360

motivation

Back 360

Internal impulse that causes a person to take action.

Front 361

psychomotor learning

Back 361

Acquisition of ability to perform motor skills.

Front 362

reinforcement

Back 362

Provision of a contingent response to a learner's behavior that increases the probability of the behavior recurring.

Front 363

return demonstrations

Back 363

Demonstrations performed by the client after he or she has first observed the teacher and then practiced the skill in mock or real situations.

Front 364

self-efficacy

Back 364

Term that refers to a person's perceived ability to successfully complete a task.

Front 365

teaching

Back 365

Implementation method used to present correct principles, procedures, and techniques of health care.

Front 366

accrediting (accreditation)

Back 366

Process whereby a professional association or nongovernmental body grants recognition to a school or institution for its demonstrated ability in a special area of practice or training, such as the accreditation of hospitals by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations or of nursing schools by the National League for Nursing.

Front 367

acuity recording

Back 367

Mechanism by which entries describing client care activities are made over a 24-hour period. The activities are then translated into a rating score or acuity score that allows for a comparison of clients who vary by severity of illness.

Front 368

change-of-shift report

Back 368

Report that occur between two scheduled nursing work shifts. Nurses communicate information about their assigned clients to nurses working on the next shift of duty.

Front 369

charting by exception

Back 369

Charting methodology in which data is entered only when there is an exception from what is normal or expected; reduces time spent documenting.

Front 370

DAR

Back 370

A type of documentation note that includes D—data (both subjective and objective), A—action or nursing intervention, and R—response of the client (i.e., evaluation of effectiveness).

Front 371

documentation

Back 371

Act of authenticating events or activities by keeping written records.

Front 372

flow sheets

Back 372

Documents on which frequent observations or specific measurements are recorded.

Front 373

focus charting

Back 373

Charting methodology for structuring progress notes according to the focus of the note (e.g., symptoms and nursing diagnosis). Each note includes data, actions, and client response (DAR).

Front 374

problem-oriented medical record (POMR or POR)

Back 374

Method of recording data about the health status of a client that fosters a collaborative problem-solving approach by all members of the health care team.

Front 375

record

Back 375

Written form of communication that permanently documents information relevant to health care management.

Front 376

reports

Back 376

Transfer of information from the nurses on one shift to the nurses on the following shift. Report may also be given by one of the members of the nursing team to another health care provider (e.g., physician or therapist).

Front 377

residents

Back 377

Individual clients who reside in a long-term care facility.

Front 378

SOAP

Back 378

Acronym for subjective, objective, assessment, and plan, the four parts of the written account of a client's health problem in a problem-oriented record.

Front 379

SOAPIE

Back 379

Acronym for subjective, objective, assessment, plan, intervention, and evaluation, the six parts of the written account of a client's health problem in a problem-oriented record.

Front 380

source record

Back 380

Method for organizing a client's health care record by placing information in sections organized for each discipline that cares for the client.

Front 381

standardized care plans

Back 381

Preprinted, established guidelines that are used to care for clients who have similar health problems.

Front 382

transfer reports

Back 382

Verbal report exchanged between care providers when a client is moved from one nursing unit or health care setting to another. The report includes information necessary to maintain a consistent level of care from one setting to another.

Front 383

PIE

Back 383

Acronym for Problem-Intervention-Evaluation method of charting

Front 384

referrals

Back 384

Arrangements for services by another care provider

Front 385

variances

Back 385

Unexpected outcomes, unmet goals and interventions not specified within a critical pathway timeframe.

Front 386

body image

Back 386

Mental picture of one's body internally and externally.

Front 387

homosexual

Back 387

Sexual orientation involving erotic preference for members of one's own sex.

Front 388

identity

Back 388

Component of self-concept; sense of continuity and sameness; one's persisting consciousness of being oneself, separate, unique, and distinct from others.

Front 389

identity confusion

Back 389

Form of self-concept disturbance in which a person does not maintain a clear consciousness of a consistent and continuous self; sense of fragmentation or distortion.

Front 390

role ambiguity

Back 390

State in which a person has unclear role expectations and feels unable to predict the outcomes of behavior.

Front 391

role conflict

Back 391

State in which a person experiences incongruent or incompatible expectations within one role or between two or more simultaneously held roles.

Front 392

role overload

Back 392

State in which a person has more roles or more responsibilities within a role than are manageable.

Front 393

role performance

Back 393

Way in which an individual perceives his or her competency in carrying out significant roles.

Front 394

role strain

Back 394

Generalized state of frustration or anxiety produced by the stress of role conflict and ambiguity.

Front 395

self-concept

Back 395

Complex, dynamic integration of conscious and unconscious feelings, attitudes, and perceptions about one's identity, physical being, worth, and roles; how people perceive and define themselves.

Front 396

self-esteem

Back 396

Feeling of self-worth characterized by feelings of achievement, adequacy, self-confidence, and usefulness.

Front 397

condom

Back 397

Thin rubber sheath that fits over the penis to prevent entrance of sperm into the vagina.

Front 398

confidentiality

Back 398

Privacy; a nurse must maintain the confidentiality of information related to a client's health care.

Front 399

contraception

Back 399

Prevention of pregnancy by means of a medication, device, or method that blocks or alters one or more of the processes of reproduction in such a way that sexual union can occur without impregnation.

Front 400

diagnosis-related groups (DRGs)

Back 400

Groups of clients classified for purposes of measuring a hospital's delivery of care.

Front 401

diaphragm

Back 401

Round rubber dome that has a flexible spring around the edge.

Front 402

dyspareunia

Back 402

Painful intercourse for a woman.

Front 403

feedback

Back 403

In communication theory, information produced by a receiver and perceived by a sender that informs the sender about the receiver's reaction to the message. Feedback is a cyclical part of the process of communication that regulates and modifies the content of messages.

Front 404

gay

Back 404

Any person who is homosexual.

Front 405

gender identity

Back 405

Awareness of being male or female that develops from infancy.

Front 406

gender role (sex role)

Back 406

Expression of one's maleness or femaleness to both oneself and others.

Front 407

heterosexual

Back 407

Sexual orientation involving erotic preference for members of the opposite sex.

Front 408

intercourse

Back 408

Sexual relations between two individuals.

Front 409

lesbian

Back 409

Female with homosexual partner preference.

Front 410

perimenopausal

Back 410

Span of 4 to 6 years preceding menopause when menstrual cycles and blood flow may be irregular.

Front 411

sexual dysfunction

Back 411

Inability or difficulty in sexual function caused by physiological or psychological factors or both.

Front 412

sexual health

Back 412

Integration of the somatic, emotional, intellectual, and social aspects of the sexual being in ways that are positively enriching and that enhance personality, communication, and love.

Front 413

sexual orientation

Back 413

Clear, persistent desire of a person for one sex rather than the other.

Front 414

tubal ligation

Back 414

Female sterilization; involves cutting, tying, or otherwise ligating the fallopian tubes.

Front 415

vaginismus

Back 415

Intense contraction of the perineal and vaginal musculature that closes the vaginal introitus; only occasionally associated with painful genital conditions. Instead, it is most often a psychological response and frequently associated with rape or childhood sexual abuse.

Front 416

vasectomy

Back 416

Cutting and tying of the vas deferens, which carries the sperm away from the testicles.

Front 417

bisexual

Back 417

A person who is equally attracted to men and women

Front 418

agnostic

Back 418

Term used to describe individuals who believe that any ultimate reality is unknowable.

Front 419

atheist

Back 419

Individual who does not believe in the existence of God.

Front 420

bereavement

Back 420

Response to loss through death; a subjective experience that a person suffers after losing a person with whom there has been a significant relationship.

Front 421

faith

Back 421

More than a set of beliefs but a way of relating to the self, others, and God and integrating the past, present, and future with God as the center.

Front 422

holistic

Back 422

Body of thought that encourages nurses to look for factors and relations that affect the complexity of health and illness.

Front 423

spiritual distress

Back 423

State of being out of harmony with a system of beliefs, a supreme being, or God.

Front 424

spirituality

Back 424

Spiritual dimension of a person, including the relationship with humanity, nature, a system of beliefs, a supreme being, or God.

Front 425

spiritual well-being

Back 425

Sense of harmonious interconnectedness between self, others, nature, and an ultimate order that exists throughout and beyond time and space.

Front 426

connectedness

Back 426

The sense of being connected with self, with others and the environment and with God or a higher power

Front 427

self-transcendence

Back 427

The belief that there is a force out side of and greater than the person that is goes beyond space and time.

Front 428

acceptance

Back 428

The individual accepts the loss and begins to look to the future.

Front 429

actual loss

Back 429

Any loss of a person or object that can no longer be felt, heard, known, or experienced by the individual.

Front 430

anger

Back 430

The stage in which the individual resists the loss and may strike out at everyone and everything.

Front 431

anticipatory grief

Back 431

Grief response in which a person begins the grieving process before the actual loss.

Front 432

appraisal

Back 432

How people interpret the impact of the stressor on themselves, of what is happening and what they can do about it.

Front 433

bargaining

Back 433

An individual postpones awareness of the reality of the loss and may try to deal in a subtle or overt way as though the loss can be prevented.

Front 434

denial

Back 434

The stage in which the individual acts as though nothing has happened and may refuse to believe or understand that a loss has occurred.

Front 435

disorganization and despair

Back 435

The endless examination of how and why the loss occurred.

Front 436

hope

Back 436

Confident (yet uncertain) expectation of achieving a future goal.

Front 437

implantation

Back 437

Process involving the attachment, penetration, and embedding of the blastocyst in the lining of the uterine wall during the early stages of prenatal development.

Front 438

necessary loss

Back 438

Loss that is the result of the natural growth and development processes in our lives.

Front 439

numbing

Back 439

The response to grief as a stunned or unreal feeling. The briefest phase of mourning.

Front 440

palliative care

Back 440

The prevention, relief, reduction, or soothing of symptoms of disease or disorders without effecting a cure.

Front 441

perceived loss

Back 441

Any loss that is less tangible and uniquely defined by the grieving client, such as the loss of confidence or prestige.

Front 442

postmortem care

Back 442

The care given the body after death.

Front 443

reorganization

Back 443

The person begins to accept unaccustomed roles, acquire new skills, and build new relationships.

Front 444

situational loss

Back 444

Loss of a person, thing, or quality resulting from a change in a life situation, including changes related to illness, body image, environment, and death.

Front 445

yearning and searching

Back 445

Emotional outburst of tearful sobbing and acute distress in most persons.

Front 446

autopsy

Back 446

Surgical dissection of the body after death to determine the exact cause and circumstances of death or discover a pathway of a disease.

Front 447

complicated (dysfunctional) grief

Back 447

The grieving person has a prolonged or significantly difficult time moving forward after a loss.

Front 448

disenfranchised grief

Back 448

The individual's relationship to the deceased person is not socially sanctioned, cannot be openly acknowledge or publicly shared or seems of lesser significance.

Front 449

grief

Back 449

The emotional response to a loss, manifested in ways unique to an individual, based on personal experiences, cultural expectations and spiritual beliefs.

Front 450

maturational loss

Back 450

A form of necessary loss and include all normally expected life changes across the lifespan.

Front 451

normal (uncomplicated) grief

Back 451

Consists of the most commonly experienced feelings and behaviors in reaction to loss.

Front 452

organ and tissue donation

Back 452

Process of using properly harvested organs and tissues for donation to individuals in need of the tissues or organs.

Front 453

spiritual integration

Back 453

When an individual comes to terms with his or her life and puts life's pieces together in a way consistent with one's entire life.

Front 454

acute stress disorder

Back 454

Begins with the person experiencing, witnessing, or being confronted with a traumatic event and responding with intense fear, helplessness, or horror.

Front 455

burnout

Back 455

A syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization of others, and perceptions of reduced personal accomplishment.

Front 456

coping

Back 456

A person's ability and resources to manage psychological stress.

Front 457

crisis

Back 457

Stressful encounter that presents a change or an obstacle to attaining life goals that is perceived as insurmountable.

Front 458

crisis intervention

Back 458

Use of therapeutic techniques directed toward helping a client resolve a particular and immediate problem.

Front 459

developmental crises

Back 459

Crises that occur when a person is unable to complete the developmental tasks of a psychosocial stage and is therefore unable to continue developing.

Front 460

distress

Back 460

Damaging stress.

Front 461

ego-defense mechanism

Back 461

Unconscious behavior that protects a person from an emotional stress.

Front 462

endorphin

Back 462

The hormone that acts on the mind like morphine and opiates, producing a sense of well being and reducing pain.

Front 463

eustress

Back 463

Stress that protects health.

Front 464

fight-or-flight response

Back 464

The stress response that is arousal of the sympathetic nervous system.

Front 465

flashbacks

Back 465

Recurrent and intrusive recollections of a traumatic event.

Front 466

general adaptation syndrome (GAS)

Back 466

Generalized defense response of the body to stress that consists of three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Front 467

inference

Back 467

Taking one proposition as a given and guessing that another proposition follows.

Front 468

nursing process

Back 468

Systematic problem-solving method by which nurses individualize care for each client. The five steps of the nursing process are assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Front 469

perfusion

Back 469

Passage of a fluid, such as blood, through a specific organ or an area of the body.

Front 470

posttraumatic stress disorder

Back 470

Stress that lasts well after the traumatizing event ends.

Front 471

presence

Back 471

Person-to-person encounter that conveys a closeness and sense of security.

Front 472

primary appraisal

Back 472

Evaluating an event for its personal meaning.

Front 473

secondary appraisal

Back 473

Reappraisal focusing on possible coping strategies.

Front 474

situational crisis

Back 474

Crisis occurring suddenly in response to a specific external event or conflict.

Front 475

stress

Back 475

Physiological or psychological tension that threatens homeostasis or a person's psychological equilibrium.

Front 476

stressor

Back 476

Any event, situation, or other stimulus encountered in a person's external or internal environment that necessitates change or adaptation by the person.

Front 477

trauma

Back 477

Symptoms of stress persist beyond the duration of the stressor.

Front 478

alarm reaction

Back 478

The first stage of the General adaption syndrome where the body reacts to a stressor.

Front 479

exhaustion stage

Back 479

The stage of the General Adaption syndrome where the body is no longer able to resist the effects of the stressor and when the body has depleted the energy necessary to maintain adaption.

Front 480

resistance stage

Back 480

The second stage of the General Adaption syndrome where the body stabilizes and responds in an opposite matter to the alarm reaction

Front 481

afebrile

Back 481

Without fever.

Front 482

antipyretic

Back 482

Of or pertaining to a substance or procedure that reduces fever.

Front 483

auscultatory gap

Back 483

Disappearance of sound when obtaining a blood pressure: typically occurs between the first and second Korotkoff sounds.

Front 484

blood pressure (BP)

Back 484

Pressure exerted by the circulating volume of blood on the walls of the arteries, veins, and chambers of the heart. The pressure in the aorta and the large arteries of a healthy young adult is approximately 120 mm Hg during systole and 70 mm Hg during diastole.

Front 485

bradycardia

Back 485

Slower than normal heart rate; heart contracts fewer than 60 times per minute.

Front 486

Celsius

Back 486

Denotes a temperature scale in which 0° is the freezing point of water and 100° is the boiling point of water at sea level.

Front 487

concept map

Back 487

Visual representation of client problems and interventions that shows their relationships to each other. Metacognitive tool that assists learners in developing a self-appraisal of their own individual thinking processes and in considering the context of nursing practice in the conceptualization of client problems.

Front 488

conduction

Back 488

Transfer of heat from one object to another with direct contact.

Front 489

convection

Back 489

Transfer of heat away by air movement.

Front 490

core temperature

Back 490

Temperature of deep body tissues and organs.

Front 491

diaphoresis

Back 491

Secretion of sweat, especially profuse secretion associated with an elevated body temperature, physical exertion, or emotional stress.

Front 492

diastolic pressure

Back 492

Minimum level of blood pressure measured between contractions of the heart.

Front 493

eupnea

Back 493

Normal respiration that is quiet, effortless, and rhythmic.

Front 494

evaporation

Back 494

Transfer of heat energy when a liquid is changed to gas.

Front 495

Fahrenheit

Back 495

Scale for the measurement of temperature in which the boiling point of water is 212° and the freezing point is 32° at sea level.

Front 496

febrile

Back 496

Pertaining to or characterized by an elevated body temperature.

Front 497

fever

Back 497

Elevation of the hypothalamic set point so that body temperature is regulated at a higher level.

Front 498

fever of unknown origin (FUO)

Back 498

Refers to a fever whose cause cannot be determined.

Front 499

frostbite

Back 499

Traumatic effect of extreme cold on the skin and subcutaneous tissues; first manifested by distinct pallor.

Front 500

heat exhaustion

Back 500

Abnormal condition characterized by weakness, vertigo, nausea, muscle cramps, and loss of consciousness; caused by depletion of body fluid and electrolytes resulting from exposure to intense heat or the inability to acclimatize to heat.

Front 501

heatstroke

Back 501

Severe and sometimes fatal condition resulting from the failure of the temperature-regulating capacity of the body; caused by prolonged exposure to the sun or high temperatures.

Front 502

hematocrit

Back 502

Measure of the packed cell volume of red cells, expressed as a percentage of the total blood volume.

Front 503

hospice

Back 503

A system of family-centered care designed to allow clients to live and remain at home with comfort, independence, and dignity while alleviating the strains caused by terminal illness.

Front 504

hyperthermia

Back 504

Situation in which body temperature exceeds the set point; fever.

Front 505

hypotension

Back 505

Abnormal lowering of blood pressure in which pressure is inadequate for normal perfusion and oxygenation of tissues.

Front 506

hypothalamus

Back 506

Portion of the diencephalon of the brain that activates, controls, and integrates the peripheral autonomic nervous system, the endocrine processes, and many bodily functions such as body temperature, sleep, and appetite.

Front 507

hypoxemia

Back 507

Abnormal deficiency of oxygen in arterial blood.

Front 508

nonshivering thermogenesis

Back 508

Condition that occurs primarily in neonates; because neonates cannot shiver, a limited amount of vascular brown tissue, present at birth, is metabolized for heat production.

Front 509

postural hypotension

Back 509

Abnormally low blood pressure occurring when an individual assumes the standing posture; also called orthostatic hypotension.

Front 510

pulse pressure

Back 510

Difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures, normally 30 to 40 mm Hg.

Front 511

pyrexia

Back 511

Abnormal elevation of the temperature of the body above 37° C (98.6° F) because of disease; fever.

Front 512

pyrogen

Back 512

Any substance that causes a rise in body temperature (e.g., bacterial toxins).

Front 513

radial pulse

Back 513

Pulse of the radial artery palpated at the wrist over the radius. The radial pulse is the one most often taken.

Front 514

radiation

Back 514

Method of temperature regulation used by the body to lower body temperature.

Front 515

shivering

Back 515

Process used by the body to raise body temperature.

Front 516

sphygmomanometer

Back 516

Device for measuring the arterial blood pressure that consists of an arm or leg cuff with an air bladder connected to a tube, a bulb for pumping air into the bladder, and a gauge for indicating the amount of air pressure being exerted against the artery.

Front 517

stria (striae)

Back 517

Streak or linear scar that results from rapidly developing tension in the skin, commonly seen on the abdomen after pregnancy.

Front 518

systolic pressure

Back 518

Pressure exerted in the aorta and large arteries of a human during systolic contraction of the left ventricle; indicated during blood pressure measurement as the point when sound can first be heard during deflation of the pressure cuff.

Front 519

tachycardia

Back 519

Rapid heart rate ranging between 100 and 150 beats per minute.

Front 520

thermoregulation

Back 520

Internal control of body temperature.

Front 521

vital signs

Back 521

Temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure.

Front 522

hypertension

Back 522

Blood pressure of greater than 120-139/80-89

Front 523

acromegaly

Back 523

Chronic metabolic condition caused by overproduction of growth hormone and characterized by gradual, marked enlargement and elongation of bones of the face, jaw, and extremities.

Front 524

adventitious sounds

Back 524

Abnormal lung sounds heard with auscultation.

Front 525

aneurysm

Back 525

Localized dilation of the wall of a blood vessel, usually caused by arteriosclerosis, hypertension, or a congenital weakness in the vessel wall.

Front 526

apical impulse

Back 526

Point at which the apex of the heart touches the anterior chest wall; best site for auscultation of heart sounds; also called the point of maximal impulse (PMI).

Front 527

arcus senilis

Back 527

Thin white ring along the margin of the iris.

Front 528

atherosclerosis

Back 528

Common arterial disorder characterized by yellowish plaques of cholesterol, lipids, and cellular debris in the inner layers of the walls of the large- and medium-sized arteries.

Front 529

atrophied

Back 529

Wasting or diminution of size or physiological activity of a part of the body caused by disease or other influences.

Front 530

basal cell carcinoma

Back 530

Malignant epithelial cell tumor that begins as a papule and enlarges peripherally, developing a central crater that erodes, crusts, and bleeds. Metastasis is rare. Primary cause is excessive exposure to the sun or to x-rays.

Front 531

borborygmi

Back 531

Audible abdominal sound produced by hyperactive intestinal peristalsis.

Front 532

bronchophony

Back 532

Increase in intensity and clarity of the vocal resonance that may result from an increase in the lung tissue density, such as in the consolidation of pneumonia.

Front 533

bruit

Back 533

Abnormal sound or murmur heard while auscultating an organ, gland, or artery.

Front 534

chancre

Back 534

Small open ulcer that drains serous material; found on genitalia, associated with syphilis.

Front 535

cherry angiomas

Back 535

Ruby red papules of the skin.

Front 536

cholecystitis

Back 536

Inflammation of the gallbladder; may be acute or chronic.

Front 537

cirrhosis

Back 537

Chronic degenerative disease of the liver.

Front 538

clubbing

Back 538

Bulging of the tissues at the nail base due to insufficient oxygenation at the periphery resulting from conditions such as chronic emphysema and congenital heart disease.

Front 539

conjunctivitis

Back 539

Highly contagious eye infection; the crusty drainage that collects on eyelid margins can easily spread from one eye to the other.

Front 540

dermatitis

Back 540

Inflammation of skin characterized by itching, redness, and skin lesions.

Front 541

distention

Back 541

Swelling of a body cavity; may be caused by fluid, gas, or a mass.

Front 542

ectropion

Back 542

Eversion of the eyelid that exposes the conjunctival membrane and part of the eyeball.

Front 543

eczema

Back 543

Superficial dermatitis of unknown cause.

Front 544

entropion

Back 544

Condition in which the eyelid turns inward toward the eye.

Front 545

epidemiology

Back 545

Study of the occurrence, distribution, and causes of disease.

Front 546

erythema

Back 546

Redness or inflammation of the skin or mucous membranes that is a result of dilation and congestion of superficial capillaries; sunburn is an example.

Front 547

exophthalmos

Back 547

Abnormal protrusion of one or both eyeballs.

Front 548

exostosis

Back 548

Abnormal benign growth on the surface of a bone.

Front 549

goniometer

Back 549

Device that measures the precise degree of motion in a particular joint and is used mainly in clients who have a suspected reduction in joint movement. The instrument has two flexible arms with a 180-degree protractor in the center.

Front 550

hepatitis

Back 550

Inflammatory condition of the liver.

Front 551

hernia

Back 551

Protrusion of abdominal organs through the muscle wall.

Front 552

hirsutism

Back 552

Excessive body hair in a masculine distribution caused by heredity, hormonal dysfunction, or medication.

Front 553

hydrocephalus

Back 553

Abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain.

Front 554

hypertonicity

Back 554

Increased muscle tone.

Front 555

hypotonicity

Back 555

Low muscle tone.

Front 556

iatrogenic infections

Back 556

Infections caused by a treatment or diagnostic procedure.

Front 557

indurated

Back 557

Hardened tissue, particularly skin, due to edema, inflammation, or infiltration by a tumor.

Front 558

integument

Back 558

Skin and its appendages: hair, nails, and sweat and sebaceous glands.

Front 559

invasive

Back 559

Referring to procedures that involve puncture, incision, or insertion of a foreign object, such as a needle or catheter, into the body.

Front 560

jaundice

Back 560

Yellow discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes, and sclera, caused by greater than normal amounts of bilirubin in the blood.

Front 561

kyphosis

Back 561

Exaggeration of the posterior curvature of the thoracic spine.

Front 562

leukoplakia

Back 562

Thick, raised, pearly-white patch of precancerous tissue found on the lips, buccal mucosa, penis, or vulva.

Front 563

localized

Back 563

With regard to infections, a type of infection in which the infectious process is limited to a particular area, such as a wound infection.

Front 564

lordosis

Back 564

Increased lumbar curvature.

Front 565

melanoma

Back 565

Group of malignant neoplasms, primarily of the skin, that are composed of melanocytes; common in fair-skinned people having light-colored eyes and in persons who have had a sunburn; any black or brown spot having an irregular border, pigment appearing to radiate beyond that border, or a red, black, and blue coloration observable on close examination.

Front 566

metastasize

Back 566

To spread.

Front 567

microorganisms

Back 567

Any microscopic entity capable of carrying on living processes, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Front 568

murmur

Back 568

Low-pitched fluttering or humming sound, such as a heart murmur.

Front 569

nystagmus

Back 569

Involuntary rhythmic movements of the eyes; the oscillations may be horizontal, vertical, rotary, or mixed.

Front 570

occlusion

Back 570

Blockage in a canal, vessel, or passage of the body.

Front 571

ophthalmoscope

Back 571

Instrument used to illuminate the structures of the eye for the examination of the fundus, which includes the retina, choroid, optic nerve disc, macula, fovea centralis, and retinal vessels.

Front 572

otoscope

Back 572

Instrument with a special ear speculum used to examine the deeper structures of the external and middle ear.

Front 573

ototoxicity

Back 573

Referring to the characteristic of any drug or substance that has a harmful effect on the eighth cranial nerve or the organs of hearing and balance.

Front 574

pancreatitis

Back 574

Inflammation of the pancreas.

Front 575

Papanicolaou (Pap) test

Back 575

Painless screening test for cervical cancer; specimens of squamous and columnar cells of the cervix are taken.

Front 576

peritonitis

Back 576

Inflammation of the peritoneum produced by bacteria or irritating substances introduced into the abdominal cavity by a penetrating wound or perforation of an organ in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract or the reproductive tract.

Front 577

PERRLA

Back 577

Acronym for pupils equal, round, reactive to light, accommodative; the acronym is recorded in the physical examination if eye and pupil assessments are normal.

Front 578

petechiae

Back 578

Tiny purple or red spots that appear on the skin as minute hemorrhages within dermal layers.

Front 579

phagocytosis

Back 579

Process by which certain cells, such as macrophages, engulf and dispose of microorganisms.

Front 580

pigmentation

Back 580

Organic coloring material, such as melanin, that gives color to the skin.

Front 581

point of maximal impulse (PMI)

Back 581

Anatomical point along the fourth to fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line where the heartbeat can most easily be palpated through the chest wall.

Front 582

ptosis

Back 582

Abnormal condition of one or both upper eyelids in which the eyelid droops; caused by weakness of the levator muscle or paralysis of the third cranial nerve.

Front 583

scoliosis

Back 583

Lateral spinal curvature.

Front 584

senile keratosis

Back 584

Slowly developing, localized thickening of the outer layers of the skin as a result of chronic, excessive exposure to the sun; commonly develops in older adults.

Front 585

stenosis

Back 585

Abnormal condition characterized by the constriction or narrowing of an opening or passageway in a body structure.

Front 586

syncope

Back 586

Brief lapse in consciousness caused by transient cerebral hypoxia.

Front 587

systemic

Back 587

Of or pertaining to the whole body rather than to a localized area.

Front 588

tactile fremitus

Back 588

Tremulous vibration of the chest wall during breathing that is palpable on physical examination.

Front 589

thrill

Back 589

Continuous palpable sensation, like the purring of a cat.

Front 590

turgor

Back 590

Normal resiliency of the skin caused by the outward pressure of the cells and interstitial fluid.

Front 591

varicosities

Back 591

Superficial veins that become dilated, for example, varicose veins on the lag or esophageal varicosities along the surface of the esophagus

Front 592

ventricular gallop

Back 592

Abnormal low-pitched extra heart sound (S3) heard in early diastole.

Front 593

vocal fremitus

Back 593

Vibrations created by sound waves that can be palpated externally.

Front 594

whispered pectoriloquy

Back 594

Transmission of a whisper through the pulmonary structures so that it is heard as normal audible speech on auscultation.

Front 595

aphasia

Back 595

Loss of ability to comprehend language or communicate

Front 596

benign breast disease (fibrocystic)

Back 596

Condition characterized by lumpy, sore breasts and sometimes nipple discharge. Symptoms are more apparent before the menstrual period.

Front 597

capillary refill

Back 597

The time it takes for a nail bed to return to its usual color after the blood flow has been momentarily occluded—is an indicator of peripheral circulation.

Front 598

squamous cell carcinoma

Back 598

Skin cancer that develops on outer layers of sun damaged skin; may travel to lymph nodes.

Front 599

aerobic

Back 599

Of or pertaining to the presence of air or oxygen; requiring oxygen for the maintenance of life.

Front 600

anaerobic

Back 600

Absence of oxygen.

Front 601

asepsis

Back 601

Absence of germs or microorganisms.

Front 602

bactericidal

Back 602

Destructive to bacteria.

Front 603

bacteriostasis

Back 603

State in which the development or reproduction of bacteria is suspended.

Front 604

broad-spectrum antibiotics

Back 604

Antibiotics that are effective against a wide range of infectious microorganisms.

Front 605

carriers

Back 605

Animals or persons who harbor and spread a disease-causing organism but who do not become ill.

Front 606

communicable disease

Back 606

Any disease that can be transmitted from one person or animal to another by direct or indirect contact or by vectors.

Front 607

disinfection

Back 607

Process of killing pathogenic organisms.

Front 608

endogenous infection

Back 608

Infection produced within a cell or organism.

Front 609

exogenous infection

Back 609

Infection originating outside an organ or part.

Front 610

hand hygiene

Back 610

CDC-recommended approaches for cleansing of the hands involving the use of an instant alcohol hand antiseptic before and after providing client care, hand washing with soap and water when hands are visibly soiled, or performing a surgical scrub.

Front 611

hand washing

Back 611

Vigorous, brief rubbing together of all surfaces of hands lathered in soap, followed by rinsing under a stream of water.

Front 612

immunocompromised

Back 612

Abnormal condition of the immune system in which cellular or humoral immunity is inadequate.

Front 613

inflammatory response

Back 613

Protective vascular and cellular reaction that neutralizes pathogens and repairs body cells.

Front 614

leukocytosis

Back 614

Abnormal increase in the number of circulating white blood cells.

Front 615

medical asepsis

Back 615

Procedures used to reduce and prevent the spread of microorganisms; also known as clean technique.

Front 616

necrotic

Back 616

Of or pertaining to the death of tissue in response to disease or injury.

Front 617

normal flora

Back 617

Microorganisms that live on or within a body to compete with disease-producing microorganisms and provide a natural immunity against certain infections.

Front 618

pathogenicity

Back 618

Ability of a pathogenic agent to produce disease.

Front 619

sterile field

Back 619

Specified area, such as within a tray or on a sterile towel, that is considered free of microorganisms.

Front 620

suprainfection

Back 620

Secondary infection usually caused by an opportunistic pathogen.

Front 621

surgical asepsis

Back 621

Procedures used to eliminate all microorganisms, including pathogens and spores, from an object or area; also known as sterile technique.

Front 622

susceptibility

Back 622

Condition of being vulnerable to a disease or disorder.

Front 623

vector

Back 623

Carrier, especially one that transmits disease.

Front 624

virulence

Back 624

The ability to produce disease.

Front 625

health care-associated infections

Back 625

A client develops an infection that was not present or incubating at the time of admission.

Front 626

absorption

Back 626

Passage of substances across and into tissues (e.g., intestinal and parenteral absorption).

Front 627

adverse effects

Back 627

A severe response to medication. For example, a client may become comatose when a drug is ingested.

Front 628

anaphylactic reactions

Back 628

Reactions characterized by sudden constriction of bronchiolar muscles, edema of the pharynx and larynx, and severe wheezing and shortness of breath.

Front 629

biotransformation

Back 629

Change that occurs under the influence of enzymes that detoxify, degrade, and remove biologically active chemicals.

Front 630

buccal

Back 630

Of or pertaining to the inside of the cheek or the gum next to the cheek.

Front 631

client-centered problems

Back 631

What nursing leaders and educators revised their curricula to reflect.

Front 632

concentration (concentrate)

Back 632

Substance, particularly a liquid, that has been strengthened and reduced in volume through evaporation or other means.

Front 633

idiosyncratic reaction

Back 633

Individual sensitivities to drug effects; caused by inherited or other bodily constitution factors.

Front 634

infusion

Back 634

Introduction of a substance such as a fluid, drug, electrolyte, or nutrient directly into a vein by means of gravity flow.

Front 635

inhalation

Back 635

To breathe in or draw in with the breath.

Front 636

injection

Back 636

Act of forcing a liquid into the body by means of a needle and syringe.

Front 637

instillation

Back 637

Procedure in which a fluid is slowly introduced into a cavity or passage of the body (e.g., rectum) and allowed to remain for a specific length of time before being withdrawn or drained.

Front 638

integrative medical programs

Back 638

Programs that allow health care consumers to be treated by a team of providers that consists of both allopathic and complementary practitioners.

Front 639

intraarticular

Back 639

Within a joint.

Front 640

intracardiac

Back 640

Within the myocardium.

Front 641

intradermal (ID)

Back 641

Within the dermis of the skin.

Front 642

intramuscular (IM)

Back 642

Tissue within the interior of a muscle.

Front 643

intraocular

Back 643

Eye medication delivery involving inserting a medication, similar to a contact lens, into a client's eye.

Front 644

intravenous (IV)

Back 644

Pertaining to the inside of a vein.

Front 645

irrigation

Back 645

Process of washing out a body cavity or wounded area with a stream of fluid.

Front 646

medication allergy

Back 646

Severe or mild reaction to medication.

Front 647

medication error

Back 647

Any event that could cause or lead to a client receiving inappropriate medication therapy or failing to receive appropriate medication therapy.

Front 648

meridians

Back 648

Channels of energy running in regular patterns through the body and over its surface.

Front 649

metered-dose inhaler (MDI)

Back 649

Inhaler designed to produce local effects such as bronchodilatation.

Front 650

metric system

Back 650

Decimal system of measurement based on the meter (39.37 inches) as the unit of length; on the gram (15.432 grains) as the unit of weight or mass; and, as a derived unit, on the liter (0.908 U.S. dry quart or 1.0567 U.S. liquid quart) as the unit of volume.

Front 651

narcotic

Back 651

Drug substance, either derived from opium or produced synthetically, that alters perception of pain and that with repeated use may result in physical and psychological dependence.

Front 652

ophthalmic

Back 652

Medications for eye conditions such as glaucoma.

Front 653

parenteral administration

Back 653

Injecting a medication into body tissues.

Front 654

peak concentration

Back 654

Highest serum concentration.

Front 655

prescriptions

Back 655

Written by the prescriber for clients who are to take medications outside the hospital.

Front 656

serum half-life

Back 656

Time needed for excretion processes to lower the serum drug concentration by half.

Front 657

side effects

Back 657

Any reaction or consequence that results from medication or therapy.

Front 658

subcutaneous (Sub-Q)

Back 658

Injection into tissues just below the dermis of the skin.

Front 659

sublingual

Back 659

Route of medication administration in which the medication is placed underneath the client's tongue.

Front 660

synergistic effect

Back 660

When two drugs act synergistically, the effect of the two drugs combined is greater than the effect that would be expected if the individual effects of the two drugs acting alone were added together.

Front 661

therapeutic effects

Back 661

Desired benefits of a medication, treatment, or procedure.

Front 662

toxic effects

Back 662

Resulting from an excess amount of medication in a client's blood, these effects may be caused by the excessive use of medication, overdose, impaired excretion, or idiosyncratic reaction to the medication itself.

Front 663

verbal order

Back 663

Physician's order given to the nurse, usually over the telephone.

Front 664

medication interaction

Back 664

One medication alters the action of another.

Front 665

medication reconciliation

Back 665

Comparison of two medication lists to ensure that the nurse is aware of all medications prescribed for a client

Front 666

acupoints

Back 666

Holes through which qi can be influenced by the insertion of needles.

Front 667

acupuncture

Back 667

Traditional Chinese method of producing analgesia or altering the function of a body system by the insertion of needles.

Front 668

allopathic medicine

Back 668

System of medical therapy in which a disease or an abnormal condition is treated by creating an environment that is antagonistic to the disease or condition.

Front 669

alternative therapies

Back 669

Any of the systems of medical diagnosis and treatment differing in technique from that of the allopathic practitioner's use of drugs and surgery to treat disease and injury.

Front 670

chiropractic therapy

Back 670

System of therapy based on the theory that the state of a person's health is determined in general by the condition of his or her nervous system.

Front 671

complementary therapies

Back 671

Therapies used in addition to conventional treatment recommended by the person's health care provider.

Front 672

creative visualization

Back 672

Form of self-directed imagery that is based on the principal of mind-body connectivity.

Front 673

crutch gait

Back 673

Gait assumed by a person on crutches by alternately bearing weight on one or both legs and on the crutches.

Front 674

energy flow

Back 674

Term used in Therapeutic Touch therapy referring to the symmetrical and rhythmical flow of energy through the body.

Front 675

herbal therapy

Back 675

Use of plant species as medicine.

Front 676

imagery

Back 676

Visualization techniques that make use of the conscious mind to create mental images to evoke physical changes in the body.

Front 677

passive relaxation

Back 677

Process that involves teaching the individual to relax individual muscle groups passively.

Front 678

progressive relaxation

Back 678

Exercise that helps to teach the individual how to effectively rest and reduce tension in the body.

Front 679

qi

Back 679

Vital energy of the human body.

Front 680

stress response

Back 680

Response evoked by stressful situations that people are exposed to in everyday life.

Front 681

therapeutic touch

Back 681

Use of the hands to provide comfort to the client; touch can communicate caring and thus help clients relax.

Front 682

yin and yang

Back 682

Symbols that represent the opposing yet complementary phenomena that exist in a state of dynamic equilibrium.

Front 683

meditation

Back 683

Any activity that limits stimulus input by directing attention to a single unchanging or repetitive stimulus.

Front 684

relaxation response

Back 684

The state of generalized decreased cognitive, physiological, and/or behavioral arousal.

Front 685

antagonistic muscles

Back 685

Group of muscles that work together to bring about movement at a joint.

Front 686

antigravity muscles

Back 686

Muscles involved with joint stabilization. These muscles continually oppose the effect of gravity on the body and permit a person to maintain an upright or sitting posture.

Front 687

center of gravity

Back 687

Midpoint or center of the weight of a body or object.

Front 688

foot board

Back 688

Board placed perpendicular to the mattress and parallel to and touching the plantar surface of the client's foot to maintain dorsiflexion of the feet.

Front 689

proprioception

Back 689

Sensation achieved through stimuli from within the body regarding spatial position and muscular activity.

Front 690

synergistic muscles

Back 690

Muscles that contract together to accomplish the same movement.

Front 691

air pollution

Back 691

Contamination of the environmental atmosphere with substances known as pollutants, which are not normally found in the air.

Front 692

Ambularm

Back 692

Safety device that alerts health care personnel that a client is attempting to get up. Provides an alternative to restraints.

Front 693

aura

Back 693

Sensation, as of light or warmth, that may precede an attack of migraine or epileptic seizure.

Front 694

bioterrorism

Back 694

The use of biological agents to create fear and threat.

Front 695

carbon monoxide (CO)

Back 695

Colorless, odorless, poisonous gas produced by the combustion of carbon or organic fuels.

Front 696

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Back 696

Federal agency responsible for the enforcement of federal regulations regarding the manufacture and distribution of food, drugs, and cosmetics to ensure protection against the sale of impure or dangerous substances.

Front 697

food poisoning

Back 697

Toxic processes resulting from the ingestion of a food contaminated by toxic substances or by bacteria containing toxins.

Front 698

immunization

Back 698

Process by which resistance to an infectious disease is produced or augmented. Immunity is acquired after the oral administration or injection of an antigen, which causes production of an antibody within the body.

Front 699

individuation

Back 699

Process whereby an individual looks to gain an understanding of the self as distinct yet also in relationship with others.

Front 700

land pollution

Back 700

Contamination of soil by improper disposal of radioactive or bioactive waste products.

Front 701

noise pollution

Back 701

Noise level in an environment at the level that it becomes uncomfortable to the inhabitants.

Front 702

poison

Back 702

Any substance that impairs health or destroys life when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed by the body in relatively small amounts.

Front 703

pollutant

Back 703

Harmful chemical or waste material discharged into the water or atmosphere.

Front 704

relative humidity

Back 704

Amount of moisture in the air as compared with the maximum amount that the air could contain at the same temperature.

Front 705

restraint

Back 705

Device to aid in the immobilization of a client or a client's extremity.

Front 706

seizure

Back 706

Brief, temporary malfunctions of nerve cells in the brain may result in seizure activity. A generalized tonic-clonic seizure is characterized by loss of consciousness, tonicity (rigidity), and clonicity (jerking).

Front 707

seizure precautions

Back 707

Measures that protect the client from injury during a seizure.

Front 708

status epilepticus

Back 708

Medical emergency whereby a person has continual seizures without interruption.

Front 709

water pollution

Back 709

Contamination of lakes, rivers, and streams by industrial pollutants.

Front 710

bed check

Back 710

Alarm system that indicates when a client has exited their bed; the alarm sounds when the pressure is relieved from the Sensormat in their bed.

Front 711

acne

Back 711

Inflammatory papulopustular skin eruption, usually occurring on the face, neck, shoulders, and upper back.

Front 712

apocrine gland

Back 712

One of the large, deep exocrine glands located in the axillary, anal, genital, and mammary areas of the body; secretes sweat that has a strong odor.

Front 713

buccal glands

Back 713

Found in the mucosa lining of cheeks and mouth, they secrete saliva to maintain the hygiene and comfort of oral tissues.

Front 714

complete bed bath

Back 714

Bath given to clients who are totally dependent and require total hygiene care.

Front 715

cuticle

Back 715

Fold of skin that hides the root of the nail.

Front 716

dermis

Back 716

Layer of skin just below the epidermis that contains blood and lymphatic vessels, nerves and nerve endings, glands, and hair follicles.

Front 717

eccrine

Back 717

Two types of sweat glands; eccrine glands are present throughout the dermal layer of the skin and promote cooling by evaporation of their secretions.

Front 718

edentulous

Back 718

Toothless.

Front 719

effleurage

Back 719

Long, slow, gliding strokes of massage.

Front 720

enucleation

Back 720

Removal of an eyeball as a result of tumor growth, severe infection, or eye trauma.

Front 721

epidermis

Back 721

Superficial avascular layers of the skin made up of an outer, dead, cornified portion of cells and a deeper, living, cellular portion.

Front 722

gingivitis

Back 722

Inflammatory condition in which the gums are red, swollen, and bleeding.

Front 723

halitosis

Back 723

Offensive breath resulting from poor oral hygiene, dental or oral infection, ingestion of certain foods, or systemic disease.

Front 724

lunula

Back 724

Whitish area at the base of the nail bed.

Front 725

mastication

Back 725

Chewing, tearing, or grinding food with the teeth while it becomes mixed with saliva.

Front 726

neuropathy

Back 726

Abnormal condition characterized by inflammation and degeneration of peripheral nerves that alter sensory or motor function.

Front 727

ophthalmologist

Back 727

Medical doctor whose practice is limited to diseases, conditions, and trauma to the eyes. An ophthalmologist also prescribes corrective lenses for clients whose visual acuity is impaired.

Front 728

optometrist

Back 728

Medical doctor whose practice is limited to primary eye care.

Front 729

partial bed bath

Back 729

Bath in which body parts that might cause the client discomfort if left unbathed (i.e., face, hands, axillary areas, back, and perineum) are washed while the client remains in bed.

Front 730

perineal care

Back 730

Cleansing procedure prescribed for the genital and anal areas as part of the daily bath or after various obstetrical and gynecological procedures.

Front 731

sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

Back 731

Infectious diseases transmitted to any part of the body through contact with body fluids during sexual activities.

Front 732

afterload

Back 732

Resistance to ventricular ejection.

Front 733

aldosterone

Back 733

Substance released by the adrenal cortex in response to increased plasma potassium levels or as a part of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone mechanism to counteract hypovolemia.

Front 734

angina pectoris

Back 734

Episodic chest pain caused most often by myocardial anoxia as a result of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Pain radiates down the inner aspect of the left arm and is often accompanied by feeling of suffocation and impending death.

Front 735

bronchoscopy

Back 735

Visual examination of the tracheal and bronchial tree using a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope.

Front 736

cardiac index (CI)

Back 736

Adequacy of the cardiac output of an individual.

Front 737

cardiopulmonary rehabilitation

Back 737

Process of actively assisting the cardiopulmonary client to achieve and maintain an optimal level of health through controlled physical exercise, nutritional counseling, relaxation and stress management techniques, prescribed medication, oxygen therapy, and adherence to the rehabilitation program.

Front 738

cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Back 738

Basic emergency procedures for life support consisting of artificial respiration and manual external cardiac massage.

Front 739

chest tube

Back 739

Catheter inserted through the thorax into the chest cavity for removing air or fluid; used after chest or heart surgery or pneumothorax.

Front 740

diaphragmatic breathing

Back 740

Respiration in which the abdomen moves out while the diaphragm descends on inspiration.

Front 741

dyspnea

Back 741

Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing that may be caused by certain heart or lung conditions or strenuous exercise.

Front 742

electrocardiogram (ECG)

Back 742

Graphic record of the electrical activity of the myocardium.

Front 743

electrolyte

Back 743

Element or compound that, when melted or dissolved in water or another solvent, dissociates into ions and is able to carry an electrical current.

Front 744

extracellular fluids

Back 744

Portion of body fluids composed of interstitial fluid and blood plasma.

Front 745

filtration

Back 745

Process by which water and diffusible substances move together in response to fluid pressure.

Front 746

hematemesis

Back 746

Vomiting of blood; indicates upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Front 747

hemoptysis

Back 747

Coughing of blood from the respiratory tract.

Front 748

hemothorax

Back 748

Accumulation of blood and fluid in the pleural cavity between the parietal and visceral pleurae.

Front 749

humidification

Back 749

Process of adding water to gas.

Front 750

hyperventilation

Back 750

Respiratory rate in excess of that required to maintain normal carbon dioxide levels in the body tissues.

Front 751

hypoventilation

Back 751

Reduction in the volume of air that enters the lung for gas exchange; oxygen exchange insufficient to meet metabolic demands of the body.

Front 752

hypoxia

Back 752

Inadequate cellular oxygenation that may result from a deficiency in the delivery or use of oxygen at the cellular level.

Front 753

incentive spirometry

Back 753

Method of encouraging voluntary deep breathing by providing visual feedback to clients of the inspiratory volume they have achieved.

Front 754

myocardial infarction

Back 754

Necrosis of a portion of cardiac muscle caused by obstruction in a coronary artery.

Front 755

myocardial ischemia

Back 755

Cardiac condition that results when the supply of blood to the myocardium from the coronary arteries is insufficient to meet the oxygen demands of the organ.

Front 756

nasal cannula

Back 756

Device for delivering oxygen by way of two small tubes that are inserted into the nares.

Front 757

nebulization

Back 757

Process of adding moisture to inspired air by the addition of water droplets.

Front 758

normal sinus rhythm (NSR)

Back 758

Wave pattern on an electrocardiogram that indicates normal conduction of an electrical impulse through the myocardium.

Front 759

peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)

Back 759

Maximal flow rate, measured in liters, that can be generated during a forced expiratory maneuver.

Front 760

pneumothorax

Back 760

Collection of air or gas in the pleural space.

Front 761

postural drainage

Back 761

Use of positioning along with percussion and vibration to drain secretions from specific segments of the lungs and bronchi into the trachea.

Front 762

preload

Back 762

Volume of blood in the ventricles at the end of diastole, immediately before ventricular contraction.

Front 763

pursed-lip breathing

Back 763

Deep inspiration through the nose and mouth, not using pursed lips, followed by prolonged expiration through pursed lips.

Front 764

thoracentesis

Back 764

Surgical perforation of the chest wall and pleural space with a needle for the aspiration of fluid or to obtain a specimen for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

Front 765

ventricular fibrillation

Back 765

A life-threatening rhythm in which there is no ventricular filling and no cardiac output. This dysrhythmia requires immediate intervention.

Front 766

ventricular tachycardia

Back 766

A life-threatening dysrhythmia because of the decreased cardiac output and the potential to deteriorate into ventricular fibrillation.

Front 767

wheezing

Back 767

Adventitious lung sound caused by a severely narrowed bronchus.

Front 768

expiration

Back 768

The act of exhalation or emptying the air from the lungs.

Front 769

inspiration

Back 769

The act of breathing in, or filling the lungs with air

Front 770

active transport

Back 770

Movement of materials across the cell membrane by means of chemical activity that allows the cell to admit larger molecules than would otherwise be possible.

Front 771

angiotensin

Back 771

Substance produced by renin that causes some vasoconstriction.

Front 772

anion gap

Back 772

Difference between the concentrations of serum cations and anions: determined by measuring the concentrations of sodium cations and chloride and bicarbonate anions.

Front 773

anions

Back 773

Negatively charged electrolytes.

Front 774

antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

Back 774

Substance stored in the posterior pituitary gland that is released in response to changes in blood osmolarity.

Front 775

arterial blood gas

Back 775

The oxygen and carbon dioxide content of arterial blood, measured by various methods to assess the adequacy of ventilation and oxygenation and the acid-base status of the body.

Front 776

autologous transfusion

Back 776

Transfusion procedure in which blood is removed from a donor and stored for a time before it is returned to the donor's circulation.

Front 777

buffer

Back 777

Substance or group of substances that can absorb or release hydrogen ions to correct an acid-base imbalance.

Front 778

climacteric

Back 778

Physiological developmental change that occurs in the male reproductive system between the ages of 45 and 60.

Front 779

colloid osmotic pressure

Back 779

Pressure that tends to keep fluid in the intravascular compartment.

Front 780

colloids

Back 780

Blood and blood components.

Front 781

concentration gradient

Back 781

Difference between two concentrations.

Front 782

crystalloids

Back 782

Intravenous (IV) fluid and electrolyte therapy.

Front 783

dehydration

Back 783

Excessive loss of water from the body tissues, accompanied by a disturbance of body electrolytes.

Front 784

dyssomnias

Back 784

Primary sleep disorders.

Front 785

fluid volume deficit (FVD)

Back 785

Alteration characterized by the loss of fluids and electrolytes in an isotonic fashion.

Front 786

fluid volume excess (FVE)

Back 786

Alteration characterized by the abnormal retention of fluids and electrolytes in an isotonic fashion.

Front 787

hemolysis

Back 787

Breakdown of red blood cells and release of hemoglobin as may result from the administration of hypotonic intravenous solutions that cause progressive swelling and rupture of the erythrocytes.

Front 788

homeostasis

Back 788

State of relative constancy in the internal environment of the body, maintained naturally by physiological adaptive mechanisms.

Front 789

hydrostatic pressure

Back 789

Pressure exerted by a liquid.

Front 790

hypertonic

Back 790

Situation in which one solution has a greater concentration of solute than another solution; therefore the first solution exerts more osmotic pressure.

Front 791

hypotonic

Back 791

Situation in which one solution has a smaller concentration of solute than another solution; therefore the first solution exerts less osmotic pressure.

Front 792

infertility

Back 792

Man's, woman's, or couple's involuntary inability to conceive.

Front 793

infiltration

Back 793

Dislodging an intravenous catheter or needle from a vein into the subcutaneous space.

Front 794

infusion pump

Back 794

Device that delivers a measured amount of fluid over a period of time.

Front 795

insensible water loss

Back 795

Loss of fluid from the body by evaporation, such as that which normally occurs during respiration.

Front 796

interstitial fluid

Back 796

Fluid that fills the spaces between most of the cells of the body and that provides a substantial portion of the liquid environment of the body.

Front 797

intracellular fluids

Back 797

Liquids within the cell membrane.

Front 798

intravascular fluid

Back 798

Blood plasma.

Front 799

ions

Back 799

Atoms or groups of atoms that have acquired an electrical charge through the gain or loss of an electron or electrons.

Front 800

isotonic

Back 800

Situation in which two solutions have the same concentration of solute; therefore both solutions exert the same osmotic pressure.

Front 801

metabolic acidosis

Back 801

Abnormal condition of high hydrogen ion concentration in the extracellular fluid caused by either a primary increase in hydrogen ions or a decrease in bicarbonate.

Front 802

metabolic alkalosis

Back 802

Abnormal condition characterized by the significant loss of acid from the body or by increased levels of bicarbonate.

Front 803

milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L)

Back 803

Unit of measurement representing the number of grams of the specific electrolyte dissolved in a liter of plasma.

Front 804

oncotic pressure

Back 804

Total influence of a protein on the osmotic activity of plasma water.

Front 805

osmolarity

Back 805

Osmotic pressure of a solution expressed in osmols or milliosmols per liter of the solution.

Front 806

osmols

Back 806

Quantity of a substance in solution in the form of molecules, ions, or both that has the same osmotic pressure as 1 mole of an ideal nonelectrolyte.

Front 807

osmoreceptor

Back 807

Receptor that is sensitive to fluid concentration in the blood plasma and that regulates the secretion of antidiuretic hormone.

Front 808

osmosis

Back 808

Movement of a pure solvent through a semipermeable membrane from a solution with a lower solute concentration to one with a higher solute concentration.

Front 809

osmotic pressure

Back 809

Drawing power for water, which depends on the number of molecules in the solution.

Front 810

outcome

Back 810

Condition to be achieved as a result of health care delivery. Favorable or adverse changes in clients' health states due to prior or concurrent care.

Front 811

respiratory acidosis

Back 811

Abnormal condition characterized by increased arterial carbon dioxide concentration, excess carbonic acid, and increased hydrogen ion concentration.

Front 812

respiratory alkalosis

Back 812

Abnormal condition characterized by decreased arterial carbon dioxide concentration and decreased hydrogen ion concentration.

Front 813

sensible water loss

Back 813

Water loss that occurs though excess perspiration.

Front 814

solute

Back 814

Substance dissolved in a solution.

Front 815

solvent

Back 815

Any liquid in which another substance can be dissolved.

Front 816

transfusion reaction

Back 816

Systemic response by the body to the administration of blood incompatible with that of the recipient.

Front 817

vascular access devices

Back 817

Catheters, cannulas, or infusion ports designed for long-term, repeated access to the vascular system.

Front 818

venipuncture

Back 818

Technique in which a vein is punctured transcutaneously by a sharp, rigid stylet or by a needle attached to a syringe.

Front 819

acidosis

Back 819

An increase of hydrogen ions producing a lower pH.

Front 820

alkalosis

Back 820

A decrease of hydrogen ions producing a higher pH.

Front 821

atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)

Back 821

hormone secreted from atrial cells of the heart in response to atrial stretching and an increase in circulating blood volume. ANP has been identified as a diuretic that causes sodium loss and inhibits the thirst mechanism

Front 822

transcellular fluid

Back 822

Transcellular fluid is fluid separated from other fluids by a cellular barrier and consists of cerebrospinal, pleural, gastrointestinal, intraocular, peritoneal, and synovial fluids (Elgart, 2004). Loss of transcellular fluid can produce fluid and electrolyte disturbance.

Front 823

biological clocks

Back 823

Cyclical nature of body functions; functions controlled from within the body as synchronized with environmental factors: same meaning as biorhythm.

Front 824

spontaneous pain

Back 824

Pain that is unpredictable and not associated with any activity or event.

Front 825

cataplexy

Back 825

Condition characterized by sudden muscular weakness and loss of muscle tone.

Front 826

circadian rhythm

Back 826

The 24-hour day-night cycle also known as diurnal; pattern based on repetition of certain physiological phenomena within a 24-hour cycle.

Front 827

dorsal rhizotomy

Back 827

Surgical cutting of the dorsal or posterior nerve roots as they enter the spinal cord.

Front 828

excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)

Back 828

Most common complaint of people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Front 829

hypersomnolence

Back 829

Excessive sleepiness.

Front 830

hypnotics

Back 830

Class of drugs that cause insensibility to pain and induce sleep.

Front 831

insomnia

Back 831

Condition characterized by chronic inability to sleep or remain asleep through the night.

Front 832

narcolepsy

Back 832

Syndrome involving sudden sleep attacks that a person cannot inhibit; uncontrollable desire to sleep may occur several times during a day.

Front 833

nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep

Back 833

Occurs during the first four stages of normal sleep.

Front 834

polysomnogram

Back 834

Monitoring device that involves placement of electrodes on the scalp, face, chin, and legs to measure brain waves, eye movements, and muscle activity; used to diagnose sleep disorders.

Front 835

rapid eye movement (REM) sleep

Back 835

Stage of sleep in which dreaming and rapid eye movements are prominent; important for mental restoration.

Front 836

sedative

Back 836

Medication that produces a calming effect by decreasing functional activity, diminishing irritability, and allaying excitement.

Front 837

sleep

Back 837

State marked by reduced consciousness, diminished activity of the skeletal muscles, and depressed metabolism.

Front 838

sleep apnea

Back 838

Cessation of breathing for a time during sleep.

Front 839

sleep deprivation

Back 839

Condition resulting from a decrease in the amount, quality, and consistency of sleep.

Front 840

sleep hygiene

Back 840

Poor habits or practices that a client uses that are associated with sleep.

Front 841

accountability

Back 841

State of being answerable for one's actions. For example, the professional nurse answers to herself or himself, the client, the profession, the employing institution, and the professional society for the effectiveness of nursing care performed.

Front 842

acupressure

Back 842

Therapeutic technique of applying digital pressure in a specified way on designated points on the body to relieve pain, produce anesthesia, or regulate body function.

Front 843

acute pain

Back 843

Follows acute injury, disease, or surgical intervention and has a rapid onset; varies in intensity, and lasts for a brief time, usually less than 6 months.

Front 844

addiction

Back 844

A primary, chronic, neurobiological disease, with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. It is characterized by behaviors that include one or more of the following: impaired control over drug use, compulsive use, continued use despite harm, and craving.

Front 845

breakthrough pain

Back 845

Pain that extends beyond treated steady chronic pain.

Front 846

chronic pain

Back 846

Pain that lasts longer than anticipated (usually over 6 months), may not have an identifiable cause, and may lead to great personal suffering. Chronic pain may be noncancerous (nonmalignant) or cancerous.

Front 847

cutaneous stimulation

Back 847

Stimulation of a person's skin to prevent or reduce pain perception. A massage, warm bath, application of liniment, hot and cold therapies, and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation are some ways to reduce pain perception.

Front 848

drug tolerance

Back 848

A state of adaptation in which exposure to a drug induces changes that result in diminution of one or more of the drug's effects over time.

Front 849

epidural space

Back 849

Where the epidural analgesia is administered.

Front 850

guided imagery

Back 850

Method of pain control in which the client creates a mental image, concentrates on that image, and gradually becomes less aware of pain.

Front 851

idiopathic pain

Back 851

Pain in the absence of an identifiable physical or psychological cause or pain perceived as excessive for the extent of organic pathological condition.

Front 852

modulation

Back 852

Alteration in the magnitude or any variation in the duration of an electrical current.

Front 853

nociceptor

Back 853

Somatic and visceral free nerve endings of thinly myelinated and unmyelinated fibers; these fibers usually react to tissue injury but may also be excited by endogenous chemical substances.

Front 854

nutrients

Back 854

Foods that contain elements necessary for body function, including water, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.

Front 855

opioid

Back 855

Pertaining to natural and synthetic chemicals that have opium-like effects although they are not derived from opium.

Front 856

pain

Back 856

"An unpleasant, subjective sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage." (International Association for the Study of Pain, 1979)

Front 857

pain threshold

Back 857

The point at which a person feels pain.

Front 858

pain tolerance

Back 858

The level of pain that a person is willing to put up with.

Front 859

patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)

Back 859

Drug delivery system that allows clients to self-administer analgesic medications as desired.

Front 860

physical dependence

Back 860

A state of adaptation that is manifested by a drug class specific withdrawal syndrome that can be produced by abrupt cessation, rapid dose reduction, decreasing blood level or the drug, and/or administration of an antagonist.

Front 861

placebo

Back 861

Inert substance with no active ingredient.

Front 862

prostaglandins

Back 862

Potent hormonelike substances that act in exceedingly low doses on target organs; they can be used to treat asthma and gastric hyperacidity.

Front 863

pruritus

Back 863

Symptom of itching.

Front 864

pseudoaddiction

Back 864

Patient behaviors (drug seeking) that may occur when pain is undertreated.

Front 865

pseudotolerance

Back 865

The need to increase opioid dose for reasons other than opioid tolerance: progression of disease, onset of new disorder, increased physical activity, lack of adherence, change in opioid formulation, drug-drug interaction, drug-food interaction (Wall and Melzack, 1999).

Front 866

responsibility

Back 866

Duty associated with a particular role.

Front 867

standard of care

Back 867

Minimum level of care accepted to ensure high quality of care to clients. Standards of care define the types of therapies typically administered to clients with defined problems or needs.

Front 868

transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

Back 868

Technique in which a battery-powered device blocks pain impulses from reaching the spinal cord by delivering weak electrical pulses directly to the skin's surface.

Front 869

transduction

Back 869

Process that begins in the periphery when a pain-producing stimulus sends an impulse across a peripheral nerve fiber.

Front 870

transmission

Back 870

Transfer or conveyance of a thing or condition.

Front 871

analgesics

Back 871

Medications that provide pain relief

Front 872

epidural anesthesia

Back 872

Pain management via the epidural space

Front 873

perineural infusion

Back 873

An unsutured catheter from a surgical wound placed near a nerve or groups of nerves connects to a pump containing a local anesthetic

Front 874

amino acids

Back 874

Building blocks that construct proteins; the end products of protein digestion.

Front 875

anabolism

Back 875

Constructive metabolism characterized by conversion of simple substances into more complex compounds of living matter.

Front 876

anorexia

Back 876

Condition in which ill or debilitated clients have poor appetites.

Front 877

anorexia nervosa

Back 877

Disease characterized by a prolonged refusal to eat, resulting in emaciation, amenorrhea, emotional disturbance concerning body image, and an abnormal fear of becoming obese.

Front 878

body mass index (BMI)

Back 878

Measurement of weight, corrected for height, which serves as an alternative to traditional height-weight relationships.

Front 879

bulimia nervosa

Back 879

Insatiable craving for fond, often resulting in episodes of continuous eating that are followed by purging, depression, and self-deprivation.

Front 880

carbohydrate

Back 880

Dietary classification of food such as sugars, starches, cellulose, and gum.

Front 881

catabolism

Back 881

Complex metabolic process in which energy is liberated for use in work, energy, storage, or heat production by oxidation of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins; carbon dioxide and water, as well as energy, are produced.

Front 882

consultations

Back 882

Process in which the help of a specialist is sought to identify ways to handle problems in client management or in the planning and implementation of programs.

Front 883

critical pathway

Back 883

Tool used in managed care that incorporates the treatment interventions of caregivers from all disciplines who normally care for a client. Designed for a specific case type, a pathway is used to manage the care of a client throughout a projected length of stay.

Front 884

daily values

Back 884

Set of dietary standards for eight nutrients and food categories.

Front 885

depression

Back 885

Mood disturbance characterized by feelings of sadness and discouragement resulting from and abnormally proportionate to some personal loss or tragedy.

Front 886

dietary reference intakes (DRIs)

Back 886

Format presenting a range of acceptable intake in place of absolute values.

Front 887

dysphagia

Back 887

Difficulty swallowing.

Front 888

enteral nutrition (EN)

Back 888

Provision of nutrients through the gastrointestinal tract when the client cannot ingest, chew, or swallow food but can digest and absorb nutrients.

Front 889

enzymes

Back 889

Proteins produced by living cells that catalyze chemical reactions in organic matter.

Front 890

fat-soluble vitamins

Back 890

Organic compounds essential for normal physiological and metabolic functioning; classified on the basis of their fat solubility.

Front 891

fatty acids

Back 891

Nutrients composed of chains of carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms with an acid group on one end of the chain and a methyl group at the other.

Front 892

gluconeogenesis

Back 892

Formation of glucose or glycogen from substances that are not carbohydrates, such as proteins or lipids.

Front 893

glycogenesis

Back 893

Anabolism of glucose into glycogen for storage.

Front 894

glycogenolysis

Back 894

Catabolism of glycogen into glucose, carbon dioxide, and water.

Front 895

hypervitaminosis

Back 895

Condition caused by excessive intake of a vitamin; less likely to occur with water-soluble vitamins.

Front 896

ideal body weight (IBW)

Back 896

Estimate of what a person should weigh.

Front 897

Kardex

Back 897

Trade name for card-filing system that allows for quick reference to the particular need of the client for certain aspects of nursing care.

Front 898

ketone

Back 898

Organic chemical compound characterized by having in its structure a carbonyl, or keto, group, =CO, attached to two alkyl groups.

Front 899

lipid

Back 899

Any of the free fatty acid fractions in the blood.

Front 900

lipid emulsions

Back 900

Soybean- or safflower-oil-based solutions that are isotonic and that may be infused with amino acid and dextrose solution through a central or peripheral line.

Front 901

macromineral

Back 901

Minerals classified as having a daily requirement of 100 mg or more.

Front 902

malabsorption

Back 902

Set of symptoms resulting from disorders in the intestinal absorption of nutrients; characterized by anorexia, weight loss, bloating of the abdomen, and muscle cramps.

Front 903

medical nutrition therapy (MNT)

Back 903

Use of specific nutritional therapies to treat an illness, injury, or condition.

Front 904

metabolism

Back 904

Aggregate of all chemical processes that take place in living organisms, resulting in growth, generation of energy, elimination of wastes, and other functions concerned with the distribution of nutrients in the blood after digestion.

Front 905

minerals

Back 905

Inorganic elements essential to the body because of their role as catalysts in biochemical reactions.

Front 906

monosaturated (fatty acids)

Back 906

Fatty acids that have one carbon bond.

Front 907

nitrogen balance

Back 907

Relationship between the nitrogen taken into the body, usually as food, and the nitrogen excreted from the body in urine and feces. Most of the body's nitrogen is incorporated into protein.

Front 908

nutrient density

Back 908

Proportion of essential nutrients to the number of calories of a specific food.

Front 909

parenteral nutrition (PN)

Back 909

Administration of nutrition into the vascular system.

Front 910

polyunsaturated (fatty acids)

Back 910

Fatty acids that have two or more carbon double bonds.

Front 911

resting energy expenditure (REE)

Back 911

Measurement that accounts for BMR plus energy to digest meals and perform mild activity.

Front 912

saccharide

Back 912

Within carbohydrates, a classification of sugars.

Front 913

saturated (fatty acids)

Back 913

Fatty acids in which each carbon in the chain has an attached hydrogen atom.

Front 914

simple carbohydrates

Back 914

Monosaccharides and disaccharides, found primarily in sugars.

Front 915

trace elements

Back 915

Minerals when less than 100 mg is needed daily; microminerals.

Front 916

triglycerides

Back 916

Circulate in the blood and are made up of three fatty acids attached to a glycerol.

Front 917

unsaturated (fatty acids)

Back 917

Fatty acids in which an unequal number of hydrogen atoms are attached and the carbon atoms attach to each other with a double bond.

Front 918

vegetarianism

Back 918

Consumption of a diet consisting predominantly of plant foods.

Front 919

vitamins

Back 919

Organic compounds essential in small quantities for normal physiological and metabolic functioning of the body. With few exceptions, vitamins cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained from the diet or dietary supplements.

Front 920

water-soluble vitamins

Back 920

Vitamins that cannot be stored in the body and must be provided in the daily food intake, such as vitamin C and B complex.

Front 921

anthopometry

Back 921

A measurement system of the size and makeup of the body, including height and weight, BMI and other objective data showing the body's construction.

Front 922

dispensable amino acids

Back 922

Amino acids that the body synthesizes

Front 923

indispensible amino acids

Back 923

Amino acids that the body cannot synthesize

Front 924

kilocalorie (kcal)

Back 924

Measurement of heat that is equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree at one atmosphere pressure; used by nutritionists to characterize the energy-producing potential in food

Front 925

anuria

Back 925

Cessation of urine production.

Front 926

bacteriuria

Back 926

Presence of bacteria in the urine.

Front 927

catheterization

Back 927

Introduction of a catheter into a body cavity or organ to inject or remove fluid.

Front 928

colitis

Back 928

Inflammatory condition of the large intestine.

Front 929

colostomy

Back 929

Surgical formation of an opening of the colon onto the surface of the abdomen through which fecal matter is emptied.

Front 930

constipation

Back 930

Condition characterized by difficulty in passing stool or an infrequent passage of hard stool.

Front 931

Crohn's disease

Back 931

Disease involving inflammation of the small intestine.

Front 932

cystitis

Back 932

Inflammation of the urinary bladder characterized by pain, urgency, and frequency of urination.

Front 933

defecation

Back 933

Passage of feces from the digestive tract through the rectum.

Front 934

diarrhea

Back 934

Increase in the number of stools and the passage of liquid, unformed feces.

Front 935

diuresis

Back 935

Increased formation and excretion of urine.

Front 936

dysuria

Back 936

Painful urination resulting from bacterial infection of the bladder and obstructive conditions of the urethra.

Front 937

effluent

Back 937

A liquid, solid, or gaseous discharge from the ostomy. Usually composed of fecal material.

Front 938

endoscopy

Back 938

Visualization of the interior of body organs and cavities with an endoscope.

Front 939

enema

Back 939

Procedure involving introduction of a solution into the rectum for cleansing or therapeutic purposes.

Front 940

enterostomal therapist

Back 940

Nurse that is specially trained in the treatment of clients with ostomies.

Front 941

erythropoietin

Back 941

Glycoprotein hormone synthesized mainly in the kidneys and released into the bloodstream in response to anoxia.

Front 942

flatulence

Back 942

Condition characterized by the accumulation of gas within the lumen of the intestines.

Front 943

hematuria

Back 943

Abnormal presence of blood in the urine.

Front 944

ileostomy

Back 944

Surgical formation of an opening of the ileum onto the surface of the abdomen through which fecal matter is emptied.

Front 945

impaction

Back 945

Presence of large or hard fecal mass in the rectum or colon.

Front 946

incontinence

Back 946

Inability to control urination.

Front 947

ketonuria

Back 947

Presence in the urine of excessive amounts of ketone bodies (products of fat metabolism), such as occurs in diabetes mellitus.

Front 948

lactose intolerance

Back 948

Gastric disorder in which some foods, such as milk and milk products, are difficult or impossible to digest.

Front 949

laxative

Back 949

Drug that acts to promote bowel evacuation.

Front 950

masticate

Back 950

To chew or tear food with the teeth while it becomes mixed with saliva.

Front 951

meatus

Back 951

Opening through any part of the body (e.g., the urethral meatus).

Front 952

micturition

Back 952

Urination; act of passing or expelling urine voluntarily through the urethra.

Front 953

nephron

Back 953

Structural and functional unit of the kidney that contains a renal glomerulus and tubule.

Front 954

nephrostomy

Back 954

Surgical procedure in which an incision is made on the flank of the client so that a catheter can be inserted into the kidney pelvis for the purpose of drainage.

Front 955

oliguria

Back 955

Diminished capacity to form and pass urine.

Front 956

pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercises)

Back 956

Exercises that improve the strength of pelvic floor muscles and consist of repetitive contractions of muscle groups.

Front 957

polyuria

Back 957

Excretion of an abnormally large volume of urine.

Front 958

proteinuria

Back 958

Presence in the urine of abnormally large quantities of protein, usually albumin. Persistent proteinuria is usually a sign of renal disease, renal complications of another disease, hypertension, or heart failure.

Front 959

pyelonephritis

Back 959

Infection that spreads in the kidneys and causes flank pain, tenderness, low-grade fever, and chills.

Front 960

renal replacement therapies

Back 960

Treatments designed to carry out kidney function. Currently two methods of renal replacement exist: dialysis (peritoneal and hemodialysis) and organ transplantation.

Front 961

residual urine

Back 961

Volume of urine remaining in the bladder after a normal voiding; the bladder normally is almost completely empty after micturition.

Front 962

specific gravity

Back 962

Measurement of the degree of concentration of a liquid.

Front 963

uremic syndrome

Back 963

Symptoms characterized by the presence of urinary constituents in the blood and altered regulatory functions causing marked fluid and electrolyte abnormalities, nausea, vomiting, headache, coma, or convulsions.

Front 964

urinalysis

Back 964

Routine laboratory testing on a voided urine specimen.

Front 965

urinary diversion

Back 965

Surgically created diversion of the ureter to the abdominal wall for the drainage of urine after removal of a diseased bladder.

Front 966

urinary frequency

Back 966

Symptom involving increased voiding.

Front 967

urinary incontinence

Back 967

Inability to control urination.

Front 968

urinary retention

Back 968

Retention of urine in the bladder; condition frequently caused by a temporary loss of muscle function.

Front 969

urosepsis

Back 969

Condition caused by bacteria in the urine that may lead to the spread of organisms into the bloodstream or kidneys.

Front 970

Valsalva maneuver

Back 970

Any forced expiratory effort against a closed airway, as when an individual holds the breath and tightens the muscles in a concerted, strenuous effort to move a heavy object or to change positions in bed.

Front 971

bolus

Back 971

Round mass of chewed food ready to be swallowed.

Front 972

bowel training

Back 972

Program of exercises through which the client gains control of bowel reflexes by setting up a daily routine, attempting to defecate at the same time each day, and using measures that promote defecation.

Front 973

joint contracture

Back 973

Abnormal and usually permanent condition of a joint, characterized by flexion and fixation and caused by disuse, atrophy, and shortening of muscle fibers.

Front 974

quality improvement

Back 974

Monitoring and evaluation of processes and outcomes in health care or any other business to identify opportunities for improvement.

Front 975

zygote

Back 975

Fertilized ovum created by the joining of the mother's ovum and father's sperm.

Front 976

cathartics

Back 976

Used to soften the stool and promote peristalsis.

Front 977

Clostridium difficile

Back 977

Infection that causes diarrhea and is acquired one of two ways, either by receiving antibiotics or procedures that normal bowel flora and cause on overgrowth of C. difficile or by contamination from health care worker's hands or direct contact with the environmental surfaces contaminated with C. difficile.

Front 978

flatulence

Back 978

Accumulation of gas in the bowel, causing the bowel wall to stretch and distend.

Front 979

laxatives

Back 979

Used to soften the stool and promote peristalsis; milder than a cathartic

Front 980

segmentation

Back 980

The small and large intestine are built of individually innervated and muscled sections called segments that work in concert to provide peristaltic movement.

Front 981

anthropometric measurements

Back 981

Measures of height, weight, and skinfold thickness to evaluate muscle atrophy.

Front 982

body alignment

Back 982

The individual's center of gravity is stable, and body strain is minimized.

Front 983

concentric tension

Back 983

Increased muscle contraction resulting in muscle shortening with movement resulting.

Front 984

disuse osteoporosis

Back 984

A decline is bone density that is associated with impaired mobility or immobilization of an extremity because of fracture, paralysis, or bone or joint inflammation.

Front 985

eccentric tension

Back 985

Tension that helps control the speed and direction of movement.

Front 986

embolus

Back 986

A foreign object, a quantity of air or gas, a bit of tissue or tumor, or a piece of thrombus that circulates in the bloodstream until it becomes lodged in a vessel.

Front 987

flat bones

Back 987

Bones providing for structural contours of the skeleton.

Front 988

footdrop

Back 988

Abnormal neuromuscular condition of the lower leg and foot characterized by an inability to dorsiflex or evert the foot.

Front 989

fracture

Back 989

Breakage of bone caused by violence to the body; disruption of bone tissue continuity.

Front 990

gait belt

Back 990

Leather belt that encircles the waist and has handles attached for the nurse to hold.

Front 991

hypostatic pneumonia

Back 991

Inflammation of the lung from stasis or pooling of secretion.

Front 992

irregular bones

Back 992

Bones of the vertebral column and some bones of the skull.

Front 993

leverage

Back 993

Inducing or compelling force.

Front 994

long bones

Back 994

Bones that contribute to the height of a person, to the length of an extremity such as the arm, or to the length of a portion of an extremity such as the hand.

Front 995

muscle atrophy

Back 995

Loss of muscle tissue.

Front 996

negative nitrogen balance

Back 996

Condition occurring when the body excretes more nitrogen than it takes in.

Front 997

pathological fractures

Back 997

Fractures resulting from weakened bone tissue; frequently caused by osteoporosis or neoplasms.

Front 998

short bones

Back 998

Bone clusters that when combined with ligaments and cartilage permit movement of the extremities.

Front 999

suture

Back 999

Surgical stitch applied to repair an incision or wound.

Front 1000

synostotic joint

Back 1000

Joint type that occurs when bones are jointed by bones. No movement is associated with this type of joint, and the bony tissue that forms between the bones provides strength and stability.

Front 1001

thrombus

Back 1001

Accumulation of platelets, fibrin, clotting factors, and the cellular elements of the blood attached to the interior wall of a vein or artery, sometimes occluding the lumen of the vessel.

Front 1002

trapeze bar

Back 1002

Metal triangular-shaped bar that can be suspended over a client's bed from an overhanging frame; permits clients to move up and down in bed while in traction or some other encumbrance.

Front 1003

trochanter roll

Back 1003

Rolled towel support placed against the hips and upper leg to prevent external rotation of the legs.

Front 1004

unossified

Back 1004

Not hardened, soft.

Front 1005

urinary stasis

Back 1005

Filling of the renal pelvis before urine enters the ureters.

Front 1006

logroll

Back 1006

Rolling a client with a neck or spine injury as a unit so that the head and the hips all roll as a single unit.

Front 1007

abnormal reactive hyperemia

Back 1007

Hyperemia over a pressure site lasting longer than 1 hour after the removal of pressure; surrounding skin does not blanch.

Front 1008

abrasion

Back 1008

Scraping or rubbing away of epidermis; may result in localized bleeding and later weeping of serous fluid.

Front 1009

blanching

Back 1009

Whitening of the skin from pressure, vasoconstriction, or hypotension.

Front 1010

collagen

Back 1010

Substance that combines to form the white, glistening, inelastic fibers of tendons, ligaments, and fasciae.

Front 1011

darkly pigmented skin

Back 1011

Obvious color of intact dark skin that remains unchanged (does not blanch) when pressure is applied over a bony prominence, irrespective of the client's race or ethnicity.

Front 1012

debridement

Back 1012

Removal of dead tissue from a wound.

Front 1013

drainage evacuators

Back 1013

Convenient portable units that connect to tubular drains lying within a wound bed and exert a safe, constant, low-pressure vacuum to remove and collect drainage.

Front 1014

epithelialization

Back 1014

Stage of wound healing that is characterized by growth of epithelial tissue.

Front 1015

eschar

Back 1015

Scab or dry crust that results from excoriation of the skin.

Front 1016

evisceration

Back 1016

Protrusion of visceral organs through a surgical wound.

Front 1017

fibrin

Back 1017

Protein product formed from the action of thrombin on fibrinogen in the clotting process.

Front 1018

fistula

Back 1018

Abnormal passage from an internal organ to the body surface or between two internal organs.

Front 1019

hematoma

Back 1019

Collection of blood trapped in the tissues of the skin or an organ.

Front 1020

hemorrhage

Back 1020

External or internal loss of a large amount of blood in a short period of time.

Front 1021

hemostasis

Back 1021

Termination of bleeding by mechanical or chemical means or by the coagulation process of the body.

Front 1022

induration

Back 1022

Hardening of a tissue, particularly skin, because of edema or inflammation.

Front 1023

kinesthesia

Back 1023

Perception of position of body parts, weight, and movement.

Front 1024

laceration

Back 1024

Torn, jagged wound.

Front 1025

normal reactive hyperemia

Back 1025

Hyperemia over a pressure site that lasts 1 hour or less after the removal of pressure; surrounding skin does blanch.

Front 1026

puncture

Back 1026

Wound made by piercing the skin.

Front 1027

secondary intention

Back 1027

Wound closure in which the edges are separated, granulation tissue develops to fill the gap, and finally epithelium grows in over the granulation, producing a larger scar than results with healing by primary intention.

Front 1028

serosanguineous

Back 1028

Containing both serum and blood.

Front 1029

shearing force

Back 1029

Friction exerted when a person is moved or repositioned in bed by being pulled or allowed to slide down in bed.

Front 1030

slough

Back 1030

Shedding off of dead tissue cells.

Front 1031

tissue ischemia

Back 1031

Point at which tissues receive insufficient oxygen and perfusion.

Front 1032

wound

Back 1032

Disruption of normal anatomical structure and function that results from pathological processes beginning internally or externally to the involved organ(s).

Front 1033

wound contraction

Back 1033

Process that involves movement of the dermis and epidermis on each side of the wound.

Front 1034

approximated

Back 1034

Wound edges are closed

Front 1035

sutures

Back 1035

Wound closing similar to sewing

Front 1036

Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN)

Back 1036

Organization formed in 1956 to gain knowledge of surgical principles and explore surgical methods to improve nursing care of surgical patients.

Front 1037

auditory

Back 1037

Related to or experienced through the sense of hearing.

Front 1038

case management

Back 1038

Model of care; the case manager advises nursing staff on specific nursing care issues, coordinates the referral of clients to services provided by other disciplines, ensures that client education has been implemented, and monitors the client's progress through discharge.

Front 1039

circulating nurse

Back 1039

Assistant to the scrub nurse and surgeon whose role is to provide necessary supplies, dispose of soiled instruments and supplies, and keep an accurate count of instruments, needles, and sponges used.

Front 1040

conductive hearing loss

Back 1040

Form of hearing loss in which sound is inadequately conducted through the external or middle ear to the sensorineural apparatus of the inner ear.

Front 1041

conscious sedation

Back 1041

Administration of central nervous system depressant drugs and/or analgesics to supplement topical, local, or regional anesthesia during surgical or diagnostic procedures.

Front 1042

convalescence

Back 1042

Period of recovery after an illness, injury, or surgery.

Front 1043

dermatome

Back 1043

Area on the surface of a body innervated by afferent fibers from one spinal root.

Front 1044

expressive aphasia

Back 1044

Inability to name common objects or to express simple ideas in words or writing.

Front 1045

general anesthesia

Back 1045

Intravenous or inhaled medications that cause the client to lose all sensation and consciousness.

Front 1046

gustatory

Back 1046

Pertaining to the sense of taste.

Front 1047

hyperesthesia

Back 1047

Extreme sensitivity of one of the body's sense organs, such as the pain or touch receptors in the skin.

Front 1048

incident reports

Back 1048

Tools used in risk management to report an accident or a deviation from policies or prescribed orders involving clients, employees, or visitors.

Front 1049

kinesthetic

Back 1049

A sense that enables a person to be aware of the position and movement of body parts without seeing them.

Front 1050

latex sensitivity

Back 1050

An allergy to latex and products containing latex.

Front 1051

moribund

Back 1051

Near death or in the process of dying.

Front 1052

nosocomial infection

Back 1052

Infection acquired during hospitalization or during a stay in a health care facility.

Front 1053

perioperative nursing

Back 1053

Refers to the role of the operating room nurse during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases of surgery.

Front 1054

pharmacokinetics

Back 1054

Study of how drugs enter the body, reach their site of action, are metabolized, and exit from the body.

Front 1055

polypharmacy

Back 1055

Use of a number of different drugs by a patient who may have one or several health problems.

Front 1056

postanesthesia recovery score (PARS)

Back 1056

Score that measures various criteria, including oxygen saturation, level of consciousness, circulation, activity, and respiration.

Front 1057

postanesthesia recovery score for ambulatory patients (PARSAP)

Back 1057

Score that includes five more areas of assessment than the PARS; includes the condition of the dressing, the intensity and location of pain, the ability to stand and ambulate, tolerance of oral fluids and/or food, and the ability to urinate spontaneously.

Front 1058

preoperative teaching

Back 1058

Ensured by knowledge pertaining to adult learning principles, coupled with the client's unique needs.

Front 1059

proprioceptive

Back 1059

The ability to respond to stimuli originating from within the body regarding spatial position or movement.

Front 1060

receptive aphasia

Back 1060

Abnormal neurological condition in which language function is defective because of an injury to certain areas of the cerebral cortex; specifically, language is not understood.

Front 1061

refractive error

Back 1061

Defect in the ability of the lens of the eye to focus light, such as occurs in nearsightedness and farsightedness.

Front 1062

scrub nurse

Back 1062

Registered nurse or operating room technician who assists surgeons during operations.

Front 1063

sensory deficit

Back 1063

Defect in the function of one or more of the senses, resulting in visual, auditory, or olfactory impairments.

Front 1064

sensory deprivation

Back 1064

State in which stimulation to one or more of the senses is lacking, resulting in impaired sensory perception.

Front 1065

sensory overload

Back 1065

Condition in which the central nervous system receives much more auditory, visual, or other environmental stimuli per time frame than it can process effectively.

Front 1066

stereognosis

Back 1066

Ability to recognize objects by the sense of touch.

Front 1067

strabismus

Back 1067

Abnormal ocular condition in which the eyes are crossed.

Front 1068

tactile

Back 1068

Relating to the sense of touch.

Front 1069

delusion

Back 1069

False or pathologic belief

Front 1070

illusion

Back 1070

a distortion of a sensory perception

Front 1071

ambulatory surgery

Back 1071

Scheduled outpatient procedures provided for clients who do not remain overnight in a hospital.

Front 1072

bariatrics

Back 1072

Field of medicine that focuses on the treatment and control of obesity and diseases associated with obesity.

Front 1073

cholecystectomy

Back 1073

Surgical removal of the gallbladder.

Front 1074

Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN)

Back 1074

National association for professional surgical nurses

Front 1075

primary intention

Back 1075

Primary union of the edges of a wound that progresses to complete scar formation without granulation.

Front 1076

activities of daily living (ADLs)

Back 1076

Activities usually performed in the course of a normal day in the client's life, such as eating, dressing, bathing, brushing the teeth, and grooming.

Front 1077

Nurse Practice Acts

Back 1077

Statutes enacted by the legislature of any state that delineate the legal scope of the practice of nursing within the geographical boundaries of the jurisdiction.

Front 1078

environment

Back 1078

Physical circumstances in which a person works or lives; can increase the likelihood that certain illnesses will occur (e.g. some kinds of cancer and other diseases are more likely to develop when industrial workers are exposed to certain chemicals or when people live near toxic waste disposal sites).

Front 1079

sterilization

Back 1079

Rendering a person unable to produce children; accomplished by surgical, chemical, or other means.

Front 1080

pulse deficit

Back 1080

Condition that exists when the radial pulse is less than the ventricular rate as auscultated at the apex or seen on an electrocardiogram; indicates a lack of peripheral perfusion for some of the heart contractions.

Front 1081

instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)

Back 1081

Activities that are required for an individual to be independent in society beyond eating, grooming, transferring, and toileting; these activities include writing a check, buying groceries, and preparing food.

Front 1082

autonomy

Back 1082

Ability or tendency to function independently.

Front 1083

perception

Back 1083

Person's mental image or concept of elements in the environment, including information gained through the senses.

Front 1084

hypothermia

Back 1084

Abnormal lowering of body temperature below 95° F (35° C), usually caused by prolonged exposure to cold.

Front 1085

stroke volume

Back 1085

Amount of blood ejected by the ventricle during a ventricular contraction.

Front 1086

ventilation

Back 1086

Respiratory process by which gases are moved into and out of the lungs.

Front 1087

alopecia

Back 1087

Partial or complete loss of hair; baldness.

Front 1088

cardiac output

Back 1088

Volume of blood expelled by the ventricles of the heart; equal to the amount of blood ejected at each beat (the stroke output) multiplied by the number of beats in the period of time used in the computation.

Front 1089

caries

Back 1089

Abnormal condition of a tooth, characterized by decay.

Front 1090

cerumen

Back 1090

A yellow, waxy substance produced by sweat glands in the external ear canal. This is normal.

Front 1091

local anesthesia

Back 1091

Loss of sensation at the desired site of action.

Front 1092

pathogen

Back 1092

Any microorganism capable of producing disease.

Front 1093

cyanosis

Back 1093

Bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by deoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood or a structural defect in hemoglobin.

Front 1094

orthopnea

Back 1094

Abnormal respiratory symptom in which a person must sit or stand to breathe deeply or comfortably.

Front 1095

phlebitis

Back 1095

Inflammation of a vein.

Front 1096

basal metabolic rate (BMR)

Back 1096

Amount of energy used in a unit of time by a fasting, resting subject to maintain vital functions.

Front 1097

solution

Back 1097

Mixture of one or more substances dissolved in another substance. The molecules of each of the substances disperse homogeneously and do not change chemically. A solution may be a liquid, gas, or solid.

Front 1098

excoriation

Back 1098

Injury to the skin's surface caused by abrasion.

Front 1099

hemorrhoid

Back 1099

Permanent dilation and engorgement of a vein within the lining of the rectum.

Front 1100

polyps

Back 1100

Small tumorlike growths that projects from a mucous membrane surface.

Front 1101

relaxation

Back 1101

Relief from work or stress that leaves one feeling relaxed or less tense.

Front 1102

biofeedback

Back 1102

Behavioral therapy that involves giving individuals information about physiological responses (such as blood pressure or tension) and ways to exercise voluntary control over those responses.

Front 1103

orthostatic hypotension

Back 1103

Drop in systolic blood pressure of 15 mm Hg or more when a person rises from a recumbent position to a sitting or standing position.

Front 1104

informed consent

Back 1104

Process of obtaining permission from a client to perform a specific test or procedure after describing all risks, side effects, and benefits.

Front 1105

osteoporosis

Back 1105

Disorder characterized by abnormal rarefaction of bone, occurring most frequently in postmenopausal women, in sedentary or immobilized individuals, and in clients on long-term steroid therapy.

Front 1106

aphasia

Back 1106

Neurological disorder influencing the production and understanding of language.

Front 1107

diffusion

Back 1107

Movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Front 1108

hypovolemia

Back 1108

Decreased circulatory blood volume resulting from extracellular fluid losses.

Front 1109

malignant hyperthermia

Back 1109

Autosomal dominant trait characterized by often fatal hyperthermia in affected people exposed to certain anesthetic agents.

Front 1110

exudates

Back 1110

Fluid, cells, or other substances that have been slowly discharged from cells or blood vessels through small pores or breaks in cell membranes.

Front 1111

granulation tissue

Back 1111

Soft, pink, fleshy projections of tissue that form during the healing process in a wound that is not healing by primary intention.

Front 1112

purulent

Back 1112

Producing or containing pus.

Front 1113

sanguineous

Back 1113

Fluid containing red blood cells.

Front 1114

serous

Back 1114

A clear (like plasma) fluid that forms an exudate at the site of an inflammation.

Front 1115

body mechanics

Back 1115

Coordinated efforts of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems to maintain proper balance, posture, and body alignment.

Front 1116

activity tolerance

Back 1116

Type and amount of exercise or work that a person is able to perform.

Front 1117

cartilage

Back 1117

Nonvascular, supporting connective tissue located mainly in the joints and in the thorax, trachea, larynx, nose, and ear.

Front 1118

cartilaginous joint

Back 1118

Slightly moveable, highly elastic cartilage that unites bony surfaces.

Front 1119

exercise

Back 1119

Performance of any physical activity for the purpose of conditioning the body, improving health, maintaining fitness, or as a therapeutic measure.

Front 1120

fibrous joint

Back 1120

Tough layer of fibrous connective tissue that binds bones firmly together.

Front 1121

gait

Back 1121

Manner or style of walking, including rhythm, cadence, and speed.

Front 1122

hemiparesis

Back 1122

Muscular weakness of one half of the body.

Front 1123

hemiplegia

Back 1123

Paralysis of one side of the body.

Front 1124

immobility

Back 1124

Inability to move about freely; caused by any condition in which movement is impaired or therapeutically restricted.

Front 1125

isometric contraction

Back 1125

Increased muscle tension without muscle shortening.

Front 1126

isotonic contraction

Back 1126

Increased muscle tension resulting in muscle contraction and muscle shortening.

Front 1127

joint

Back 1127

Connection between bones; classified according to structure and degree of mobility.

Front 1128

ligament

Back 1128

White, shiny, flexible band of fibrous tissues binding joints together and connecting various bones and cartilage.

Front 1129

mobility

Back 1129

Person's ability to move about freely.

Front 1130

muscle tone

Back 1130

Normal state of balanced muscle tension.

Front 1131

posture

Back 1131

Position of the body in relation to the surrounding space.

Front 1132

range of motion (ROM)

Back 1132

Range of movement of a joint, from maximum extension to maximum flexion, as measured in degrees of a circle.

Front 1133

synovial joints

Back 1133

True and freely moveable joints in which contiguous bony surfaces are covered by articular cartilage and are connected by ligaments lined with a synovial membrane.

Front 1134

tendons

Back 1134

White, glistening, strong, flexible, and inelastic fibrous bands of tissue that connect muscle to bone.

Front 1135

renin

Back 1135

Proteolytic enzyme produced by and stored in the juxtaglomerular apparatus that surrounds each arteriole as it enters a glomerulus. The enzyme affects the blood pressure by catalyzing the change of angiotensinogen to angiotensin, a strong repressor.

Front 1136

cations

Back 1136

Positively charged electrolytes.

Front 1137

rest

Back 1137

Feeling of mental relaxation and freedom from anxiety; physical calm.

Front 1138

chest physiotherapy (CPT)

Back 1138

Group of therapies used to mobilize pulmonary secretions.

Front 1139

nocturia

Back 1139

Urination at night; can be a symptom of renal disease or may occur in persons who drink excessive amounts of fluids before bedtime.

Front 1140

fiber

Back 1140

Nutrient that contains cellulose, pectin, hemicellulose, and lignin; sources are mainly fruits and vegetables.

Front 1141

chyme

Back 1141

Viscous, semifluid contents of the stomach present during digestion of a meal that eventually pass into the intestines.

Front 1142

neurotransmitter

Back 1142

Chemical that transfers an electrical impulse from the nerve fiber to the muscle fiber.

Front 1143

stoma

Back 1143

Artificially created opening between a body cavity and the body's surface (e.g., a colostomy) formed from a portion of the colon pulled through the abdominal wall.

Front 1144

bed rest

Back 1144

Placement of the client in bed for therapeutic reasons for a prescribed period.

Front 1145

regional anesthesia

Back 1145

Loss of sensation in an area of the body supplied by sensory nerve pathways.

Front 1146

pressure ulcer

Back 1146

Inflammation, sore, or ulcer in the skin over a bony prominence.

Front 1147

olfactory

Back 1147

Pertaining to the sense of smell.

Front 1148

otolaryngologist

Back 1148

Medical doctor whose practice is limited to diseases, conditions, and trauma to the ears.

Front 1149

ototoxic

Back 1149

Having a harmful effect on the eighth cranial (auditory) nerve or the organs of hearing and balance.

Front 1150

dehiscence

Back 1150

Separation of a wound's edges that reveals underlying tissues.

Front 1151

dysrhythmia

Back 1151

Heartbeat that deviates from the normal pattern.

Front 1152

edema

Back 1152

Abnormal accumulation of fluid in interstitial spaces of tissues.

Front 1153

peristalsis

Back 1153

Coordinated, rhythmic, serial contractions of smooth muscle that force food through the digestive tract.

Front 1154

paralytic ileus

Back 1154

Usually temporary paralysis of intestinal wall that may occur after abdominal surgery or peritoneal injury and that causes cessation of peristalsis; leads to abdominal distention and symptoms of obstruction.

Front 1155

friction

Back 1155

Effect of rubbing or the resistance that a moving body meets from the surface on which it moves; a force that occurs in a direction to oppose movement.

Front 1156

atelectasis

Back 1156

Collapse of alveoli, preventing the normal respiratory exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Front 1157

defining characteristics

Back 1157

Cluster of signs and symptoms that are observed in the client and that imply a specific nursing diagnosis.