Chapter 3: The Nursing Department and Medical Staff Flashcards
Acuity
Level of care patients would require on the basis of their medical condition; used to evaluate staffing needs.
Acute Care
Level of health care generally provided in the hospitals or emergency departments for sudden serious illness or trauma.
Assignment Sheet
A form completed at the beginning of each work shift that indicates the nursing staff member(s) assigned to each patient on that nursing unit.
Attending Physician
Term applied to a physician who admits and is responsible for a hospital patient.
Certified Nursing Assistant
A certified health care giver who performs basic nursing tasks.
Chronic
Long lasting: describes an illness or medical condition that lasts over a long period and sometimes causes a long-term change in the body.
Clinical Pathway
A method of outlining a patient’s path of treatment for a specific diagnosis, procedure, or symptom.
Hospitalists
Full-time, acute care specialist who focuses exclusively on hospitalized patients.
Inpatient
Patient to receive medical or surgical care whose doctor has written an admission order.
Interdisciplinary team (Multi-disciplinary)
Well-coordinated collaboration among health care professionals toward a common goal. (Improved, efficient patient care)
Licensed Practical Nurse
Provides direct care under the direction of the registered nurse.
Nurse Manager
An RN who assists the director of nursing in carrying out administrative responsibilities and is in charge of one or more nursing units. May also be called unit manager, clinical manager, or patient care manager.
Outpatient
A patient receiving medical or surgical care while registered as an outpatient and whose doctor has not written an admission order.
Perioperative Services
Department of the hospital that provides care before, during, and after surgery. It encompasses total care of the patient during the surgical experience.
Registered Nurse
A licensed nurse who may provide direct patient care or supervise patient care given by others.
