Clinical Skills glossary of terms

Question 1

Blood pressure

Answer 1

The measurement of pressure within the heart.

Question 2

Stethoscope

Answer 2

Medical device to listen to internal sounds

Question 3

Radial

Answer 3

Pulse point on the wrist

Question 4

Brachial

Answer 4

pulse point on the inner arm

Question 5

Carotid

Answer 5

pulse point either side of the neck

Question 6

Dorsal

Answer 6

pulse point on the foot

Question 7

NEWS2 chart

Answer 7

National Early Warning Score – 2nd edition of national observation chart.

Question 8

Manual palpation

Answer 8

To feel with the hands/fingers

Question 9

Infection control

Answer 9

To prevent or stop the spread of infection

Question 10

Hypoxia

Answer 10

Low oxygen levels in the tissue

Question 11

Hypoxaemia

Answer 11

Low oxygen levels in the blood – Levels below 95%

Question 12

Hypertension

Answer 12

High blood pressure – reading of 140/90 or above

Question 13

Hypotension

Answer 13

Low blood pressure – reading of 90/60 or below

Question 14

Tachycardia

Answer 14

Fast pulse rate – reading of 100 beats per minute or above

Question 15

Bradycardia

Answer 15

Slow pulse rate – reading of 60 beats per minute or below

Question 16

Tachypnoea

Answer 16

Fast respiratory rate – reading of 20 respirations per minute or above

Question 17

Bradypnoea

Answer 17

Slow respiration rate – reading of less than 12 respirations or below.

Question 18

Hypothermia

Answer 18

Low core body temperature – 35.0 degrees Celsius or below

Question 19

Pyrexia

Answer 19

High core body temperature – 38.0 degrees Celsius or above

Question 20

Sphygmomanometer

Answer 20

Manual blood pressure device

Question 21

Hypoglycaemia

Answer 21

Low blood sugar level – reading of 4 millimoles per litre or below

Question 22

Hyperglycaemia

Answer 22

High blood sugar level – above 7 millimoles per litre before a meal, above 8.5 millimoles per litre 2 hours after a meal.

Question 23

CPR

Answer 23

Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation – Resuscitation of the heart and lungs.

Question 24

Chest compressions

Answer 24

Life saving first aid

Question 25

Resuscitation Council

Answer 25

Healthcare charity that focuses on life saving training

Question 26

Seizure

Answer 26

bursts of electrical activity in the brain that can cause involuntary jerking or convulsive movements of the body.

Question 27

Recovery position

Answer 27

a position used in first aid to avoid choking and to maintain the airway.

Question 28

Abdominal thrusts

Answer 28

An emergency technique to help clear someone’s airway.

Question 29

Obstructed airway

Answer 29

A blockage in any part of the airway.