End of Life Vocabulary Flashcards
Aware
To be conscious or aware, to understand what is going on around you.
Responsive
The ability to react (or respond) to a stimulus (ex. pain).
Serious Condition
Generally means the patient is acutely ill and the outcome is questionable.
Critical Condition
Generally means that the patient’s vital signs are not stable. Patient is often in an intensive care unit and death may be imminent.
Life Support
Any technique used to maintain life after one or more vital organs fail.
Can be secondary to many causes, such as trauma, infection, cancer or other chronic disease.
Ex. Dialysis, mechanical ventilation, certain medications and nutritional support.
Intubated
A patient has a breathing tube in his or her windpipe either to protect the airway or help the patient breathe.
If patient needs assistance in breathing, they are often connected to a mechanical ventilator.
Ventilator
A machine that supports breathing.
Resuscitation
Used as a part of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR. CPR is the life saving technique used when someone’s heart has stopped beating or the person has stopped breathing.
Generally involves chest compressions, assistance with breathing and often medication to help support blood flow to organs.
Advance Directive
Written instructions regarding personal medical care preferences.
Can include a living will, designation of medical power of attorney and preference regarding resuscitation.
Used when patients are unable to make their own health care decisions.
Living Will
A written legal document that details the types of medical treatments and life sustaining measures that a patient would want or doesn’t want.
Usually includes instructions regarding mechanical ventilation, feeding tubes and resuscitation.
Coma
A state of prolonged unconsciousness that can be caused by a variety of problems.
Patients during this time are not aware of their environment, and they are not able to be aroused ( this state is different from a persistent vegetative state where they can be aroused).
Persistent Vegetative State
A patient in this state can have a state of wakefulness but they are not aware. It is usually secondary to a significant brain injury from prolonged lack of oxygen to the brain. It can be seen as a person transitions between coma and recovery or between coma and death.
Brain-Dead
A patient is brain-dead when all brain and brain stem functions permanetly cease. The patient cannot breath on his or her own. Once the patient is declared brain-dead, the person is legally dead.
Brain Stem
A part of the brain that controls heartbeat and respiration.
