General Patient Care Flashcards
Active listening
Using techniques that allow the receiver to fully understand the message being communicated
Open ended questions
Questions that lead to further explanation
Restatement
Repeating or paraphrasing information relayed by the sender to confirm accuracy
Reflexion
When the receiver focuses on the main idea of the message but incorporates feelings the sender might be exhibiting or possibly feeling
Clarification
Summarizing the information relayed by the sender to clear up any confusion
Nonverbal communication
Gestures and actions that leave interpretation up to he receiver
Empathy
Displaying an understanding of what the patient might be experiencing by imagining the experience is happening personally
Sympathy
Feeling compassion, sorrow, or pity for the hardships that another person encounters
Chief complaint
Reason for the office visit
Subjective information
Information that is personal or what someone is feeling
Anaphylaxis
Life-threatening allergic reaction that leads to circulatory collapse, shock, and death if left untreated
Objective information
Information collected that is observed by someone other than the patient
Audiometry
Test to determine level of hearing
Visual acuity testing
Use of tools such as a Snellen chart to screen for visual impairments
Urinalysis
Screening tool that evaluates the urine for the presence of dissolved substances and assists with diagnosis of medical conditions
Anthropomeric measurements
Screening tests that include height and weight (as well as head circumference in infants)
Vital signs
Also known as cardinal signs; includes temperature, heart rate, respirations, and blood pressure measurements; used to evaluate homeostasis
Denver Developmental Screening Test
A series of activities used to determine the developmental stage of children
Scoliosis
Abnormal lateral curvature of the spine
Mini-Mental State Examination
A tool used to determine the level of awareness of currents events and recall of past events to screen for orientation or dementia
Dementia
Progressive deterioration in brain function that leads to confusion and disorientation
Homeostais
A state of equilibrium within the body
Pyrexia
Raised body temperature; fever
Radial pulse
Located on the thumb side of the wrist, is the most common site for taking an adult pulse
Brachial pulse
Located inside the upper arm, is the most common site for children
Carotid pulse
Located in the neck just below the jaw bone, is the most common for use in emergency procedures.
Palpation
The act of touching
Auscultation
Listening, usually with a stethoscope
Normal heart rate for an adult
60-80 bpm
Wheezing
A whistling sound heard on expiration that is the body’s attempt to expel trapped air
Rales
Clicking, or crackling sounds heard on inspiration that can sound moist or dry
Rhonchi
Common rattling snoring sounds often associated with chronic lung diseases
Systolic pressure
The first sound heard during a blood pressure reading
Diastolic pressure
The last sound during the blood pressure reading
Korotkoff sounds
The five phases of articular relaxation that are audible while obtaining a manual blood pressure
Needle length and gauges for intradermal
27 to 28 3/8 inch
Needle length and gauge for subcutaneous
25 to 26 1/2 inch, 5/8 inch
Needle length and gauge for Intramuscular
20 to 23 1 to 3 inches (depending on muscle and patient size)
Which position would you place a patient for examination when he/she is experiencing shortness of breath
Semi-Fowlers
Which position would you place a patient for an enema
Sims
Which position would you place a patient for examination of female pelvic exam
Lithotomy
Which position would you place a patient for genital examination of younger children adolescents
Dorsal recumbent
Which position would you place a patient for exams involving the back of the body including the bottoms of the feet
Prone
Which position would you place a patient for exams involving the front of the body
Supine
Which position would you place a patient for CPR
Supine
Which position would you place a patient for shock
Trendelenburg
In which position is the patient lying flat on the back with the knees bent
Dorsal recumbent
In which position is the patient lying over an exam that is lifted in the middle
Jack-knife
In which position is the patient laying on the left side with the left leg slightly flexed and the right leg flexed at a 90 degree angle
Sims
In which position is the patient prone and bent at the waist resting on the knees with the arms above the head
Knee-chest
Which site is used for an injection in infants and children younger than 3 years old
Vastus lateralis
What is the maximum amount of medication that can be administered via the deltoid muscle
1 mL
Common sites for subcutaneous injection
Upper outer arm, abdomen and thigh
Common site for PPD
Mid forearm
What is an abrasion
Scrape or rub
What is an incision
Open injury typically caused by a sharp object causing a straight cut
What is a laceration
Open injury that is jagged in nature and cause by a sharp object
What is a puncture
Open wound that is caused by an instrument that delivers a stab
What is a contussion
Closed injury, also known as a bruise, caused by a blunt-force trauma
What is a concussion
Closed head trauma in which the brain has been jolted or shaken