Glossary Words Flashcards
Abandonment
Withdrawal of one’s support or help from another person, despite having the responsibility to provide this support or help.
Abuse
The willful infliction of injury or harm on another.
Accreditation
Official recognition by a professional association or non-government agency that the facility provides care to a certain standard.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
A condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that results in a breakdown of the body’s defense systems.
Activities of daily living (ADLs)
Routine tasks of everyday life, essential for meeting a person’s basic physical needs.
An acute care setting
A health care setting that specializes in providing care to people who become sick or injured suddenly, or who have other conditions that require short-term health care.
An acute condition?
An illness or injury that develops rapidly and usually resolves completely, after a period of time, with treatment.
Acute pain
Pain that occurs suddenly with injury, with illness or from surgery; lasts less than 6 months and lessens as tissue heals.
Admission
A person’s formal entry into the health care setting.
An advance directive
A legal document stating how the person wants health decisions made if he or she is unable to make or communicate these decisions independently in the future.
Age-related memory impairment
Difficulties remembering or recalling information, or learning new information, that occur with normal aging and do not impair a person’s ability to carry out normal routines and activities.
Agnosia
The inability to interpret sensory input to recognize familiar things or people.
Alignment
Correct positioning of body parts relative to each other to maintain good posture.
Ambulation
The medical term for walking.
Amnesia
Memory loss.
Angina
Chest pain that occurs because the heart is not getting enough oxygen.
Anorexia
Loss of appetite.
Anxiety
A feeling of unease, dread or worry.
Aphasia
Problems with communication resulting from damage to the brain.
Appetite
Desire for food.
Apraxia
Apraxia is a brain condition that makes it hard to perform movements, even though the muscles work fine. It affects actions like speaking, waving, or using tools.
Arthritis
A condition that causes joints to become inflamed, swollen, stiff, and painful.
Aspiration
Inhalation of fluids or other foreign materials into the lungs.
Aspiration pneumonia
Pneumonia that occurs when foreign material (such as food or vomit) is inhaled into the lungs.
Assault
An action that causes a person to fear being touched in a harmful or unwelcome way.
Assertive
Adjective used to describe a person who is able to state his or her feelings and needs in a direct way, while still respecting the feelings and needs of others.
Assisted-living facility
A long-term care facility that provides limited assistance with selected tasks; residents are more independent than the residents of nursing homes.
Asthma
An illness in which certain substances or conditions, called ‘triggers,’ cause inflammation and constriction of the airways, making breathing difficult.
Atraumatic care
Minimising physical and emotional stress for patients, especially children.
Think of “Atraumatic care = A Trauma-Free Care”—it’s all about making medical treatment as gentle, painless, and stress-free as possible!
Atrophy
Loss of muscle mass.
Automated external defibrillator (AED)
A device that delivers a defibrillation shock automatically or with the push of a button to help the heart restore an effective pumping rhythm.
Balance
Stability achieved through the even distribution of weight.
Baseline
Initial measurements that are taken to be compared with measurements taken later on.
Battery
Touching another person in a harmful or unwelcome way.
Benign
Noncancerous.
Bereavement care
Care that is provided for people who are grieving after a loved one dies.
Bisexual
Word used to describe a person who is attracted to people of both sexes.
Bloodborne pathogen
A disease-causing microbe that is transmitted through contact with an infected person’s blood.
Body fluids
Liquid or semiliquid substances produced by and released from the body, such as blood, urine, feces, saliva, mucus, vomit, semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk, wound drainage, and sweat.
Body mechanics
Using the body in a safe and efficient way to avoid placing unnecessary stress on muscles and joints.
Bony prominence
Parts of the body where there is only a thin layer of fat and muscle between the skin and the underlying bone or cartilage.
Calorie
The unit of measure used to describe the amount of energy a food supplies.
Cancer
The abnormal growth of new cells that crowd out or destroy other body tissues.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
A technique used to sustain breathing and circulation for a person who has gone into cardiac arrest.
Care plan
A document that details the care the person requires, as well as the methods, equipment and frequency for providing that care.
Catastrophic reaction
An intense emotional and behavioral outburst over a seemingly small event, seen in people with dementia.
Cerebrovascular accident
A disorder that occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked, causing the brain cells to die; also called a ‘stroke.’
Chain of infection
The six requirements that must be met before an infection can pass from one person to another.
Chemotherapy
The use of drugs to stop or slow the growth of cancer cells.
Chronic condition
An illness or injury that is ongoing and usually requires continuous treatment to manage.
Chronic heart failure
A condition that occurs when the heart is damaged or weak and is unable to effectively pump blood throughout the body.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
A term used to describe lung disorders that make it difficult for air to enter or leave the lungs.
Chronic pain
Pain that lasts longer than 6 months.
Circumcision
Surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis.
Client
A person who receives care in his or her home.
Closed bed
A bed where the bedspread is pulled up to cover the linens.
Cognition
Thinking processes, which include memory, reasoning, judgment and language.
Cognitive impairment
Problems with thinking processes involving memory, reasoning, judgment and language.
Comfort (supportive) care
Care that makes the person more comfortable but does not prolong the person’s life, such as oxygen therapy, the administration of pain medications and personal care.
Compassion
The quality of recognizing another person’s hardship, accompanied by a desire to help relieve that hardship.
Communication
The process of giving and receiving information.
Condom catheter
A condom-like device that is placed over a man’s penis and is connected by tubing to a drainage bag to collect urine; used in the management of incontinence.
Constipation
Difficult elimination of dry, hard feces.
Contaminated
Soiled with pathogens.
Contracture
A condition that results when a joint is held in one position for too long, causing the tendons to shorten and become stiff, resulting in loss of motion in the joint.
Coordination
The use of direction and force for purposeful action.
Cover letter
A brief letter to a potential employer explaining why you are interested in the job and the organization, and summarizing the qualifications and experience you have that makes you an appropriate candidate for the job.
Culture
A shared set of beliefs, values, customs and practices that characterizes a group of people or a society.
Cuticle
The skin along the edge of the nail.
Defecation
The elimination of solid waste from the body.
Dehydration
Too little fluid in the body.
Delegation
The process of giving another person the authority and responsibility to complete a task on one’s behalf.
Delirium
A rapid change in cognition that is related to chemical changes in the body.
Delusion
A fixed, false belief.
Dementia
A term used to describe a cluster of symptoms involving progressive decline in memory and thinking abilities, such as the use of language and the ability to reason and make judgments.
Depilatory
A chemical cream or powder that is applied to the skin to dissolve and remove hair.
Depression
A mental health disorder characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness.
Diabetes
A disorder characterized by the body’s inability to process glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream.
Dialysis
A treatment that replaces the function of the kidneys by removing waste products and excess fluid from the body.
Diarrhea
The frequent passage of loose, watery feces.
Diet
The food and beverages a person consumes.
Dietitian
A health care professional who has specialized knowledge and training in the field of nutrition.
Disaster
A severe event that causes damage and destruction, affecting many people and disrupting normal functioning of the community.
Discharge
A person’s formal release from the health care setting where he or she is currently receiving care.
Discharge planning
A process that involves identifying the person’s ongoing care needs and making arrangements to have those needs met after the person leaves the facility.
Disinfectant
A chemical solution used to kill microbes on an object or surface.
Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order
An order to withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the event of cardiopulmonary arrest.
Durable power of attorney for health care
A legal document that gives the responsibility for making health care decisions on the person’s behalf to someone else in case the person becomes unable to make these decisions on his or her own behalf.
Dyspnea
Labored, difficult breathing.
Edema
Too much fluid in the body.
Emergency
A situation that arises suddenly and requires immediate action to keep a person safe.
Empathy
The quality of seeking to understand another person’s situation, point of view, or feelings.
Employee orientation
An informational session conducted with new employees within the first few days of employment, during which the employee is given information about the organization’s policies and procedures and the benefits employees are entitled to receive.
Enema
The introduction of fluid into the bowel through the anus to remove feces from the bowel.
Entrapment
An injury that occurs when a person’s head or other body part becomes trapped between, under, or on the side rails, or between the mattress and the side rail.
Epilepsy
A chronic seizure condition.
Erection
Stiffening of the penis.
An ethical dilemma
A situation where there may be more than one good or moral solution, depending on one’s point of view.
Ethics
Moral principles or standards that we use to decide the correct action to take.
Ethics committee
A group of people representing many different areas of expertise and with an in-depth knowledge of ethical principles that is brought together to help resolve ethical dilemmas.
Expressive aphasia
The inability to use language to express oneself, verbally or in writing (or both).
Discharge
A person’s formal release from the health care setting where he or she is currently receiving care.
Discharge planning
A process that involves identifying the person’s ongoing care needs and making arrangements to have those needs met after the person leaves the facility.
Disinfectant
A chemical solution used to kill microbes on an object or surface.
Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order
An order to withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the event of cardiopulmonary arrest.
Durable power of attorney for health care
A legal document that gives the responsibility for making health care decisions on the person’s behalf to someone else in case the person becomes unable to make these decisions on his or her own behalf.
Dyspnea
Labored, difficult breathing.
Edema
Too much fluid in the body.
Emergency
A situation that arises suddenly and requires immediate action to keep a person safe.
Empathy
The quality of seeking to understand another person’s situation, point of view, or feelings.
Employee orientation
An informational session conducted with new employees within the first few days of employment, during which the employee is given information about the organization’s policies and procedures and the benefits employees are entitled to receive.
Enema
The introduction of fluid into the bowel through the anus to remove feces from the bowel.
Entrapment
An injury that occurs when a person’s head or other body part becomes trapped between, under, or on the side rails, or between the mattress and the side rail.
Epilepsy
A chronic seizure condition.
Erection
Stiffening of the penis.
Ethical dilemma
A situation where there may be more than one good or moral solution, depending on one’s point of view.
Ethics
Moral principles or standards that we use to decide the correct action to take.
Ethics committee
A group of people representing many different areas of expertise and with an in-depth knowledge of ethical principles that is brought together to help resolve ethical dilemmas.
Expressive aphasia
The inability to use language to express oneself, verbally or in writing (or both).
Family-centered care
A philosophy of caring for injured or ill children that emphasizes an open, working relationship among health care providers, the child, and family members.
Fecal impaction
A serious form of constipation that occurs when constipation is not relieved and feces build up in the bowel until the bowel is almost completely blocked.
Feces
Solid body waste.
Fever
A temperature that is higher than the normal range.
Fiber
A substance found in foods that helps the digestive tract function properly and lowers the risk for conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
First aid
Care that is provided to an injured or ill person while waiting for more advanced help to arrive.
Fowler’s position
A variation of supine position where the head of the bed is raised 45 degrees.
Fraud
Lying to gain profit or advantage.
Friction
Rubbing of two surfaces against each other.
Gender identity
A person’s inner sense of being male or female.
Glucose
The body’s most basic source of energy.
Graduate
A pitcher-like device used for measuring fluids.
Grief
Intense sadness that occurs as a result of loss.
Hallucination
Seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, or feeling something that does not exist.
Hangnail
Is a small, torn piece of skin next to the fingernail or toenail. It is not part of the nail itself but rather a bit of cuticle or skin that has separated from the finger.
Harassment
Ongoing behavior that causes significant distress to another person.
Health care-associated infection
An infection that a person gets while receiving care in a health care facility.
Health care team
A group of people with specialized knowledge and skills who work together to provide personalized quality care that meets the person’s physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
Hemiparesis
Weakness on one side.
Hemiplegia
Paralysis on one side.
Hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver.
Heterosexual
Word used to describe a person who is attracted to people of the opposite sex.
High-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) mask
A special type of mask that filters out very small droplets suspended in the air (aerosols).
High Fowler’s position
A variation of Fowler’s position where the head of the bed is raised 90 degrees.
Homebound
Adjective used to describe a person who is unable to leave his or her home without assistance.
Homosexual
Word used to describe a person who is attracted to people of the same sex.
Hospice
A model of care that focuses on providing supportive care to people who are dying, and on supporting their families, during the end-of-life period.
Human development
Social, emotional and cognitive changes that a person experiences as he or she grows older.
Human growth
Physical changes that a person experiences as he or she grows older.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
A bloodborne pathogen that invades and destroys the cells that help to fight infections.
Hyperglycemia
Excessively high blood-glucose levels.
Hypertension
(1) High blood pressure; (2) A disorder characterized by chronically high blood pressure.
Hypoglycemia
Excessively low blood-glucose levels.
Hypotension
Low blood pressure.
Hypothermia
A temperature that is lower than the normal range.
Immobility
The state of not moving.
Incident in healthcare
Anything unusual that happens to a person receiving care, a staff member or a visitor to the facility and has the potential to cause harm.
Incontinence
The inability to control the release of urine or feces.
Indwelling urinary catheter
A small tube inserted through the urethra into the bladder that is left in place to drain urine from the bladder on a continuous basis.
Infection
A disease caused by the growth of pathogens in the body.
Infection control
Actions taken to control the spread of microbes that can cause disease.
Influenza
A highly contagious viral infection that affects the respiratory tract.
Informed consent
Permission given by a patient, resident or client (or the authorized to make decisions on the patient’s, resident’s or client’s behalf) to go ahead with a treatment or procedure.
Ingrown toenail
A condition that occurs when the toenail is trimmed too short and the edge curls down and grows into the neighboring skin.
Inpatient care
Care that is provided in a hospital or other acute care setting that requires at least one overnight stay.
In-service training
Additional training offered by an employer to employees, designed to teach new skills and knowledge or keep existing skills and knowledge current.
Insulin
A hormone that causes glucose to be moved from the bloodstream into the cells.
Intimacy
The need and ability to feel emotional closeness to another person and to have that closeness returned.
Job application
A form that employers use to collect basic information about a job applicant, such as the person’s contact information, employment history, educational history, additional experience and skills, the hours the person is available to work, and the names and contact information of references.
Job interview
A meeting between a job candidate and an employer that allows both parties to find out more about each other.
Kidney (renal) failure
The inability of the kidneys to filter waste products.
Larceny
Theft.
Laws
Rules established by a governing authority to protect people from harm and provide a framework for resolving conflicts.
Life-sustaining treatments
Treatments that will prolong life, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or mechanical ventilation.
Living will
A legal document that gives specific directions about what steps the health care team should or should not take to prolong the person’s life when death seems near.
Logrolling
A method used to turn a person onto his or her side in bed when the person’s spine must be kept in alignment throughout the move.
Long-term care setting
Health care facilities that provide residents with ongoing assistance with meeting medical, personal and social needs.
Long-term memory
Memory of the past.
Low Fowler’s position
A variation of Fowler’s position where the head of the bed is raised 30 degrees.
Malignant
Cancerous.
Malnutrition
Failure to take in enough of the right kinds of nutrients to stay healthy.
Masturbation
Touching or rubbing one’s own genitals for sexual release or pleasure.
Medicaid
An insurance program for people with low incomes, jointly funded by federal and state governments.
A medical record
A legal document that details the person’s condition, the measures taken by the health care team to diagnose and manage the condition, and the person’s response
to the care provided.
Medicare
A federally funded insurance program for people who are 65 years and older.
Metastasize
The spreading of cancerous cells to other parts of the body other than where the cancer originated.
What is a microbe (microorganism)
A tiny living thing that can be seen only through the
magnifi cation of a microscope.
Mild cognitive impairment
Problems with memory, language or thinking processes
that are noticeable to other people, but do not interfere with the person’s ability to live a normal life.
Modified side-lying position
The person is positioned on his or her side and leaning
slightly toward the back to relieve pressure on the hip.
Miter
A folding technique that creates a neat, tight corner and holds the sheet securely to the mattress.
Mucous membranes
Sticky, moist membranes that line the respiratory, genitourinary and digestive tracts.
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
A chronic neurologic disorder that gradually destroys the protective coating on the nerves in the brain and spinal cord.
Myocardial infarction
A condition that results when blood fl ow to part of the heart muscle (the myocardium) is blocked, causing the cells in that area to die; also called a “heart attack”.
Nausea
A sick feeling in the stomach often accompanied by the urge to vomit.
Nonverbal communication
Communication through body language, including gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, and body position and movement.
Nursing home
A long-term care facility that provides nursing care and supervision for residents who require a high level of care.
Nursing team
Staff members with specialized knowledge and training in the delivery of nursing care; consists of, at minimum, a nurse and a nurse assistant.
Nutrients
Substances that the body needs to grow, maintain itself and stay healthy.
Nutrition
The process of taking in and using nutrients.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
A government agency that was established to help protect workers in all industries (not just health care) from on-the-job injuries.
Ombudsmen
Volunteers who advocate for (act on the behalf of) nursing home residents and their family members to resolve problems related to quality of care.
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA)
Legislation that emphasizes the responsibility of nursing homes to provide residents with a comfortable and fulfi lling lifestyle and to promote their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being to the highest degree possible.
Occupational exposure
Exposure to disease in the workplace.
Open bed
A bed where the bedspread, blanket and top sheet have been folded back to the bottom of the bed.
Osteoporosis
A disease in which loss of bone tissue causes the bones to become very fragile and prone to breaking.
Ostomy appliance
A pouch worn on the outside of the body, over a stoma, to collect feces or urine.
Outpatient care
Care that is provided in a hospital or other acute care setting that does not require an overnight stay.
Pain
An unpleasant sensation that signals actual or potential damage to the body
Pain threshold
The point at which the person becomes aware of experiencing pain.
Pain tolerance
The highest level of pain that a person is willing to experience before taking action to relieve it.
Palliative treatments
Treatments provided to relieve uncomfortable symptoms without actually curing the disease that is causing the symptoms.
Paralysis
The loss of movement and sensation.
Paranoia
Excessive suspicion without cause
Paraplegia
Paralysis that affects both legs and the lower trunk.
Parkinson’s disease
A neurologic disorder characterized by muscle tremors and difficulty with movement as a result of insuffi cient amounts of dopamine.
Pathogen
A microorganism that causes disease.
Patient
A person who receives care in a hospital or other acute care setting.
Perineal care
Cleansing of the area between the legs, including the genitals and the anus.
Personal protective equipment
Protective gear worn to prevent microbes from
contaminating your uniform, skin or mucous membranes; includes gloves, gowns, masks and protective eyewear.
Pneumonia
Inflammation of the lungs.
Podiatrist
Health care provider who specializes in care of the feet.
Postmortem care
Care that is provided for a person’s body after death.
Pre-placement health evaluation
Health screening tests done after a job offer is made to ensure that a new employee is physically and emotionally capable of meeting the job requirements, and to identify any accommodations that may need to be made so that the employee can perform the job competently and safely.
Pressure ulcer
A sore that develops when part of a person’s body presses against a hard surface for a long period of time; also called a decubitus ulcer.
Prioritize
To list items or tasks in order of importance.
Probationary period
A period of time during which the employer closely evaluates the job performance and potential of a new employee to ensure that the employee is performing the job to expectations.
Prone position
The person is positioned on his or her stomach.
Pulse oximetry
A technique used to measure the oxygen levels in a person’s blood.
Quadriplegia
Paralysis that affects both arms, the trunk and both legs.
Radiation
The use of high-energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells.
Range-of-motion exercises
Exercises that help to keep joints functional by moving them in a systematic way.
Receptive aphasia
The inability to understand communication from others.
Recording (documenting)
The written exchange of information between members of the health care team.
Reference list
A document providing the contact information for three to fi ve people who know you well enough in a professional capacity to speak to a potential employer about your experience and suitability for a job.
Regression
A return to a previous stage of development.
Reporting
The process of communicating patient information to ensure continuity of care, accuracy, and patient safety. It can happen in different ways, including verbal, written, and electronic formats.
Resident
A person who receives care in a long-term care setting.
Restorative care (rehabilitation nursing)
Nursing care that helps people maintain abilities that they still have and helps regain, to the greatest extent possible, abilities that they have lost.
Restraint
Any device that inhibits a person’s freedom of movement; may be physical or chemical.
Resume
A document summarizing your contact information, education and previous experience.
Rigor mortis
Stiffening of the muscles of the body after death.
Schedule
A written plan that lists the time and order of several tasks.
Scope of practice
The range of tasks that a health care worker is legally allowed to do.
Seizure
Involuntary changes in body movement, function, sensation, awareness or behavior as a result of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Separation anxiety
Anxiety that is experienced when the child is away from his or her parents or other primary caregivers.
Sexual behaviors
Physical activities, such as sexual intercourse and masturbation, related to obtaining sexual pleasure and reproduction.
Sexual identity
A person’s sexual orientation and preferences with regard to sexual partners.
Sexuality
How we perceive of ourselves and express ourselves sexually.
Sharps container
A sturdy, puncture-proof plastic box with a tight-fi tting lid used for the disposal of sharp objects such as needles or razors.
Shearing
One surface moves in the opposite way against another surface that offers resistance, creating a dragging effect.
Shock
A condition in which the circulatory system fails to deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the body’s tissues and vital organs.
Short-term memory
Memory of recent events.
Shroud
A cloth covering placed around the body of a deceased person.
Side-lying (lateral) position
The person is positioned on his or her side.
Sims’ position
The person is positioned on his or her side, leaning very far forward.
Skin breakdown
Loss of healthy, intact skin.
Spirituality
A belief in something greater than oneself that helps the person assign meaning and purpose to life.
Standard precautions
Practices used by caregivers when providing care to a person, regardless of the person’s condition or injury, to minimize the spread of pathogens carried in body fluids.
Sterilization
A technique that uses gas, liquid, dry heat or pressurized steam to destroy all microbes on an object or surface.
Stethoscope
A piece of equipment that is used to listen to sounds produced inside the body.
Stoma
A surgically created opening made in the abdominal wall to allow the elimination of waste.
Sub-acute care setting
A special unit of a hospital or nursing home or a separate facility that specializes in providing care to patients who are well enough to leave the hospital but
still require treatments that can only be provided by health care professionals.
Suicide
The act of deliberately taking one’s own life.
Supine position
The person is positioned flat on his or her back.
Terminal illness
An illness for which there is no treatment and that is ultimately expected to lead to the person’s death.
Surgical bed
A bed where the bedspread, blanket and top sheet have been folded to the side of the bed.
Therapeutic diet
A special diet ordered to help a person regain or maintain health.
Transfer
A move from one part of a facility to another.
Transfer (gait) belt
A wide, webbed belt that is placed around a person’s waist to provide a safe place to grasp when helping a person to stand, walk or transfer.
Transgender
A word used to describe a person who feels that his or her gender does not match the physical body he or she was born with.
Transmission-based precautions
Practices used by caregivers to minimize the spread
of microbes when the person has a disease known to be transmitted in a specifi c way; includes airborne precautions, droplet precautions and contact precautions.
Transsexual
A word used to describe a person who alters his or her physical appearance to more closely match the gender he or she most strongly identifies with.
Tuberculosis
A bacterial infection of the lungs that is spread through the air from one person to another.
Tumor
A solid mass of tissue.
Urination
The elimination of liquid waste from the body.
Urine
Liquid body waste
Validation therapy
A technique for working with those with cognitive impairment or dementia that shows respect for the person’s thoughts and feelings and validates (acknowledges) what the person believes, regardless of the actual truth.
Verbal communication
Use of spoken words to share information, thoughts, or feelings.
Vital signs
Measurements that give us basic information about how a person’s body is functioning, including temperature, pulse, respirations and blood pressure.
