Key Terms- THEORY Flashcards
(1) cumulative state of frustration with the work environment that develops over a long time; (2) behaviors exhibited as the result of prolonged occupational stress
Burnout
loss of satisfaction from providing good patient care
Compassion fatigue
state of optimal functioning or well-being
Health
to be given a license to practice nursing in a state or province after successfully meeting requirements
Licensure
capacity to intentionally bring awareness to present moment experience with an attitude of openness and curiosity; mindfulness promotes healing as you pause, focus on the present, and listen
Mindfulness
law established to regulate nursing practice
Nurse practice act
profession that focuses on the holistic person receiving health care services and provides a unique contribution to the prevention of illness and maintenance of health
Nursing
five-step systematic method for giving patient care; involves assessing, diagnosing, planning, implementing, and evaluating
Nursing process
an occupation that meets specific criteria including a well-defined body of specific and unique knowledge, a code of ethics and standards, ongoing research, and autonomy
Profession
process allowing a nurse to apply for and be endorsed as a registered nurse by another state
Reciprocity
feeling of despair caused by the transfer of emotional distress from a victim to a caregiver, which often develops suddenly
Secondary traumatic stress
rules or guidelines that allow nurses to carry out professional roles, serving as protection for the nurse, the patient, and the institution where health care is given
Standards
rapidly occurring illness that runs its course, allowing a person to return to one’s previous level of functioning
Acute illness
irreversible illness that causes permanent physical impairment and requires long-term health care
Chronic illness
pathologic change in the structure or function of the body or mind
Disease
period in chronic illness when the symptoms of the disease reappear
Exacerbation
state of optimal functioning or well being
Health
a specific difference that is closely linked to social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage
Health disparity
attainment of the highest level of health for all people
Health equity
behavior of an individual motivated by a personal desire to increase well-being and health potential
Health promotion
health care that takes into account the whole person interacting in the environment
Holistic health care
abnormal process in which any aspect of the person’s functioning is altered (in comparison to the previous condition of health)
Illness
frequency that a disease occurs
Morbidity
number of deaths
Mortality
period in a chronic illness when the disease is present, but the person does not experience symptoms of the disease
Remission
something that increases a person’s chance for illness or injury
Risk factor
conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality of life outcomes and risks
Social determinants of health
disadvantaged subsegment of a community requiring utmost care, specific ancillary considerations, and augmented protection in research; includes those living in poverty, women, children, older adults, rural and inner-city residents, new immigrants, the homeless, mentally ill patients, and people with disabilities and special health care needs
Vulnerable population
an active process in which an individual progresses toward the maximum possible potential, regardless of current state of health
Wellness
something essential to the health and survival of humans; common to all people
Basic human needs
two single-parent families joined together to form a new family unit
Blended family
specific population or group of people living in the same geographic area under similar regulations and having common values, interests, and needs
Community
nuclear family and other related people
Extended family
any group of people who live together and depend on one another for physical, emotional, or financial support
Family
understanding and acceptance of others in giving and receiving love
Love and belonging needs
family unit, family of marriage, parenthood, or procreation, and their immediate children
Nuclear family
need for oxygen, food, water, tempera- ture, elimination, sexuality, activity, and rest; these needs have the highest priority and are essential for survival
Physiologic needs
person’s need to be protected from actual or potential harm and to have freedom from fear
Safety and security needs
highest level on the hierarchy of needs, which include the need for individuals to reach their full potential through development of their unique capabilities
Self-actualization needs
need to feel good about oneself and to believe others hold one in high regard
Self-esteem needs
requiring oxygen to live and grow
Aerobic
spreading of microorganisms that are less than 5 mcm when an infected host coughs, sneezes, or talks, or when the organism becomes attached to dust particles
Airborne transmission
capable of living without oxygen
Anaerobic
immunoglobin produced by the body in response to a specific antigen
Antibody
foreign material capable of inducing a specific immune response
Antigen
antibacterial agent that kills bacteria or suppresses their growth
Antimicrobial
absence of disease-producing microorganisms; using methods to prevent infection
Asepsis
the most significant and most commonly observed infection-causing agents
Bacteria
evidence-based best practices that have proven positive outcomes when implemented together to prevent infection
Bundles
presence of an organism residing in an indi- vidual’s body but with no clinical signs of infection
Colonization
way for organisms to enter the body that involves proximity between the susceptible host and an infected person or a carrier, such as through touching, kiss- ing, or sexual intercourse
Direct contact
process used to destroy microorganisms; destroys all pathogenic organisms except spores
Disinfection
transmission of particles greater than 5 mcm
Droplet transmission
something that occurs with predictability in one specific region or population and can appear in a different geographical location
Endemic
infection in which the causative organism comes from microbial life harbored within the person
Endogenous
infection in which the causative organism is acquired from outside the host
Exogenous
An inanimate object
Fomite
plant-like organisms (molds and yeasts) that can cause infection
Fungi
an infection that was not present on admission to a health care institution and develops during the course of treatment for other conditions (nosocomial)
Health care–associated infection (HAI)
animal or person on or within which microorganisms live
Host
infection that occurs as a result of a treatment or diagnostic procedure
Iatrogenic infection
personal contact with either a vector, a living creature that transmits an infectious agent to a human, usually an insect; or an inanimate object, called a fomite, such as equipment or countertops
Indirect contact
disease state resulting from pathogens in or on the body
Infection
protective procedure designed to prevent the transmission of specific microorganisms; also called protective aseptic techniques and barrier techniques
Isolation
practices designed to reduce the number and transfer of pathogens; synonym for clean technique
Medical asepsis
something originating or taking place in the hospital (i.e., infection)
Nosocomial
organism that lives on or in a host and relies on it for nourishment
Parasite
disease-producing microorganism
Pathogen
gloves, gowns, masks, and protective eye gear designed to minimize or pre- vent the health care worker’s exposure to infectious material
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
natural habitat for the growth and multiplication of microorganisms
Reservoir
CDC precautions used in the care of all patients regardless of their diagnosis or possible infection status; this category combines universal and body substance precautions
Standard precautions
(1) the process by which all microorganisms, including spores, are destroyed; (2) surgical procedure performed to render a person infertile
Sterilization
practices that render and keep objects and areas free from microorganisms; synonym for sterile technique
Surgical asepsis
CDC precautions used in patients known or suspected to be infected with pathogens that can be transmitted by airborne, droplet, or contact routes; used in addition to standard precautions
Transmission-based precautions
nonhuman carriers—such as mosquitoes, ticks, and lice—that transmit organisms from one host to another
Vector
ability to produce disease
Virulence
smallest of all microorganisms; can be seen only by using an electron microscope
Virus
a condition in which the body temperature is not elevated
Afebrile
absence of breathing
Apnea
period of diminished or absent Korotkoff sounds; it occurs during the manual measurement of blood pressure in the latter part of phase I and during phase II
Auscultatory gap
force of blood against arterial walls
Blood pressure
slow heart rate
Bradycardia
slow rate of breathing
Bradypnea
least amount of pressure exerted on arterial walls, which occurs when the heart is at rest between ventricular contractions
Diastolic pressure
difficult or labored breathing
Dyspnea
an abnormal cardiac rhythm
Dysrhythmia
normal respirations
Eupnea
condition in which the body temperature is elevated
Febrile
elevation above the upper limit of normal body temperature; synonym for pyrexia
Fever
blood pressure elevated above the upper limit of normal
Hypertension
high body temperature
Hyperthermia
blood pressure below the lower limit of normal
Hypotension
low body temperature
Hypothermia
series of sounds that correspond to changes in blood flow through an artery as pressure is released
Korotkoff sounds
type of dyspnea in which breathing is easier when the patient sits or stands
Orthopnea
temporary fall in blood pressure associated with assuming an upright position; synonym for postural hypotension
Orthostatic hypotension
wave produced in the wall of an artery with each beat of the heart
Pulse
difference between the apical and radial pulse rates
Pulse deficit
difference between systolic and diastolic pressures
Pulse pressure
elevation above the upper limit of normal body temperature; synonym for fever
Pyrexia
gas exchange between the atmospheric air in the alveoli and blood in the capillaries
Respiration
highest point of pressure on arterial walls when the ventricles contract
Systolic pressure
rapid heart rate
Tachycardia
rapid rate of breathing
Tachypnea
refers to the hotness or coldness of a substance
Temperature
body temperature, pulse and respiratory rates, and blood pressure; synonym for cardinal signs
Vital signs
self-care activities such as eating, bathing, dressing, and toileting
Activities of daily living
abnormal breath sound heard over the lungs
Adventitious breath sounds
listening for sounds within the body
Auscultation
ratio of height to weight
Body mass index (BMI)
those heard over the larynx and trachea are high-pitched, harsh “blowing” sounds, with sound on expiration being longer than inspiration
Bronchial breath sounds
normal breath sounds heard over the mainstem bronchus; they are moderate blowing sounds, with inspiration equal to expiration
Bronchovesicular breath sounds
broad health assess- ment that includes a complete health history and physical assessment; it is usually conducted when a patient first enters a health care setting, with information providing a baseline for comparing later assessments
Comprehensive health assessment
bluish coloring of the skin and mucous membranes
Cyanosis
an excessive amount of perspiration, such as when the entire skin is moist
Diaphoresis
collection of blood in subcutaneous tissues that causes a purplish discoloration
Ecchymosis
accumulation of fluid in extracellular spaces
Edema
type of rapid focused assessment conducted when addressing a life-threatening or unstable situation
Emergency health assessment
redness of the skin
Erythema
assessment is conducted to assess a specific problem; focuses on pertinent history and body regions but may also be used to address the immediate and highest priority concerns for an individual patient
Focused health assessment
a collection of subjective information that provides information about the patient’s health status
Health history
purposeful and systematic observation
Inspection
the activities of daily living needed for independent living
Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)
yellow appearance of the skin
Jaundice
also known as a follow-up assessment, it is one that is conducted at regular intervals during care of the patient; concentrates on identified health problems to monitor positive or negative changes and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions
Ongoing partial health assessment
paleness of the skin
Pallor
perception of one’s own heartbeat
Palpitation
act of striking one object against another for the purpose of producing a sound; used to assess the location, shape, size, and density of body tissues
Percussion
small, purplish hemorrhagic spots on the skin that do not blanch with applied pressure
Petechiae
systematic examination of the patient for objective data to better define the patient’s condition and to help the nurse in planning care, usually performed in a head-to-toe format; a collection of objective data about changes in the patient’s body systems
Physical assessment
anterior surface of the chest wall overlying the heart and its related structures
Precordium
physical examination of all body systems in a systematic manner as part of the nursing assessment
Review of systems (ROS)
tension of the skin determined by its hydration
Turgor
normal sound of respirations heard on auscultation over peripheral lung areas
Vesicular breath sounds
a numerical measurement of the waist, used to assess an individual’s abdominal fat and establish ideal body weight
Waist circumference
