NS1881 Glossary Flashcards
A_
Without
Active ROM exercises
Isotonic exercises in which the person moves each joint in the body through its complete range, maximally stretching all muscle groups within each plane over the joint.
Activities of daily living
Refers to activities required to independently care for oneself.
Activity tolerance
The type and amount of exercise or daily activities an individual can perform.
Actual problem statement
Justine is experiencing acute pain related to headache evidenced by patient statement of headache 7/10
Acute pain
Pain that only last through the expected recovery period (less than 6 months), whether is has a sudden or slow onset and regardless of the intensity.
Aetiology
The cause, set of causes or manner of causation of a disease or condition.
Alopecia
The loss of scalp hair (baldness) or body hair.
Ambulation
The act of walking
Antiseptic
Any agent that inhibits or prevents the growth and multiplication of microorganisms that produce disease.
Anuria
The failure of the kidneys to produce urine, resulting in a total lack of urination or output of less than 100mL per day in an adult.
Apnoea
A complete absence of respiration
Arrhythmia
Irregular heartbeat (too slow, too fast, or irregular)
Ascultation
The process of listening to sounds produced within the body.
Aseptic non touch technique
The method employed to help prevent contamination of wounds and other susceptible sites by organisms that could cause infection by ensuring only uncontaminated equipment and fluids come into contact with sterile/susceptible body sites during certain clinical procedures.
Aseptic non touch technique (standard)
Technically simple to achieve asepsis, short in duration (approx less than 20 minutes), relatively few, small key parts, relatively small key sites, general aseptic field.
Aseptic non touch technique (surgical)
Technically complex to achieve asepsis, procedures involve extended periods of time (longer than 20 minutes), large or numerous key parts, large open key site, main critical aseptic field.
Asepsis
Free from infection or pathogenic material.
Aseptic fields (maintenance of)
The nurse should ensure that the aseptic field, the key parts, and key sites are always protected.
Aseptic technique
Aims to prevent pathogenic organisms, in sufficient quantity to cause infection, from being introduced into susceptible body sites by the hands of staff, surfaces of equipment.
Aspiration
When something (food, fluid, object) enters the airways accidentally
Atelectasis
Collapse of a lung or part of a lung.
Automatic external defibrillator
Battery operated device that senses cardiac rhythm, determines appropriateness of an electric shock to convert the rhythm to normal and can deliver a shock manually or automatically.
Bariatric
Patients who are obese or severely obese (120kg or more, BMI 35 or more, hip width 51cm or more when seated)
Basal metabolic rate
Rate of energy utilisation in the body required to maintain essential activities such as breathing
Basic life support
Provision of maintenance of the airway, breathing, circulation.
Bed rest
Strict confinement to bed or the person may be allowed to use a bedside commode or have bathroom privileges.
Body image
Image of physical self - How a person perceives the size, appearance and functioning of their body and its parts
Body mass index (BMI)
Indicate whether body weight is appropriate for body height
Brady
Slow
Bradycardia
Abnormally slow pulse rate, less than 60 beats per minute.
Bradypnoea
Abnormally slow respiratory rate, usually less than 10 respiration per minute.
Bruxism
Grinding of teeth in sleep
Cachexia
Wasting syndrome or anorexia cachexia syndrome
Carbohydrate
Compound critical to provision of energy to body cells. Main source of energy providing fuel for the brain, nervous system, skeletal muscle and cellular processes.
_cardia
Heart
Cardiac arrest
The cessation of heart function.
Cardiopulmonary reuscitation
Technique of providing rescue breathing and effective chest compressions to restore oxygenation and circulation.
Causative agent
A microorganism which is directly or indirectly responsible for causing the applicable disease.
Chest compressions
Compression of the chest performed during CPR by placing pressure on the lower third of the sternum.
Cholesterol
A lipid that does not contain fatty acids but possesses many of the chemical and physical properties of other lipids
Chronic pain
Prolonged pain, usually recurring or persisting over 6 months or longer and interferes with functioning.
Clinical reasoning
A process in which a nurse processes information, comes to an understanding of a problem or situation, develops, implements and evaluates plans whilst using reflection to learn from outcomes.
Constipation
Passage of small, dry, hard stool or passage of no stool for an abnormally long time.
Contusion
An injury to the body which does not break the skin. It can exhibit swelling, discolouration and pain, and is known as a bruise.
Comprehensive assessment
Assessment carried out on first entry to healthcare settings. Includes health history and physical examination. Used for care planning
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - common lung disease causing restricted airflow and breathing problems, due to damae to the airways or lungs (sometimes called emphysema or chronic bronchitis)
COWS
Method to assess for responsiveness - Can you hear me, open your eyes, what’s your name, squeeze my hand
Critical aseptic field
Area where sterile equipment is placed during an aseptic procedure. Critical aseptic fields are used when Key parts/sites are large or numerous and can’t be easily protected by covers or caps or can’t be handled with a non-touch technique.
Critical thinking
A complex collection of cognitive skills and affective habits of the mind.
Cutaneous
Relating to or affecting the skin.
Cynotic
Marked by or causing a bluish or purplish discoloration (as of the skin and mucous membranes) due to deficient oxygenation of the blood
Debridement
Removal of infected and necrotic tissue
Defecation
Expulsion of faeces from the rectum and anus.
Dehiscence
The partial or total rupturing of a sutured wound
Dental caries
Tooth decay
Dermatitis
Inflammation of the skin, marked by redness and itching.
Dermis
Connective tissue layer between the epidermis and subcutaneous tissue
Diarrhoea
Defecation of liquid faeces and increased frequency of defecation.
Diastole
The period during which the ventricles relax.
Diastolic pressure
The pressure of the blood against the arterial walls when the ventricles of the heart are at rest.
Digestion
The process of converting food into substances that the body can utilise
Disinfectant
A chemical preparation capable of killing or inactivating microorganisms.
Diuresis
An increase in the production of urine.
Dys_
Difficult
Dyspnoea
Difficult or laboured breathing
Dysphagia
Difficult swallowing
Dysuria
Painful or difficult voiding.
Epithelialising
Epitheselialisation is the final stage of wound healing and is pink/white in colour
Eu_
Normal
Eupnoea
Normal, quiet breathing.
Emotional intelligence
Knowing ones emotions, managing emotions, motivating oneself, recognising emotions in others, and handling relationships.
Encopresis
Faecal incontinence not associated with a physical condition or disease.
Entereal nutrition
Nutrition delivered to the gastrointestinal system.
Enuresis
Involuntary passing of urine in children after bladder control is achieved.
Environmental control (infection risk)
Many factors in the clinical environment can increase the risk of infection and patient harm during a procedure. Where practical, these factors should be removed.
Epidermis
Most superficial layer of the skin and provides the first barrier of protection from the invasion of substances into the body
Erythema
Redness
Eschar (necrotic) wound
Eschar, pronounced es-CAR, isdead tissue that sheds or falls off from the skin. It’s commonly seen with pressure ulcer wounds (bedsores). Eschar is typically tan, brown, or black, and may be crusty
Excoriation
Loss of the superficial layers of the skin
Exudate
Fluid that leaks out of blood vessels into nearby tissues / Material, such as fluid and cells, that has escaped from blood vessels during the inflammatory process and is deposited in tissue or on tissue surfaces
Faecal incontinence
An inability to control the bowel movements.
Faeces
Body wastes and undigested food eliminated from the bowel.
Flatus
Gas or air normally present in the stomach or intestines.
Focussed assessment
A thorough assessment that targets a particular body system to further investigate problems identified.
Fowler’s position
A bed sitting position with the head of the bed raised 45 to 90 degrees.
Gait
The way a person walks.
General adaptation syndrome
Whole body response to stress.
General aseptic field
Simple aseptic field where there may be a small number of key parts and small key sites
Gingivitis
Red, swollen gingivia (gums).
Glycosuria
A high level of sugar in the urine, a symptom of diabetes mellitus.
Granulation
Happens during the proliferative stage of healing, granulated tissue grows from the base of the wound and can typically fill any size wound, young connective tissue with new capillaries formed in wound healing process
Haem_
Blood
Haemoserous
Type of exudate typical in inflammatory or proliferative healing phase. Appears clear to yellow with a pink tinge
Haemostasis
First stage of wound healing when blood clot forms
Haematoma
A collection of blood in a tissue, an organ or a space due to a break in the wall of a blood vessel.
Haematuria
The unusual presence of blood in the urine, as a result of injury or disease of the kidney or bladder.
Halitosis
Offensive odour of the breath.
Hand hygiene
There are critical moments before, during and after an invasive procedure or a procedure requiring aseptic technique when hand hygiene should be performed
Health behaviours
Action a person takes to understand their health, maintain an optimal state of health, prevent illness or injury and reach maximum physical and mental potential.
Health belief
A concept about health that an individual believes to be true.
Health history
An interview focussing holistically on human response to illness
Healthcare Associated Infection
Infections associated with the delivery of health care services in a health care facility.
Hygiene cares (considerations)
Balance, ability to sit unsupported, activity tolerance, presence of pain, cognition, motivation.
Hyper_
Above normal, high
Hypertension
An abnormally high blood pressure; over 140mmHg systolic and/or 90mmHg diastolic.
Hypo_
Below normal, low
Hypotension
Blood pressure that is below normal; that is, a systolic reading consistently between 85 and 110mmHg in an adult whose normal pressure is higher than this.
Hypoxia
Insufficient oxygen anywhere in the body.
Immobility
Prescribed or unavoidable restriction of movement in any area of a person’s life.
Immobility - impacts on life stages
Children - can delay gross motor skills and intellectual development. Adolescent - may alter growth patterns, loss of independence, social isolation. Older adults - Accelerates functional loss and increases physical dependency.
Incontinence
The inability to control the discharge or urine or faeces.
Induration
Abnormally hard spot (skin)
Infection
The disease process produced by micro-organisms.
Initial assessment
Provides essential patient information about health status in order of clinical importance. Carried out on every encounter with patient.
Insomnia
Inability to enough quality or quantity of sleep.
Inspection
The visual examination: assessment by using the sense of sight.
Integumentary system
The skin and its derivaties (hair, nails) and the subcutaneous tissue.
Interventions
Interventions should predominantly address the cause stated in a problem statement. If the cause cannot be addressed or resolved immediately then measures to reduce symptoms can be implemented (e.g pain relief administered whilst addressing the cause of swelling in tissue)
Keytonuria
A state in which ketone bodies are excreted in the urine.
Key part
The equipment or item that must be protected from contamination during an aseptic procedure
Key site
A site on the patient that must be protected from contamination during an aseptic procedure
Kilojoule
A metric measurement referring to the amount of energy required when a force of 1 newton moves 1 kg of weight 1m distance
Lateral position
A side-lying position.
Lipid
Otherwise known as fats. Is the most concentrated source of energy.
Maceration
Occurs when skin has been exposed to moisture for too long. Skin looks soggy, feels soft, or appears whiter than usual
Malnutrition
A state of sub-optimal nutrition and can result from insufficient or excessive total food intake.
Mastication
Chewing of food.
Melaena
Black faeces where the colour is caused by bleeding in the intestine.
Mental health
Positive concept – in which person is individually and socially responsible, self-directive, displays self-awareness, possesses resilience and good functioning.
Mental illness
Person experiencing thoughts, feelings and/or behaviours which adversely impact life, relationships or functioning.
Metabolism
Refers to all biochemical reactions within the cells of the body.
Micro critical aseptic field
Smaller parts of equipment that must be protected and kept sterile during an aseptic procedure
Micturition
The process of emptying the bladder
Mobilisation (early while hospitalised)
Prevents functional decline, promotes independence, decreases rick of muscle atrophy, atelectasis, DVT, pressure injuries and reduces length of stay.
Mode of transmission
How a pathogen can be transferred from one person, object or animal to another
Narcolepsy
An uncontrollable desire for sleep or attacks of sleep during the day.
Nasogastric tube
Tube for providing enteral feeding that is inserted through the nose to the stomach.
Necrotic/Eschar
Black material
Neuropathic pain
Pain experienced by people who have damaged or malfunctioning nerves because of illness, injury, or undetermined reasons.
Nociception
Physiological process related to pain perception
Nociceptive pain
Pain experienced when an intact, properly functioning nervous system sends signals that tissue is damaged, requiring attention and proper care.
Nocturia
Voiding two or more times at night.
Nocturnal enuresis
Involuntary passing of urine in sleep after voluntary bladder control has been gained.
Nutrition
What a person eats and how the body utilises it.
Nutritional assessment - ABCDE approach
Anthropometric: Height, weight, BMI, body circumference Biochemical: Haemoglobin, serum albumin, total lymphocyte count Clinical: Hair, nails, skin, mucous membranes, activity level Dietary: 24 hour food recall, food frequency record Environmental: Living conditions, education level, income
Objective data
Information that is detectable by an observer or can be tested against an accepted standard; can be seen, heard, felt, or smelled.
Occult blood
Hidden blood
Olig_
Few
Oliguria
Production of abnormally small amounts of urine.
Oedema
Fluid retention, the presence of excess interstitial fluid in the body
Orthopnoeic position
A sitting position that relieves respiratory difficulty; the person leans over and is supported by an overway table across the lap.
Pain tolerance
Maximum amount and duration of pain that an individual is willing to withstand without seeking avoidance of the pain or relief.
Pain threshold
The least amount of stimuli that is needed for a person to label a sensation as pain.
Palpation
The examination of the body by using the sense of touch.
Parasomnia
A cluster of patterns of waking behaviour that appears during sleep.
Passive ROM exercises
Another person moves each of an individual’s joints through its complete range, maximally stretching all muscle groups within each plane over the joint.
_pnoea
breathing
Percussion
A method in which the body surface is struck to elicit sounds that can be heard or vibrations that can be felt.
Percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy (PEG)
Feeding catheter inserted directly into the stomach though the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the abdomen.
Personal identity
The conscious sense of individuality and uniqueness that is continually evolving throughout life.
Perineal-genital care
Involves washing the genital and rectal areas of the body.
Personal hygiene practices (influences)
Social practice, personal preference, body image, socioeconomic state, health beliefs and motivation, cultural variables, physical condition.
Poly
Many
Polyuria
The production of large amounts of urine.
Portal of entry
The point of entrance of a pathogenic organism into the body.
Portal of exit
The means by which a pathogen exits a reservoir
Potential problem statement
A statement about a potential problem that could occur if intervention isn’t taken. Eg Mr. Carteris at riskof infectionrelated tobreak in skin integrity
PPE
PPE is important for protecting both the patient and nurse during aseptic procedures eg gloves, apron, safety glasses.
Pressure injury
Localised damage to the skin and underlying soft tissue usually over a bony prominence or related toa a medical or other device. The injury can present as intact skin or an open ulcer and may be painful. 95% are preventable! Formally called pressure ulcer, decubitus ulcer, bed sore, pressure sore.
Pressure injury - increased risk
Elderly, overweight, underweight, incontinent.
Pressure injury - Stage 1
Non blanchable erythema, skin intact, redness localised usually over a bony prominence (heralds risk)
Pressure injury - Stage 2
Partial thickness with exposed dermis. Wound bed is viable, pink or red, moist, may present as an intact or ruptured serum-filled blister. Adipose (fat) is not visible and deeper tissues not visible. Granulation tissue, slough and eschar not present.
Pressure injury - Stage 3
Full thickness skin loss. Subcutaneous fat may be visible but bone, tendon or muscle unexposed. Slough may be present - doesn’t obscure depth of tissue loss. May include undermining & tunnelling. Depth varies by anatomical location.
Pressure injury - Stage 4
Full thickness skin and tissue loss. Exposed bone, tendon or muscle. Slough or eschar may be present on some parts of the wound bed. Depth varies by anatomical location. Osteomyelitis (infection of the bone) possible.
Pressure injury - Unstageable
Obscured full thickness skin and tissue loss, covered by slough (yellow, tan, grey, green or brown) and/or eschar (tan, brown or black) in the wound bed. Need to remove slough/eschar to expose wound base and true depth, therefore stage cannot be determined.
Pressur injury - Deep
Persistent non-blanchable deep red, maroon or purple discolouration. Skin may be intact or blood-filled blister due to damage underlying soft tissue from pressuer and/or shear. May be preceded by painful, firm, mushy, boggy, warmer or cooler tissue, compared to adjacent tissue.
Proprioception
Awareness of posture, movement, changes in equilibrium and knowledge of position, weight and resistance of objects in relation to the body
Protein
Main purpose is synthesis of body tissue in growth, maintenance, and repair.
Proteinuria
A condition in which there are proteins present in the urine.
Purulent
Consisting of, containing, or discharging pus
Pulse pressure
The difference between the systolic and the diastolic pressure.
Recovery position
Side laying position used to assist keep an airway open in the unconscious person.
Referred pain
Pain perceived to be in one area, but the source is from another.
Reservoir
A source of microorganisms.
Respiratory arrest
The absence of breathing.
_rhythmia
Heart rhythm
Self concept
The collection of ideas, feelings, beliefs one has about self.
Self esteem
The value one has for one self, self confidence.
Semi-Fowler’s position
A bed sitting position in which the head of the bed is elevated between 15 and 45 degrees, with our without knee flexion.
Sepsis
A life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection damages its own tissues and organs.
Serous
Resembling or producing serum
Sequencing
Involves a series of actions that ensure each procedure is performed in a safe and appropriate order.
Sleep (factors affecting)
Illness, environment, lifestyle, stress, diet, smoking, motivation and medication
Sleep (clinical manifestations of not enough)
Risky decision making, reduced concentration, reduced memory, mood changes such as irritability, stress or anxiety
Sleep apnoea
Periodic cessation of breathing during sleep.
Sleep hygiene
Habits and practices that are conducive to sleep.
Slough
Yellow material in healing wound / Dead tissue in wound usually cream or yellow in colour
Skin integrity (factors that affect)
Age, impaired circulation, nutritional state, some medications.
Skin integrity (assessment of)
Colour, temperature, moisture, turgor (elasticity), odema, vascular changes, lesions.
SMART Goals
Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, timeframe
Somatic pain
Pain that originates in the skin, muscles, bone, or connective tissues.
Somnambulism
Sleep Walking.
Standard aseptic technique
A method to conduct a simple procedure, with a small number of key parts and small key sites
Standard precautions
Techniques used with all individuals to decrease the risk of transmitting unidentified pathogens.
Sternum
The breastbone.
Stress
Situation in which non-specific demand requires an individual to respond or take action.
Stressors
Stimuli preceding or precipitating a change that initiates a stress response.
Subjective data
Data that are apparent only to the person affected; can be described or verified only by that person.
Supine position
A back lying position without a pillow.
Surgical aseptic technique
is a technically complex procedure, with large open key sites and numerous key parts
Susceptible host
Any person who is at risk of infection
Systolic pressure
The pressure of the blood against the arterial walls when the ventricles of the heart contract.
Tachy
Fast
Tachycardia
An abnormally rapid pulse rate; greater than 100 beats per minute.
Tachypnoea
Abnormally fast respiration; usually more than 24 respiration per minute.
_tension
Pressure
Transmission based precautions
Actions taken in addition to standard precautions when those precautions do not completely block the chain of infection, and the infections are spread by airborne transmission, by droplet or by contact.
Turgor
Elasticity (of the skin)
_uria
Urine
Urgency
The feeling that one must urinate.
Unconscious
Not in a conscious state
Unresponsive
Does not respond to external stimuli
Visceral pain
Results from the stimulation of pain receptors in the abdominal cavity, cranium, and thorax.
_voluaemia
Blood volume
Wound healing (phases)
Inflammatory, proliferative, maturation
Xerostomia
Dry mouth
