Terminology Word Bank Flashcards
Abdomen (o)
pertaining to the abdomen, root word.
Abduction
Moving a body part away from the midline of the body
Absorption
The transfer of nutrients from the intestines to the cells
Abuse
Purposeful mistreatment that causes physical, mental, or emotional pain or injury to someone
ADL
Activites of daily living. Daily personal care tasks. such as bathing, washing, caring for skin, eating, drinking.
AIDS
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. most advanced stage of HIV. causes weakened immune system.
Angina
Chest pain, pressure, or discomfort
Angio
Vessel, root word.
Apnea
Cessation of breathing for at least 10 seconds
Aspiration
The inhalation of food, fluid, or foreign material into the lungs
Assault
A threat to harm a person, resulting in the person being fearful that they will be harmed.
Atrophy
The wasting away, decreasing in size, and weakening of muscle from lack of use
B.I.D
two times a day
BBP
Bloodborne Pathogens
Brachial (pulse)
The pulse located inside the elbow about 1-1 1/2 inches above the elbow
Brady
Slow, Prefix
Card, Cardi
Heart, root word.
Cataract
A clouding or opacification of the normally clear lens of the eye or its capsule
CHF
congestive heart failure
Cognitive impariment
The loss of ability to think logically and clearly
Constipation
The inability to eliminate stool, or the infrequent, difficult and often painful elimination of hard dry stool.
Contracture
The permanent and often painful shortening of a muscle or tendon usually due to a lack of activity.
COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
CVA
Cerebrovascular accident, stroke.
Cyanosis
A blueish color in the skin, lips, and nail beds caused by a shortage of oxygen in the blood
Cyst(o)
Bladder, Cyst. Root Word.
Dangle
to sit up with legs hanging over the side of the bed in order to regain balance and stabilize blood pressure
Dehydration
A serious condition that results from inadequate fluid in the body
Delegation
Assignment of activities or tasks related to patient care to assistive personnel.
Delirium
A state of sever confusion that occurs suddenly and is usually temporary.
Dementia
The serious loss of mental abilities, such as thinking, remembering, reasoning, and communicating.
Diastolic
the second measurement of blood pressure. pause when the heart relaxes or rests.
DNR
Do not resuscitate. A medical order that instructs medical professionals not to perform CPR in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest.
Digestion
The process of preparing food physically and chemically so that it can be absorbed into the cells.
doff
To remove
Dorsiflexion
Bending backwards
Dys
Difficulty
Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing
Dyspnea
Difficulty Breathing
Ectomy
Excision, Removal of. Suffix
Edema
Swelling caused by excess fluid in body tissues
Elimination
The process of expelling wastes (made up of the wastes products of foods and fluids) that are not absorbed into the cells.
Embolism
an obstruction of a blood vessel, usually by a blood clot
Extension
straighteing a body part
Fecal impaction
Hardened stool that’s stuck in the rectum or lower colon due to chronic constipation
Flexion
bending a body part
Fowler’s position
a semi siting body position in which a person’s head and shoulders are elevated to 45 to 60 degrees
Gaster
Gastro, stomach. Root word.
Gastrostomy
A surgically created opening into the stomach in order to insert a tube
Glaucoma
A condition in which there is a buildup of fluid in the eye which presses on the retina and the optic nerve
Grief
Deep distress of sorrow over a loss
HAI
Healthcare associated infection. An infection aquired within a health-care setting during the delivery of medical care
Hema, Hemato
Blood. Root word.
Hematuria
Blood in urine.
Hemoptysis
Coughing or spitting up blood form the respiratory tract
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. A federal law that requires health information to be kept private or secure and orgs take steps to protect information.
Hospice Care
Holistic, compassionate care given to people who have approximately six months or less to live.
Hyper
Too much, high. Prefix
Hyperglycemia
High blood glucose.
Hypo
Too little, Low. Prefix
Hypoglycemia
Low blood glucose
I&O
intake and output
Incontinence
The inability to control the bladder or bowls
Inhalation
The act of taking oxygen into lungs.
itis
inflammation. suffix.
Kubler Ross
Stages of death. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
Logrolling
Moving a person as a unit without disturbing the alignment of the body
Malignant
Cells growing uncontrolled and invading nearby tissues
Maslow
Hierarchy of needs
Metabolism
Physical and chemical process by which substances are broken down or transformed into energy or products for use by the body.
Microbe
Microorganism (MO): a living thing or organism that is so small that it can be seen only under a microscope
mL
mililiter
MS
multiple sclerosis
Myocardial Infaction
MI, a condition that occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen because blood flow to the heart is blocked. heart attack.
Neglect
the failure to provide needed care that results in physical mental or emotional harm to a person
NG
Nasogastric
NPO
Nothing by mouth. Medical order that means a person should not have anything to eat or drink.
Nutrient
A necessary substance that provides energy, promotes growth & health, and helps regulate metabolism
OBRA
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act: A federal law that includes minimum standards for nursing assistant training, staffing requirements, resident assessment instruction, and information of rights for residents.
Ombudsman
A legal advocate for residents in long-term care facilities who helps resolve disputes and settle conflicts
Orthopneic position
Sitting upright in a chair or bed supported by pillows behind the back
OSHA
Occupational safety and health administration
Ostomy
A surgically created opening from an area inside the body to the outside.
oz
ounce
Palliative care
care given to people who have serios diseases or who are dying that emphasizes reliving pain, controlling symptoms, and preventing side affects
Paraplegia
loss of function of lower body and legs
PASS
Pull the pin. Aim at the base of the fire when spraying. Squeeze the handle. Sweep back and forth at the base of the fire
Pathogen
Microrganism that are capable of causing infection or disease
PEG
Percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy tube. A feeding tube that is placed into the stomach through the abdominal wall.
Phagia
To eat
phasia
Speaking
Plantarflexion
Extension of the ankle so that the foot points down and away from the leg
pnea
Breathing. Root word.
pneo
Breathing. Root word
Pre
Before, In front of. Prefix.
PRN
When Necessary
Prone
A body position in which a person is lying on their stomach or front side of body
Prosthesis
A device that replaces a body part that is missing or deformed. Used to increase a person’s quality of life.
pulm(o)
Lung. Root word.
pulse oximeter
electronic device that measures the saturation of O2 carried in your blood.
Q.I.D
Four times a day
Q4H
Every 4 Hours
Quadriplegia
A loss of function of legs, trunk or arms.
RACE
Remove anyone in danger if you are not in danger. Alert by activating fire alarm system or calling 911. Contain the fire if possible by closing all doors and windows. Extinguish the fire or fire department will. Evacuate the area if ordered to.
Radial
Most common pulse point
Rehabilitation
Care that is given by specialist to help restor or improve function after illness or injury
Resident
A patient admitted to a nursing facility
Respiration
The process of inhaling air into the lungs AND exhaling air out of the lungs
Restraint
A physical or chemical way to restrict voluntary movement or behavior
Restraint alternative
Measures used in place of a restraint or that reduce the need for restraints
ROM
Range of Motion
Shearing
Rubbing or friction that results from the skin moving on way and the bone underneath it remaining fixed or moving in the opposite direction.
SOB
Shortness of Breath
Stomy
Creation of an opening
Sputum
Thick mucus coughed up from the lungs
Standard precautions
a method of infection prevention in which all blood, body fluids, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes are treated as if they were infected.
STAT
immediatly
Stoma
An artificial opening in the body
Stress
The state of being frightened, excited, confused, in danger or irritated
sundowning
becoming restless and agitated in the afternoon, evening, or night.
Supine
A body position in which a person lies flat on their back.
Syncope
Loss of consciousness; fainting
systolic
first measurment of blood pressure. Phase when the heart is at work. Contracting and pushing the blood out of the left ventricle.
Tachy
Swift, Fast, Rapid. Perfix.
Thromb(o)
Blood clot. Root Word.
TID
Three times a day
Tissues
A group or layer of cells that work together to perform a function
Trache(o)
Trachea, Windpipe. Root word.
Transmission (based) Precautions
Method of infection prevention used when caring for persons who are infected or may be infected with certain infectious diseases
Urethr(o)
Urethra. Root Word.
uria
Condition of the urine
