Vocabulary Flashcards
Abstain
to voluntarily refrain from something.
Example: The dental hygienist instructed the patient to abstain from smoking to improve his breath odor.
Accountable
to be responsible
example: paramedics are accountable for maintaining up-to-date knowledge of resuscitation techniques.
Acute
Sudden, intense.
Example: The nurse administered the prescribed pain medication to the patient who was experiencing acute pain after surgery.
Adhere
To hold fast or stick together.
Example: The tape must adhere to the patient’s skin to hold the bandage in place.
Adverse
Undesired, possibly harmful.
Example: Vomiting is an adverse effect of many medications.
Aegis
Control, protection.
Example: unit staffing decisions are under the agis of the nurse manager.
Ambivalent
uncertain, having contradictory feelings.
example: After learning that she had breast cancer, the patient was ambivalent about having a mastectomy.
Apply
To place, put on, or spread something.
Example: The nurse will apply medication to the wound before covering the wound with a bandage.
Assent
to give consent; to agree.
Example: The patient was asked to assent to the surgery by signing the informed consent documentation.
Audible
able to be heard
Example: the respiratory therapist noted the patient’s audible wheezing as a symptom of the patient’s asthma.
Bacteria
Single-celled, microscopic organisms.
Example: The physician ordered a laboratory test to confirm that the patient’s illness was caused by bacteria rather than a virus.
Bilateral
Present on two sides
Example: The unlicensed assistive personnel repored to the nurse that the patient had bilateral weakness in the legs when walking.
Cardiac
Of or relating to the heart.
Example: Smoking increases the risk of cardiac disease.
Cavity
An opening or empty area
Example: The nurse inspected the patient’s oral cavity for lesions.
Cease
Come to an end or bring to an end
Example: Because the patient’s breathing had ceased, the paramedic began resuscitation measures.
Chronology
Order of events as they occurred; timeline.
Example: the police interviewed witnesses and first responders to determine the chronology of the accident.
Compensatory
offsetting or making up for something.
Example: When the patient’s blood pressure decreased, the paramedic noted that the heart rate increased which the paramedic recognized as compensatory action.
Concave
Rounded inward
Example: The dietician noticed that the patient was very thing and that the patient’s abdomen appeared concave.
Concise
Brief, to the point
Example: When teaching a patient, the nurse tried to be concise so that the instructions would be ease to remember.
Consistency
Degree of viscosity; how thick or thin a fluid is in relation to how it flows
Example: The respiratory therapist noticed that the mucus the patient was coughing was of a thin, water consistency.
Constrict
To draw together or become smaller
Example: The nurse knows that the small blood vessels of the skin will constrict when ice is applied to the skin.
Contingent
Dependent
Example: The hygienist told the patient that a healthy mouth is contingent on careful daily brushing and flossing.
Contraindication
A reason something is not advisable or should not be done.
Example: The patient’s excessive bleeding was a contraindication for discharge from the hospital.
Convulsive
Having or causing convulsions, i.e, violent shaking of the body
Example: Epilepsy is a convulsive disorder.
Cursory
Quick, perfunctory, not thorough.
Example: During triage, the paramedic gave each accident victim a cursory examination.
Defecate
Expel feces
Example: the unlicensed assistive personnel helped the patient to the toilet when the patient needed to defecate.
Deficit
A deficiency or lack of something
Example: The therapist explained that the patient will experience a fluid deficit if the patient continues to perspire heavily during exercise without drinking enough
Depress
Press downward
Example: The nurse will depress the patient’s skin to see if any swelling is present
Depth
Downward measurement from a surface
Example: The physician measures the depth of a wound by inserting cotton swab into the wound.
Deteriorating
Worsening
Example: the dental hygienist explains the condition of the patient’s gums is deteriorating and treatment by the dentist is needed right away.
Device
Tool or piece of equipment
Example: A thermometer is a device used to measure the patient’s body temperature.
Diagnosis
Identification of an injury or disease.
Example: The patient received a diagnosis of pancreatitis.
Dilate
To enlarge or expand
Example: When shining a light into the patient’s eyes the nurse looks to see if both pupils dilate in response to the light.
Dilute
to make liquid less concentrated
Example: the pharm tech suggests that the patient use fruit juice to dilute a foul-tasting drug so that the medication will be easier to swallow.
Discrete
distant, separate
Example: The paramedic observed several discrete bruise marks on the patient’s body.
Distal
Distant;away from center (such as of the body)
Example: The paramedic suspected that the patient had a dislocated knee and knew it was important to check a distal pulse in the ankle.
Distended
Enlarged or expanded from pressure
Example: When a blood vessel is distended, the laboratory technician can easily insert a needle to obtain a blood sample.
Dysfunction
Impaired or abnormal functioning.
Example: Family dysfunction may increase when a member experiences an acute physical illness.
Empathy
Ability to share what others are feeling’ understanding the feelings of another.
Example: After being diagnosed with cancer, the physician felt more empathy toward patients with cancer.
Equilibrium
Balance.
Example: The nurse suspected that an ear infection was the cause of the patient’s lack of equilibrium
Etiology
The origin or cause of a disease or condition
Example: The nurse interviewed the patient to determine the etiology of the patient’s food poisoning.
Exacerbate
to make worse or more severe
Example: The physical therapist recognized that too much exercise would exacerbate the patient’s breathing difficulties
Expand
Increase in size or amount
Example: The unlicensed assistive personnel turned the patient frequently so that the skin sore would not expand any further.
Exposure
To come in contact
Example: The nurse taught the parents of a newborn to avoid exposure to people with severe infections
Extension
Lengthening; unending a joint
Example: The physical therapist helped the patient perform extension and flexion exercises.
External
Located on outside of the body
Example: The assistant measure the amount of blood in the external drain after the patients surgery.
Fatal
resulting in death
Example: The emergency medical technicians arrived too late to save any lives at the scene of a fatal car accident
Fatigue
Extreme tiredness, exhaustion.
Example: the dietician explained to the patient that eating more iron-rich foods may help reduce feelings of fatigue
Flexion
bending a joint
Example: Arthritis can make flexion of the fingers difficult
Flushed
Reddened or ruddy appearance
Example: The therapist observed that the patient’s face was flushed after the patient completed the exercises.
