Vocabulary 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
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
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
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
the inability to plan and perform purposeful motor movements to complete a task despite having the ability and the desire to perform the task
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 in nursing homes
asthma
an illness in which certain substances or conditions, called “triggers”, cause inflammation and construction of the airways, making it difficult to breathe
atraumatic care
a philosophy of caring for ill or injured children that focuses on reducing the negative effects associated with illness and injury by minimizing the physical and emotional stress the child and family members experience
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 of 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 strain 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
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 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
paint 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, language, and judgment
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 explains why you are interested in the job and the organization, 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
wt. or wgt.
weight
microbes (microorganisms)
tiny living organisms that are too small to see but are all around us
tuberculosis
- airborne pathogen
* bacterial infection of the lungs
isolation precautions
actions taken to isolate pathogens to prevent them from spreading
mentally impaired
mental or psychological disorder
laws
rules established by a governing authority to protect citizens from harm and provides a framework for resolving conflicts
breaktime
time off of work
legal rights
rights given to a person by a given legal system
confidentiality
keeping patients info private unless patient gives consent
competency evaluation program
assessment of the ability of a defendant to understand and participate in a court process
alignment
good posture
accreditation
official recognition that the facility provides care to a certain standard. gives recipients of healthcare confidence that they will receive quality care.
human sexuality
sexuality : how we perceive ourselves
sexual behavior
physical activities such as masturbation
sexual identity
sexual orientation and preference with regard to sexual partners..
human growth and development
human development: social changes, emotional changes, and cognitive changes
human growth: physical changes
life cycle: series of changes in the life of an organism
stage: age and show different human growth and developmental changes
respectful treatment
showing that you value others opinions, time, and privacy
standard precautions
precautions that health care workers take with every person
standard precautions
precautions that health care workers take with every person to protect themselves and others from pathogens that are transmitted in body fluids
direct care workers
people who care for individuals of all ages who have disabilities or a chronic illness and need assistance