GLOSSARY

Abrasion
a scraping or rubbing off of the skin.
Airborne precaution
precaution taken when a person has an illness that can be carried in the air or in the dust particles. Common measures include special air handling and ventilation.
Ambulatory
Walking
Ampule
small, glass sealed flask, often containing medication.
Anesthesia
complete or partial loss of sensation.
Anuria
complete suppression of urine secretion in the kidney.
Apex
lower point of the heart, formed by the tip of the left ventricle
Apical pulse
pulse normally heard at the heart’s apex, which usually give the most accurate assessment of pulse rate
Aspiration
Inhalation of foodstuff, vomitus or saliva into the lungs.
Axilla
Armpit (under arm).
Autoclave
Equipment that decontaminates materials by exposing them to steam under pressure.
Apnea
Absence or lack of breathing
Anoxia
Lack of oxygen in the tissue.
Asphyxia
A condition produced by prolonged lack of oxygen
Asepsis
Absolute freedom from all microorganisms
Antiseptic
Harmless chemicals that can kill microorganisms or prevent them from
multiplying.
Aplastic anemia
Anemia resulting from destruction of bone marrow cells.
Atlectasis
collapse of all or part of the lung.
Aseptic technique
Procedure used to prevent microorganisms from reaching the operation site.
Auscultation
externally hearing sounds from within the body to differentiate abnormal conditions.
Autopsy
examination of the body after death.
Base of support
balance or stability provided by the feet and their position.
Bed cradles
a wire or wooden frame placed over the patient's body or feet to support the weight of the bedclothes.
Blood pressure
The force exerted by the heart to pump the blood around the body
Bradycardia
Abnormally slow heartbeat.
Bradypnea
abnormally sloe breathing, below 10 per minute.
Brand name
copyright name assigned by a company that makes the medication; also called the trade name.
Brain death
irreversible cessation of brain and brain stem function to the extent that cardiopulmonary function must be mechanical maintained.
Bounding pulse
Stronger than normal heartbeat.
Body mechanics
use of safe and efficient methods of moving and lifting.
Carotid pulse
pulse felt on either sides of the neck, over the carotid artery.
Capsule
a small gelatinous case for holding a dose of medicine; a membranous structuring enclosing another body structure, as the articular capsule in a joint.
Catheter
A soft rubber tube which is used for passage of fluid.
Center of gravity
the center of one’s weight; half of one’s body weight is below and half above, and half to the left and half to the right of the center of gravity.
Chemical name
medication name that describes its chemical composition (often same as generic name).
Cheyne-Stkes respiration:
breathing characterized by deep breathing alternating with very slow
breathing or apnea often precedes death.
Contaminated
Area that contains germs or diseaseproducing material.
Constipation
difficult or infrequent and hardened bowel movement.
Contracture
abnormal shortening of muscle with resulting deformity.
Cyanosis
Bluish color of lips, tip of the nose, and ear lobes due to lack of or shortage of oxygen in the blood.
Cast
A material that supported an injured part of the body and makes it immobilize.
Clips
Metallic materials that keep the skin together.
Closed bed
bed used when preparing a unit for a new client- an unoccupied bed.
Congestion
Hyperemia, accumulation of blood in a part of blood or fluid in a part of the body e.g., lung.
Contact precaution
precaution taken against disease that can be transmitted through direct contact between a susceptible host’s body surface and an infected or colonized person.
Cystitis
inflammation of urinary bladder.
Dangling
positioning of a client so that he or she is sitting on the edge of the bed with legs down and feet supported by a footstool or the floor.
Debridement
removal of foreign, dead, and contaminated material from a wound, so as to expose healthy underlying tissue.
Decontamination
The process of rendering an item free from infection.
Defecation
Act of excreting feces from the rectum.
Detergent
A substance usually dissolved in water used
as an aid for cleaning purposes.
Diagnosis
The decision regarding the nature of an illness, arrived at by clinical assessment of the patient and result of investigation.
Diarrhea
abnormal frequency and fluidity of discharge from the bowels.
Diastole
The resting phase of the heart during which it fills with blood.
Digitalis
A drug given to slow and strengthen the heartbeat.
Disinfectant
A chemical used to kill microorganisms.
Dorsal lithotomy
examination position in which the client is lying on his or her back with the feet in stirrups.
Dosage
an amount in a prescription that contains the dose and the scheduled time.
Dry heat
Air heated to high temperature by electricity and used for sterilizing purposes.
Droplet precaution
precautions taken to prevent the spread of diseases transmitted by microorganisms propelled through the air from an infected person and deposed on the host’s eyes, nose or mouth.
Dyspnea
Difficulty in breathing.
Dysuria
difficult or painful urination or voiding.
Edema
Swelling due to water accumulation in body cells vessel, which partially or completely obstructs blood flow (embolism; pl. emboli).
Elective (surgery)
case in which the client’s condition is not life threatening and may choose whether or not to have surgery; also called optional surgery.
Embolus
a foreign substance, blood clot, fat globule, piece of tissue, or air bubble carried in a blood
Enema
An injection of fluid into the colon or rectum.
Enteric
pertaining to the small intestine. Entericcoated tablets are covered with a substance that prevents their digestion in the stomach.
Eupnea
normal respiration
Eviceration
the protrusion of the intestines through an abdominal wound ; removal of the internal body contents.
Exhalation
Breathing out.
Exudate
material that escapes from blood vessels and is deposited in tissue or on tissue surfaces; usually contains protein substances.
Fahrenheit
System of measuring heat
Femoral pulse
pulse felt in the groin over the femoral artery
Fecal impaction
accumulation of hardened stool in the rectum.
Fever
Body temperature elevation above 370C
Flatus
Gas in the intestines.
Footboard
A board placed at the foot of the bed to support the feet.
Footdrop
contructure deformity that prevents the client from putting the heel on the floor; results from improper positioning or anterior leg muscle paralysis. On his or her back with the head elevated.
Fowler’s position
a position in which the client is lying.
Gait
manner or style of walking.
Gastrostomy
Making an artificial opening into the stomach through which the patient is fed by pouring nourishment through a tube directly into the stomach.
Generic name
name assigned by a drug’s first manufacturer (often the chemical name).
Halitosis
bad breath.
Hemoglobin
the oxygen carrying pigment in blood that gives blood its red color.
Hypertension
High blood pressure.
Hypo tension
Low blood pressure.
Hypothermia
low body temperature.
Hypothermia blanket
cooling blanket; also called hypothermia blanket.
Hypoxia
reduction of oxygen in the tissues; also called hypoxemia.
Incontinence
Loss of bladder or bowel control.
Infection
Invasion of the body by germs.
Inflammation
Reaction of the body to infection or injury,
characterized by redness, heat, pain, and
swelling at the site.
Infusion
slow induction of fluids (not blood) into a
vein, as an intravenous (IV) infusion
Inhalation
Breathing in.
Intake
Fluid taken into the body.
Intraoperative
occurring during a surgical operation.
Irrigation
Injecting fluid into a cavity without interrupting its return.
Isolation
The act of setting apart. An isolation room or ward is one kept for contagious or infectious diseases.
Korotkoff’s sound
sounds heard when measuring blood pressure with a stethoscope.
Kusmal’s breathing
sever paroxysmal dyspnea, as in diabetic acidocis and coma
Laceration
a wound produced by tearing or ripping (as opposed to an incision made in surgery).
Leukocyte
white blood cell (WBC).
Line of gravity
direction of gravitation pull; an imaginary vertical line through the top of the head, center of gravity, and base of support.
Microorganism
Bacteria, virus, fungi, and spores.
Medication
substance other than food used to prevent disease, to aid in diagnosis and treatment and to restor or maintain functions in the body tissues; also called drug.
Melena
passage of dark colored stools containing
partially or fully digested blood, also used to
mean abnormal blood in the stool or
vomitus.
Micturation
passage of urine from the urinary bladder;
also called voiding , urinating.
Mitered corner
A triangular fold made in bedclothes to hold
them in place at the corners.
Necrosis
Death of tissue.
Nocturia
excessive voiding (urination) during the night.
Nits
The eggs of a louse.
Occupied bed
bed holding a client that is unable to get up as a result of his or her condition or generalized weakness.
Occult
hidden.
Oliguria
deficient urinary secretion or infrequent urination.
Ophthalmic
medications that are instilled or administration directly to the eye.
Oral
of or pertaining to the mouth
Orthopenia
difficult breathing relieved by seating or standing erect
Output
All fluid lost from the body.
Otic
of the ear.
Orthopnea
A condition in which one breathes easier in a sitting position.
Palpation
the act of feeling with the hand placing the finger on the skin.
Paralysis
motion loss or impairment of sensation in a body part.
Parenteral
administered in to the body in a way other than through the alimentary canal (subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular), as parenteral medication
Pedal pulse
pulse on the foot felt over the dorsal pedis artery or posterior tibial artery
Perineal care
bathing the genital and surrounding area.
Perioperative
the period surrounding surgery; includes preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods.
Pharmachokinetics
actions of drug
Pharmachology
the study of chemicals (drugs, medications) and their effect.
Potentiation
enhancement of one agent by another, so that the combined action is greater than the sum of the two.
Pneumonia
lung inflammation, with consolidation and drainage.
Pediculosis
Human louse infestation
Polyuria
voiding an excessive amount of urine.
Popliteal pulse
pulse located posterior to the knee.
Postural drainage
Position adapted to facilitate expectoration of material in patients with lung disease.
Postoperative
After an operation.
Postoperative bed
bed prepared for a client who is returning from surgery or another procedure that requires transfer into the bed from a stretcher or wheelchair.
Prescription
written formula for preparing and administering medication.
Preoperative
Before an operation
Projectile vomiting
emesis expelled with great force.
Prone
positioning a client so that he or she is lying on the stomach.
Pressure ulcer
ulcerated sore often cause by prolonged pressure on a bony prominence or other area, especially if the client is allowed to lie
in one position for an extended period . Also called decubetus ulcer. (formerly “called bedsore”).
Protective device
piece of equipment, most often a vest or a belt, used to ensure the safety of the client ()ie, helping client to remain in a chair without falling); also called a client reminder device.
Protective isolation
attempts to prevent harmful microorganisms from coming into contact with the client; also called reverse or neutropenic isolation
Pulse
The beat of the heart felt in the arteries.
Pulse deficit
the difference between apical pulse and radial pulse.
Pulse pressure
difference between systolic & diastolic pressure.
Puncture
a whole made by a pointed object; penetration.
Recumbent
lying down
Rotation
process of turining about an axis, as rotation of the hand of the fetus in preparation of delivery.
Respiration
Breathing rate.
Radial pulse
pulse measured above the radial artery on the inside of the wrist.
Rectal
of the rectum
Retention enema
An injection of fluid that is retained in the rectum for absorption into the blood stream.
Restraints
Devices that limit the patient's ability to move in order to protect him/her from injury.
Septic wound
Infection wound; a wound containing infective microorganisms.
Sitzbath
A warm soaking of the rectum and perineal area.
Splint
A device for immobilizing part of the body
Spore
The seeds of microorganisms, which are resistant to drying, heat, and disinfectants
Standard precaution
precautions designed for the care of all clients regardless of diagnosis or infection status.
Sterile
Specially treated so that all microorganisms are destroyed
Stethoscope
Instrument for magnifying sound
Specimen
A small amount of body excretion or body fluid that is sent to a laboratory for examination.
Sphygmomanometer
Blood pressure apparatus.
Suppository
Rectally administered cones containing a medication in the base that is soluble at body temperature.
Sutures
Materials that keep broken skin together.
Systole
Blood pressure period during the beating phase of the heartbeat during which blood is expelled from heat.
Sepsis
Presence of microorganisms.
Synergism
joint action of agents in which the combined effects is greater than the sum of the individual parts.
Tablet
a compressed, spherical forms of medication.
Temperature
Degree of heat.
Tachycardia
Abnormally fast heartbeat.
Tachypenea
conditions in which breaths are abnormally rapid, more than 20 per minute
Thermometer
An instrument used to measure temperature.
Topical
medication that are applied directly to the skin or mucus membranes.
Traction
exertion of a pulling force ; an apparatus attached to the client to maintain stability of a joint or aligned fracture or to exert a pulling force elsewhere, as in the lower back, to relieve pressure.
Transfusion
Injection of blood into a vein.
Transimission-based-
precaution: precaution designed for clients with specific infection or diagnoses
Tympanic membrane
eardrum.
Unconscious
Not aware of or responding to surroundings.
Unoccupied bed
bed that is empty at the time it is made up.
Urinalysis
examination of urine.
Urgency
desire or sensation of needing to void immediately.
Urinary catheter
tube inserted into bladder through the urethra to remove urine.
Urinary frequency
voiding more often than usual without an increase in total urine volume.
Urinary retention
inability to empty the bladder of urine.
Virulence
ability of a microorganism to cause a disease, strength,, potency.
Vital signs
Signs of life (e.g., temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, blood pressure).
Void
to cast out waste, as to urinate, micturate.
Vomitus
stomach contents expelled by vomitus.
Wound
injury to any body structures caused by physical means.
Z-track
“zig-zag” method of injecting caustic medications deep into muscle tissue.






















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