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.