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153 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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ac
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before a meal
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ADL
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activities of daily living
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AM (A.M. , am)
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morning
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ASAP
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as soon as possible
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bid
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twice a day
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BM
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bowel movement
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BP, B/P
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blood pressure
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c (with hyphen)
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with
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cc
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cubic centimeter
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c/o
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complains of
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CPR
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cardiopulmonary resuscitation
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CVA
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cerebral vascular accident (stroke)
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DNR
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do not resuscitate
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DON
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director of nursing
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H2O
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water
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HS (hs)
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hour of sleep (bedtime)
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I&O
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intake and output
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lb
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pound
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LPN
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licensed practical nurse
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ml (mL)
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milliliter
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noc, noct
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night
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NPO (npo)
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nother per mouth (nils per os)
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N&V
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nausea and vomiting
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O2
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oxygen
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oz (Oz)
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ounce
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pc
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pediatrics
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PM (P.M. , pm)
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afternoon or evening
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po (per os)
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by mouth
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prn
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as necessary
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PT
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physical therapy
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q
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every
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qd
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every day
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qh
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every hour
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q2h, q3h, q4h, ect
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every 2 hours, every 3 hours, every 4 hours, ect
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qid
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four times a day
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qod
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every other day
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R
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rectal
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RN
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registered nurse
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ROM
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range of motion
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s (with hyphen)
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without
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SOB
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shortness of breath
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STAT, stat
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at once, immediately
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tbsp
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tablespoon
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tid
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three times a day
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TPR
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temperature, pulse, and respirations
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tsp
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teaspoon
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UA (u/a)
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urinalysis
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VA (vs)
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vital signs
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WNL
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within normal limits
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advance directive
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a document that allows a person to make his wishes regarding health care known to family members and health care workers
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anorexia
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loss of appetite
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anxiety
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feeling of uneasiness, dread, apprehension, or worry
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aphasia
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general term for a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to communicate with others; may be expressive (an inability to form words) or receptive (inability to understand words); often occurs following a stroke
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aspiration
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the accidental inhalation of foreign material (such as food, liquids, or vomitus) into the airway
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atrophy
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the loss of muscle size and strength
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attitude
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the side of ourselves that we display to the world, communicating outwardly how we feel about things
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bedpan
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a device used for elimination when a person is unable to get out of bed
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bedside commode
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a device used for elimination when a person is able to get out of bed, but unable to walk to the bathroom; it consists of a chair-like frame with a toilet seat and a removable collection bucket
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body mechanics
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the efficient and safe use of the body
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cardiac arrest
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the condition where the heart has stopped
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catheter
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a tube that is inserted into the body for the purpose of administering or removing fluids
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catheter care
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thorough cleaning of the perineal are (especially around the urethra) and the catheter tubing that extends outside of the body, to prevent infection
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cell
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the basic unit of life
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chemical restraint
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any medication that alters a person's mood or behavior, such as a sedative or tranquilizer
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chronic
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a word used to describe a disorder that is ongoing and often needs to be controlled through continuous medication or treatment
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chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
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a general term used to describe two related lung disorders, emphysema and chronic bronchitis; the leading cause of COPD is smoking
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competency evaluation
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an exam consisting of a written portion and a skills portion that must be passed at the end of the nursing assistant training course to obtain certification
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constipation
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a condition that occurs when the feces remain in the intestines for too long, resulting in hard, dry feces that are too difficult to pass
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contractures
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a condition that occurs when a joint is held in the same position for too long a time; the tendons shorten and become stiff, possibly causing permanent loss of motion in the joint
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coordinated body movement
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using the weight of the body to help with movement
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culture
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the beliefs (including religious or spiritual beliefs), values, and traditions that are customary to a group of people; a view of teh world that is handed down from generation to generation
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defecate
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to have a bowel movement
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delegate
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to authorize another person to perform a task on your behalf
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diarrhea
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the passage of liquid, unformed feces
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diastole
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the resting phase of the cardiac cycle; during which the myocardium relaxes, allowing the chambers to fill with blood
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diastolic pressure
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the pressure that the blood exerts against the arterial walls when the heart muscle relaxes; the second blood pressure measurement
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do not resuscitate (DNR) order
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an order written on a person's chart specifying the person's wishes that the usual efforts to save his life will not be made; also called a no-code order
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durable power of attorney for health care
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a type of advance directive that transfers the responsibility for handling a person's affairs and making medical decisions to a family member
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edema
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too much fluid in the tissues of the body
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edentulous
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without teeth
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enema
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a solution that is placed into the large intestine by way of the anus for the purpose of removing feces from the rectum
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fecal (bowel) incontinence
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the inability to hold one's feces, or the involuntary loss of feces from the bowel
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fecal impaction
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condition that occurs when constipation is not relieved
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fever
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a body temperature that is higher than normal
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fracture
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a broken bone
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fracture pan
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a wedge-shaped bedpan that is used when a person has an injury or disability that makes it too uncomfortable or dangerous to use a regular bedpan
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hematuria
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blood in the urine
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hemiplegia
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paralysis on one side of the body
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hemorrhage
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severe, uncontrolled bleeding
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hepatitis
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inflammation of the liver
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holistic
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word used to describe care of the whole person, physically and emotionally
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homeostasis
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a state of balance
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HYPERglycemia
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state of having too much glucose in the bloodstream
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HYPERtension
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high blood pressure; a blood pressure that is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg (systolic) and/or 90 mm Hg (diastolic)
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HYPOglycemia
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a dangerous drop in blood glucose levels
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HYPOtension
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low blood pressure; a blood pressure that is consistently lower than 90 mm Hg (systolic) and/or 60 mm Hg (diastolic)
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incident (occurrence) report
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preprinted document that is completed following an accident involving a patient or resident
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intake and output (I&O) flow sheet
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a document used for recording measurements of all of the fluids that enter and leave the body
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leukocytes
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white blood cells; responsible for fighting infection
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life (draw) sheet
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a small, flat sheet that is placed over the middle of the bottom sheet, covering the area of the bed from above the person's shoulders to below his or her buttocks
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malignant
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"evil"; adjective used to describe a cancerous tumor (that is, one that grows rapidly and spreads)
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materials safety data sheet (MSDS)
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document that summarizes key information about a chemical, its composition, which exposures may be dangerous, what to do if an exposure should occur, and how to clean up spills
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medicaid
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a federally funded and state-regulated plan designed to help people with low incomes to pay for health care
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medical asepsis
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techniques that are used to physically remove or kill pathogens
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medicare
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a type of insurance plan that is federally funded by Social Security and which all people 65 years and older, and some younger disabled people, are eligible to participate in
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metastasis
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process by which cancer cells spread from their original location in the body to a new location, which may be quite distant from the first
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midstream ("clean catch") urine specimen
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method of collecting urine that prevents contamination of the urine by the bacteria that normally exist in and around the urethra
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mitered corner
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a corner that is made b folding and tucking the sheet so that it lies flat and neat against the mattress
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myocardial infarction
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a "heart attack"; occurs when one or more of the coronary arteries become completely blocked, preventing blood from reaching the parts of the heart that are fed by the affected arteries
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nonverbal communication
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way of communicating that uses facial expressions, gestures, and body language, instead of written or spoken language
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nosocomial infections
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infections that patients or residents get while receiving treatment in a hospital or other health care facility; a type of health care-associated infection (HAI)
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NPO status
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doctor's order specifying that a patient or resident is to have "nils per os" (nothing by mouth)
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nursing care plan
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a specific plan of care for each patient or resident developed by the nursing team
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objective
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information that is obtained directly, through measurements or by using one of the five senses (sight, smell, taste, hearing, touch)
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occupational safety and health administration (OSHA)
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an agency within the department of labor that establishes safety and health standards for the workplace, to protect the safety and health of employees
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omnibus budget reconciliation act (OBRA)
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an act passed in 1987 to improve the quality of life for people who live in long-term care facilities by making sure that residents receive a certain standard of care
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orthostatic hypotension
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a sudden decrease in blood pressure that occurs when a person stands up from a sitting or lying position
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osteoporosis
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disorder characterized by the excessive loss of bone tissue
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ostomy
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an artificial opening in the abdomen for the elimination of feces
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paraplegia
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paralysis from the waist down
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Parkinson's disease
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a progressive neurologic disorder that is characterized by tremor and weakness in the muscles and a shuffling gait
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perineal care (pericare)
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cleaning the perineum and anus, as well as the vulva (in women) and the penis (in men)
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peristalsis
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involuntary wavelike muscular movements, such as those that occur in the digestive system to move chyme (partially digested food) through the intestines
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personal protective equipment (PPE)
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barriers that are worn to physically prevent microbes from reaching a health care provider's skin or mucous membranes, such as gloves, gown, masks, and protective eyewear
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phantom pain
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the feeling that a body part is still present, after it has been surgically removed (amputated)
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physical restraint
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device that is attached to or near a person's body to limit a person's freedom of movement or access to his or her body
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postmortem care
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the care of a person's body after the person's death
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pressure ulcer
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difficult-to-heal (and possibly even fatal) sore that forms when part of the body presses against a surface (such as a mattress or chair) for a long period of time; also known as pressure sores and decubitus ulcers
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PRN (as-needed) care
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personal hygiene care that is provided whenever a patient or resident needs it, throughout the day or night
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pulse rate
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the number of pulsations that can be felt over an artery in 1 minute; an indication of the heart rate
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quadriplegia
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paralysis from the neck down
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range of motion
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complete extent of movement that a joint is normally capable of without causing pain
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respiration
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the process the body uses to obtain oxygen from the environment and remove carbon dioxide (a waste gas) from the body
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respiratory arrest
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the condition where breathing has stopped
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respiratory rate
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the number of times a person breathes in 1 minute (one breath is both an inhalation and an exhalation)
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restorative care
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measures that health care workers take to help a person regain health, strength, and function; the means by which rehabilitation is achieved
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rigor mortis
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the stiffening of the muscles that usually develops within 2 to 4 hours of death
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scope of practice
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the range of tasks that a nursing assistant is legally permitted to do
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sexuality
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how a person perceives his or her maleness or femaleness
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spyhgmomanometer
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device used to measure blood pressure
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standard precautions
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precautions that a health care worker takes with each patient or resident to prevent contact with bloodborne pathogens; includes the use of barrier methods (such as gloves) as well as certain environmental control methods
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stroke
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disorder that occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is completely blocked, causing the tissue to die; also known as a "brain attack" or cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
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subjective
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information that cannot be objectively measured or assessed
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symptoms
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subjective evidence of disease, based on data that cannot be measured or observed first-hand, such as a patient's or resident's complaint of pain
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systolic pressure
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the pressure that blood exerts against the arterial walls when the heart muscle contracts; the first blood pressure measurement that is recorded
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terminal illness
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an illness or condition from which recovery is not expected
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transfer
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move from one place to another, for example, from the bed to a wheelchair
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transfer (gait) belt
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a webbed or woven belt with a buckle that is used to assist a weak or unsteady person with standing, walking, or transferring
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urgency
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a need to urinate immediately
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urination
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the process of passing urine from the body
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validation therapy
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a technique used for interacting with people who have dementia, in which the caregiver acknowledges the person's reality; rather than correcting the person, the caregiver attempts to distract the person and redirect the conversation whenever possible
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verbal communication
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a way of communicating that uses written or spoken language
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vital signs
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certain key measurements that provide essential information about a person's health
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