West Coast University Placement Exam Med. Terms

Front 1

Adrupt

Back 1

Sudden

The nurse noticed an abrupt change in the patient's level of pain

Front 2

Abstain

Back 2

To voluntarily refrain from something

The dental hygenist instructed the patient to abstain from smoking to improve his breath odor

Front 3

Access

Back 3

A means to obtain entry or a means of approach

To administer medications into the patient's vein, the nurse must access the vein with a special needle

Front 4

Accountable

Back 4

responsible

Paramedics are accountable for maintaining up to date knowledge of resuscitation technique

Front 5

Adhere

Back 5

To hold fast and stick together

The tape must adhere to patient's skin to hold the bandage in place

Front 6

Adverse

Back 6

Undesired, possibly harmful

Vomiting is an adverse effect of many medication

Front 7

Affect

Back 7

Appearance of observable emotion

The nurse observed that a depressed patient exhibited no obvious emotion and reported that the patient had a flat affect

Front 8

Apply

Back 8

To place, put on, or spread somethign

The physical thereapist will apply a medication to the wound before covering the wound with a bandage

Front 9

Audible

Back 9

Able to be heard

The respiratory therapist noticed that when the patient was having diffculty breathing, the therapist could hear an audible wheezing sound.

Front 10

Bilateral

Back 10

Present on two sides

The unlicensed assistive personnel reported to the nurse that the patient had bilateral weakness in the legs when walking

Front 11

Cast

Back 11

Hard protective device applied to protect a broken bone while the bone heals

The nurse instrcted the child that he could not go swimming while the cast was on his broken arm

Front 12

Cease

Back 12

Come to an end or bring to an end

Because the patient's breathing had ceased, the paramedic began resuscitation measures

Front 13

Compensatory

Back 13

Offsetting or making up for something

When the patient's blood pressure decreased, the paramedic noted that the hear rate increased, which the paramedic recognized as a compensatory action

Front 14

Comply

Back 14

Do as directed
The nurse asked the patient to comply with the instructions for taking medication

Front 15

Concave

Back 15

Rounded inward

The dietician noticed that the patiend was very thin, and the patient's adbon appeared concave.

Front 16

Concise

Back 16

Brief, to the point.

When teaching a patient, the nurse tried to be concise, so the instructions would be easy to remember

Front 17

Consistency

Back 17

Degree of viscosity, how thick or thin a fluid is

The respiratory therapist notice that the mucus the patient was coughing was of a thin, watery consistency

Front 18

Constrict

Back 18

To draw together or become smaller

The nurse knows that the small blood vessels of the skin will constrict when ice is applied to the skin

Front 19

Contingent

Back 19

Dependent

The hygienist told the patient that a healthy mouth is cotingent on careful daily brushing and flossing

Front 20

Contour

Back 20

Shape or outline of shape

While bathing an overweight patient, the unlicensed assistive personnel noticed that the contour of the patient's abdomenwas quite rounded.

Front 21

Contract

Back 21

To draw together, to reduce in size.

The physical therapist exercises the patient's muscle

Front 22

Contraindication

Back 22

A reason why something is not advisable or why it should not be done

The patient's excesive bleeding was a conraindiction for discharge from th hospital

Front 23

Defectable

Back 23

Expel feces

The unlicensed assistive personnel helped the pient to the toilet when the he needed to defecate

Front 24

Deficit

Back 24

A deficiency or lack of something

The therapist explained that the intent will experience a fluid deficit if the patient continues to perspire heavily during exercise without drinking enough fluid

Front 25

Depress

Back 25

Press downward

The nurse will depress the patient's skin to see if any swelling is present

Front 26

Depth

Back 26

Downward measurement from a surface

The physician measures the depth of the wound by inserting a cotton swab into the wound

Front 27

Deteriorating

Back 27

worsening

The dental hygienist explains that the condition of the patients gums is deteriorating and treatment by the dentist is needed right away

Front 28

Device

Back 28

Tool or piece of equipment

The thermomenter is a device to measure the patients body temperature.

Front 29

Diameter

Back 29

The distance across the center of an object

When measuring a patients blood pressure the nurse knows that hen the diameter of a blood vessel increases the pressure in that blood vessel goes down

Front 30

Dilate

Back 30

to expand , to enlarge

When shining a light into a patient eyes the nurse checks to see that their eyes dilate in response to the light

Front 31

Dilute

Back 31

To make liquid less concentrated

So that the medication would be easier to swallow the nurse uses fruit juice to dilute the foul tasting drug

Front 32

Discrete

Back 32

Distinct, Seperate

The peramedic observed several discrete bruise marks on the patients body

Front 33

Distended

Back 33

Enlarged or expanded from pressure

When a blood vessel is distended it is easier for the laboratory technitian to insert a needle to obtain a blood sample

Front 34

Elevate

Back 34

to lift up and place in higher position

The paramedic decided to elevate the head of the stretcher to help the patient breath more easily

Front 35

Endogenous

Back 35

Produced within the body

The nurse explained that the endogenous insulin produced by the body's pancreas helps regulate the body's blood sugar levels

Front 36

Exacerbate

Back 36

To make worse or more severe

The physical therapist recognized that too much excercise would exacerbate the patients breathing diffculties

Front 37

Excess

Back 37

more then what is needed

The dietician that an excess consumption of caffeine may cause unpleasant effects such as nervousness or feelings of being on edge

Front 38

exogenous

Back 38

Produced outside the body

The nurse explained that people with diabetes often need to receive exogenous forms of insulin because their bodies are enable to produce enough insulin

Front 39

Exposure

Back 39

Contact

The nurse taught the parents to avoid exposure to people with severe infection

Front 40

Fatal

Back 40

resulting in death

Smoking can be fatal to your health

Front 41

fatigue

Back 41

extreme tiredness, and exhaustion

Cough medicine can make you quite fatigue

Front 42

Flaccid

Back 42

live