Ch 2 Workforce Safety and Wellness

Acute Stress Reactions

Reactions to stress that occur during a traumatic situation

Aerosol-generateing Procedure

Treatments that increase the risk for transmission of infections that are spread though the air or by droplets, CPR is an example

Airborne Transmission

The spread of an organism via droplets or dust

Bloodborn Pathogens

Pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Burnout

A combination of exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced performance resulting from long-term job stresses in health care and other high-stress professions

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The primary federal agency that conducts and supports public helath activities in the United States. The CDC is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services

Communicable disease

A disease that can be spread from one person or species to another

Compassion Fatigue

A stress disorder characterized by gradual lessening of compassion over time

Concealment

The use of objects to limit a person’s ability to to see you

Contamination

The presence of infections organisms on or in objects such as dressings, water, food, needles, wounds, or a patient’s body

Cover

The tactical use of an impenetrable barrier of protection

Critital Incidnet Stress Management (CISM)

A process that confronts the responses to critial incidents and defuse them, directing the emergency services personnel toward physical and emotional equilibrium

Cumulative Stress Reactions

Prolonged or excessive stress

Delayed Stress Reactions

Reactions to stress that occur after a stressful situation

Designated Officer

The indiviual in the department who is charged with the responsibility of managing exposures and infections control issues

Direct Contact

Exposure of transmission of a communicable disease from one person to another by physical contact

Distress

A negative response to a stressor

Eustress

A benefitcial response to a stress

Exposure

A situtaion in which a person has had contact with blood, bodily fluids, tissues or airborne particles in a manner that suggests disease transmission

Foodborne transmission

The contamination of food or water with an organism that can cause disease

General Adaptaion Syndrome

The body’s response to stress that begins with an alarm response, followed by a stage of reaction and resistance, and then recovery or if the stress is prolonged, exhaustion

Hapatitis

Inflammation of the liver, usually caused by a viral infection that causes fever, loss of appetite, jaundice, fatigue and altered liver function

Host

The organism or individual that is attacked by the infecting agent

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Aquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by HIV, which damages the cells in the body’s immune system so that the body is unable to fight infection or certain cancers

Immune

The body’s ability to protect itself from aquiring a disease

Indirect Contact

Exposure or transmission of disease from one person to anoter by contact with a contaminated object

Infection

The abnormal invasion of a host or host tissue by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites, with or without signs or symptoms of disease

Infection Control

Procedures to reduce transmission of infection among paitents and health care personnel

Infectious Disease

A medical condition caused by the growth and spread of small, harmful organisms within the body

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

The federal regulatory compliance agency that develops, publishes, and enforces guidelines concerning safety in the workplace

Pathogen

A microorganism that is capable of causing disease in a susceptible host

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Protection equipment that blocks exposure to a pathogen or a hazardous material

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A delayed stress reatcion to a prior incident. Often the result of one or more unresolved issues concerning the incident, and may related to an incident that involved physical harm or the threat of physical harm

Resilience

The capacity of an individual to cope with and recover from distress

Standard Precaustions

Protective measures that have traditionally been developed by the CDC for use in dealing with objects, blood, bodily fluids, and other potential exposure risks of communicable disease

Transmission

The way in which an infectious disease is spread: contact, airborne, by vehicles, or by vectors

Vector-borne Transmission

The use of an animal to spread an organism from one person or place to another

Wellness

The active pursuit of a state of good health