Nursing Care Related to Oxygenation, Gas Exchange & Infection

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to nursing care for oxygenation, gas exchange, and infection management, essential for understanding the clinical concepts outlined in the course.

Hypercapnia

High levels of carbon dioxide in the blood.

Hypoxemia

Low levels of oxygen in the blood.

Hypoxia

Low oxygen supply in bodily tissues.

Dyspnea

Shortness of breath, common sign of pulmonary or cardiovascular disease.

Orthopnea

Dyspnea when lying flat, associated with heart failure.

Nocturnal dyspnea

Occurs at night, linked to heart failure or asthma.

Cough

Involuntary response to stimulation of the bronchial tree to eliminate irritants.

Productive cough

Cough that produces sputum.

Non-productive cough

Cough that does not produce sputum.

Hemoptysis

Production of sputum that contains blood.

Atelectasis

Collapse of alveoli resulting in reduced gas exchange.

Pneumonia

Infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs.

Pulmonary edema

Abnormal fluid build-up in the lungs, often due to heart failure.

Asthma

Chronic condition characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness.

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a lung condition that obstructs airflow.

Nasal Cannula

Device to deliver oxygen directly into the nostrils.

Simple Face Mask

Device providing medium concentration oxygen between 5-10L.

Non-rebreather device

Allows inhaled oxygen while preventing exhaled gases from entering the bag.

Oxygen therapy

Medical treatment using oxygen to maintain adequate oxygenation.

CPAP

Continuous positive airway pressure; used to keep airways open.

BiPAP

Bilevel positive airway pressure; varying pressures for inhalation and exhalation.

Chest tube

Tube inserted to drain air, fluid, or blood from the pleural space.

Venturi mask

Delivers precise oxygen concentrations through varying flow rates.

Incentive spirometer

Device that encourages deep breathing to prevent complications.

Pursed lip breathing

Technique to help reduce breathlessness and improve ventilation.

Coughing and deep breathing

Techniques used to clear secretions and improve lung function.

Antibiotics

Medications used to treat bacterial infections.

Glucocorticoids

Steroids used to reduce inflammation in the airways.

Bronchodilators

Medications that relax the muscles around the airways.

Analgesics

Medications used to relieve pain.

Mucolytics

Drugs that thin mucus to help clear airways.

ABGs

Arterial blood gases; tests that assess oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.

CBC

Complete blood count; a blood test used to evaluate overall health.

Chest X-ray

Imaging test used to visualize the lungs and chest structures.

Sputum cultures

Laboratory test to detect pathogens in respiratory secretions.

Oxygen saturation

Percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen in the blood.

Ethics in nursing

A set of moral principles guiding nursing practice.

Clinical judgment

The decision-making process of nurses based on clinical information.

Patient education

Informing patients about their health conditions and care plans.

Assessment

The systematic evaluation of a patient's health status.

Evaluation

The process of determining the effectiveness of care provided.