Chapter 10 Vocab. - "Basic Nursing Skills"

vital signs

show how well the vital organs of the body are working

radial pulse

pulse on the inside of wrist, where the radial artery runs just beneath the skin

tachycardia

high/rapid pulse rate

bradycardia

low/weak pulse rate

apical pulse

pulse heard by listening directly over the heart with a stethoscope

stethoscope

an instrument designed to listen to sounds within the body

auscultation

sounds within the body, such as the heart beating or air moving through the lungs

inspiration

process of inhaling air into the lungs

expiration

process of exhaling air out of the lungs

apnea

the absence of breathing

dyspnea

difficulty breathing

eupnea

normal respirations

orthopnea

shortness of breath when lying down that is relieved by sitting up

tachypnea

rapid respirations

bradypnea

slow respirations

Cheyne-Stokes

alternating periods of slow, irregular respirations and rapid, shallow respirations, along with short periods of apnea

palpate

using fingers to feel for a pulse, examine (a part of the body) by touch

pulse oximeter

a noninvasive device that uses a light to determine the amount of oxygen in the blood

hypoxia

low levels of oxygen in your body tissues

systolic

top number of the blood pressure, measures the pressure on the walls of the arteries as blood is pumped through the body (normal range is below 120 mm Hg)

diastolic

bottom number of the blood pressure, measures the pressure on the walls of the arteries as the heart is relaxed (normal range is below 80 mm Hg)

hypertension

high blood pressure - elevated systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure

hypotension

low blood pressure (below 90 mm Hg systolic or below 60 mm Hg diastolic)

sphygmomanometer

manual or digital device used to measure blood pressure (blood pressure cuff)

hydrocephalus

an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the head

preoperative

before surgery

NPO

nothing by mouth

postoperative

after surgery

embolism

an obstruction of a blood vessel, usually by a blood clot

sterile field

involves setting up instruments and equipment for a procedure while maintaining a sterile environment

Mayo stand

a portable stainless steel tray and holder often used to set up a sterile field

drug interactions

a reaction between two (or more) drugs or between a drug and a food, beverage, or supplement

route

the path that gets a drug into the patient's body

anaphylaxis

a type of allergic reaction and a medication can cause it (the body's immune system overreacts to the drug, causing potentially deadly signs and symptoms)