Summer Vocabulary Clinical Rotation I

Vocabulary flashcards covering key clinical terms, conditions, positions, procedures, and regulations discussed in the lecture.

Abduction

Movement of a body part away from the midline of the body.

Adduction

Movement of a body part toward the midline of the body.

Acute care

Care of people having an acute or short illness.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)

Progressive brain disease of later life marked by memory loss and declining mental abilities.

ADL (Activities of Daily Living)

Everyday self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, and brushing teeth.

Advance Directive

Document stating a resident’s wishes about lifesaving efforts during an emergency.

Airborne Precautions

Actions taken to minimize transmission of infectious agents that remain infectious when suspended in air.

Ambulation

The ability to walk from place to place independently, with or without an assistive device.

AMA (Against Medical Advice)

When a patient leaves a facility contrary to the recommendations of medical staff.

Anatomical Position

Standing position with arms at sides, palms forward, head and feet facing forward.

Anterior

Front or ventral side of the body.

Posterior

Back or dorsal side of the body.

Anuria

Absence or very small amount of urine (under 100 cc in 24 hours).

Aphasia

Loss or impairment of the ability to speak.

Apical pulse

Heartbeats heard with a stethoscope over the apex of the heart on the left chest.

Apnea

Absence of breathing.

Aspiration

Inhaling food, fluid, or objects into the airway and lungs.

Assisted living

Setting for people needing some supervised help with basic needs, but less than in long-term care.

Atrophy

Wasting or decrease in size of a muscle from disease, injury, or lack of use.

AX

Temperature taken at the axilla (underarm).

Bed bath

Bath given to a resident while in bed.

Bed pad (Chux)

Waterproof protective covering placed on top of bottom sheet for incontinence.

Bedpan

Plastic device used to collect urine and feces in bed.

b.i.d.

Twice a day.

Biohazard containers

Receptacles for equipment/supplies contaminated with infectious waste (blood, body fluids).

Biohazardous Waste

Items contaminated with blood, body fluids, feces, or other harmful substances.

Bloodborne Pathogens

Microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease.

Bony prominences

Body areas where bone lies close to the skin—elbows, heels, hips, etc.

Blood Pressure (BP)

Force of blood against artery walls during heartbeats.

BPM (Beats Per Minute)

Unit used to measure heart or pulse rate.

Brachial pulse

Pulse felt in the upper arm.

Bradycardia

Slow heart rate—below 60 bpm.

Care plans

Written plans outlining steps staff will take to reach resident care goals.

cc/ml

Cubic centimeter or milliliter; 1 oz = 30 cc/ml.

Chart

Written record of all care and observations for a resident.

Charting

The act of documenting care and observations.

Chemical restraint

Medication that limits a person’s ability to move freely.

Cheyne-Stokes Respiration

Alternating periods of apnea and rapid, deep breathing.

Closed bed

Bed fully made with bedspread in place for resident out of bed all day.

Code

Call for specially trained staff to provide life support during cardiac/respiratory arrest.

Colostomy

Surgical opening into the colon.

Commode

Chair with a removable pan for collecting urine and feces.

Contact Precautions

Measures to prevent spread of agents via direct or indirect contact.

Contractures

Permanent shortening of a muscle causing limb disability.

CVA (Cerebrovascular Accident)

Stroke; blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or a vessel ruptures.

Cyanosis

Bluish, gray, or purple skin color from lack of oxygen.

Cystitis

Inflammation of the bladder.

D.A.T.

Diet as tolerated.

Dangling

Position with resident sitting on bed edge, legs over the side.

Decubitus ulcer

Pressure sore or bedsore.

Delegation

Assigning responsibility to another person for specific tasks.

Dementia

Serious decline in mental ability affecting daily life.

Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Third most common dementia featuring alpha-synuclein protein clumps in the brain cortex.

Dentures

Artificial teeth.

Dermatitis

Inflammation of the skin.

Diaphoretic

Experiencing heavy sweating.

Discharge

Resident leaves a facility or unit.

Disoriented

Not aware of person, place, or time.

Draw sheet

Half-sheet used for lifting/moving residents.

Droplet Precautions

Actions to reduce spread of pathogens via respiratory droplets.

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing.

Dyspnea

Difficulty breathing.

Dysuria

Painful urination.

Edema

Swelling from fluid accumulation in tissues.

Elder abuse

Seven types: verbal, physical, neglect, sexual, domestic, involuntary seclusion, financial/exploitation.

Emesis

Vomiting.

Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain.

Endoscope

Instrument used to examine inside an organ.

Enema

Fluid introduced into colon via rectum to cleanse feces.

Etiology

Cause or origin of a disease.

Expiration

Exhaling air from the lungs.

°F

Degrees Fahrenheit—temperature scale.

Fecal impaction

Hard mass of stool blocking passage, usually in lower colon.

Flexion

Bending a body part.

Extension

Straightening a body part.

Foley catheter

Indwelling urinary catheter inserted through urethra into bladder.

Fowler’s

Sitting position with head of bed 45–75°, knees slightly bent.

Gait

Manner of walking.

Gait belt

Transfer belt used to assist with walking.

Gastritis

Inflammation of the stomach lining.

Geriatric chair

Special chair with attached lap table for frail residents.

Glycosuria

Glucose (sugar) in the urine.

Graduate

Marked container for measuring body fluids in oz. and cc/ml.

Hand Hygiene

Proper handwashing or use of alcohol-based sanitizer.

“Hat”

Plastic pan placed in toilet to collect/measure urine or stool.

Hearing impaired

Having partial or complete loss of hearing.

HIPAA

Law protecting privacy of identifiable health information.

Hematuria

Blood in the urine.

Hemiplegia

Paralysis of one side of the body.

Hemoccult

Test for hidden (occult) blood in stool.

Hemorrhage

Excessive bleeding.

Holistic health

Care addressing physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs.

Hypertension

High blood pressure.

Hypotension

Low blood pressure.

I & O

Intake and Output measurement.

Incident report

Form documenting accidents or injuries and responses.

Incontinent

Unable to control urine or bowel movements.

Ischemia

Decreased blood supply leading to tissue damage.

Isolation

Practices to separate residents with easily transmitted diseases.

-itis

Suffix meaning inflammation.