Chapter 15: Personal Care Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the concepts of personal hygiene, grooming, and patient environment management from Chapter 15.

Bathing Benefits

Cleanses the skin, provides for skin assessment, increases circulation and sensation, provides comfort, improves self-esteem, and helps establish the nurse-patient relationship.

Leukoplakia

White patches on the tongue or oral mucosa that can be precancerous lesions.

Aspiration Precautions (Oral Care)

For unconscious patients, positioning the patient on their side with the bed flat and using $5\,mL$ or less of fluid to prevent fluid from entering the lungs.

Bridge

A term referring to either full dentures or partial dentures.

Partial Dentures

Dental appliances that replace one or more missing teeth and are removable for cleaning.

Dental Implants

Devices used to replace missing teeth that are not removable.

Anticoagulant Medications

Medications that delay blood clotting; patients taking these should only use electric razors for shaving to prevent excessive bleeding from accidental cuts.

Shaving Technique

Shaving in the direction of hair growth to prevent razor burn and ingrown whiskers, or using circular motions with an electric razor.

Orangewood Stick

A small wooden stick used to clean under the fingernails during nail care.

Diabetic Nail Care

Filing the nails rather than clipping them to prevent accidental tissue injury, which could lead to severe infection and amputation due to poor circulation.

Lice

Tiny parasites that can be found inspecting the hair close to the scalp.

Vagus Nerve

A nerve that can be stimulated during a back massage, potentially slowing the heart rate; massages may be contraindicated in patients with certain heart conditions.

MRI Piercing Safety

Jewelry made of nonmagnetic stainless steel or titanium does not have to be removed for an MRI.

Unoccupied Bed

A type of bedmaking where the bed is prepared while the patient is not in it.

Occupied Bed

A type of bedmaking where the bed is prepared while the patient remains in it.

Fowler's Position

One of the specific bed positions mentioned for patient care and comfort.

Trendelenburg Position

A specific bed positioning where the head of the bed is lower than the foot.