Emergency & Critical Care Nursing – Comprehensive Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key emergency and critical-care concepts, conditions, interventions, and pharmacology from the lecture notes.

Triage

Rapid process of determining patient acuity so the most critically ill or injured are treated first.

Emergency Severity Index (ESI)

Five-level triage system that ranks patients by illness severity and expected resource use (ESI-1 most critical, ESI-5 least).

ESI-1

Unstable patient needing immediate life-saving intervention (e.g., cardiac arrest, severe respiratory distress).

ESI-2

High-risk, potentially life-threatening patient who must be seen within 10 min (e.g., chest pain suggestive of MI).

ESI-3

Stable patient who could become life-threatening; should be seen within 1 h; likely needs ≥2 resources (e.g., abdominal pain).

ESI-4

Stable patient, no threat to life or limb, needs 1 resource or none (e.g., simple laceration).

ESI-5

Stable patient requiring no resources; care can be delayed (e.g., minor burn, cold symptoms).

Primary Survey (ABCDE)

Systematic initial assessment: Airway & Alertness, Breathing, Circulation, Disability (neuro), Exposure/Environment control.

Jaw-Thrust Maneuver

Airway-opening technique used when cervical spine injury is suspected.

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

Neurologic scale (3–15) assessing eye, verbal, and motor responses to determine consciousness level.

Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI)

Controlled intubation method using pre-oxygenation, sedation, and paralysis to secure airway quickly.

SAMPLE History

Secondary survey mnemonic: Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past history, Last meal, Events leading up.

Targeted Temperature Management (TTM)

Therapeutic hypothermia (32–36 °C for ≥24 h) post-cardiac arrest to improve neurologic outcome.

Heat Cramps

Painful muscle contractions after exertion in heat; treated with rest and sodium-containing fluids.

Heat Exhaustion

Prolonged heat exposure causing fluid/electrolyte loss; manifests as fatigue, hypotension, tachycardia, profuse sweating.

Heatstroke

Life-threatening failure of thermoregulation with core temp ≥40 °C, CNS dysfunction, anhidrosis.

Frostbite

Localized freezing of tissue leading to ice-crystal formation and cellular destruction.

Hypothermia

Core temperature <35 °C; classified as mild (33.9–35 °C), moderate (30–33.9 °C), severe (<30 °C).

Passive Rewarming

Treatment of mild hypothermia using warm blankets and removal of wet clothing.

Active External Rewarming

Applying warming devices or warm-water immersion to raise body temperature.

Active Internal Rewarming

Warmed IV fluids, heated oxygen, or lavage to increase core temperature in moderate/severe hypothermia.

Submersion Injury

Hypoxia resulting from submersion in liquid; includes drowning and near-drowning events.

Penetrating Trauma

Injury where an object pierces skin and enters body creating an open wound (e.g., GSW, stab).

Perforating Injury

Penetrating trauma in which object passes completely through the body.

Golden Hour

Critical first 60 minutes after trauma when prompt resuscitation maximizes survival.

Mass-Casualty Incident (MCI)

Catastrophic event overwhelming local resources; requires rapid triage and external aid.

Red Tag (Immediate)

Victim with life-threatening injuries requiring immediate intervention in MCI triage.

Yellow Tag (Delayed)

Victim with serious but not life-threatening injuries; treatment can wait up to 2 h.

Green Tag (Minor)

“Walking wounded” with minor injuries; treatment can be delayed several hours.

Black Tag (Expectant/Deceased)

Victim who is deceased or has injuries incompatible with survival even with treatment.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Disruption in brain function from external force; categorized as mild, moderate, or severe by GCS.

Concussion

Sudden transient mechanical head injury causing brief LOC change, headache, retrograde amnesia.

Contusion (Brain)

Bruising of brain tissue often at fracture site; risk of bleeding and edema.

Epidural Hematoma

Arterial bleed between dura and skull; lucid interval followed by rapid LOC decline; neurosurgical emergency.

Subdural Hematoma

Venous bleed between dura and arachnoid; may be acute (24–48 h) or chronic.

Monro-Kellie Doctrine

Concept that skull volume is fixed; increases in brain, blood, or CSF must be offset to maintain ICP.

Normal ICP

Intracranial pressure of 5–15 mm Hg in adults.

Cerebral Perfusion Pressure (CPP)

MAP − ICP; normal 60–80 mm Hg needed to perfuse brain.

Intraventricular Catheter

Most accurate ICP monitor inserted into lateral ventricle; allows CSF drainage.

Subdural Bolt

Hollow screw measuring subdural pressure; quick insertion, no CSF drainage.

Epidural Sensor

Least invasive ICP monitor placed between skull and dura; monitoring only.

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

Damage to spinal cord causing motor/sensory deficits; categorized by level and completeness.

Spinal Shock

Temporary loss of reflexes and flaccid paralysis below SCI level; lasts days to weeks.

Neurogenic Shock

Hypotension and bradycardia from loss of sympathetic tone in high SCI (T6 or above).

Autonomic Dysreflexia

Acute uncontrolled sympathetic discharge in SCI T6 or higher; triggered by stimuli below injury (e.g., distended bladder).

Flail Chest

Instability of chest wall from multiple rib fractures causing paradoxical movement and hypoxia.

Pneumothorax

Air in pleural space causing partial or complete lung collapse; breath sounds absent on affected side.

Tension Pneumothorax

Trapped intrapleural air increases pressure, shifts mediastinum, decreases CO; requires needle decompression.

Hemothorax

Accumulation of blood in pleural space; treated with chest tube to drain blood.

Chylothorax

Lymphatic fluid accumulation in pleural space due to thoracic duct disruption.

Cardiac Tamponade

Rapid pericardial fluid accumulation compressing heart; presents with hypotension, muffled heart sounds, JVD.

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST)

Bedside ultrasound exam to detect free fluid (blood) in abdomen after trauma.

Closed Fracture

Broken bone with intact skin.

Open (Compound) Fracture

Bone fracture with associated skin break exposing bone to air.

Complete Fracture

Break traverses entire bone; fragments separated.

Greenstick Fracture

Incomplete bone break occurring in children; bone bent and splintered.

Comminuted Fracture

Bone shattered into several pieces; usually displaced.

Compartment Syndrome

Increased pressure within muscle compartment compromising perfusion; requires fasciotomy.

Fat Embolism Syndrome

Fat globules from long-bone fracture enter circulation causing respiratory distress and petechiae.

Skin Traction

Short-term pulling force applied to skin (e.g., Buck’s) to reduce muscle spasm before surgery.

Skeletal Traction

Long-term traction using pins/wires in bone to maintain alignment; risk of infection.

Thermal Burn

Tissue injury from flame, scald, or contact with hot object.

Chemical Burn

Tissue damage from acids, alkalis, or organic compounds.

Electrical Burn

Injury from electrical current; severity depends on voltage, pathway, duration.

Smoke Inhalation Injury

Respiratory tract damage from inhaling hot air or toxins; major mortality predictor in burns.

Rule of Nines

Quick method to estimate TBSA burned by body region percentages in adults.

Parkland Formula

Fluid resuscitation guideline: 4 mL × TBSA(%) × kg; give half in first 8 h post-burn.

Emergent Burn Phase

First 24–72 h post-burn; focus on airway, fluid resuscitation, and shock prevention.

Acute Burn Phase

Begins with diuresis, ends when wounds close; priorities include wound care and nutrition.

Rehabilitation Burn Phase

Stage when wounds nearly healed; focus on psychosocial support and contracture prevention.

Superficial Partial-Thickness Burn

Damage to epidermis; red, painful, blanching skin.

Deep Partial-Thickness Burn

Involves epidermis and dermis; blistered, wet, painful wound.

Full-Thickness Burn

Destroys all skin layers; dry, leathery, insensate; requires grafting.

Shock

Systemic circulatory failure leading to inadequate tissue perfusion and cellular hypoxia.

Hypovolemic Shock

Low circulating volume (blood or fluid) causing decreased preload and CO; skin cool, clammy.

Cardiogenic Shock

Heart pump failure (e.g., MI) reducing stroke volume and CO.

Obstructive Shock

Physical obstruction to blood flow (PE, tamponade, tension pneumothorax) decreasing CO.

Distributive Shock

Relative hypovolemia from vasodilation as in sepsis, anaphylaxis, neurogenic shock.

Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)

Federal law requiring hospitals to provide medical screening and stabilization regardless of ability to pay.

Intracranial Regulation

Body’s ability to maintain stable ICP, CPP, and CSF dynamics.

Cushing’s Triad

Late sign of increased ICP: bradycardia, widened pulse pressure, irregular respirations.

Mannitol

Osmotic diuretic used to decrease cerebral edema and ICP.

Hypertonic Saline

3% or stronger saline drawing fluid from brain to reduce ICP.

Diffuse Axonal Injury

Widespread axonal damage from rotational brain injury causing prolonged coma.

Coup-Contrecoup Injury

Brain injury at impact site and opposite side due to rebound forces.

Seizure Precautions

Safety measures (padded rails, airway ready) to protect patients at risk for seizures.

Stroke (CVA)

Acute neurologic deficit from interrupted cerebral blood flow; ischemic or hemorrhagic.

Ischemic Stroke

Cerebral blood vessel blockage (thrombotic or embolic) causing brain infarction.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Intracerebral or subarachnoid bleeding damaging brain tissue.

Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA)

Clot-dissolving drug for ischemic stroke within 4.5-hour window if no contraindications.

Penumbra

Ischemic brain zone around core infarct that is salvageable with timely reperfusion.

Tension Pneumothorax Signs

Absent breath sounds, tracheal deviation away, JVD, hypotension, cyanosis.

DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis)

Hyperglycemic emergency in DM1 with ketone production, metabolic acidosis, Kussmaul breathing.

Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Syndrome (HHS)

Severe hyperglycemia in DM2 without ketosis; marked dehydration, high osmolality, neuro deficits.

Addisonian Crisis

Acute adrenal insufficiency with severe hypotension, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, hypoglycemia.

Thyrotoxic Crisis (Thyroid Storm)

Sudden surge of thyroid hormones causing hypermetabolism, hyperthermia, tachycardia, HTN.

Portal Hypertension

Increased pressure in portal vein system due to cirrhosis, leading to varices and ascites.

Ascites

Third-spacing of fluid into peritoneal cavity from portal hypertension and hypoalbuminemia.

Hepatic Encephalopathy

Neuropsychiatric dysfunction from elevated ammonia in ESLD; treated with lactulose.

Esophageal Varices

Dilated submucosal veins in esophagus from portal hypertension; high risk of massive bleed.