Safety, Infection Control, Hygiene, Mobility, Heat & Cold Therapy

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from lecture notes on patient safety, infection control, hygiene, mobility, and heat & cold therapy.

Restraint release interval

Restraints must be removed every 2 hours to allow for patient care.

Restraint padding

Soft material that must be placed next to the patient’s skin when restraints are applied to prevent injury.

RACE acronym

Fire response steps: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish.

PASS acronym

Fire-extinguisher use steps: Pull pin, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep at the base.

Abdominal thrusts

Immediate action the nurse performs when a patient is choking.

Vasodilation

Widening of blood vessels that occurs when heat is applied.

Heat therapy benefits

Relaxes muscle spasms, relieves pain, supports healing, reduces edema, raises body temperature in hypothermia.

Methods of heat application

Commercial heat packs, heating pads, aquathermia pads, warming blankets, hot compresses, socks, Sitz baths, whirlpool baths.

Heat therapy nursing assessment

Check device function, skin integrity, and patient response; stop if redness or burns appear.

Heat therapy contraindications

Do not use with appendicitis, active bleeding, newly injured joints, or large areas in certain cardiac patients.

Vasoconstriction (cold therapy)

Narrowing of blood vessels produced by cold to limit fluid accumulation.

Cold therapy indications

Prevents edema, controls bleeding, relieves pain, provides numbing, reduces muscle spasm, lowers body temperature.

Cold therapy examples

Used for bruises, sprains, swollen ankles, post-hip surgery, fever, etc.

The Joint Commission

Organization that sets healthcare safety standards and ensures every patient’s right to safety.

Six Rights of Medication Administration

Right patient, time, medication, dose, route, documentation.

Patient safety errors

Mistakes such as violating the six rights or failing to use fall precautions.

Environmental safety checklist

Ensure floors are free of cords, rugs, clutter; address stairs and diagnostic delays.

PPE doffing order

Remove gloves, then gown, eyewear, and mask.

Contact isolation PPE

Gloves and gown.

Bathing patient with draining wounds PPE

Gloves, gown, and mask.

Airborne isolation PPE

Gloves, gown, eyewear, and N95 respirator.

Standard precautions PPE

Gloves for all patient contact.

Hand hygiene timing

Wash hands both before and after patient care.

Glove donning handwash

Hands must be washed before putting on new gloves.

Restraint physician order duration

A restraint order is valid for 24 hours.

Restraint monitoring frequency

Patient must be checked every 30 minutes while restrained.

Axillary and groin cooling sites

Highly vascular regions ideal for cold packs to reduce body temperature.

Methods of cold application

Refreezable packs, chemical packs, cold compresses, tepid baths.

Thermal therapy time limit

Apply heat or cold no longer than 30 minutes at a time.

Cold therapy assessment

Observe for redness, pallor, mottling, skin temperature, patient age, and device temperature.

Musculoskeletal complications of immobility

Atrophy, decreased flexibility and ROM, contractures, osteoporosis, etc.

Preventing musculoskeletal complications

Maintain alignment, use trochanter rolls, perform range-of-motion exercises.

Range of motion opportunities

Best performed during routine care such as bathing and dressing.

Cardiovascular complications of immobility

Venous stasis, deep vein thrombosis, risk of embolus.

Pulmonary embolus (PE)

Embolus lodging in the lungs.

Myocardial infarction (MI) embolus

Embolus obstructing coronary circulation in the heart.

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) embolus

Embolus causing a stroke in the brain.

Compression devices

Compression socks or sequential compression devices used to promote venous return and prevent clots.

Venous return

Movement of blood from distal to proximal portions of an extremity.

Mobility assessment before ambulation

Determine patient’s mobility, weight-bearing status, weight, and needed assistance or devices.

Pivoting with contracted arm

A stroke patient may pivot as long as they can stand.

Orthostatic hypotension prevention

Have patient sit on bed edge and move legs before standing to avoid dizziness.

Respiratory complications of immobility

Muscle weakness, atelectasis, hypoxemia, hypostatic pneumonia, risk of pulmonary embolism.

Fowler’s position

Upright sitting position used for patients with breathing difficulty.

Semi-Fowler’s position

Head of bed 30–45°; chosen for new, unstabilized G-tubes or mild respiratory needs.

Gastrointestinal effects of immobility

Decreased appetite, slowed peristalsis leading to constipation, flatulence, distention, indigestion.

Urinary effects of immobility

Urinary retention, urinary tract infection, kidney stones.

Preventing GI and urinary complications

Provide high-fiber diet, increase fluids, monitor intake/output, assess edema.

Integumentary effects of immobility

Pressure injuries, skin breakdown, shearing, friction, abrasions.

Bed-to-stretcher transfer equipment

Use a draw sheet and slide board for safe lateral moves.

Preventing skin complications

Adequate nutrition, reposition every 2 hrs, inspect bony areas, use mild soaps and lotions.

Maceration

Skin that is red, soft, and mushy from prolonged moisture exposure.

Excoriation

Fiery red skin with superficial abrasions.

Foot drop

Plantar-flexion contracture prevented with high-top shoes or foot boards.

Cane gait sequence

Advance the cane first, then the affected leg, then the strong leg.

Cane placement side

Hold the cane on the strong side of the body.

Wheelchair safety

Always lock wheels before transferring a patient.

Walker usage reminder

Lift the walker, set it down ahead, then step into it; do not carry it while walking.

Normal flora

Microorganisms normally residing on or in the body without causing disease.

Pathogens

Microorganisms capable of causing infection.

Categories of pathogens

Bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi.

Chain of infection

Infectious agent → reservoir → portal of exit → mode of transmission → portal of entry → susceptible host.

Distal-to-proximal washing

Stroke upward when washing to promote venous return.

Medical asepsis

Clean technique that reduces microorganisms and limits their spread.

Surgical asepsis

Sterile technique aiming to eliminate all microorganisms.

Home handwashing instruction

Use warm water and scrub all hand surfaces for at least 20 seconds.

Nail cutting technique

Trim nails straight across and file the corners.

Antibacterial soap caution in diabetes

Frequent use dries skin and removes beneficial bacteria.

Shaving direction

Shave in the direction of hair growth (with the grain).

Electric razor indication

Use an electric razor for patients on anticoagulant therapy to reduce bleeding risk.