Respiratory Nursing Care – Vocabulary Review

75 vocabulary flashcards summarizing key respiratory nursing concepts, devices, procedures, pathologies, diagnostic tests, and pharmacologic agents discussed in the lecture.

Pre-oxygenation

Providing supplemental oxygen to a patient immediately before a procedure (e.g., suctioning) to prevent hypoxia.

Suction port

The opening on a suction catheter that is occluded to create negative pressure and remove secretions.

Intermittent suctioning

Technique of alternately occluding and releasing the suction port while withdrawing the catheter to minimize mucosal damage.

Maximum suction duration

Recommended limit of 5–10 seconds (some texts up to 15 s) for each suction pass to avoid hypoxia.

Spirometry (Incentive)

Device-guided inspiration exercise that strengthens respiratory muscles and helps re-expand alveoli after surgery, infection, or injury.

Incentive spirometer hold time

Seconds the patient maintains the raised indicator (usually 3–5 s) to improve lung expansion.

Peak Flow Meter

Hand-held device that measures peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) to monitor airway obstruction in asthma/COPD.

Green Zone (PEF)

80–100 % of personal best; indicates good control—continue usual plan.

Yellow Zone (PEF)

50–79 % of personal best; signals caution—adjust meds or seek advice.

Red Zone (PEF)

< 50 % of personal best; medical alert—use rescue drugs and seek emergency care.

Hypoxic drive

In chronic CO₂ retainers (e.g., COPD) respirations are stimulated by low PaO₂, so high O₂ flow can suppress breathing.

Low-flow oxygen device

Delivery system (e.g., nasal cannula 1–2 L/min) that supplies limited FiO₂, preferred for chronic CO₂ retainers.

Humidifier bottle

Water-filled chamber attached to an O₂ source to moisten gas and reduce mucosal drying.

Chest tube

Catheter inserted into the pleural space to drain air, blood, or fluid and re-expand the lung.

Water seal

Column of water that acts as a one-way valve in chest-drainage systems, preventing air entry into pleural space.

Chest-tube clamp

Instrument kept at bedside for emergency occlusion if the system cracks or disconnects.

Milking chest tube

Sequential squeezing of tubing; generally discouraged because it raises intrapleural pressure.

Valsalva maneuver

Forced exhalation against a closed glottis; used when removing chest tubes to prevent air entry.

Thoracentesis

Needle aspiration of pleural fluid or air for decompression or diagnostic analysis.

Tripod position

Patient sitting, leaning forward, arms supported; optimizes diaphragmatic movement in respiratory distress.

Iatrogenic pneumothorax

Lung collapse caused by medical procedures such as thoracentesis or central-line placement.

Bronchial asthma

Chronic inflammatory airway disorder with bronchospasm, mucosal edema, and reversible airflow obstruction.

Status asthmaticus

Severe, prolonged asthma attack unresponsive to initial bronchodilator therapy; medical emergency.

Wheezes

High-pitched musical sounds produced by airflow through narrowed airways, common in asthma.

Hyper-resonance

Loud, low-pitched percussion note indicating increased air (e.g., emphysema, pneumothorax).

Barrel chest

Round, enlarged thoracic shape from chronically over-inflated lungs, seen in emphysema.

Bronchodilator

Drug (β₂-agonist, anticholinergic) that relaxes bronchial smooth muscle to improve airflow.

Metered-Dose Inhaler (MDI)

Pressurized device that delivers a precise aerosolized drug dose when actuated during inspiration.

Spacer (holding chamber)

Attachment for an MDI that improves drug delivery and reduces oropharyngeal deposition.

Turbuhaler

Dry-powder inhaler activated by twisting to load a dose, then deep inspiration.

Dornase alfa

Recombinant DNAse that liquefies thick sputum in cystic fibrosis by breaking down extracellular DNA.

Chronic bronchitis

COPD subtype with productive cough ≥3 months/year for 2 consecutive years, mucus hypersecretion, and cyanosis.”},{