Clinical Terms, Diagnoses, and Protocols

Vocabulary flashcards defining clinical lab tests, procedures, diagnoses, traumatic injuries, hospital orders, and emergency assessment terms from the lecture notes.

CBC (Complete Blood Count)

A common blood test that evaluates overall health and detects a wide range of disorders, including anemia, infection, and leukemia, by measuring components like red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

BMP (Basic Metabolic Panel)

A blood test that measures eight different substances (including glucose, calcium, electrolytes, and kidney function markers) to provide information about the body's chemical balance and metabolism.

Culture & Sensitivity (C&S)

A two-part laboratory test used to detect harmful microbes; the culture identifies the specific bacteria or fungus causing an infection, and the sensitivity determines which antibiotics or medications will kill it most effectively.

IV Insertion (Intravenous Insertion)

The placement of a flexible plastic tube (catheter) into a vein to deliver fluids, medications, nutrients, or blood products directly into the bloodstream.

Foley Catheter

A thin, sterile tube inserted through the urethra into the bladder to continuously drain urine into a collection bag, held in place by a small water-filled balloon.

Debridement

The medical removal of dead, damaged, infected, or contaminated tissue from a wound to improve its healing potential and prevent further infection.

Gastroenteritis

Inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines, typically caused by a viral or bacterial infection, resulting in symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.

Cellulitis

A common, potentially serious bacterial skin infection that causes painful redness, swelling, and warmth, usually affecting the lower legs but capable of occurring anywhere.

Atelectasis

The partial or complete collapse of a lung or a lobe of a lung, occurring when the tiny air sacs (alveoli) within the lung become deflated or filled with alveolar fluid.

CHF (Congestive Heart Failure)

A chronic condition where the heart muscle doesn't pump blood as well as it should, leading to fluid buildup (congestion) in the lungs, legs, and other tissues.

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

A chronic, progressive inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.

TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack)

A temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain, often called a "mini-stroke," that causes stroke-like symptoms that typically resolve within 24 hours without causing permanent damage.

Contusion

A medical term for a bruise, which occurs when an injury crushes underlying muscle fibers and blood vessels without breaking the skin, causing blood to pool.

Laceration

A deep cut, tear, or wound in the skin or flesh, typically caused by a sharp object or blunt force trauma, often requiring stitches.

Fracture (Fx)

The medical term for a broken bone, ranging from a hairline crack to a complete break or shattering of the bone.

NPO p MN (Nil Per Os post Midnight)

A medical order meaning "Nothing by mouth after midnight" instructing that the patient must not eat or drink anything (including water) after 12:00 AM, usually to prepare for surgery or specific tests.

Strict I&O (Strict Intake and Output)

A precise nursing protocol where every milliliter of fluid a patient consumes (intake) and excretes (output, such as urine or vomit) is meticulously measured and recorded.

Code Blue

A hospital emergency code indicating that a patient is experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, typically cardiac arrest or respiratory arrest, requiring immediate resuscitation.

Guarding

An involuntary or voluntary tensing of the abdominal wall muscles when a clinician palpates the abdomen, usually a sign of underlying inflammation or infection (peritonitis).

Reperfusion

The restoration of blood flow to an organ or tissue (such as the heart or brain) after it has been blocked or deprived of oxygen, crucial for limiting tissue damage.