Vocabulary Chapters 3, 5, and 25

Acute illness

usually has a rapid onset of symptoms and lasts only a relatively short time

Antiracism

requires every nurse to engage in a daily practice of actively combating racism

Chronic illness

a broad term that encompasses several different physical and mental alterations in health with one or more of the following characteristics

Disease

medical term referring to pathologic changes in the structure or function of the body or mind

Diversity

welcoming individuals of all races, religions, nationalities, cultures, ages, sexual orientations, and identities

Equity

not treating everyone the same, its ensuring that everyone has access to the conditions they need to thrive

Exacerbation

the symptoms of disease reappear after a period of remission

Health

a state of complete physical, mental, and social well being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

Health disparity

a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, or environmental disadvantage

Health equity

the attainment of the highest level of health for all people

Health promotion

the behavior of a person who is motivated by a personal desire to increase well being and health potential

Holistic healthcare

care that addresses the many dimensions that comprise the whole person

Illness

the response of the person to the disease, the process in which the person's level of functioning is changed when compared with a previous level

Inclusion

giving everyone a sense of purpose and belonging, a feeling of being valued

Institutional or structural racism

the systematic distribution of resources, power, and opportunity in our society to the benefit of people who are white and to the exclusion of people of color

Morbidity

how frequently a disease occurs

Mortality

the number of deaths resulting from a disease

Remission

the disease is present but no symptoms are experienced

Risk factor

something that increases a person's chance for illness or injury

Social determinants of health

the conditions in the environments in which people are born, live/learn/work/play/worship/age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality of life outcomes and risks

Unconscious or implicit bias

prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group as compared to another in a way that is usually unfair

Vulnerable populations

racial/ethnic minorities, people living in poverty, women, children, older adults, residents of rural areas and low

Wellness

an active state of being healthy, including living a lifestyle that promotes good physical, mental and emotional health

Cultural assimilation

when a minority group lives within a dominant group causing members to lose the cultural characteristics that once made them different by taking on the values of the dominant culture

Cultural blindness

occurs when one ignores differences and proceeds as though they do not exist

Cultural diversity

the coexistence of different ethnic, sex assigned at birth, racial, and socioeconomic groups within one social unit

Cultural humility

the recognition of diversity and power imbalances among individuals, groups, or communities, with the action of being open/self aware/egoless/flexible/ exuding respect and supportive interactions, focusing on both self and other to formulate a tailored response

Cultural imposition

the belief that everyone else should conform to your own belief system

Cultural respect

enables nurses to deliver services that are respectful of and responsive to the health beliefs, practices, and cultural and linguistic needs of diverse patients

Culture

a shared system of beliefs, values, and behavioral expectations that provides social structure for daily living

Culture conflict

occurs when people become aware of cultural differences, feel threatened, and respond by ridiculing the beliefs and traditions of other to make themselves feel more secure about their own values

Culture shock

psychological discomfort or disturbances due to being placed in a different culture perceived as strange leading to feelings of foolishness, incompetence, etc. that then lead to frustration and anxiety

Ethnicity

a sense of identification with a collective cultural group largely based on the group members' common heritage

Ethnocentrism

the belief that the ideas, beliefs, and practices of one's own culture are superior to those of another's culture

Implicit bias

when we hold attitudes toward people or associate stereotypes with them without our conscious knowledge

Intersectionality

the simultaneous experiences of categorical and hierarchal classifications including race, class, gender, sexuality, and nationality

forms of oppression (racism, sexism, etc.) are actually mutually dependent and intersecting in nature creating a unified system of oppression

Linguistic competence

refers to the ability of caregivers and organizations to understand and effectively respond to the linguistic needs of patients and their families in a health care encounter

Personal space

the area around a person regarded as part of the person in which others should not intrude during personal interactions

Stereotyping

when one assumes that all members of a culture, ethic group or race act alike (whether positive or negative)

Subcultures

a large group of people who are members of the larger cultural group but who have certain ethnic, occupational, or physical characteristics

Aerobic

organism requires oxygen to live and grow

Airborne transmission

smaller particles than droplet and stay in the air for longer periods

Anaerobic

organisms that can live without oxygen

Antibody

the protein the body produces to attack the antigen

Antigen

foreign material in the human body that the body attacks

Antimicrobials

drugs that treat infections by killing or slowing the growth of microbes causing infection

Asepsis

all activities to prevent infection or break the chain of infection; used to halt the spread of microorganisms and minimize the threat of infection

Bacteria

the most significant and most observed infection causing agents in health care institutions

Bundles – 3 to 5 evidence based practices that, when implemented together, improve patient outcomes

Colonization

when an infection resides in the human body but there are no clinical signs of infection

Direct contact

requires close proximity to the infected person and involves touching, kissing, sex, etc.

Disinfection

destroys all pathogenic organisms except spores

Droplet transmission

transmission through respiratory droplets

Endemic

infection occurs with predictability in one specific region or population

Endogenous

when the causative organism comes from microbial life harbored in the person

Exogenous

when the causative organism is acquired from other people/things

Fomite

inanimate object housing the microorganism

Fungi

plantlike organism that causes infection and is found in air, soil, and water, treated with antifungals

HAIs

an infection acquired from a health care environment

Host

living being where an infectious, parasitic, or pathogenic agent resides and receives sustenance

Iatrogenic

an infection resulting from a treatment or diagnostic procedure

Indirect contact

personal contact with a vector or fomite

Infection

a disease state that results from the presence of pathogens in or on the body

Isolation

Medical asepsis

clean technique; involves procedures and practices that reduce the number and transfer of pathogens (hand hygiene and wearing gloves)

Pandemics

global outbreaks of a new virus that did not have a known immunization or treatment

Parasites

organisms that live on or in a host and rely on it for nourishment

Pathogens – disease producing microorganisms

PPE

equipment and supplies necessary to minimize the exposure of a healthcare worker to a pathogen (gloves, gown, goggles, mask, etc.)

Reservoir

the natural habitat of the organism before it infects the host (people, animals, water, inanimate objects, etc.)

Sterilization

destroys all organisms including spores

Surgical asepsis

sterile technique; includes practices used to render and keep objects and areas free from all microorganisms

Vector

a living creature that transmits an infectious agent toa human (usually an insect)

Virulence

the ability of an organism to cause disease

Virus

smallest microorganism, infects host cells and cannot be treated with antibiotics