Fixed flashcards for todays test

Weight

Can be used to determine if a patient is overweight or underweight.

Infants and toddlers' monitoring

Infants and toddlers are monitored frequently because growth is rapid.

Head circumference in infants

Normal head circumference includes conditions such as macrocephalus and microcephalus.

Microcephaly

Small head; can be caused by congenital defects, infections, and/or drug/alcohol abuse during pregnancy.

Weight recording unit

Weight is recorded as kilograms (1.0 kilogram = 2.2 pounds).

Weight measurements

Have the patient remove their shoes only, and if the patient is an infant, the diaper can be left on.

Chemo patients' weight monitoring

It is important to closely monitor the weight.

Patient procedure covering

Always cover the patient as much as you can to avoid exposure.

Prone position

The patient lies on the abdomen with legs together and face turned to the side for spine examination.

Sims’ position (Left lateral)

The patient lies on their left side with the right leg bent up; used for enemas and rectal exams.

Fowler’s position

Best position when the patient is having trouble breathing.

Trendelenburg position

Used to improve surgical access to the pelvic area and increase venous return to the heart.

Snellen Charts

Special charts that use letters or symbols in calibrated heights to check visual acuity; patient should not squint.

Normal vision

Considered to be 20/20, meaning a patient can see 20 feet.

Hyperopia

Farsightedness; must know abbreviations for right, left, and both eyes.

EOD

Abbreviation for right eye.

EOS

Abbreviation for left eye.

OU

Abbreviation for both eyes.

Papanicolaou

Commonly known as a Pap smear.

Percussion

Process of tapping various body parts during an examination.

Ophthalmoscope

A lighted instrument used to examine the eye.

Auscultation

Process of listening for sounds in the body.

Otoscope

A lighted instrument used to examine the ear.

Warm instruments

Physicians must warm instruments before using them.

Stethoscope

Instrument used for listening to internal body sounds.

Turning fork

An instrument that has two prongs and is used to test hearing acuity.

Explaining procedures

Carefully explaining all procedures can help the patient when they are nervous.

Hemostats

Instruments used to compress blood vessels to stop bleeding.

Standard precautions

Must be followed at all times; treat each patient as if they were infectious.

Suture removal sets

Sets of instruments including suture scissors and thumb forceps.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Graphic tracing of the electrical acuity of the heart; it will NOT electrocute the patient.

Chest electrodes

Placed at six specific locations on the chest and various body parts (RA, LA, RL, LL, C, V).

ECG interference

Muscle movement may cause interference during an ECG.

Millivolt input effect

One millivolt electrical input can cause the stylus to move 10 millimeters on the graph.

Third branch of the heart

Supplies the right ventricular outflow tract.

Troche or lozenge

Large, flat disc that is dissolved in the mouth.

Enteric coated medication

Medication with a special coating that does not dissolve until reaching the small intestine.

Suppository

A cone-shaped object mixed with medication, usually with a base of cocoa butter or glycerin.

Medication administration routes

Can be given by oral, rectal; injections include subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, intradermal.

Topical or local medications

Transdermal patches are examples.

Sublingual medications

Given under the tongue.

Six rights of medication administration

Right medication, right dosage, right patient, right time, right method, right documentation.

Discarding unused medication

If prepared medication is not administered, it needs to be discarded.

Expired medications disposal

Must be destroyed in approved receptacles.