Glossary of Medical Terms

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards reviewing fundamental medical and nursing aide terminology from the lecture notes.

Abduction

moving a body part away from the midline

Abuse

willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation or punishment with resulting physical harm, pain, or mental anguish

Acceptance

the final stage of grief (in response to near death) when person has worked through feelings and understands that death is imminent

Activities of Daily Living (ADL)

term used in health care to describe everyday things that a resident routinely does, such as hygiene and grooming, dressing, eating, toileting, and transferring

Activity-based Care

care focused on assisting resident to find meaning in his or her day, rather than doing activities just to keep the person busy

Adaptive Devices (assistive devices)

special equipment that helps a disabled or ill resident perform activities of daily living (ADLs)

Adduction

moving a body part toward the midline

Advance Directive

a living will written while resident is mentally competent or by resident’s legal representative which outlines choices about withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining procedures, if terminally ill

Airborne Precautions

a transmission-based precaution that prevents spread of harmful germs that travel in the air at a distance, using Standard Precautions, plus a respirator, depending on specific disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD)

the most common type of dementia; is a progressive disease characterized by a gradual decline in memory, thinking and physical ability, over several years

Anti-microbial rinse

alcohol-free mouth care product that kills bacteria and improves gum inflammation; requires a prescription; may only be used for $6$ weeks; example is chlorhexidine solution

Apnea

respiration stops

Arteries

blood vessels that carry blood with oxygen and nutrients away from the heart and to the cells

Aspiration

accidental breathing in of food, fluid, vomit, or other object into lungs

Assault

act of threatening to touch, or attempting to touch a person, without proper consent

Assessment

first step of nursing process; collecting information about a resident

Battery

touching a person without consent

Blood

consists of water ($90\%$), blood cells, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nutrients, hormones, enzymes, waste products

Body Mechanics

efficient and safe use of the body by the coordination of body alignment, balance, and movement

Bony Prominences

areas of body where bone is close to the skin, such as elbows, shoulder blades, sacrum

Brainstem

part of the brain that controls breathing, opening and closing of blood vessels, heart rate, swallowing, gagging, and coughing

Calculus

hardened plaque of at least $10$ days which can only be removed by a dentist

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

an agency of the federal government that is in charge of the control and prevention of disease in our country

Cerebellum

part of the brain located just below the cerebrum that controls balance and regulates movement

Cerebrum

center of the brain where thought and intelligence occur

Chemical Restraint

any drug used to control actions of a resident for convenience of staff

Cheyne-Stokes Breathing

when resident takes several shallow breaths followed by periods of no breathing for $5$, $30$, or even $60$ seconds; does not cause the resident discomfort

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Emphysema, asthma, and chronic bronchitis and problems related to these diseases

Cognition

ability to think quickly and logically; the manner in which messages from the five senses are collected, stored in memory, recovered from memory, and later used to answer questions, respond to requests, and perform tasks

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

when one or both sides of the heart stop pumping effectively

Contracture

permanent shortening of muscle resulting in immovable joints

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

a condition in which blood vessels in the coronary arteries narrow, lowering blood supply to the heart and depriving it of oxygen

Critical Thinking

safely providing resident care in a variety of situations based on facts learned and bedside observations, or the ability to think on one’s feet

CVA (or stroke)

damage to part of brain due to blood clot or hemorrhage cutting blood supply off

Cyanosis

changes in skin color, pale or bluish color of lips and extremities

Cystocele

weakening of wall between urethra and vagina, which leads to urinary incontinence

Defamation

false statement made to a third person that causes a person shame or ridicule, or ruins their reputation; written is called libel; verbal is called slander

Delegation

the process of assigning part of one’s responsibility to another qualified person in a specific situation; transferring responsibility for the performance of an activity or task while retaining accountability for the outcome

Dementia

brain disease which causes the resident to gradually lose the ability to remember, do simple tasks (even tooth brushing), understand, and communicate, lasting as long as eight years or more and progresses through three stages

Diastole

the resting phase of the heart when the heart fills with blood; the bottom number of a blood pressure reading

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)

an order written by a doctor at the request of a resident, which tells the health care team that the resident does not wish any extraordinary measures to be used when resident suffers cardiac or respiratory arrest

Dorsiflexion

bending the toes and foot upward at the ankle

Droplet Precautions

a transmission-based precaution that prevents spread of harmful germs that travel by droplets in the air, using Standard Precautions, plus mask and gloves

Dysphagia

difficulty swallowing

Dyspnea

difficulty breathing

Dysuria

painful urination

Empathy

identifying with and understanding the feelings of another, without feeling sorry for the person

Emphysema

irreversible damage to the lungs causing permanent holes in the lung

Evaluation

fifth step of nursing process; deciding if nursing measures worked or were effective, and whether goal was met

Five Stages of Grief

stages of grief in response to near death, based on personal, cultural and religious beliefs and experiences, according to Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Fowler’s Position

resident reclined in a sitting position, at $45$ to $60$ degrees

Fraud

an intentional deception or misrepresentation made by a person with knowledge that deception could result in some unauthorized benefit to self or some other person

Gingivitis

the tender red or reddish-blue tinting of the gum due to inflammation caused by bacteria in the plaque that attacks the gum tissue and may result in loss of teeth

Glaucoma

damage to optic nerve caused by pressure

Graves’ Disease

immune system attacks thyroid gland which causes it to secrete more thyroid hormone

Healthcare-associated infection (HAI)

an infection that a resident gets while staying or living in a health care setting

High Fowler’s Position

resident sitting up almost straight, at $60$ to $90$ degrees

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

law that protects privacy of resident’s health information and identifies certain health information that must be kept private and confidential

Hospice Care

health care agency or program for people who are dying (usually less than six months to live) that provides comfort measures and pain management, preserves dignity, respect and choice, and offers empathy and support for the resident and the family

Hypertension

high blood pressure

Hyperthyroidism

too much thyroxin

Hypothyroidism

too little thyroxin

Implementation

fourth step of nursing process; nursing measures carried out during resident care

Incontinence

the inability to control urination or defecation

Integumentary System

the skin; the largest organ and system in the body, responsible for providing a natural protective covering of the body

Kardex

a type of card file that includes information important to the care of residents and includes drugs, treatments, diagnoses, routine care measures, and special needs

Lateral Position

resident positioned on right or left

Medical Asepsis (clean technique)

practice used to remove or destroy germs and to prevent their spread from one person or place to another person or place

Medical Record

is a legal document that organizes all the information about care of a single resident in one document and allows each discipline involved in the care to know what all disciplines are doing

Misappropriation of Property

illegal or improper use of resident’s money, property, assets; by another, without consent, for personal gain

Mottling

changes in skin color (pale and bluish) of the hands, arms, feet, and legs when death is near movement of blood though the body

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

a heart attack; a condition where the heart muscle does not receive enough blood and lacks oxygen, causing damage or death to that area of the heart

Neglect

a failure to provide goods and services necessary to avoid physical harm, mental anguish, or mental illness

Negligence

actions or failure to act or give proper care resulting in injury

OBRA (Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) of 1987

Federal Law, enacted by Congress, in $1987$, to improve quality of life of residents living in a nursing home environment, protect residents in nursing homes and assure they have quality of care and quality of life

Objective Data

observations using the senses

Orthotic Device

artificial device that replaces a body part and helps with function and/or appearance

Osteoarthritis

disease affects weight-bearing joints, with aches, stiffness, limited motion

Osteoporosis

spongy type of bone that breaks easily

PASS

acronym to remember during the use of a fire extinguisher

Person-centered Care

is the practice of basing resident care on individual resident needs, preferences and expectations

Physical Restraint (or protective device)

any physical or mechanical device, material or equipment which restricts freedom of movement or normal access to one’s body

Planning

third step of nursing process; setting of resident goals that are prioritized

Plantar Flexion

bending the foot downward at the ankle

Plaque

sticky film of food, bacteria, and saliva usually found along the gum line which can be removed by brushing and hardens within $48$ hours

Pneumonia

acute (sudden onset) inflammation of the lungs

Point of Care

refers to the place where three ($3$) elements occur together: the resident, the nurse aide, and the care or treatment involving resident contact; most point of care occurs in resident’s room

Portal of Entry

a body opening of a person that allows harmful germs to enter into the body

Portal of Exit

any way that harmful germs escape from reservoir

Post Mortem Care

care of the body after death

Pressure Ulcers (pressure sore, decubitus ulcer, bed sore)

a serious wound caused by poor circulation, resulting from pressure

Prone Position

resident positioned on abdomen

Prostatic Hypertrophy

enlargement of prostate gland, a donut-shaped structure around the male urethra, leading to urinary dysfunction

Prosthetic Device

replacement devices for lost body parts

Pulse

is the beat of the heart felt at an artery, as a wave of blood passes through the artery; is the numbers of heart beats per minute

RACE

acronym to remember in case of a fire: Remove residents from danger, Activate alarm, Contain the fire by closing all doors and windows, and if possible, Extinguish the fire (or fire department will extinguish fire)

Resident’s Rights

rights that have been written into Federal law (OBRA) that identify how a resident must be treated while living in a long-term care facility

Restraint Alternative

measures used instead of physical or chemical restraints

Restraint-Free Care

an environment in which restraints are not kept or used for any reason

Rheumatoid Arthritis

systemic, crippling disease-causing deformities, with stiff, painful, swollen joints