Ch 16 17

Urination

The act of passing urine from the bladder through the urethra to the outside of the body; also known as micturition or voiding.

Fracture pan

A bedpan that is flatter than the regular bedpan.

Portable commode

A chair with a toilet seat and a removable container underneath; also called a bedside commode.

Urinary incontinence

The inability to control the bladder, which leads to an involuntary loss of urine.

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Inflammation of the bladder and the ureters that results in painful burning during urination and frequent feeling of needing to urinate; also called cystitis.

Calculi

Kidney stones that form when urine crystallizes in the kidneys.

Nephritis

An inflammation of the kidneys.

Renovascular hypertension

A condition in which a blockage of arteries in the kidneys causes high blood pressure.

Chronic renal failure

Condition that occurs when the kidneys cannot eliminate certain waste products from the body; also called chronic kidney failure.

Kidney dialysis

An artificial means of removing the body’s waste products.

Catheter

A thin tube inserted into the body to drain or inject fluids.

Straight catheter

A catheter that does not remain inside the person; it is removed immediately after urine is drained.

Indwelling catheter

A type of catheter that remains inside the bladder for a period of time; urine drains into a bag.

Condom catheter

A catheter that has an attachment on the end that fits onto the penis; also called an external or 'Texas' catheter.

Specimen

A sample that is used for analysis in order to try to make a diagnosis.

Routine urine specimen

A urine specimen that can be collected any time a person voids.

Hat

In health care, a collection container that can be inserted into a toilet to collect and measure urine or stool.

Clean-catch specimen

A urine specimen that does not have the first and last urine included.

24-hour urine specimen

A urine specimen consisting of all urine voided in a 24-hour period.

Defecation

The act of passing feces from the large intestine out of the body through the anus.

Peristalsis

Involuntary contractions that move food through the gastrointestinal system.

Constipation

The inability to eliminate stool, or the infrequent, difficult, and often painful elimination of a hard, dry stool.

Enema

A specific amount of water, with or without an additive, that is introduced into the colon to eliminate stool.

Suppository

A medication given rectally to cause a bowel movement.

Fecal impaction

A hard stool that is stuck in the rectum and cannot be expelled.

Hemorrhoids

Enlarged veins in the rectum that may also be visible outside the anus.

Diarrhea

The frequent elimination of liquid or semi-liquid feces.

Fecal incontinence

The inability to control the bowels, leading to involuntary passage of stool.

Flatulence

Air in the intestine that is passed through the rectum, which can result in cramping or abdominal pain.

Lactose intolerance

The inability to digest lactose.

Colitis

Inflammation of the large intestine that causes diarrhea and abdominal pain; also called irritable bowel syndrome.

Malabsorption

Inability to absorb or digest a particular nutrient properly.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

A chronic condition in which the liquid contents of the stomach back up into the esophagus.

Heartburn

A condition that results from a weakening of the sphincter muscle which joins the esophagus and the stomach; causes a burning sensation in the esophagus.

Ulceration

Scarring.

Peptic ulcers

Raw sores in the stomach or the small intestine.

Ulcerative colitis

A chronic inflammatory disease of the large intestine; causes cramping, diarrhea, pain, rectal bleeding, and loss of appetite.

Stoma

An artificial opening in the body.

Colorectal cancer

Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract; also known as colon cancer.

Occult

Something that is hidden or difficult to see or observe.

Ostomy

A surgically-created opening from an area inside the body to the outside.

Ureterostomy

A surgically-created opening from a ureter to the abdomen for urine to be eliminated.

Colostomy

Surgically-created opening through the abdomen into the large intestine to allow feces to be expelled.

Ileostomy

A surgically-created opening into the end of the small intestine to allow stool to be expelled.

Cognition

The ability to think logically and quickly.

Cognitive impairment

Loss of ability to think logically; concentration and memory are affected.

Confusion

The inability to think clearly.

Delirium

A state of severe confusion that occurs suddenly; it is usually temporary.

Dementia

The serious loss of mental abilities, such as thinking, remembering, reasoning, and communicating.

Progressive

Something that continually gets worse or deteriorates.

Degenerative

Something that continually gets worse.

Onset

In medicine, the first appearance of the signs or symptoms of an illness.

Irreversible

Incurable.

Alzheimer’s disease

A progressive, incurable disease that causes tangled nerve fibers and protein deposits to form in the brain, which eventually cause dementia.

Perseveration

Repeating words, phrases, questions, or actions.

Intervention

A way to change an action or development.

Agitated

The state of being excited, restless, or troubled.

Triggers

Situations that lead to agitation.

Sun downing

Becoming restless and agitated in the late afternoon, evening, or night.

Catastrophic reaction

Overreacting to something in an unreasonable way.

Pacing

Walking back and forth in the same area.

Wandering

Walking aimlessly around an area.

Elope

When a person with Alzheimer’s disease wanders away from a protected area and does not return.

Hallucinations

Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling things that are not there.

Delusions

False beliefs.

Repetitive phrasing

Repeating a word or phrase.

Pillaging

Taking things that belong to someone else.

Hoarding

Collecting and putting things away in a guarded way.

Validating

Giving value to or approving.