Fundamentals of Nursing Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering nursing fundamentals including safety, infection control, vital signs, pharmacology, health assessment, oxygenation, and perioperative care based on the Potter & Perry Fundamentals of Nursing 12th Edition test bank.

Hypothermia

A condition defined as a core body temperature of $95^ ext{o} F$ or below.

Universal Protocol

A Joint Commission protocol used to distinguish the correct site, the correct patient, and the correct procedure to prevent wrong-site surgery.

Restraints

Interventions utilized only when alternatives have been exhausted and the patient continues behavior that is harmful to themselves or others.

RACE

A mnemonic used for fire safety priorities: Rescue the patient, Activate the alarm, Confine the fire, and Extinguish the fire.

PASS

A mnemonic for using a fire extinguisher: Pull the pin, Aim low, Squeeze the handles, and Sweep the area from side to side.

Iatrogenic infection

A type of health care–associated infection resulting from a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, such as a colonoscopy.

Exogenous infection

An infection caused by an organism present outside the patient's body, such as Staphylococcus aureus.

Endogenous infection

An infection that occurs when part of the patient’s normal flora becomes altered and an overgrowth results.

Standard Precautions

Infection control measures applied to contact with blood, body fluid, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes of all patients.

Medical asepsis

Also known as clean technique, these are procedures used to decrease the number of organisms present and prevent their transfer.

Surgical asepsis

Also known as sterile technique, it involves eliminating all microorganisms, including pathogens and spores, from an object or area.

Conduction

The transfer of heat from one object to another through direct contact, such as applying an ice pack to the skin.

Radiation

The transfer of heat from the surface of one object to the surface of another without direct contact between the two.

Convection

The transfer of heat away from the body by air movement.

Evaporation

The transfer of heat energy when a liquid is changed to a gas.

Pyrexia

Also known as fever, this occurs because heat loss mechanisms are unable to keep pace with excess heat production.

Pulse pressure

The numerical difference between the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure.

Prehypertension

In adults, blood pressure values of $120$ to $139/80$ to $89 ext{ mmHg}$.

Hematocrit

The percentage of red blood cells in the blood, which determines blood viscosity.

Trough level

The lowest serum concentration of a drug, generally drawn $30 ext{ minutes}$ before the drug is administered.

Idiosyncratic reaction

A medication reaction that is the opposite of the expected effect, or where the patient overreacts or underreacts to the medication.

Synergistic effect

Occurs when two medications potentiate each other, creating a greater effect than a single medication alone.

Phlebitis

An intravenous complication characterized by a red streak that is warm to the touch.

Infiltration

An intravenous complication characterized by an arm that is puffy, swollen, and cool to the touch.

Allopathic medicine

Traditional Western medicine; effective for treating physical ailments but generally less effective for prevention or chronic disease management.

Receptivity

In relaxation therapy, the ability to tolerate and accept experiences that are uncertain, unfamiliar, or paradoxical.

Palliative care

Care designed to help patients and families achieve the best quality of life by managing symptoms and providing support.

Maturational loss

A type of loss that occurs as part of normal life transitions.

Situational loss

A loss resulting from an unpredictable external event, such as an injury sustained during military service.

Complicated grief

A dysfunctional grieving process that interferes with common routines of life for excessively long periods of time.

Shiva

A Jewish mourning ritual that incorporates community support and sustaining traditions for survivors.

Tertiary prevention

Interventions aimed at assisting patients in readapting to life and rehabilitation after a disease is already present.

Conversion

An ego defense mechanism involving the transformation of an anxiety-producing conflict into nonorganic physical symptoms.

Surfactant

A chemical produced in the lungs to maintain the surface tension of the alveoli and keep them from collapsing.

Atelectasis

The collapse of alveoli that prevents the normal exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Angina pectoris

Chest pain resulting from a limited oxygen supply, often precipitated by exercise, stress, or heavy meals.

Stage 4 NREM

The deepest stage of sleep, during which the sleeper is difficult to arouse and vital signs are significantly lower.

REM sleep

The sleep stage characterized by rapid eye movement, vivid full-color dreaming, and loss of skeletal muscle tone.

Maceration

The softening and breaking down of skin resulting from prolonged exposure to moisture.

Granulation tissue

Red, moist tissue composed of new blood vessels, indicating progression toward wound healing.

Slough

Soft yellow or white tissue in a wound bed that must be removed for the wound to heal.

Eschar

Black or brown necrotic tissue in a wound.

Dehiscence

A wound complication where the layers of skin and tissue separate after a sudden strain, such as coughing.

Evisceration

A surgical emergency where vital visceral organs protrude through a wound opening.

Braden Scale

A skin risk assessment tool that uses six subscales to determine the risk of pressure ulcer development.

Malignant hyperthermia

A rare, life-threatening complication of anesthesia causing hypercarbia, tachycardia, tachypnea, and muscle rigidity.

Circulating nurse

A registered nurse responsible for preoperative assessment, the plan of care, and advocating for the patient outside the sterile field.

Scrub nurse

A member of the surgical team who maintains the sterile field and hands instruments to the surgeon.

Moderate sedation

Also known as conscious sedation, it is used for procedures that require a depressed level of consciousness but not complete anesthesia.