Nursing Fundamentals: Vital Signs, Pain Management, Urinary & Bowel Elimination

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering vital signs, pain assessment, urinary elimination, and bowel elimination from Chapters 26, 36, 38, and 39.

Afebrile

Without fever.

Pyrexia (Febrile)

With fever.

Intermittent Fever

Body temperature returns to normal at least once every $24\,\text{hours}$.

Remittent Fever

Body temperature does not return to normal and fluctuates up and down a few degrees.

Sustained/Continuous Fever

Body temperature remains elevated with minimal variation.

Relapsing/Recurrent Fever

Body temperature alternates between normal days and fever days.

Grade 0 Pulse

Absent pulse; unable to palpate.

Grade +1 Pulse

Diminished pulse; weaker than expected.

Grade +2 Pulse

Normal pulse; brisk and expected.

Grade 3+ Pulse

Bounding pulse.

Ventilation

Movement of air in and out of the lungs through inhalation and exhalation.

Diffusion

Exchange of $O_2$ and $CO_2$ between the alveoli and pulmonary capillaries.

Perfusion

Exchange of $O_2$ and $CO_2$ between circulating blood and tissue cells, or blood flow through arteries and capillaries delivering $O_2$ and nutrients while removing waste.

Eupnea

Normal, unlabored breathing ($12\text{--}20\,\text{breaths/min}$, or $1$ respiration per $4$ heartbeats).

Tachypnea

Increased breathing rate.

Bradypnea

Decreased breathing rate.

Apnea

Periods of no breathing.

Dyspnea

Difficult or labored breathing.

Orthopnea

Breathing changes that are dependent on sitting or standing.

Systolic Pressure

Peak arterial pressure during left ventricular contraction.

Diastolic Pressure

Lowest arterial pressure when the heart rests between beats.

Pulse Pressure

The numerical difference between systolic and diastolic pressure.

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)

Calculated as $\text{MAP} = \frac{\text{Systolic BP} + (2 \times \text{Diastolic BP})}{3}$, with a clinical target of $>65\,\text{mm Hg}$.

Orthostatic Hypotension

A drop in blood pressure associated with standing up, caused by dehydration, blood loss, or neurologic, cardiovascular, or endocrine issues.

Acute Pain

Pain with rapid onset, varying in intensity and duration, which is protective in nature.

Chronic Pain

Pain that lasts beyond the normal healing time and features periods of remission and exacerbation.

Cutaneous Pain

Pain involving the skin or subcutaneous tissue.

Deep Somatic Pain

Diffuse pain originating in tendons, ligaments, bones, blood vessels, and nerves.

Visceral Pain

Poorly localized pain originating in internal organs.

Referred Pain

Pain perceived in an area distant from its site of origin.

OPQRST Mnemonic

Pain assessment tool representing Onset, Palliation/Provocation, Quality, Radiate, Severity ($0\text{--}10$), and Time.

Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS)

Assessment scale ranging from $+4$ (Combative) to $-5$ (Unarousable) used to evaluate patient agitation and sedation.

Pasero Opioid-Induced Sedation Scale (POSS)

Scale assessing opioid-induced sedation, ranging from S (Sleep, easy to arouse) to 4 (Somnolent with minimal/no response to stimuli).

Anuria

Urine output of $<50\,\text{mL}$ in $24\,\text{hours}$, indicating kidney failure or shutdown.

Oliguria

Decreased urine output of $<400\,\text{mL}/24\,\text{hours}$.

Polyuria

Excessive production of urine.

Dysuria

Painful or difficult urination.

Glycosuria

Presence of sugar in the urine.

Pyuria

Presence of pus in the urine.

EGD (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy)

Endoscopic visual examination of the esophagus, stomach, and upper duodenum.

Colonoscopy

Flexible endoscopic examination visualizing the rectum, entire colon, and distal small intestine.

Sigmoidoscopy

Visual examination of the distal sigmoid colon, rectum, and anal canal using a flexible scope.

UGI Series / Small Bowel Series

X-ray diagnostic study utilizing oral barium contrast, requiring NPO status beforehand and increased fluid intake afterward to prevent constipation.

Regular oral temperature

35.8-37.5 C

96.4-99.5 F

Pulse rate

60-100

(80 average)

Pulse oxygen

93-100%