NCLEX-RN Fundamentals of Nursing Vocabulary Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering major definitions, concepts, and key terms across Modules 1 through 18 of the NCLEX-RN Fundamentals of Nursing lecture notes.

Health Promotion

The goal of helping people stay healthy before illness occurs through actions such as teaching healthy eating, exercise education, vaccination education, and smoking cessation.

Florence Nightingale

The Founder of Modern Nursing who improved sanitation in military hospitals during the Crimean War, founded the first professional nursing school in 1860, and established principles of infection prevention, clean environments, patient observation, and evidence-based decision-making.

Mary Eliza Mahoney

The first African American professionally trained nurse in the United States who promoted diversity and equality in nursing.

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

An approach to patient care that integrates the best available research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences and values.

Scope of Practice

Defines what an RN is educated, competent, and legally authorized to do, determined by state Nurse Practice Acts, State Boards of Nursing, professional standards, and employer policies.

Subjective Data

Information reported directly by the patient that cannot be directly measured or observed by the nurse, such as symptoms, chief complaints, and statements of pain.

Objective Data

Observable, measurable findings gathered by the nurse through physical assessment, vital signs, laboratory tests, and diagnostic exams.

Abdomen Physical Assessment Sequence

The modified order of physical assessment techniques specifically used for the abdomen: Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, and Palpation (IAPP), performed in this order to avoid altering bowel sounds before auscultating.

SMART Goals

Patient-centered outcome statements established during the planning step of the nursing process that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

NCJMM (NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model)

A framework used to evaluate how an entry-level RN thinks through patient care, consisting of six cognitive steps: Recognize Cues, Analyze Cues, Prioritize Hypotheses, Generate Solutions, Take Action, and Evaluate Outcomes.

Two-Identifier Rule

The standard safety practice requiring nurses to verify at least two approved identifiers (such as full name, date of birth, or medical record number) before administering care or medications; room or bed numbers are never acceptable as sole identifiers.

RACE Protocol

The fire safety mnemonic outlining the priority actions: Rescue anyone in immediate danger, Activate the alarm, Contain the fire, and Extinguish if safe or Evacuate.

PASS Procedure

The standard sequence for operating a fire extinguisher: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side.

Airborne Precautions

Isolation measures required for pathogens that remain suspended in air (such as Tuberculosis, Measles, and Varicella), requiring a fit-tested N95 respirator and placement in an Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR).

Contact Precautions

Isolation protocols used for organisms spread by direct or indirect contact (such as MRSA, VRE, and C. difficile), requiring gloves and a gown upon entering the room.

PPE Donning Sequence

The correct sequence for putting on personal protective equipment: Gown, followed by Mask/Respirator, Goggles/Face Shield, and Gloves.

PPE Doffing Sequence

The sequence for removing personal protective equipment to avoid self-contamination: Gloves, followed by Goggles/Face Shield, Gown, Mask/Respirator, and immediate Hand Hygiene.

Tachycardia

An abnormally elevated pulse rate exceeding $100\,\text{beats/min}$ in an adult.

Bradycardia

An abnormally low pulse rate below $60\,\text{beats/min}$ in an adult.

Hypoxemia

An abnormally low oxygen level in the blood, clinically flagged when pulse oximetry ($\text{SpO}_2$) falls below $90\%$, indicating significant lack of oxygen.

SBAR Communication

A standardized framework for concise interprofessional communication and handoffs, standing for Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation.

Active Range of Motion (AROM)

Joint exercises performed independently by the patient without nursing assistance.

Passive Range of Motion (PROM)

Joint exercises where the nurse moves the patient's joints completely without exertion from the patient.

High-Alert Medications

Medications that require heightened vigilance because errors in administration carry a high risk of causing serious harm; examples include Insulin, Heparin, Opioids, and Chemotherapy agents.

Venturi Mask

An oxygen delivery device that supplies precise, controlled $\text{FiO}_2$ percentages (typically $24\text{--}50\%$), making it ideal for patients with COPD.

Non-Rebreather Mask

A high-flow oxygen mask operating at $10\text{--}15\,\text{L/min}$ capable of delivering $60\text{--}95\%$ $\text{FiO}_2$ for patients with severe hypoxia.

Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)

Hypertonic nutritional support administered directly into the bloodstream through a central venous catheter when the gastrointestinal tract cannot be used.

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing that places a patient at high risk for aspiration and requires specific safety precautions during feeding.

Hyponatremia

A serum sodium level below $135\,\text{mEq/L}$, which primarily causes neurological symptoms such as headache, confusion, decreased level of consciousness, and seizures.

Hypokalemia

A serum potassium level below $3.5\,\text{mEq/L}$, which causes muscle weakness, constipation, and dangerous cardiac dysrhythmias.

Positive Chvostek's Sign

A physical finding indicative of hypocalcemia, demonstrated by involuntary muscle spasms or twitching of the face when the facial nerve is tapped.

PQRST Pain Assessment

A structured pain evaluation tool covering Provokes/Palliates, Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity ($0\text{--}10$ scale), and Timing.

Naloxone

An antidote medication used to rapidly reverse opioid overdose and severe opioid-induced respiratory depression.

Stage 1 Pressure Injury

Intact skin presenting with localized non-blanchable redness, usually over a bony prominence.

Stage 4 Pressure Injury

Full-thickness skin and tissue loss with directly exposed muscle, tendon, ligament, or bone.

Sanguineous Drainage

Bright red, fresh bloody fluid exudate from a wound.

Negligence

The failure to provide reasonable care that a prudent person would provide under similar circumstances, resulting in potential or actual harm.

Malpractice

Professional negligence committed by a licensed healthcare professional whose failure to follow established standards of care directly causes patient injury.

Assault

An intentional threat or action that places a patient in reasonable fear of unwanted or harmful contact, without physical touching occurring.

Battery

The unlawful or unconsented physical contact or treatment performed on a patient, such as administering a treatment after an adult patient with capacity has refused.

Palliative Care

Specialized care focused on relieving pain, symptoms, and stress from a serious illness at any stage of disease, which can be provided alongside curative treatments.

Hospice Care

Compassionate end-of-life care for patients with a terminal illness when curative treatment is no longer the focus and life expectancy is short.

Living Will

A legal advance directive document specifying an individual's explicit wishes regarding life-sustaining medical treatments if they become unable to communicate decisions.

Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Order

A legal medical order specifying that CPR, chest compressions, and defibrillation should not be performed if the patient's heart or breathing stops; it does not mean stopping comfort care or other indicated treatments.