Nursing Fundamentals: Critical Thinking, Ethics, Infection Control, Wound Care, and Therapeutic Communication

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on critical thinking, ethics, infection control, wound care, and therapeutic communication.

Critical thinking

A deliberate, outcome-oriented process that analyzes data to reach a consensus, such as formulating a nursing diagnosis.

Code of Ethics

Formal ethical guidelines from professional nursing organizations (e.g., ICN and ANA) guiding practice.

ANA

American Nurses Association; national professional organization that sets standards, supports licensure, and promotes nurse safety and ethics.

ICN

International Council of Nurses; global federation that emphasizes ethical standards and professional conduct in nursing.

Licensure

Legal authorization to practice nursing granted by a regulatory board.

Standards of Practice

Established guidelines that define the expected level of nursing care.

CAUTI

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection; a common healthcare-associated infection.

CDC Standard Precautions

Basic infection prevention practices applied to all patient care to reduce transmission.

JCAHO

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; accredits and certifies healthcare organizations.

Medicare and Medicaid (MM)

Federal programs that fund healthcare and influence standards and enforcement in care settings.

QSEN

Quality and Safety Education for Nurses; initiative to integrate quality and safety competencies into nursing education.

Learning Readiness

A patient’s preparedness to learn, influenced by culture, values, physical/emotional status, and past experiences.

Health Literacy

The ability to obtain, process, and understand health information to make appropriate health decisions.

Ethics

Formal, systematic study of moral beliefs to determine right and wrong.

Morality

Personal values and actions in moral dilemmas and distress.

Patient Self-Determination Act (1991)

Federal law enabling advanced directives and appointing healthcare representatives and preferences for life-sustaining treatment.

Advanced Directives

Documents describing patient preferences for medical treatment (e.g., DNR/DNI).

DNR

Do Not Resuscitate; order to withhold CPR.

DNI

Do Not Intubate; order to withhold endotracheal intubation.

HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; protects patient confidentiality and privacy.

Adherence/Compliance

Extent to which patients follow prescribed care, influenced by multiple factors.

Teach-Back Method

Technique where patients explain in their own words what they need to know to confirm understanding.

Local signs of infection

Redness, heat, swelling, pain, and loss of function at the infection site.

Systemic signs of infection

Fever, changes in vital signs, and elevated white blood cell count.

Medical Asepsis

Clean technique aimed at reducing pathogens.

Surgical Asepsis

Sterile technique aimed at eliminating all microorganisms.

MDROs

Multi-drug resistant organisms; organisms resistant to multiple antibiotics.

MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; resistant to methicillin; hospital- or community-acquired.

HA-MRSA

Hospital-acquired MRSA infections.

CA-MRSA

Community-acquired MRSA infections.

VRE

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus; resistant to vancomycin antibiotics.

Clostridium difficile (C. diff)

GI bacterium whose spores cause infection after antibiotic use; handwashing with soap and water is essential.

Precautions

Standard precautions plus Transmission-Based precautions (Contact, Droplet, Airborne) to prevent infection spread.

Standard precautions

Baseline infection control practices used with all patients.

Contact precautions

Private room; gown and gloves for all entry; dedicated equipment.

Droplet precautions

Private room; surgical mask for entry; patient wears a mask when transported.

Airborne precautions

Private room with negative pressure; N95 respirator for entry; patient wears a mask when transported.

Infection cycle (Chain of Infection)

Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, means of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host.

Wound infection signs

Indicators of infection such as altered drainage or odor and changes in color or surrounding tissue.

Wound classifications

Infection, Hemorrhage, Dehiscence, Evisceration, Fistula formation; pressure ulcers are a subset of skin injuries.

Pressure ulcer

Localized damage to the skin/underlying tissue usually over a bony prominence.

Pressure ulcer stages

Stage I: non-blanchable erythema; Stage II: partial-thickness skin loss; Stage III: full-thickness loss; Stage IV: full-thickness with exposed structures; Suspected Deep Tissue Injury; Unstageable.

Eschar vs Slough

Eschar: necrotic tissue; Slough: yellow/tan/gray nonviable tissue covering wound bed.

Undermining/Tunneling/Sinus tract

Tissue disruption forms spaces under the wound edge or connecting channels.

Wound drainage types

Serous (clear), Sanguinous (blood), Serosanguinous (mixed), Purulent (pus).

Drains (JP, Hemovac, Penrose)

Devices used to remove wound fluid; JP and Hemovac are active suction; Penrose is passive."

Braden Scale

Assessment tool to predict risk of pressure ulcer development.

Wound assessment steps

Assess appearance/odor, diagnose risk, plan care, implement interventions, document, evaluate.

Morning/Evening care

Scheduled hygiene tasks performed at AM and PM to maintain cleanliness and comfort.

Skin integrity and wound care basics

Essential factors include adequate blood supply, absence of foreign material, and proper nutrition.

Functions of the skin

First line of defense; regulates temperature; protects; sensation; vitamin D production; immunologic responses.

The Helping Relationship

Professional nurse-patient relationship focused on patient needs; phases include Orientation, Working, Termination.

Orientation phase

Phase where roles are clarified and rapport is established.

Working phase

Phase of active collaboration to meet patient needs through teaching and support.

Termination phase

Concluding phase at discharge; transfer of care and evaluation of goals.

Assertive vs Aggressive behavior

Assertive: stands up for rights respectfully; Aggressive: asserts rights in a hostile way.

Therapeutic communication

Verbal and nonverbal methods to support patient understanding and rapport.

Communication barriers

Clichés, false reassurance, why-questions, topic changes, incivility.

Interviewing techniques

Skills like active listening, eye contact, open-ended and closed questions, validation, and clarification.

Personal territories in communication

Zones: intimate, personal, social, and public spaces affecting interaction.