Critical Thinking and Triage in Veterinary Practice

This set of flashcards covers essential vocabulary related to critical thinking and triage in veterinary practice, including definitions and contextual meanings.

Critical Thinking

A mental process of active and skillful perception, analysis, synthesis, evaluation of collected information.

Assessment

The process of gathering information, including patient history and vital signs, to evaluate a situation.

Prioritize

To arrange or deal with in order of importance or urgency.

Implementation

The action of putting a plan into effect, including performing tasks and treatments.

Evaluation

The assessment of the effectiveness of a treatment or intervention after it has been executed.

Triage

The process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition.

Autopilot

A state of mind where actions are carried out without active thinking or awareness.

Mucous Membranes

Moist tissue lining some parts of the body, used in veterinary care to assess hydration and health status.

Neutrophilia

An increase in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) in the blood, often indicating infection or inflammation.

Paraplegia

The inability to move the rear limbs; a form of paralysis.

Capillary Refill Time

The time it takes for color to return to an external capillary bed after pressure is applied; used to assess circulatory status.

Veterinary Protocol

Standard procedures and guidelines established for veterinary practice.

Cognitive Bias

A systematic pattern of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment, often affecting decision-making.

Patient Advocacy

The act of speaking or acting on behalf of the patient, ensuring their needs and concerns are addressed.

Normal Values

Established ranges for various physiological measures used to determine health status.