Exam 3 Review: Nursing Fundamentals, Cultural Competence, and Medical Terminology

Vocabulary practice cards covering fundamental nursing concepts, the nursing process, clinical judgment, spiritual assessment frameworks, transcultural nursing models, and medical terminology from the Exam 3 Review.

Initial Nursing Step for Reported Problem

Assess the patient immediately before taking any further action.

Discrepant Assessment Findings

The clinical scenario where nurse observations conflict with a patient's verbal statements, requiring the nurse to ask clarifying questions about what is observed.

Clustering Cues

Looking at individual data points and grouping related findings together to identify or point toward a patient problem.

Phases of a Patient Interview

The four sequential stages of an interview: Interview Preparation, Orientation and setting an agenda, Working phase, and Termination.

Problem-Specific Assessment

A focused assessment that concentrates primarily on the chief concern or main problem that prompted the patient to seek care.

Comprehensive Assessment

A complete, holistic assessment that evaluates all aspects of a patient's health status.

Nursing Process Steps

The five standard cyclical steps of nursing care: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation.

Clinical Judgment Model Steps

The cognitive decision-making steps corresponding to the nursing process: Recognize cues, Analyze cues, Prioritize hypotheses, Generate solutions, Take action, and Evaluate outcomes.

Subjective Data

Information gathered from a patient's own verbal descriptions of their health problems (e.g., reports of mild nausea, dizziness, or no tenderness at an IV site).

Objective Data

Direct clinical observations, physical assessments, or diagnostic measurements of a patient's health status (e.g., blood pressure 124/86, wincing upon movement, or an incision that is clean, dry, and intact).

Neuman's Five Major Variables

The holistic categories assessed in Betty Neuman's Systems Model: Developmental, Sociocultural, Psychological, Spiritual, and Physiological.

Neuman's Physiological Sub-Variables

The ten physiological parameters evaluated under Neuman's model: Fluid/Electrolyte balance, Oxygenation, Elimination, Tissue integrity, Nutritional status, Sensory/Perceptual, Sleep/Rest, Activity/Mobility, Safety/Comfort, and Sexuality.

Primary Prevention (Neuman)

Health promotion programs and risk factor recognition designed to decrease or eliminate stressors, maintain equilibrium, and facilitate reconstitution.

Secondary Prevention (Neuman)

Interventions that actively acknowledge existing patient problems and address current symptoms or stressors.

Tertiary Prevention (Neuman)

Rehabilitative efforts and supportive actions focused on preventing recurrence of illness and building resilience.

Open-Ended Questions

Interview questions formulated to elicit detailed descriptions and gather broad qualitative information from the patient.

Closed-Ended Questions

Direct interview questions structured to obtain concise, specific facts or yes/no confirmations.

Cultural Assessment Elements

The key areas assessed to understand a patient's cultural background: Cultural identity/heritage, Communication, Biological Variations, Nutrition, Health Behaviors/Practices, Family Roles/Organization, and Spirituality.

Knowing the Patient

The central element of clinical decision making and patient-centered care, supported by continuity of care and clinical expertise.

Factors Facilitating Knowing the Patient

Key elements including time, continuity of care, teamwork of the nursing staff, trust, and clinical experience.

Task-Oriented Touch

Physical contact required during procedural clinical care, such as measuring vital signs, inserting an IV, or palpating for swelling.

Caring Touch

Non-procedural, compassionate contact used to express emotional support, such as holding a hand, offering a hug, or placing a hand on a shoulder.

Protective Touch

Physical intervention used to guard a patient against imminent danger, such as preventing a fall or blocking a projectile.

Therapeutic Touch

A targeted hands-on intervention intended to reduce tension and physical discomfort, such as giving a massage.

FICA Spiritual Assessment Tool

A formal spiritual assessment mnemonic evaluating: F (Faith and belief), I (Importance), C (Community), and A (Address in care).

HOPE Approach to Spiritual Assessment

A structured assessment tool evaluating: H (Sources of hope or comfort / spiritual resources), O (Organized religion), P (Personal spirituality), and E (Effects on care).

SPIRIT Assessment Tool (Maugans 1996)

A formal spiritual assessment mnemonic comprising: Spiritual belief system, Personal spirituality, Integration with a spiritual community, Ritualised practices and restrictions, Implications for medical care, and Terminal events planning.

Health Disparities

A specific type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage.

Outcomes of Health Disparities

Adverse societal and personal consequences including premature mortality, increased morbidity, unfulfilled human potential, erosion of social cohesion, and excess bereavement.

Social Determinants of Health (Healthy People 2030)

Five broad environmental and social categories influencing health outcomes: Economic Stability, Education Access and Quality, Health Care Access and Quality, Neighborhood and Built Environment, and Social and Community Context.

Campinha-Bacote's Model of Cultural Competence

A conceptual model consisting of five interdependent constructs: Cultural Awareness, Cultural Knowledge, Cultural Skill, Cultural Encounter, and Cultural Desire.

Cultural Awareness

Self-examination and in-depth exploration of one's own cultural background, personal biases, and prejudices, alongside recognition of societal biases affecting healthcare delivery.

Cultural Knowledge

The educational process of seeking and obtaining a sound educational foundation about diverse cultural worldviews and health beliefs.

Cultural Skill

The ability to collect relevant cultural data regarding a patient's presenting problem and accurately conduct a cultural and culturally-based physical assessment.

Cultural Encounter

The process that encourages healthcare professionals to directly engage in cross-cultural interactions with patients from diverse backgrounds to decrease bias.

Cultural Desire

The intrinsic motivation and genuine caring of a nurse to 'want to' engage in the process of becoming culturally competent, rather than 'having to'.

Culturally Competent Care

The process of acquiring specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes to bridge cultural gaps, enabling patients and family members to achieve meaningful and supportive care.

Language Interpretation Practice

Utilizing a professional medical interpreter for essential communications (admissions, discharge, teaching), speaking directly to the patient rather than the interpreter, and using visual cues or short phrases for basic daily needs.

Optimal Interview Environment

A clinical interviewing setting characterized by privacy, quietness, minimal distractions, adequate lighting, and comfortable positioning.

Seven Dimensions of Nursing Caring

Core caring actions in nursing: Providing Presence, Touch, Listening, Knowing the Patient, Spiritual Caring, Relieving Symptoms and Suffering, and Family Care.

Challenges to Caring in Nursing

Institutional barriers including reliance on a task-oriented biomedical model, heavy administrative demands, time constraints, excessive dependence on technology, cost-effectiveness pressures, and standardized workflows.

Spiritual Well-Being

An inner sense of harmony, peace, and feeling content with one's inner self.

Religion

An organized system of beliefs, rituals, and outward practices shared within a community.

Faith

A belief in things not seen, including religious devotion and an individual's personal relationship with a higher power.

Hope

A forward-looking spiritual orientation centered on having meaning, purpose, and something to live for or anticipate.

Polyphagia

Excessive or voracious hunger and eating.

Oliguria

Abnormally decreased urine output.

Parts of the Small Intestine

The three anatomical segments: duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

Hepatosplenomegaly

Simultaneous abnormal enlargement of both the liver and the spleen.

Stages of the Digestive System

The four sequential physiological stages: ingestion, digestion, absorption, and elimination.

Emesis

Vomit or the act of vomiting.

Embolus

An unattached mass such as a blood clot or foreign material circulating within the vascular system.

Contusion

A bruise resulting from ruptured blood vessels beneath the skin without breakage of the skin surface.

Dysplasia

Abnormal development or alteration in the size, shape, organization, and number of mature adult cells.

Cellulitis

A diffuse bacterial infection characterized by redness and acute inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissue.

Dysphasia

Language impairment or difficulty speaking resulting from brain injury or disease.