Summer Vocabulary Clinical Rotation I - Comprehensive Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering core terms from the Summer Vocabulary Clinical Rotation I notes across Pages 1–6.

Abduction

Movement of a body part away from the midline of the body.

Adduction

Movement of a body part toward the midline of the body.

Acute care

Care of people with an acute or short illness.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)

Brain disease of later life with gradual memory loss and decline in mental abilities.

ADL (Activities of Daily Living)

Tasks people do for themselves every day (e.g., brushing teeth, bathing, dressing, toileting, eating).

Advance Directive

Identifies a resident’s wishes during an emergency regarding lifesaving efforts.

Airborne precautions

Measures to minimize transmission of infectious agents that remain infectious in the air.

Ambulation

Ability to walk from place to place independently with or without an assistive device.

AMA (Against Medical Advice)

Disagreeing with or leaving the care facility against medical advice.

Anatomical Position

Standing with arms at the sides, palms forward, head and feet forward.

Anterior vs. Posterior

Anterior = front (ventral); Posterior = back (dorsal).

Anuria

Absence of urine or very small amount of urine (<100 mL) in 24 hours.

Aphasia

Absence or impairment of the ability to speak.

Apical pulse

Heartbeats heard at the apex on the left side of the chest.

Apnea

Absence of breathing.

Aspiration

Food, fluid, or an object entering the airway and lungs.

Assisted living

Setting for people needing supervised assistance, less than a skilled long-term facility.

Atrophy

Wasting or decrease in size of a muscle due to disease, injury, or disuse.

AX temperature

Temperature taken at the axilla (underarm).

Bed bath

Bath given to a resident in bed.

Bed pad

Protective waterproof covering placed on top of the bottom bed sheet to protect from incontinence.

Bedpan

Plastic container used to collect urine and feces.

b.i.d.

Twice a day.

Biohazard containers

Disposal of equipment and supplies contaminated with infectious waste.

Biohazardous Waste

Items contaminated with blood, body fluids, or other potentially infectious materials.

Bloodborne Pathogens

Microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease.

Bony prominences

Elbows, shoulder blades, sacrum, heels, etc.

Blood Pressure (BP)

Force of the blood against artery walls during heartbeats.

BPM

Beats per minute.

Brachial pulse

Pulse in the upper arm.

Bradycardia

Slow heart rate (less than 60 bpm).

Care plans

Written plans outlining steps to reach goals or outcomes for residents.

cc/ml

Cubic centimeters or milliliters; unit of liquid measurement; 1 oz ≈ 30 cc/ml.

Chart

Written record of all care received in a facility.

Charting

Act of recording care and observations.

Chemical restraint

Medication that reduces a person’s ability to move freely.

Cheyne Stokes respiration

Cycle of apnea lasting at least 10 seconds with alternating rapid deep breathing and slow shallow breathing.

Closed bed

Bed completely made with bedspread in place; resident remains out of bed.

Code

Group of trained staff called to provide advanced life support in respiratory/cardiac arrest.

Colostomy

Opening into the colon.

Commode

Chair containing a bedpan or bucket to collect urine and feces; usually sits next to the bed.

Contact Precautions

Measures to prevent transmission of infectious agents via direct or indirect contact.

Contractures

Abnormal shortening of a muscle resulting in disability; permanent shortening.

CVA (Cerebrovascular Accident)

Medical term for a stroke; blood flow to part of the brain is stopped.

Cyanosis

Blue, gray, or purple tinge to the skin due to lack of oxygen.

Cystitis

Inflammation of the bladder.

DAT (Diet as Tolerated)

Diet chosen to be tolerated by the resident.

Dangling

Position with the resident seated at the edge of the bed with legs over the side.

Decubitus ulcer

Pressure sore or bed sore.

Delegation

Assignment of responsibility to another person to carry out tasks.

Dementia

Loss of mental abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life.

Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Third most common type of dementia with Lewy bodies in the cortex.

Dentures

Artificial teeth.

Dermatitis

Inflammation of the skin.

Diaphoretic

Excessively sweaty; heavy perspiration.

Discharge

Resident leaves a facility or unit.

Disoriented

Not aware of person, place, or time.

Draw sheet

Half-sheet used for lifting/moving residents.

Droplet Precautions

Prevent transmission via close respiratory secretions.

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing.

Dyspnea

Difficulty breathing.

Dysuria

Painful urination.

Edema

Swelling due to fluid accumulation.

Elder abuse

Seven types of elder abuse including psychological, physical, neglect, etc.

Emesis

Vomiting.

Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain.

Endoscope

Instrument to examine the inside of an organ.

Enema

Introduction of fluid into the colon to cleanse it.

Etiology

Factors involved in causing a disease.

Expiration

Air removed from the lungs during breathing.

Fecal impaction

Inability to pass stool due to a large mass in the lower colon.

Flexion vs. Extension

Flexion = bending; Extension = straightening.

Foley catheter

Flexible tube through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine.

Fowler’s position

Head of bed elevated 45–75 degrees; knees may be bent.

Gait

Manner of walking.

Gait belt

Transfer belt used to assist with walking.

Gastritis

Inflammation of the stomach.

Geriatric chair

Chair with attached lap table in a geriatric setting.

Glycosuria

Glucose (sugar) in the urine.

Graduate

Measuring container with markings for ounces and cc/ml.

Hand Hygiene

Washing hands with soap and water or using sanitizer effectively.

Hat

Specimen pan for collecting urine and stool.

Hearing impaired

Unable to hear adequately.

HIPAA

Privacy law protecting health information.

Hematuria

Blood in the urine.

Hemiplegia

Paralysis on one side of the body.

Hemoccult

Test for occult blood in stool.

Hemorrhage

Excessive bleeding.

Holistic health

Care of the whole person: physical, emotional, spiritual, social needs.

Hypertension

High blood pressure.

Hypotension

Low blood pressure.

I & O (Intake and Output)

Monitoring intake and output of a resident.

Incident report

Report written after an accident or injury, with the response documented.

Incontinent

Lack of voluntary control of urine or bowel movements.

Ischemia

Decreased blood supply to tissue leading to possible tissue death.

Isolation

Practices to reduce spread of infectious organisms; separation of contagious residents.

-itis

Inflammation (as a suffix).

IV (Intravenous)

Into a vein.

Laparoscopy

Visualization of the abdominal cavity using an endoscope.

Laparotomy

Surgical opening into the abdomen.