Summer Vocabulary Clinical Rotation I

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing essential clinical-rotation terms and definitions.

Abduction vs. Adduction

Movement of a body part away from the midline; movement of a body part toward the midline

Acute care

Care of people with an acute or short-term illness

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)

Progressive brain disease of later life marked by memory loss and decline in mental abilities

ADL (Activities of Daily Living)

Basic self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, and oral hygiene

Advance Directive

Document that states a resident’s wishes about life-saving measures during an emergency

Airborne Precautions

Steps to reduce spread of infectious agents that remain infectious while suspended in air

Ambulation

Walking from place to place, with or without an assistive device

AMA (Against Medical Advice)

Situation in which a patient leaves care despite provider recommendation

Anatomical Position

Standing posture with arms at sides, palms, head, and feet facing forward

Anterior vs. Posterior

Front/ventral aspect of body; back/dorsal aspect of body

Anuria

Absence or very small amount (<100 mL/24 h) of urine

Aphasia

Loss or absence of the ability to speak

Apical pulse

Heartbeats heard with a stethoscope at the apex of the heart

Apnea

Absence of breathing

Aspiration

Inhalation of food, liquid, or object into airway and lungs

Assisted Living

Setting for people needing some supervised help but less than in skilled nursing

Atrophy

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

AX

Temperature taken in the axilla (underarm)

Bed bath

Bath given to a resident while in bed

Bed pad (Chux)

Waterproof pad placed on top of bottom sheet to protect against incontinence

Bedpan

Plastic receptacle used to collect urine and feces in bed

b.i.d.

Medication or treatment ordered twice a day

Biohazard Containers

Approved receptacles for items contaminated with infectious waste

Biohazardous Waste

Items contaminated with blood, body fluids, feces, or other potentially harmful substances

Bloodborne Pathogens

Microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease

Bony Prominences

Body areas where bone is close to the skin: elbows, heels, tailbone, etc.

Blood Pressure (BP)

Force of blood against artery walls as the heart beats

BPM (Beats Per Minute)

Unit used to measure pulse or heart rate

Brachial pulse

Pulse felt in the upper arm

Bradycardia

Slow heart rate (<60 bpm)

Care Plan

Written outline of steps staff will take to meet resident goals

cc/mL

Metric volume unit; 1 oz = 30 mL

Chart

Written record of all care and observations in a facility

Charting

Act of documenting care and observations

Chemical Restraint

Medication that limits a person’s mobility or behavior

Cheyne–Stokes Respiration

Alternating periods of apnea and irregular breathing

Closed Bed

Bed fully made with spread in place for resident out of bed all day

Code

Emergency call for a team to provide advanced life support to a person in arrest

Colostomy

Surgical opening of the colon to the abdominal surface

Commode

Portable chair with bedpan or bucket to collect urine and stool

Contact Precautions

Measures to prevent spread of pathogens by direct or indirect contact

Contracture

Permanent shortening of muscle leading to limb disability

CVA (Stroke)

Cerebrovascular accident caused by blocked or ruptured cerebral blood vessel

Cyanosis

Bluish discoloration of skin from lack of oxygen

Cystitis

Inflammation of the bladder

D.A.T. (Diet As Tolerated)

Diet advanced according to patient’s ability to eat

Dangling

Position with resident sitting on bed edge with legs hanging down

Decubitus Ulcer

Pressure sore or bedsore

Delegation

Assigning responsibility to another person for specific tasks

Dementia

Serious loss of mental abilities that interferes with daily life

Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Dementia form characterized by Lewy body protein deposits in cortex

Dentures

Artificial teeth

Dermatitis

Inflammation of the skin

Diaphoretic

Excessively sweaty

Discharge

Resident leaves a facility or unit

Disoriented

Not aware of person, place, or time

Draw Sheet

Half-sheet used for lifting or repositioning residents

Droplet Precautions

Actions to prevent pathogen spread via large respiratory droplets

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing

Dyspnea

Difficulty breathing

Dysuria

Painful urination

Edema

Swelling from fluid accumulation in tissues

Elder Abuse

Psychological, physical, sexual, financial abuse, neglect, exploitation, or seclusion of elders

Emesis

Vomiting

Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain

Endoscope

Instrument for viewing the inside of an organ

Enema

Fluid introduced into the colon via rectum to remove feces

Etiology

Cause or origin of disease

Expiration

Exhalation of air from the lungs

°F (Degrees Fahrenheit)

Temperature scale used in U.S.; water freezes at 32 °F

Fecal Impaction

Hard mass of stool that blocks normal passage

Flexion vs. Extension

Bending a body part; straightening a body part

Foley Catheter

Indwelling urinary catheter placed through urethra into bladder

Fowler’s Position

Head of bed elevated 45–75°, knees slightly bent

Gait

Manner or style of walking

Gait Belt

Transfer belt used to assist with walking

Gastritis

Inflammation of the stomach

Geriatric Chair

Special chair with attached lap table for frail residents

Glycosuria

Glucose (sugar) in the urine

Graduate

Measuring container marked in ounces and milliliters for fluids

Hand Hygiene

Proper hand washing or use of alcohol-based sanitizer

Hat (Specimen Pan)

Plastic receptacle placed in toilet to collect urine or stool

Hearing Impaired

Partial or total loss of hearing

HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; protects health information privacy

Hematuria

Blood in the urine

Hemiplegia

Paralysis of one side of the body

Hemoccult

Test to detect hidden blood in stool

Hemorrhage

Severe, uncontrolled bleeding

Holistic Health

Care that considers physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs

Hypertension

High blood pressure

Hypotension

Low blood pressure

I & O

Recording of fluid intake and output

Incident Report

Document completed after accidents or unusual events

Incontinent

Unable to control bladder or bowel movements

Ischemia

Reduced blood supply leading to tissue damage

Isolation

Procedures to separate residents with easily transmitted diseases

-itis

Suffix meaning inflammation

IV (Intravenous)

Within or into a vein

Laparoscopy

Endoscopic visualization of abdominal cavity

Laparotomy

Surgical incision into the abdomen