Quiz #1 Terminology

Airborne Precautions

Precautions that protect against droplet infections smaller than 5 mcg (such as measles, SARS, COVID, and Tuberculosis) through the use of negative pressure rooms (AIIR) and N95 masks

Asepsis

Freedom from infection or infectious material

Bacteremia

Bacteria in the blood

Contact Precautions

Precautions used for clients known or suspected to have serious illnesses easily transmissible via direct contact (MRSA, EBL, etc.) through the use of a gown and glove PPE and appropriate hand hygiene before and after contact

Cultures

A microscopic lab examination to verify an infection organism that can be obtained from blood, sputum, urine, wound or soft tissue

Droplet Precautions

Precautions that protect against droplets larger than 5 mcg (pneumonia, rubella, mumps, etc.) through the use of isolation rooms and face masks

Granulation Tissue

Young connective tissue with new capillaries formed in the wound healing process

Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs)

Infections that a client acquires while receiving care in a health care setting with onset after 48 hours in the health care facility

Infection Control Bundles

A collection of evidence-based practices that are used together to prevent infections and improve patient care

Leukocytosis

Elevated white count; WBC > 10,000 micrograms

Medical Asepsis

All practices intended to confine a specific microorganism to a specific area, limiting the number, growth, and spread of microorganisms; “clean technique” (applied to NG tube insertion)

Surgical Asepsis

Practices that keep an area or object free of all microorganisms; “sterile technique” (urinary catheter insertion)

Septicemia

Occurs when bacteremia results in systemic infection

Standard Precautions

Precautions used in any situations involving blood, bodily fluids, excretions, secretions (except sweat), nonintact skins, mucous membranes through the use of hand hygiene, PPE, and safe handling of anything hazardous

Thrombocytopenia

Low platelet count leading to bruising and inadequate clot formation

Alarm Fatigue

When nurses become less sensitive to the alarms because of their frequency and incidence of false alarms

Barrier Restraint

Physical devices that limit a person’s movement (bed rails)

Bullying

Repeated words or acts of intimidation

Chemical Restraint

Medications used to control socially disruptive behavior

Hospital Associated Infection

Infections that a client acquires while receiving care in a health care setting with onset after 48 hours in the health care facility

Hourly Rounding

Hourly intervals when nurses check on their patients to assess their needs and provide care

Mechanical Restraint

Devices that physically limits a patient’s movement or access to their body (lap belts)

Medical Reconcilliation

Process of identifying the most accurate list possible of all medications a client is taking (including drug name, dosage, frequency, and route) and using this list to provide correct medication for clients anywhere within the healthcare system

Near Miss

Refers to when are error was committed but the client experienced no harm because of an intervention by healthcare staff or the client

Physical Restraint

A restraint that limits a person’s movement without the use of other devices (holding someone’s limbs)

Rapid Response Team

A group of health care professionals who are called to a patient’s bedside when they show signs of a clinical decline

Restraints

Any device or method used to limit a person's movement

Active Listening

Showing one that you have their undivided attention as they speak

Boundaries

Real or imaginary lines that differentiate between two or more concepts

Elderspeak

Speech style similar to baby-talk; gives the message of dependence and incompetence to older adults

Emotional Intelligence (EI)

The ability to form work relationships with colleagues, display maturity in a variety of situations, and resolve conflicts while taking into consideration the emotions of others

Empathy

The ability to understand and share one’s feelings

Incivility

Behaviors that are disrespectful, rude, and impolite, and promote conflict while increasing stress

Lateral Violence

Abusive words or actions of peers (gossiping, exclusion of information, threats of harm, or actual harm)

Open-ended Questions

Questions that spark a discussion and invites others to share their own thoughts about a matter

Close-ended Questions

Yes or no questions used to clarify information

Afebrile

Absence of a fever

Apical Pulse

A central pulse located at the apex of the heart

Apnea

A complete absence of respirations

Arrhythmia

An irregular heart rhythm

Auscultatory Gap

The temporary disappearance of sounds normally heard over the brachial artery when the blood cuff pressure is high, followed by the reappearance of sounds at a lower level

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

The rate of energy utilization in the body required to maintain essential activities such as breathing

Bradycardia

Abnormally slow pulse rate, less than 60 bpm

Cardiac Output (CO)

The amount of blood ejected by the heart with each ventricular contraction

Diastole

Ventricular relaxation

Dyspnea

Difficult or labored breathing

Eupnea

Normal, quiet breathing

Hypertension

Abnormally high blood pressure, over 140 mmHg systolic and or 90 mmHg diastolic

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)

Represents the pulse pressure actually delivered to the body’s organs

Orthostatic Hypotension

Decrease in blood pressure related to positional or postural chances from lying to sitting or standing positions

Oxygen Saturation (SpO2)

The percentage of all hemoglobin binding sites that are occupied by oxygen

Pulse Deficit

The difference between the apical pulse and the radial (peripheral) pulse

Pulse Pressure

The difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure

Tachycardia

An abnormally rapid pulse rate, greater than 100 bpm

Tachypnea

Abnormally fast respirations, more than 24 respirations per minute

Tidal Volume

The volume of air that is normally inhaled and exhaled