Pediatric, Perioperative, and Maternal-Newborn Nursing Care Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering pediatric developmental stages, perioperative care, anesthesia, maternal health, and newborn care based on lecture notes.

Brain Development Age Threshold

The clinical concept that human brain development continues until age $25$\,\text{years old}$$, meaning adolescents and teenagers often exhibit irrational thinking.

Pediatric Sleep Guidance Rule

The communication rule specifying that healthcare providers should never tell a child a deceased person is 'asleep' to prevent pediatric sleep phobias.

Infant Dehydration Indicator

A critical clinical sign where an infant producing fewer than $6$\,\text{wet diapers}$in a$24$\,\text{hour}$ period indicates potential dehydration.

Infant Fever Threshold

A severe infection indicator defined as a body temperature greater than $100.4\,^\circ\text{F}$ in a baby, requiring immediate physician notification.

Infant Crib Side Rail Protocol

The mandatory pediatric hospital procedure of keeping crib side rails locked all the way at the top to prevent fall injuries and child neglect.

Infant Drowning Risk Threshold

The minimal liquid depth of just $1\,\text{inch}$ of water in which an unsupervised infant can drown.

Pediatric Choking Hazard Foods

Specific high-risk foods for young children including popcorn, unquartered grapes, hot dogs, and ice cubes.

Toddlers (1 to 3 Years Old)

Developmental age group aged $1\text{ to }3\,\text{years old}$ characterized by high curiosity, lack of fear of danger, and regression to thumb-sucking or bed-wetting during hospital stress.

Preschoolers (3 to 5 Years Old)

Developmental age group aged $3\text{ to }5\,\text{years old}$ with vivid imaginations who often view pain or illness as punishment and benefit from medical play with stuffed animals.

Child Life Specialist

A pediatric healthcare professional trained to use iPads, games, and therapeutic distraction so children remain engaged and feel less pain during medical procedures.

Papoose Board

A pediatric safety stabilization device with padded straps attached to a flat board used to safely immobilize a child during invasive procedures.

School-Age Children (5 to 12 Years Old)

Developmental age group aged $5\text{ to }12\,\text{years old}$ (first to sixth grade) who value peer inclusion, independence, and making appropriate choices like selecting cast colors.

Adolescent Privacy Protocol (12 to 20 Years Old)

The practice of requesting parents to step out of the room so patients aged $12\text{ to }20\,\text{years old}$ can answer sensitive health questions about sexual activity and substance use honestly.

Emotional vs. Physical Age Matching

The pediatric care approach of tailoring communication and choices to a child's developmental or mental age rather than their adult physical age.

Planned Surgery

A non-emergent surgical procedure scheduled in advance that takes place within a controlled, pre-arranged environment.

Emergent Surgery

An unscheduled, immediate surgical intervention required to treat life-threatening conditions or prevent imminent organ rupture.

Coronary Circulation

The system of blood vessels lying directly on top of the heart muscle that supplies oxygenated blood to the cardiac tissue.

Coronary Artery Bypass

A surgical procedure in which healthy blood vessels harvested from the leg are attached to create a new pathway around blocked coronary arteries.

General Anesthesia

A medically induced state of total unconsciousness and loss of protective reflexes requiring postoperative monitoring in the PACU.

Regional Anesthesia

Anesthetic techniques, such as spinal epidurals, that block pain sensation in a targeted lower region of the body and create a significant fall risk as they wear off.

Digital Block

A form of local anesthesia administered via injections at the base of a finger or toe to numb a specific digit while the patient remains awake.

NPO (Nil Per Os) Status

A preoperative medical order prohibiting all oral food and liquid intake to prevent intraoperative vomiting and pulmonary aspiration.

Hibiclens Surgical Bath

A special antimicrobial skin-cleansing bath administered the night before and morning of surgery to significantly reduce skin microorganisms.

Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)

A specialized post-operative hospital unit where patients are closely monitored immediately after undergoing surgery under general anesthesia.

Incentive Spirometer

A handheld respiratory therapy device designed to encourage slow, deep breathing post-surgery to expand lung tissue and prevent pneumonia.

Incisional Splinting

The technique of firmly hugging a pillow against an abdominal or chest surgical incision to relieve pain while coughing or performing breathing exercises.

Sequential Compression Devices (SCDs)

Inflatable leg sleeves connected to a pump that sequentially squeeze and release the calves to promote venous blood flow and prevent deep vein clots.

Normal Adult Respiratory Rate

The standard resting respiratory baseline in adults defined as $12\text{ to }20\,\text{breaths/min}$.

Cyanosis

A bluish discoloration of the lips, skin, or nail beds indicating insufficient oxygenation of the blood.

Geriatric Anesthesia Clearance Time

The prolonged metabolic window in elderly surgical patients, taking $12\text{ to }16\,\text{hours}$ instead of $8\,\text{hours}$ to clear general anesthesia through the kidneys.

Pulmonary Embolism

A life-threatening condition caused by a traveling blood clot lodging in the pulmonary blood vessels, manifested by sudden shortness of breath and restlessness.

Human Gestational Duration

The full developmental timeframe of pregnancy from conception to birth, lasting approximately 10 months divided into 3 distinct trimesters.

Recommended Pregnancy Weight Gain

The healthy target range for maternal weight gain during pregnancy, averaging $20\text{ to }25\,\text{lb}$ and not exceeding $30\,\text{lb}$.

Preeclampsia

A dangerous pregnancy complication characterized by elevated maternal blood pressure that can lead to premature labor or placental abruption.

Blood Pressure Cuff Size Artifact

A measurement error caused by using an excessively small blood pressure cuff, resulting in a falsely elevated blood pressure reading.

Braxton Hicks Contractions

Sporadic, non-productive false labor contractions characterized by abdominal tightness, commonly precipitated by maternal dehydration.

NSAID Prohibition in Pregnancy

The strict prohibition against taking aspirin, ibuprofen, Advil, or Aleve during pregnancy due to increased risks of internal bleeding.

Cesarean Section (C-Section)

The surgical delivery of an infant through an incision made in the maternal abdominal wall and uterus, typically using a low bikini cut.

Episiotomy

A deliberate surgical incision made from the posterior vaginal opening toward the rectum to widen the birth canal during childbirth.

Perineum

The anatomical region of tissue situated between the inferior opening of the vagina and the anus.

Sitz Bath

A portable warm-water basin placed over a toilet bowl to soothe, cleanse, and reduce soreness in the maternal perineal area after birth.

Lochia

The normal post-delivery vaginal discharge consisting of blood, mucus, and sloughed uterine tissue that changes color over several weeks.

Postpartum Uterine Involution

The physiological process accelerated by breastfeeding hormones where oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions to shrink the womb back to normal size.

Infant Electronic Security Tag

A protective electronic bracelet attached to a newborn's ankle that automatically triggers hospital alarms and door lockdowns if moved near exits.

Umbilical Cord Care

The routine hygiene procedure performed with every diaper change to keep the clamped umbilical stump clean and dry until it separates naturally.

Circumcision Care

The delicate cleaning of a newborn male's circumcised penis during diaper changes without pulling or altering any attached protective plastic devices.

Baby Bottle Heating Safety

The strict safety protocol forbidding the microwaving of infant formula or breastmilk to prevent uneven heating and severe oral thermal burns.

Infant Burping Requirement

The manual patting of a newborn upright during and after feedings to expel trapped air, necessary because infants cannot burp independently.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Prevention

Safe sleep interventions requiring infants to sleep strictly on their backs without blankets, soft pillows, crib bumper pads, or plush toys.

Infant Car Seat Discharge Protocol

The compulsory hospital discharge requirement verifying that parents possess an appropriately installed, rear-facing car seat locked into their vehicle.