NURS 2300 – Health Promotion and Assessment Essential Nursing/ Medical Terminology

Essential nursing and medical terminology flashcards covering foundations of assessment, vital signs, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, integumentary, neurological, and musculoskeletal assessments.

Inspection

The observation of a patient’s anatomical structures.

Palpation

Using the hands and fingers to assess body structures for characteristics such as temperature, texture, tenderness, size, and consistency.

Percussion

An advanced physical examination technique where body parts are tapped with fingers to determine their size, location, and if fluid is present.

Auscultation

Listening to sounds, such as heart, lung, and bowel sounds.

Symptom

Subjective data that the patient reports, such as "I feel dizzy."

Sign

Objective data found by the nurse or health care provider when assessing a patient.

Bradycardia

A heart rate of fewer than $60$ beats per minute (bpm) in adults.

Tachycardia

A heart rate greater than $100$ beats per minute (bpm) in adults.

Bradypnea

Decreased respiratory rate, less than $12$ breaths per minute in adults.

Tachypnea

Increased respiratory rate, greater than $20$ breaths per minute in adults.

Dyspnea

A feeling of shortness of breath, difficult or uncomfortable breathing.

Apnea

Absence of respirations.

Hypoxia

A reduced level of tissue oxygenation.

Cyanosis

Bluish discoloration of the skin, lips, and nail beds. It is an indication of decreased perfusion and oxygenation.

Perfusion

Blood flow to tissue.

Crackles

Also referred to as "rales"; sound like popping or crackling noises during inspiration. Associated with inflammation and fluid accumulation in the alveoli.

Wheeze

High-pitched, musical breath sounds associated with narrowing of the airways.

Rhonchi

Low-pitched, coarse breath sounds often associated with secretions in larger airways.

Stridor

Harsh, high-pitched sounds heard over the upper airway indicating severe narrowing or obstruction.

Accessory muscles

Muscles other than the diaphragm and intercostal muscles that may be used in breathing.

Capillary refill

The time it takes for color to return after pressure is applied to tissue causing blanching ($1\text{-}2$ seconds).

Murmur

A blowing or whooshing sound heard on auscultation that signifies turbulent blood flow in the heart often caused by a valvular defect.

Hemoptysis

Blood-tinged mucus secretions from the lungs.

Edema

Swelling in tissues caused by fluid retention.

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing.

Melena

Dark, tarry-looking stool due to the presence of digested blood.

Hematochezia

Passage of bloody stool.

Hypoactive bowel sounds

Decreased peristaltic activity; may be related to constipation following abdominal surgery or with an ileus ($< 5$ sounds / minute).

Hyperactive bowel sounds

Increased peristaltic activity; may be related to diarrhea, obstruction, or digestion of a meal ($> 30$ sounds / minute).

Dysuria

Painful urination.

Hematuria

Presence of blood in the urine.

Oliguria

Decreased urine output, commonly defined in adults as less than $400\,mL$ in $24$ hours.

Polyuria

Excessive urine production ($> 3\,L/\text{day}$).

Anuria

Absence or near absence of urine production, typically less than $100\,mL$ in $24$ hours in adults.

Nocturia

Waking during the night to urinate.

Pallor

A reduced amount of oxyhemoglobin in the skin or mucous membranes.

Lesion

An area of abnormal tissue.

Blanching

To make white or pale by applying pressure.

Nystagmus

Involuntary, shaky eye movements.

Ptosis

Drooping of the eyelid.

Diplopia

Double vision (i.e., seeing two images of a single object).

Syncope

A temporary loss of consciousness usually related to insufficient blood flow to the brain.

Vertigo

A type of dizziness often described by patients as "the room feels as if it is spinning."

Contracture

A fixed or permanent tightening of muscles, tendons, ligaments, or the skin that prevents normal movement of the body part.

Orientation

Awareness of person, place, time, and situation.

Ataxia

Impaired coordination of voluntary muscle movements.

Cognition

Mental processes involved in thinking, memory, learning, understanding, and judgment.