Chapter 2: Medical Terms

vital signs

measurements- temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, pain level- that monitor the functioning of the vital organs of the body.

baseline

what is considered normal for a particular patient; what her interval vital sign readings are and how she normally responds and acts.

objective information

information based on what a person sees, hears, touches, or smells; also called signs.

subjective information

information that a person cannot or did not observe, but is based on something reported to the person that may or may not be true; also called symptoms.

microorganism

a living thing so small it is only visible under a microscope.

pathogens

microorganisms that are capable of causing infection and disease.

infection prevention

the set of methods practiced in healthcare facilities to prevent and control the spread of disease.

hand hygiene

washing hands with either plain or antiseptic soap and water and using alcohol-based hand rubs.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

a federal government agency that makes rules to protect workers from hazards on the job.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

a federal government agency that issues guidelines to protect and improve the health of individuals and communities.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

A federal government agency that issues guidelines to protect and improve the health of individuals and communities

Standard Precautions

A method of infection prevention used when caring for persons who are infected or may be infected with certain infectious disease

Transition-Based Precautions

A method of infection prevention used when caring for persons who are infected or may be infected with certain infectious diseases

personal protective equipment (PPE)

equipment that helps protect employees from serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with workplace hazards

methicillin-resistant Staphlococus aureus (MRSA)

bacteria that have developed resistance to the antibiotic methicillin

pulse

the beat that is felt at different points of the body when the heart contracts and pumps blood through the arteries

palpation

feeling with the fingers, as in the method normally used to measure radial pulse

auscultation

use of stethoscope to listen to the body’s internal sounds

radial pulse

the pulse located on the inside of the wrist, where the radial artery runs just beneath the skin

carotid pulse

the pulse located on the side of the neck, just below the jaw

brachial pulse

the pulse located inside the elbow, about one to one-and-a-half inches above the elbow

apex

the tip of the heart, formed by the left ventricle

apical pulse

the pulse located on the left side of the chest, just below the nipple

respiration

the process of inhaling air into the lungs and exhaling air out of the lungs

apnea

the absence of breathing

dyspnea

shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

orthopnea

difficulty breathing when lying flat

tachypnea

rapid breathing

Cheyne-Stokes

alternating periods of slow, irregular breathing and rapid, shallow breathing

blood pressure

the force put on the walls of the blood vessels by blood as it is pumped through the body

hypertension

high blood pressure, regularly measuring 130/80 mm Hg or higher

systolic

blood pressure reading associated with the phase in which the heart is at work

diastolic

blood pressure reading associated with the phase when the heart relaxes or rests; the bottom, smaller number in the blood pressure measurement

sphygmomanometer

a device that measures blood pressure

tachycardia

rapid heart rate

pulse oximeter

a noninvasive device that uses a light to determine the amount of oxygen in the blood

oxygen saturation

the amount of oxygen in the blood

hypoxia

inadequate (not enough) oxygen supply to the tissues of the body

supine

a body position in which a person lies flat on his back

Fowler’s position

a body position in which a person’s upper body is elevated 45 to 60 degrees; in semi-Fowler’s position the elevation is 45 degrees or lower

vital sign measurements are normal

baseline measurements

Under Federal law, patients must be informed of ____ from EKG tech

name and position

Blue lips and fingers are an example of

a vital sign

Normal body temperature

98.6 degrees

Patient has covid and doesn’t know she is infected but her EKG tech has had it before. What would that make the tech?

sustainable host

Tech forgets to disinfect after an infected patient then another patient gets infected. What is this called?

healthcare associated infection

Wears gloves while dealing with infected patient, what do you do after?

Take them off and wash your hands

When should EKG wear gloves and mask?

emergency department

1st step remaining gloves

grasp glove at the palm and pull off

Requirement Blood… says

we must wear the right size PPE

When should PPE be removed

inside the contaminated room before leaving

When should EKG wait to take oral temperature?

if the patient had coffee

Osolating pulse

Apical

Normal pulse range

60-100 bpm

30 respirations per min

tacky pinia

If a patient had a vasotomy on one side then

take blood pressure on the other side

T/F: blood pressure cuffs come in different sizes, so you have to use the right size

true

If the reading looks really high with an electronic device,

document the readings and repeat with a manual cuff

pulse oximeter

measures blood/oxygen level

What causes pulse oximeter not to work right?

dark fingernail polish

A patient had one hand one her chest and kept wincing while an EKG

the patient is in pain

while prepping for EKG, patient starts to slow down their speaking very dramatically,

tell supervisor

When less than 45 degrees, the position is called,

semi-fowlers