Medical Terms

pathophysiology

how disease affects a person physically and functionally

percussion

tapping of fingers against body to create sound to determine density

focused assessment

targeted, problem-oriented nursing examination that concentrates on specific body systems, symptom or change in condition

subjective data

what the patient tells you (can’t be physically assessed)

auscultation

listening to body sounds using a stethescope

inspection

visual observation of a patient (body, behaviour, appearance, etc.)

hyperthermia

abnormally high body temp (above 40°C)

bradycardia

slow heart rate (below 60bpm)

tachypnea

abnormally quick & shallow breathing (over 20 breaths per minute)

etiology

study of causes/reasons for disease

olfaction

smelling to detect and identify abnormalities

system assessment

structured, comprehensive physical examination to evaluate functioning of all major body systems

assessment

evaluating a patient’s health status to determine care needs

evaluation

assess individual’s health status (includes health history & physical exam)

palpation

using hands/fingers to touch around patient’s body to feel for abnormalities (texture, temperature, swelling, pulsation)

hypothermia

abnormally low body temperature (below 36°C)

tachycardia

high heart rate (above 100bpm)

hyperventilation

breathing to quickly/deeply → results in lack of CO2 in blood

implementation

executing a plan (pharmacological drugs, non-pharmacological drugs, etc.)

general survey

using five senses to observe patient as a whole (before physical assessment)

IPPA

core techniques of physical assessment: inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation

diagnosis

identifying a disease, condition or injury by examining symptoms, patient history, etc.

physical assessment

head-to-toe evaluation to capture a complete picture of a person’s health

NEWS

national early warning score - helps determine severity of vitals

hypertension

high blood pressure (above 130/80mmHg)

apnea

cessation of breathing

hypoventilation

breathing to slowly/shallowly → leading to CO2 buildup in blood

health history

record of person’s past and present health status

planning

creating structured and actionable strategies to achieve health goals

objective data

measurable and observable patient information

review of systems

set of questions that make sure no important information was omitted during assessment

OPQRSTU

a medical mnemonic used by healthcare professionals to perform a comprehensive, structured assessment of a patient's pain or symptoms

‘O’ in OPQRSTU

Onset = when did the pain start? Was it sudden or gradual?

‘P’ in OPQRSTU

Provocation/Palliation = what brings it on? What makes it better, or worse?

‘Q’ in OPQRSTU

Quality = what does it feel like?

‘R’ in OPQRSTU

Region/Radiation = where is the pain? Does it radiate to other areas

‘S’ in OPQRSTU

Severity = how bad is it? Scale 0-10.

‘T’ in OPQRSTU

Time/Temporal factors = how long has it lasted? Is it constant or intermittent?

‘U’ in OPQRSTU

Understanding/Impact = what do you believe is causing it? How does it affect you?

pyrexia/febrile

fever (above 38°C)

hypotension

low blood pressure (below 90/60mmHg)

bradypnea

abnormally slow breathing rate (under 12 breaths per minute)

hypoxia

deficiency in amount of oxygen reaching tissues

diaphoresis

sweating

cachexia

severe weight loss/skinny

rigors

shivering

antipyretic

medication that reduces fever

Bioavailability

The proportion of a drug that reaches the bloodstream (systemic circulation) and is available to produce an effect.

Potency

The amount of a drug needed to produce a certain effect. A more potent drug needs a smaller dose.

OTC (Over the Counter)

Medication that can be bought without a prescription.

Adverse drug reactions

Harmful or unintended reactions caused by a medication taken at normal doses.

Chemical name

The scientific name describing a drug’s chemical structure.

Generic name

The standard non-brand name of a drug (example: acetaminophen).

Trade name

The brand name given by the manufacturer (example: Tylenol).

PRN

“As needed” medication administration.

Side effect

An unintended secondary effect of a medication, often predictable.

Prescription

An order from a licensed healthcare provider for medication or treatment.

Paradoxical effect

When a drug causes the opposite effect from what is expected.

Idiosyncratic effect

An unusual or unpredictable reaction unique to an individual.

Toxicity

The degree to which a substance can harm the body.

Hepatotoxicity

Toxic damage to the liver caused by a drug or chemical.

Nephrotoxicity

Toxic damage to the kidneys.

Ototoxicity

Toxic damage to the ears/hearing or balance system.

Indication

A valid medical reason for using a drug or treatment.

Contraindication

A condition or factor that makes using a drug unsafe.

Relative contraindication

A situation where caution is needed because risks may outweigh benefits.

Pharmacokinetics

How the body affects a drug (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion).

Pharmacodynamics

How the drug affects the body.

MAR

Medication Administration Record; a chart documenting medications given to a patient.

Partial agonist

A drug that activates receptors but produces a weaker response than a full agonist.

Polypharmacy

The use of multiple medications by one patient, often 5 or more.

First pass effect

Breakdown of a drug by the liver before it reaches the bloodstream.

High alert drug

A medication with a high risk of causing serious harm if used incorrectly.

Efficacy

How well a drug produces its intended effect.

Antagonist

A drug that blocks or reduces the action of another drug or receptor.

Absorption

Movement of a drug from the site of administration into the bloodstream.

Distribution

Movement of a drug throughout the body.

Metabolism

Chemical breakdown of a drug, mainly by the liver.

Excretion

Removal of a drug from the body, usually through urine or feces.

Toxic concentration

A drug level in the blood that causes harmful effects.

Therapeutic range

The blood concentration range where a drug is effective without being toxic.

Minimum effective concentration

The lowest blood level of a drug needed to produce an effect.

Agonist

A drug that activates a receptor to produce a response.

Buccal

Medication placed between the cheek and gum for absorption.

Therapeutic index

A comparison between a drug’s effective dose and toxic dose; indicates safety margin (inform of drug’s safety). High = monitor more closely

Allergic reaction

An immune system response to a drug or substance.

Sublingual (SL)

Medication placed under the tongue for absorption.

Enteral

Drug administration through the gastrointestinal tract.

Parenteral

Drug administration by injection or routes outside the GI tract.

Oral (PO)

Medication taken by mouth.

Topical

Medication applied directly to the skin or mucous membranes.

Transdermal

Medication absorbed through the skin, usually via a patch.

Inhalation

Medication breathed into the lungs.

Serum creatinine

A blood test measuring kidney function.

Liver function tests (LFTs)

Blood tests used to assess liver health and function.

Half-life

The time it takes for half of a drug to be eliminated from the body.

Loading dose

A larger initial dose given to quickly reach therapeutic levels.

Maintenance dose

Regular doses given to keep a drug at therapeutic levels.

Mechanism of action

How a drug works in the body to produce its effect.

BID =

Twice a day.