Chronic Illness, Gerontologic Care, Disrupted Homeostasis, and Surgical Nursing Review

Vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture material on chronic illness, gerontologic nursing, pain management, fluid and electrolyte balance, inflammation, wound care, and perioperative nursing.

Chronic Illness

A prolonged, progressive health condition with no cure that results in irreversible structural changes, possible disability, and requires ongoing management and long-term care.

Wellness

A multidimensional lifestyle of holistic health and the active pursuit of optimal physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being.

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

The non-medical conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, and age that shape health outcomes, including income, education, neighborhood environment, and access to healthcare.

Health Literacy

The degree to which an individual has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.

Primordial Prevention

Health prevention measures focused on social and economic policies designed to prevent risk factors from ever developing within a population (e.g., anti-tobacco laws, community walking paths).

Primary Prevention

Interventions aimed at preventing disease or injury before it occurs by reducing exposure to hazards or modifiable risk factors (e.g., immunizations, diet and exercise education).

Secondary Prevention

Early detection and screening measures designed to identify disease or injury after exposure but before clinical manifestations appear (e.g., blood pressure checks, mammograms, HbA1c screening).

Tertiary Prevention

Interventions focused on managing established chronic diseases to prevent complications, slow progression, and maximize function (e.g., cardiac rehab, stroke rehabilitation, COPD breathing exercises).

Frail Old

A category of older adults, regardless of chronological age, who experience severe functional decline and require full assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs).

Ageism

Discrimination, negative stereotyping, or prejudice directed against individuals based solely on their age, leading to health disparities and delayed or inadequate care.

Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)

A needs-based healthcare delivery model providing 24/7 comprehensive skilled care in the home setting as an alternative to long-term care facility admission.

Andragogy

The art and science of adult learning, based on six core principles: relevance, self-directedness, integration of life experience, readiness to learn, task-centered orientation, and internal motivation.

Self-Efficacy

An individual's confidence and belief in their capability to successfully execute specific tasks or behaviors required to achieve desired health goals.

IDEAL Discharge Planning

An evidence-based discharge strategy consisting of: Include client/caregivers, Discuss 5 key areas (meds, home life, warning signs, test results, follow-up), Educate on condition, Assess education effectiveness, and Listen to client goals.

Nociceptive Pain

Pain caused by damage to somatic or visceral tissue, usually described as sharp, aching, or throbbing, and typically responsive to opioid and nonopioid analgesics.

Neuropathic Pain

Pain caused by damage or dysfunction of peripheral nerves or the central nervous system, characterized as burning, shooting, stabbing, numbing, or electrical.

Somatic Pain

Nociceptive pain arising from skin, mucous membranes, or subcutaneous tissue (superficial: sharp, burning) or from bone, joint, muscle, and connective tissue (deep: aching, throbbing).

Visceral Pain

Nociceptive pain arising from internal organs and body cavity linings, triggered by inflammation, stretching, or ischemia, and felt as deep, cramping, or pressure.

Titration (Analgesic)

The process of adjusting pain medication dosage based on repeated assessment of analgesic efficacy versus side effects to find the lowest effective dose.

Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA)

An intravenous drug delivery system allowing patients to self-administer pre-set bolus doses of pain medication within safe, programmed dose limits.

First Spacing

The normal distribution of body water between intracellular fluid (ICF) and extracellular fluid (ECF) compartments.

Second Spacing

An abnormal accumulation of interstitial fluid, clinically manifested as edema.

Third Spacing

The trapping of body fluid in extracellular spaces where it is functionally unavailable to move back into cells or blood vessels (e.g., ascites, severe burn edema).

Hypotonic Solution

An intravenous fluid with an osmolality less than $250\,mOsm/L$ (e.g., $0.45\%\,NS$) that causes fluid to shift from ECF into cells, causing cells to swell.

Isotonic Solution

An intravenous fluid with an osmolality of $250 - 375\,mOsm/L$ (e.g., $0.9\%\,NS$, Lactated Ringer's) that matches body fluid concentration without causing fluid shifts.

Hypertonic Solution

An intravenous fluid with an osmolality greater than $375\,mOsm/L$ (e.g., $D_5NS$, $D_{10}W$) that pulls fluid out of cells into ECF, causing cells to shrink.

Hemoconcentration

An increased concentration of blood constituents (elevated Hematocrit, Serum Sodium, BUN, Urine Specific Gravity) due to fluid volume deficit.

Hemodilution

A decreased concentration of blood constituents (decreased Hematocrit, Serum Sodium, BUN, Urine Specific Gravity) resulting from fluid volume excess.

Purulent Exudate

Inflammatory fluid consisting of white blood cells, microorganisms, and liquefied dead cellular debris (pus), typical of abscesses and cellulitis.

RICE Protocol

A non-pharmacologic treatment method for soft tissue injuries comprising Rest, Ice (first 24 hours), Compression/Immobilization, and Elevation.

Cellulitis

An acute bacterial infection and inflammation of subcutaneous skin tissue, characterized by localized erythema, warmth, edema, pain, and potentially systemic signs like fever.

qSOFA Score

A quick bedside sepsis screening tool giving 1 point each for respiratory rate $\ge 22\,breaths/min$, altered mental status, and systolic blood pressure $\le 100\,mm\,Hg$; a score $\ge 2$ suggests high sepsis risk.

Innate Immunity

Non-specific immunity present at birth, providing immediate baseline protection against pathogens without prior antigen exposure.

Active Acquired Immunity

Long-term immunity developed by the body's own production of antibodies following natural exposure to an infection or artificial exposure via immunization.

Passive Acquired Immunity

Temporary immunity resulting from the direct transfer of preformed antibodies from an outside source, such as placental transfer, breast milk, or immune globulin injections.

Latex-Food Syndrome

A cross-reactivity phenomenon where individuals allergic to natural rubber latex also react to proteins found in foods such as bananas, avocados, kiwis, tomatoes, and chestnuts.

Primary Intention Healing

Wound healing that occurs when tissue margins are cleanly approximated with sutures, staples, or adhesive, resulting in minimal tissue loss and scar formation.

Secondary Intention Healing

Wound healing occurring in open wounds with gaping, non-approximated margins that heal from the bottom upward and edges inward through granulation tissue formation.

Tertiary Intention Healing

Delayed primary closure of a wound that is intentionally left open initially (e.g., due to contamination or infection) and sutured after infection resolves.

Dehiscence

The partial or complete separation and opening of previously closed surgical wound margins.

Evisceration

A medical emergency involving the total separation of surgical wound layers with protrusion of internal visceral organs through the wound opening.

Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT)

A specialized wound management system using continuous or intermittent subatmospheric pressure (typically $-125\,mm\,Hg$) to pull fluid, decrease bacterial burden, and promote granulation tissue.

Surgical Time-Out

A mandatory safety pause conducted by all surgical team members immediately before skin incision to verify patient identity, surgical procedure, and correct anatomical site.

Malignant Hyperthermia

A rare, life-threatening hypermetabolic reaction to inhaled anesthetics or succinylcholine causing muscle rigidity, severe hyperthermia ($>105^\circ F$), hypercarbia, and dysrhythmias, treated with Dantrolene.

Clock Method for Wound Measurement

A standardized technique for documenting wound dimensions in centimeters (Length head-to-toe \times Width side-to-side \times Depth), mapping tunneling and undermining using clock positions with 12 o'clock oriented toward the patient's head.

Operating Room Zones

The three layout divisions of a surgical suite: Unrestricted Zone (holding/street clothes area), Semi-Restricted Zone (surrounding corridors requiring scrub attire/caps), and Restricted Zone (operating rooms/sterile core requiring full scrub attire and surgical masks).