1509 Final

Normal pH

The normal range of pH in the body, which is 7.35-7.45.

Nursing process

A systematic approach to providing patient care, consisting of the steps Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADPIE).

Subjective

Information provided by the patient or subject.

Objective

Information obtained through observation and examination.

Planning Care

The process of determining the most important issues to address in a patient's care plan.

Outcome Statements

Statements that describe the desired outcomes or goals of patient care, which should be measurable, realistic, and have an appropriate time frame.

Causes of Infection

Factors that can lead to the development of an infection, including pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Primary Infection

An infection caused by a single pathogen.

Secondary Infection

An infection caused by a different pathogen after a primary infection.

Localized Infection

An infection that is confined to a specific area of the body.

Systemic Infection

An infection that spreads to other organs through the bloodstream.

Health-care associated infection (HAI)

An infection acquired while receiving care in a healthcare setting.

Defenses

The body's natural mechanisms for protecting against infection, including primary, secondary, and tertiary defenses.

Contact Precautions

Precautions taken to prevent the spread of infection through direct contact, such as wearing gloves and a gown.

Droplet Precautions

Precautions taken to prevent the spread of infection through respiratory droplets, such as wearing gloves, a gown, a mask, and a shield.

Airborne Precautions

Precautions taken to prevent the spread of infection through airborne particles, such as wearing an N95 mask and being in a negative pressure room.

Vitals

Vital signs, including blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respirations, pain, and oxygen saturation.

Blood Pressure

The force of blood against the walls of the arteries, measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

Cardiac Output

The amount of blood pumped by the heart in one minute.

Pulse

The wave of blood through the arteries, measured in beats per minute (bpm).

Respirations

The act of breathing, including the rate, depth, rhythm, and effort of breathing.

Hyperthermia

An elevated body temperature above 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hypothermia

A body temperature below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Point of maximal impulse (PMI)

The location where the heartbeat is most easily felt or heard.

Tidal Volume

The amount of air inhaled in one breath.

Adventitious Sounds

Abnormal sounds heard during auscultation of the lungs, such as stertorous, stridor, rhonchi, and rales/crackles.

Comprehensive health assessment

A thorough assessment of the patient's overall health, including inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation, and olfaction.

Asepsis

The absence of microorganisms, achieved through medical or surgical techniques.

Respiratory tract infections

Infections that affect the respiratory system, such as pneumonia and bronchitis.

Genitourinary tract infections

Infections that affect the urinary and reproductive systems, such as urinary tract infections.

Surgical Wound Infection

An infection that occurs at the site of a surgical incision.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

A type of bacteria that is resistant to many antibiotics and can cause difficult-to-treat infections.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE)

A type of bacteria that is resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin and can cause infections in healthcare settings.

Clostridium Difficile (C

A bacterium that can cause severe diarrhea and colitis, often as a result of antibiotic use.

Hypovolemic Shock

A condition in which there is a severe decrease in blood volume, leading to organ damage and death without immediate treatment.

Compensation

The body's attempt to maintain tissue perfusion by changing nonfailing mechanisms.

Anaphylactic Shock

A severe allergic reaction that can cause life-threatening symptoms, such as difficulty breathing and low blood pressure.

Opioid Addiction

A condition in which a person becomes physically and psychologically dependent on opioids.

Acute Pain

Pain that lasts less than 3 months and is associated with an inflammatory response.

Chronic Pain

Pain that lasts more than 3 months and persists beyond the expected healing time.

Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)

The patient is able to control their own pain medication.

Endorphins

The body's natural response to pain.

Neoplasm

Any new growth or abnormal cell growth of tissue.

Benign

Abnormal cells present, not cancerous yet but may be growing.

Malignant

Cancerous cells.

Carcinoma

Cancer of the skin, gland, and linings of the digestive, urinary, and respiratory tracts.

Sarcoma

Cancer of connective tissue, including bone and muscle.

Leukemia

Cancer of the blood, plasma cells, and bone marrow.

Lymphoma

Cancer of the lymph tissue.

Melanoma

Cancer of the skin cells.

Metastasis

Cancer cells that invade blood or lymph vessels and grow in a new location.

Prostate cancer

Most common cancer in men.

Breast cancer

Most common cancer in women.

Surgery

Therapeutic intervention for cancer treatment.

Radiation therapy

Treatment that uses radiation to kill cancer cells.

Chemotherapy

Treatment that uses chemicals to kill cancer cells.

Side effects of radiation

Fatigue, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, mucositis, xerostomia, skin reactions, bone marrow depression.

Side effects of chemotherapy

Bone marrow depression, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis, alopecia, neurotoxicity.

Hospice care

End-of-life care for patients with a prognosis of less than 6 months.

Allergic rhinitis

Common allergy characterized by sneezing, nasal itching, runny nose, and itchy red eyes.

Atopic dermatitis (eczema)

Chronic inflammatory skin response characterized by itching, edema, dry skin, and eruptions of blisters.

Anaphylaxis

Severe allergic reaction that can lead to respiratory and cardiac arrest.

Urticaria (hives)

Red, raised, itchy patches on the skin.

Contact dermatitis

Skin becomes red, itchy, and develops fragile vesicles due to contact with irritants or allergens.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

Virus that causes destruction of immune cells.

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)

Late phase of HIV infection characterized by a drop in T lymphocytes below 200.

Opportunistic infections

Infections that occur more often with weakened immune systems.

HIV antibody tests

Diagnostic tests to detect the presence of HIV antibodies in the blood.

T lymphocyte count

Measurement of the number of T lymphocytes in the blood.

Viral load testing

Measurement of the amount of HIV in the blood.

ARV (Antiretroviral) therapy

Medications used to reduce viral loads and prevent the development of opportunistic diseases in HIV/AIDS patients.

Dehiscence

Partial or complete separation of outer wound layers.

Evisceration

The rupturing of a wound.

Eschar

Hard, dry, leathery dead tissue.

Granulation tissue

New tissue that grows and fills in a wound.

Sinus tract

Tunnel that develops between two cavities or between an infected cavity and the skin's surface.

Edema

Swelling.

Erythema

Redness.

Necrotic

Dead tissue.

Ischemia

Reduced blood flow.

Purulent

Containing pus.

Contusions

Bruises.

Abrasions

Superficial wounds that rough up the top layer of skin.

Puncture wounds

Wounds caused by puncturing the skin.

Penetrating wounds

Puncture wounds with something still in the wound.

Lacerations

Wounds that won't come together.

Clean wounds

Not infected.

Clean-contaminated wounds

Direct contact with normal flora and potential for infection.

Contaminated wounds

Grossly contaminated by breaking asepsis.

Infected wounds

Infectious process established.

Pressure ulcers

Skin breakdown caused by pressure against the skin.

Braden Scale

Assessment tool used to assess the risk of developing pressure ulcers.

Debride

Removal of dead skin or tissue.

Sanguineous

Bloody drainage.

Serous

Yellowish drainage that looks like oil.

Purulent

Thick yellow-green drainage containing pus.

Bilious

Green drainage.

Serosanguineous

Drainage that contains both blood and liquid.

Seropurulent

Mixture of serum and pus

Scales

Flaky skin that sheds from the surface of the skin.