Fundamentals of Nursing - Exam 1 Review Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards generated from Fundamentals of Nursing exam notes covering EBP, Infection Control, Vital Signs, Assessment, Musculoskeletal System, and Wound Care.

Critical Thinking

A systematic way to shape one's thinking inside and outside the clinical setting, incorporating cognitive and emotional components.

Clinical Reasoning

How a nurse thinks about patient problems, including decision-making in clinical settings.

Clinical Judgement

The clinical outcome resulting from the combination of critical thinking and clinical reasoning.

Hierarchy of Evidence

A pyramid structure rating research evidence from lowest risk of bias/highest generalizability (Systematic Reviews, RCTs) down to highest risk of bias (Expert Opinion).

Community-Acquired Infections (CAI)

Infections acquired outside of a healthcare facility within the general community.

Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAI)

Infections acquired by a patient while receiving treatment in a hospital or healthcare facility.

MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, an antimicrobial-resistant bacterial infection.

VRE

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci, a strain of enterococci bacteria resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin.

The Chain of Infection

A six-link cycle describing infection transmission: Infectious organism, Reservoir, Portal of exit, Mode of transmission, Portal of entry, and Vulnerable host.

Medical Asepsis

Clean technique aimed at reducing the number and spread of microorganisms (e.g., hand hygiene, dressing changes, PPE, suture line care).

Surgical Asepsis

Sterile technique that eliminates all microorganisms, required for invasive procedures like catheter insertion and tracheostomy care.

CLABSI

Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection, a primary bloodstream infection in a patient with a central venous catheter.

CAUTI

Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection; prevented by using urinary catheters only when necessary and removing them as soon as possible.

Airborne Precautions

Isolation measures requiring a private negative-pressure room, HEPA filtration, closed door, N95 respirator, and standard precautions.

Droplet Precautions

Isolation measures requiring a mask plus standard precautions for infections like influenza, RSV, and Group A Strep.

Contact Precautions

Isolation measures requiring gown, gloves, and standard precautions, with doffing performed inside the patient's room (e.g., MRSA, VRE, C. diff).

Protective Environment

Isolation designed for immunocompromised or transplant patients requiring a private room, positive airflow, HEPA filtration, mask, gown, gloves, and standard precautions.

Palpation Techniques

Physical examination method using the dorsal side of the hand for temperature, palmar surface for firmness/position/size/pain, and finger pads for fine touch.

ADPIE

The nursing process framework: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation.

ABCDEs

Priority assessment mnemonic: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, and Exposure.

Tachycardia

A heart rate above $100\,\text{bpm}$.

Bradycardia

A heart rate below $60\,\text{bpm}$.

Asystole

The complete absence of a pulse or electrical heart activity.

Sinus Arrhythmia

A normal physiological variation in heart rate where pulse speeds up during inspiration and slows down during expiration.

Pulse Scale

A rating scale for arterial pulses: 0 = nonpalpable/absent, 1+ = weak/diminished, 2+ = normal, 3+ = full/increased, 4+ = bounding.

Pulse Assessment Locations

Anatomical sites used to palpate or auscultate arterial pulses across the body.

Dyspnea

Difficult or labored breathing.

Bradypnea

Abnormally slow rate of breathing.

Tachypnea

Abnormally rapid rate of breathing.

Apnea

Absence of spontaneous respirations for more than $10\,\text{seconds}$.

Oxygen Saturation

The percentage of hemoglobin bound with oxygen, with normal levels between $92-99\%$.

Hypoxia vs. Hypoxemia

Hypoxia refers to low oxygen levels in body tissues, whereas hypoxemia refers specifically to low oxygen levels in the blood.

Pulse Pressure

The numerical difference between Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), representing Stroke Volume.

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)

Average pressure in a patient's arteries during one cardiac cycle, calculated as $\text{MAP} = \frac{\text{SBP} + 2(\text{DBP})}{3}$.

Systolic Blood Pressure

Maximum pressure exerted on arterial walls during left ventricular contraction.

Diastolic Blood Pressure

Resting arterial pressure resulting from elastic recoil between ventricular contractions.

Hypertension Stage 1

Blood pressure reading of $130-139\,\text{mmHg}$ SBP or $80-89\,\text{mmHg}$ DBP.

Hypertension Stage 2

Blood pressure reading of $\ge 140\,\text{mmHg}$ SBP or $\ge 90\,\text{mmHg}$ DBP.

Blood Pressure Assessment Errors

A summary of common technical errors (such as cuff size, deflating rate, and arm position) and their effects on blood pressure readings.

Acute Pain

Pain with a generally known cause, short duration, and resolution upon healing of the underlying injury.

Chronic Pain

Pain with an unknown or persistent cause that lasts $3\,\text{months}$ or longer after healing; goal is pain management rather than cure.

Visceral Pain

Pain stemming from direct injury to larger internal organs, often accompanied by vomiting, nausea, and diaphoresis.

Deep Somatic Pain

Aching or throbbing pain originating from blood vessels, joints, tendons, muscles, or bones due to trauma or pressure.

Cutaneous Pain

Sharp, burning pain derived from superficial injuries to skin surfaces and subcutaneous tissues.

Referred Pain

Pain felt at a body site distant from its origin, occurring because both sites are innervated by the same spinal nerve.

Pain Assessment Tools

Standardized instruments used to evaluate pain severity across different patient populations, such as OLD CARTS, PQRSTU, PAINAD, FLACC, and NIPS.

Focused Assessment

A targeted nursing assessment focused specific to an identified patient health issue.

PCAM

Patient Centered Assessment Method; an assessment tool evaluating patient health complexity using social determinants of health.

SBAR

A structured communication framework consisting of Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation to transfer critical clinical information.

W.A.I.T.

Communication mnemonic standing for 'Why Am I Talking?!'.

Epiphyses

Special growth plates located at the ends of long bones that contribute to linear growth.

Tendons

Fibrous connective tissues that connect muscles to bones.

Ligaments

Fibrous connective bands that connect bone to bone to stabilize joints.

Synovial Joints

Freely movable (diarthrotic) joints.

Fibrous Joints

Immovable (synarthrotic) joints.

Cartilaginous Joints

Slightly movable (amphiarthrotic) joints.

Atony

Complete lack of normal muscle tone or strength.

Hypotonicity

Diminished tone or tension of skeletal muscles.

Spasticity

Increased hypertonic muscle tone causing stiffness and resistance to movement.

Fasciculation

Involuntary localized twitching of muscle fibers.

Desiccation

Dehydration or drying out of a wound.

Maceration

Softening and breakdown of skin resulting from prolonged exposure to moisture (overhydration).

NERDS

Mnemonic for signs of superficial wound infection: Nonhealing, Exudative, Red/blood, Debris, and Smell.

Dehiscence

Partial or total separation of wound layers.

Evisceration

Protrusion of visceral organs through a wound opening; the most serious complication of wound dehiscence, primarily occurring in abdominal incisions.

Stage 1 Pressure Wound

Intact skin presenting with localized nonblanchable erythema.

Stage 2 Pressure Wound

Partial-thickness skin loss with exposed dermis.

Unstageable Pressure Wound

Full-thickness skin and tissue loss in which the extent of tissue damage within the ulcer cannot be confirmed because it is obscured by slough or eschar.