Fundamentals of nursing care

. abandomnment leaving or walking away from patient assignment without replacement by another nurse 2. Abrasion a superficial open wound that generally heals well if kept clean 3. Absorption the process by which nutrients are taken from the end products of digestion into the villi (within the small intes- tine) that contains capillaries. This is the point where the majority of nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream 4. accommodation response a measure of the eye muscles' ability to focus on an image up close and in the distance. 5. Acidosis an increase of acids 6. active listening Techniques that use all the senses to interpret verbal and nonverbal messages 7. activities of daily living (ADLs) Activities such as bathing, washing and styling hair brush- ing and flossing teeth, dressing and shaving 8. Acupressure a traditional chinese therapy that is blend of acupuncture and pressure 9. acupuncture The ancient chinese practice of inserting fine needles into carefully selected points located along meridians in the body. 10. acute illness an episode of illness that strikes suddenly and lasts for a limited time 11. acute pain Pain that comes on suddenly and has a short duration (less than 6 months) 12. Adaptation the ability to positively adjust to change that occur in an individual's world 13. Adjuvant something that assists or aids another treatment, there- fore increasing the first treatment's effectiveness Fundamentals of nursing care 2 / 46 14. Admission process 15. Advance direc- tive 16. adventitous breath sounds the process of admitting a patient to a hospital during which the nurse begins establishing rapport and trusting relationship with the patient. Written document that provide guidelines for making med- ical decisions in the event a person becomes incapacitat- ed and is unable to make his or her wishes known. All states recognize two types of advancrs directives: power or attorney and living will. Adnormal breath sounds, including crackles, rhonchi, wheezes, pleural friction rub and stridor. 17. Adverse effects an unexpected, unintended, and more severe or harmful effect than a side effect 18. advocate to stand up for what is in the patients best interest as opposed to what is in the best interest of the physician, hospital, or co worker. The nurse serves as the primary patient advocate. 19. Aerobic a term used to describe organism that grow and replicate in the presence of oxygen 20. Afebrille The state of being without fever 21. Ageism the practice of discrimination and prejudice against elders 22. age-related mac- ular degenera- tion the destruction of the ares in the retina where the optic nerve attaches, leading to the loss of central vision 23. Air- lock An intramuscular injection of 0.1 to 0.2mL of air that directly follows the medication from the syringe into the muscle. Its purpose is to clear irritating medication from the needle and needle track as the needle is withdrawn from the muscle through subcutaneous and dermal tissue layers Fundamentals of nursing care 3 / 46 24. Aldosterone A hormone that regulates fluid and electrolytes balance by stimulating the kidneys to retain more sodium and excrete potassium 25. Alkslosis an increase in base or alkaline substances 26. allergic reaction a reaction that occurs when a patient's body reacts to medication as a foreign invader to be destroyed 27. allopathic medi- cine Traditional, conventional medicine that is practiced in west 28. alternative thera- py Therapy used instead of conventional treatment 29. Alzheimer's dis- ease (AD) A type of dementia or progressive mental deterioration thought to result from plaque formation in the brain. Its ultimate cause remains unknown. 30. ambivalent to have opposing feelings about someone or something 31. Ambulate to walk 32. Ampule a small, sealed glass drug container that must be broken to withdraw the medication 33. amputate to remove a limb surgically 34. Anabolism the process by which the body uses components to build or reconstruct new components or tissue 35. Anaerobic a term used to describe organisms that con live and replicate without oxygen 36. analgesic pain medication 37. Anaphylaxis A life threatening emergency due to an allergic reaction that involves swelling of the upper respiratory tract and that can result in occlusion of the airway. Fundamentals of nursing care 4 / 46 38. anastomoses Junctions where veins join other viens and arteries join other arteries, providing alternate routes for blood flow if one pathway should become obstructed 39. anesthesia The loss of sensation, with or without a loss of conscious- ness, accomplished by the administration of inhaled or injected medications 40. Cellulitis inflammation and infections of the skin and underlying tissue 41. Anorexia ner- An Eating disorder marked by relentless self-stravation in vosa an effort to reduce the body weight below normal. This disorder is characterized by an excessive leanness or wasting of the body, known as emaciation 42. center of gravity the middle point of the body, below the umbilicus and above the pubic, around which the body mass is distrib- uted. 43. Antiduretic hor- A hormone released from the posterior pituitary that di- mone (ADH) rects the kidney tubules to increase water reabsorption independently of solids, which help to dilute the concen- tration of the blood 44. Centers for Dis- a federal agency that helps protect the public by tracking ease Control outbreaks or occurrences of disease and by determining and Prevention steps to take regarding treatment and containment of (CDC) illness, immunization and future research 45. Antiembolism Often called an AE hose or TED hose (stands for throm- hose boembolic disorder), they are a pair of strong support hoss that are applied to compress the leg veins, assisting them to return blood back to the right side of the heart where it can be sent through the pulmonary artery to the lungs to the reoxygenated. This helps to prevent blood from pooling in the leg vein from inactivity are bedrest. 46. Antioxidants Specific vitamins that help to deactivate free radicals before they can cause damage Fundamentals of nursing care 5 / 46 47. anuria The absence of urine or minimal urine production, which can be the result of temporary illness or urinary tract obstruction or be a symptom of a serious underlying condition that must be diagnosed and treated. 48. Aphasia an inability to speak or understand language 49. apnea period of no respiration 50. Approximation In wound infections when the edges of a surgical incision meet and are aligned with one another 51. aquathermia pad Also known as a K-pad it's an electrical heating water storage tank and two tube, connected to a network of tubing within a disposable pad. It is used to safely apply heat to specific area of the body. 52. arteriography Also known as angiography, this form of radiology re- quires that a contrast medium be instilled into designated arteries, which allows examinations of the vessel to as- sess for abnormalities. 53. ascites A large collection of fluid within the peritoneal cavity 54. Assault Threatening a patient with harm or to show intent to touch him or her without permission 55. Associate de- a two year entry- level educational program for registered gree nurse (ADN) nurses. Upon completion of course work, a student takes NCLEX-RN; upon passing the exam, the graduate be- comes a registered nurse and uses the title "RN" after her or his name 56. Atelectasis Severe pneumonia or lung collapse that cause a lack of or decreased excursion on one side of the chest 57. Attachment A type of emotiinal bonding ex:mothe5- baby bonding 58. learning by hearing and listening Fundamentals of nursing care6 / 46 Auditory learn- ing 59. Auscltation listening to the sound produced by the body 60. auscultatory gap In some hypertensive patients, the period of silence be- tween the first Korotkoff sound heard (the systolic blood pressure BP) and the next Korotkoff sound heard when it resumes at a number 30 to 40 mm Hg lower 61. Autoclaving a method of sterilization that delivers steam under pres- sure, with heat ranging from 250F to 270F, in order to sterilize instruments that will not be harmed by heat and water under pressure 62. Baccalaureate a 4 year entry- level educational program for registered Degree nurse nurses. Upon completion of all course work, the student (BSN) takes the NCLEX-RN; upon successfully passing the ex- amination, the graduate becomes a RN. The focus of a BSN nursing education put more emphasis on manage- ment leadership than ADN and diploma programs. 63. Barium enema a type of test in which barium ( a contract medium) is instilled rectally for radiographic visualization of the large intestine in order to see its shape and any abnormalities that might be present. It is used to detect cancerous tumors, obstructions, polyps, inflammatory disease, or diverticula in the colon 64. base of support The feet and lower legs which give the body stability and balance. The wider one's base of support, the lower the center of gravity. 65. bath blanket a large lightweight flannel blanket used duri