FUNAMENTALS OF NUR 337 VOCABULARY WORDS STUDY
GUIDE
alias - Answers - an assigned name under which certain clients are admitted to (and
records kept in) a healthcare facility in order to maintain anonymity.
aphasia - Answers - an abnormal neurologic condition in which a person is unable to
express oneself through speech or writing.
assertiveness - Answers - confidence without aggression or passivity, an important skill
for a nurse to possess in interpersonal communication.
body language - Answers - impressions one conveys through body movements and
posture, eye contact, and other non-verbal means.
closed-ended question - Answers - questions that can usually be answered by one
word, such as "yes" or "no;" also called close-ended questions.
communication - Answers - giving, receiving, and interpreting information (maybe verbal
or nonverbal).
eye contact - Answers - looking another person in the eye, as in "making eye contact."
interview - Answers - a goal-directed conversation in which one person seeks
information from the other.
nonverbal communication - Answers - conveying information or messages without
speaking or writing. Components include items such as therapeutic touch, gestures,
body language, facial expression, and eye contact.
open-ended question - Answers - questions used in therapeutic communication and
interviews that promote in-depth answers and encourage clients to talk about
themselves and their concerns.
personal space - Answers - an invisible, mutually understood area or zone around a
per-son that is considered inappropriate for strangers to violate (varies between
cultures). If a person invades another's personal space (comes too close), it may cause
discomfort. Much nursing care must occur within the client's personal space.
proxemics - Answers - the use of space in relationship to communication.
therapeutic communication - Answers - communication (usually verbal) with a client that
is helpful and beneficial; creating a healing, curative, and safe milieu by using
communication.
,verbal communication - Answers - giving information, news, or messages by speaking
or writing.
acuity - Answers - clearness; or a disorder's level of severity; minimum level or need for
healthcare services that must be met for a client to be admitted to an acute care facility.
dehumanization - Answers - to make a person/client feel like an object, to remove one's
dignity.
vital signs - Answers - measurements of temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood
pressure.
apical pulse - Answers - pulse normally heard at the heart's apex, which usually gives
the most accurate assessment of pulse rate.
apical-radial pulse - Answers - reading done by measuring both the apical and radial
pulses simultaneously, used when it is suspected that the heart is not effectively
pumping blood.
apnea - Answers - cessation of breathing
auscultation - Answers - externally listening to sounds from within the body to determine
abnormal conditions, as auscultation of blood pressure with a stethoscope
axillary - Answers - the underarms
bradycardia - Answers - abnormally slow heart; slow pulse
bradypnea - Answers - condition in which breaths are abnormally slow and fall below
ten per minute.
carotid pulse - Answers - pulse felt on either side of the neck, over the carotid artery.
Celsius - Answers - temperature scale in which water boils at 100 degrees and freezes
at zero (formerly centigrade). "Normal" oral body temperature is 37 degrees Celsius.
Celsius scale most often used in health care facilities.
Normal range oral temperature - Answers - 35.5-37.5 C (95.5-99.5 F)
Normal range respriatory rates adult Men - Answers - 12-18
Normal range respriatory rates adult - Answers - 16-20
Normal blood pressure parameters for adults - Answers - 120/80
, Normal pulse rate for adults - Answers - 60-80 BPM ( beats per minute)
base of support - Answers - balance or stability provided by the feet and their
positioning.
body mechanics - Answers - use of safe and efficient methods of moving and lifting.
center of gravity - Answers - the center of one's weight; half of one's body weight is
below and half above, and half to the left and half to the right of the center of gravity.
This concept is important in body mechanics.
circumduction - Answers - circular movement of a limb or the eye.
client reminder device - Answers - piece of equipment, most often a vest or a belt, used
to ensure the safety of the client (ie, helping client to remain in a chair without falling);
also called a client reminder device.
contracture - Answers - abnormal shortening of muscles with resultant deformity.
contralateral - Answers - the opposite side.
dangling - Answers - positioning of a client so that he or she is sitting on the edge of the
bed with legs down and feet supported by a footstool or the floor. This is an exercise in
preparation for sitting in a chair and/or walking.
eversion - Answers - turning inside out; turning outward
footdrop - Answers - contracture deformity that prevents the client from putting the heel
on the floor; results from improper positioning or anterior leg muscle paralysis; abnormal
plantar flexion of foot.
Fowler's position - Answers - examination position in which the client is lying on his or
her back with the head elevated.
gait - Answers - manner or style of walking
gait belt - Answers - sturdy webbed belt used by the nurse to help provide support to the
weak or unsteady person.
gravital plane - Answers - direction of gravitation pull; an imaginary vertical line through
the top of the head, center of gravity, and base of support.
gurney - Answers - our-wheeled cart; also called gurney, wheeled stretcher. A litter
scale is used to weigh clients who cannot stand.
hemiplegia - Answers - paralysis on one side of the body.
GUIDE
alias - Answers - an assigned name under which certain clients are admitted to (and
records kept in) a healthcare facility in order to maintain anonymity.
aphasia - Answers - an abnormal neurologic condition in which a person is unable to
express oneself through speech or writing.
assertiveness - Answers - confidence without aggression or passivity, an important skill
for a nurse to possess in interpersonal communication.
body language - Answers - impressions one conveys through body movements and
posture, eye contact, and other non-verbal means.
closed-ended question - Answers - questions that can usually be answered by one
word, such as "yes" or "no;" also called close-ended questions.
communication - Answers - giving, receiving, and interpreting information (maybe verbal
or nonverbal).
eye contact - Answers - looking another person in the eye, as in "making eye contact."
interview - Answers - a goal-directed conversation in which one person seeks
information from the other.
nonverbal communication - Answers - conveying information or messages without
speaking or writing. Components include items such as therapeutic touch, gestures,
body language, facial expression, and eye contact.
open-ended question - Answers - questions used in therapeutic communication and
interviews that promote in-depth answers and encourage clients to talk about
themselves and their concerns.
personal space - Answers - an invisible, mutually understood area or zone around a
per-son that is considered inappropriate for strangers to violate (varies between
cultures). If a person invades another's personal space (comes too close), it may cause
discomfort. Much nursing care must occur within the client's personal space.
proxemics - Answers - the use of space in relationship to communication.
therapeutic communication - Answers - communication (usually verbal) with a client that
is helpful and beneficial; creating a healing, curative, and safe milieu by using
communication.
,verbal communication - Answers - giving information, news, or messages by speaking
or writing.
acuity - Answers - clearness; or a disorder's level of severity; minimum level or need for
healthcare services that must be met for a client to be admitted to an acute care facility.
dehumanization - Answers - to make a person/client feel like an object, to remove one's
dignity.
vital signs - Answers - measurements of temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood
pressure.
apical pulse - Answers - pulse normally heard at the heart's apex, which usually gives
the most accurate assessment of pulse rate.
apical-radial pulse - Answers - reading done by measuring both the apical and radial
pulses simultaneously, used when it is suspected that the heart is not effectively
pumping blood.
apnea - Answers - cessation of breathing
auscultation - Answers - externally listening to sounds from within the body to determine
abnormal conditions, as auscultation of blood pressure with a stethoscope
axillary - Answers - the underarms
bradycardia - Answers - abnormally slow heart; slow pulse
bradypnea - Answers - condition in which breaths are abnormally slow and fall below
ten per minute.
carotid pulse - Answers - pulse felt on either side of the neck, over the carotid artery.
Celsius - Answers - temperature scale in which water boils at 100 degrees and freezes
at zero (formerly centigrade). "Normal" oral body temperature is 37 degrees Celsius.
Celsius scale most often used in health care facilities.
Normal range oral temperature - Answers - 35.5-37.5 C (95.5-99.5 F)
Normal range respriatory rates adult Men - Answers - 12-18
Normal range respriatory rates adult - Answers - 16-20
Normal blood pressure parameters for adults - Answers - 120/80
, Normal pulse rate for adults - Answers - 60-80 BPM ( beats per minute)
base of support - Answers - balance or stability provided by the feet and their
positioning.
body mechanics - Answers - use of safe and efficient methods of moving and lifting.
center of gravity - Answers - the center of one's weight; half of one's body weight is
below and half above, and half to the left and half to the right of the center of gravity.
This concept is important in body mechanics.
circumduction - Answers - circular movement of a limb or the eye.
client reminder device - Answers - piece of equipment, most often a vest or a belt, used
to ensure the safety of the client (ie, helping client to remain in a chair without falling);
also called a client reminder device.
contracture - Answers - abnormal shortening of muscles with resultant deformity.
contralateral - Answers - the opposite side.
dangling - Answers - positioning of a client so that he or she is sitting on the edge of the
bed with legs down and feet supported by a footstool or the floor. This is an exercise in
preparation for sitting in a chair and/or walking.
eversion - Answers - turning inside out; turning outward
footdrop - Answers - contracture deformity that prevents the client from putting the heel
on the floor; results from improper positioning or anterior leg muscle paralysis; abnormal
plantar flexion of foot.
Fowler's position - Answers - examination position in which the client is lying on his or
her back with the head elevated.
gait - Answers - manner or style of walking
gait belt - Answers - sturdy webbed belt used by the nurse to help provide support to the
weak or unsteady person.
gravital plane - Answers - direction of gravitation pull; an imaginary vertical line through
the top of the head, center of gravity, and base of support.
gurney - Answers - our-wheeled cart; also called gurney, wheeled stretcher. A litter
scale is used to weigh clients who cannot stand.
hemiplegia - Answers - paralysis on one side of the body.
