Evidence-based practice (EBP)

A lifelong problem-solving approach that integrates the best evidence from well-designed research studies, theories, clinical expertise, health care resources, and patient preferences and values.

Cultural humility

Defined by the American Nurses Association as, "A humble and respectful attitude toward individuals of other cultures that pushes one to challenge their own cultural biases" realize they cannot know everything about other cultures, and approach learning about other cultures as a life-long goal and process

obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

Cessation of breathing while sleeping and is caused by the partial or full collapse of the airway as muscles relax during sleep.

[pb_glossary id="643"]Nursing Practice Act[/pb_glossary

The Nurse Practice Act is enacted by that state's legislature, defines the scope of practice for nurses in that state, and establishes regulations for nursing practice.

Active assist range of motion

A patient’s joint receiving partial assistance in movement from an outside force.

active listening

Process by which we are communicating verbally and nonverbally that we are interested in what the other person is saying while also actively verifying our understanding with the speaker.

Active range of motion

Movement of a joint by the individual performing the exercise.

Active transport

Movement of solutes and ions across a cell membrane against a concentration gradient from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration using energy during the process.

Acute grief

Grief that begins immediately after the death of a loved one and includes the separation response and response to stress.

Acute pain

Pain that is limited in duration and is associated with a specific cause.

Acute, self-limiting infections

Infections that develop rapidly and generally last only 10-14 days.

Addiction

A term used in many countries to describe severe problems related to compulsive and habitual use of substances.

adhesion

Capability of pathogenic microbes to attach to the cells of the body.

adjuvant

Medication that is not classified as an analgesic but has been found in clinical practice to have either an independent analgesic effect or additive analgesic properties when administered with opioids.

ADOPIE

An easy way to remember the ANA Standards and the nursing process. Each letter refers to the six components of the nursing process: Assessment, Diagnosis, Outcomes Identification, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation.

Adult day centers

Care that offers people with dementia and other chronic illnesses the opportunity to be social and to participate in activities in a safe environment, while also giving their caregivers the opportunity to work, run errands, or take a much-needed break.

Advance directives

Legal documents that direct care when the patient can no longer speak from themselves, including the living will and the health care power of attorney.

Advanced Practice Nurses

An RN who has a graduate degree and advanced knowledge. There are four categories of APRNs: certified nurse-midwife (CNM), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), certified nurse practitioner (CNP), or certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). These nurses can diagnose illnesses and prescribe treatments and medications.

Advocacy

The act or process of pleading for, supporting, or recommending a cause or course of action.

Ageism

The stereotyping and discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of their age.

Alzheimer’s disease

An irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.

Ambulation

The ability of a patient to safely walk independently, with assistance from another person, or with an assistive device, such as a cane, walker, or crutches.

ANA Standards of Professional Nursing Practice

Authoritative statements of the actions and behaviors that all registered nurses, regardless of role, population, specialty, and setting, are expected to perform competently.

ANA Standards of Professional Performance

12 additional standards that describe a nurse's professional behavior, including activities related to ethics, advocacy, respectful and equitable practice, communication, collaboration, leadership, education, scholarly inquiry, quality of practice, professional practice evaluation, resource stewardship, and environmental health.

analgesics

Different types of pain medications

angiogenesis

The process of wound healing when new capillaries begin to develop within the wound 24 hours after injury to bring in more oxygen and nutrients for healing.

Anorexia

Loss of appetite or loss of desire to eat.

antibodies

Y proteins created by B cells that are specific to each pathogen and lock onto its surface and mark it for destruction by other immune cells.

Anticipatory grief

Grief before a loss, associated with diagnosis of an acute, chronic, and/or terminal illness experienced by the patient, family, and caregivers.

Anuria

Absence of urine output that is typically found during kidney failure. Can be defined as less than 50 mL of urine over a 24-hour period.

Aphasia

A communication disorder that results from damage to portions of the brain that are responsible for language.

approximated edges

The well-closed edges of a wound healing by primary intention.

art of nursing

Defined as, "Unconditionally accepting the humanity of others, respecting their need for dignity and worth, while providing compassionate, comforting care."

arterial blood gas (ABG)

Diagnostic test performed on an arterial sample of blood to determine its pH level, oxygenation status, and carbon dioxide status.

Arterial insufficiency

A condition caused by lack of adequately oxygenated blood supply to specific tissues.

aseptic technique

The purposeful reduction of pathogens to prevent the transfer of microorganisms from one person or object to another during a medical procedure.

Assertive communication

A way to convey information that describes the facts, the sender’s feelings, and explanations without disrespecting the receiver’s feelings. This communication is often described as using “I” messages: “I feel…,” “I understand…,” or “Help me to understand…”.

Assimilation

The process whereby a member of a cultural group adopts or conforms with the practices, habits, and norms of another group, usually a dominant group. As a result, the person gradually takes on a new cultural identity, often losing their original identity in the process.

assistive device

An object or piece of equipment designed to help a patient with activities of daily living, such as a walker, cane, gait belt, or mechanical lift.

Associated Conditions

Medical diagnoses, injuries, procedures, medical devices, or pharmacological agents. These conditions are not independently modifiable by the nurse, but support accuracy in nursing diagnosis.

At-risk behavior

According to the just culture model, an error that occurs when a behavioral choice is made that increases risk where risk is not recognized or is mistakenly believed to be justified.

at-risk populations

Groups of people who share a characteristic that causes each member to be susceptible to a particular human response, such as demographics, health/family history, stages of growth/development, or exposure to certain events/experiences.

B cells

Immune cells that mature in the bone marrow and produce antibodies.

bacteremia

The presence of bacteria in blood.

barrel chest

An increased anterior-posterior chest diameter, resulting from air trapping in the alveoli, that occurs in chronic respiratory disease.

barrel chest.

An increased anterior-posterior chest diameter, resulting from air trapping in the alveoli, that occurs in chronic respiratory disease.

Basic Nursing Care

Care that can be performed following a defined nursing procedure with minimal modification in which the responses of the patient to the nursing care are predictable.

Bed Mobility

The ability of a patient to move around in bed, including moving from lying to sitting and sitting to lying.

bedside handoff reports

A handoff report in hospitals that involves patients, their family members, and both the off-going and the oncoming nurses. The report is performed face to face and conducted at the patient's bedside.

behavioral restraints

Restraints used to manage violent, self-destructive behaviors such as hitting or kicking staff or other clients, physically harming themselves or others, or threatening to do so. Behavioral restraints are used in emergency situations where safety concerns need to be immediately addressed to prevent harm.

Bereavement

grief (the inner feelings) and mourning (the outward reactions) after a loved one has died.

Bias

To carry an attitude, opinion, or inclination (positive or negative) towards a group or members of a group. Bias can be a conscious attitude (explicit) or a person may not be aware of their bias (implicit).

Black stools

Black-colored stools can be caused by iron supplements or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) taken for an upset stomach.

Board of Nursing

The state-specific licensing and regulatory body that sets the standards for safe nursing care, decides the scope of practice for nurses within its jurisdiction, and issues licenses to qualified candidates.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

A measure of weight categories including underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese taking height and weight into consideration.

Body mechanics

The coordinated effort of muscles, bones, and the nervous system to maintain balance, posture, and alignment during moving, transferring, and repositioning patients.

Bowel incontinence

The loss of bowel control, causing the unexpected passage of stool.

Bowel retraining

Involves teaching the body to have a bowel movement at a certain time of the day.

Braden Scale

A standardized assessment tool used to assess and document a patient’s risk factors for developing pressure injuries.

Bradypnea

Decreased respiratory rate less than the normal range according to the patient’s age.

Broca's aphasia

A type of aphasia where patients understand speech and know what they want to say, but frequently speak in short phrases that are produced with great effort. People with Broca's aphasia typically understand the speech of others fairly well. Because of this, they are often aware of their difficulties and can become easily frustrated.

Burnout

Can be triggered by workplace demands, lack of resources to do work professionally and safely, interpersonal relationship stressors, or work policies that can lead to diminished caring and cynicism.

cachexia

Wasting of muscle and adipose tissue due to lack of nutrition.

calorie-dense

Foods with a substantial amount of calories and few nutrients.

Carbohydrates

Sugars and starches that provide an important energy source, providing 4 kcal/g of energy.

cardiac output

The amount of blood the heart pumps in one minute.

cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Emergency treatment provided when a patient's blood flow or breathing stops that may involve chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing, electric shocks to stop lethal cardiac rhythms, breathing tubes to open the airway, or cardiac medications.

care relationship

A relationship described as one in which the whole person is assessed while balancing the vulnerability and dignity of the patient and family.

Cataracts

Opacity of the lens of the eye that causes clouded, blurred, or dim vision.

Certification

The formal recognition of specialized knowledge, skills, and experience demonstrated by the achievement of standards identified by a nursing specialty.

chain of command

A hierarchy of reporting relationships in an agency that establishes accountability and lays out lines of authority and decision-making power.

chaplains

Trained professionals in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospices that assist with the spiritual, religious, and emotional needs of patients, families, and staff.

Charting by exception (CBE)

A type of documentation where a list of “normal findings” are provided and nurses document assessment findings by confirming normal findings and writing brief documentation notes for any abnormal findings.

chemical digestion

Breakdown of food with stomach acids, bile, and pancreatic enzymes for nutrient release.

chemical restraint

A drug used to manage a patient’s behavior, restrict the patient’s freedom of movement, or impair the patient’s ability to appropriately interact with their surroundings that is not a standard treatment or dosage for the patient’s condition.

chronic infections

Infections that may persist for months.

Chronic pain

Pain that is ongoing and persistent for longer than six months.

Chvostek’s sign

An assessment sign of acute hypocalcemia characterized by involuntary facial muscle twitching when the facial nerve is tapped.

Circadian rhythms

Body rhythms that direct a wide variety of functions including wakefulness, body temperature, metabolism, and the release of hormones.

client

Individual, family, or group which includes significant others and populations.

Clinical judgment

The observed outcome of critical thinking and decision-making. It is an iterative process that uses nursing knowledge to observe and access presenting situations, identify a prioritized client concern, and generate the best possible evidence-based solutions in order to deliver safe client care.

clinical reasoning

A complex cognitive process that uses formal and informal thinking strategies to gather and analyze patient information, evaluate the significance of this information, and weigh alternative actions.

Clubbing

Enlargement of the fingertips that occurs with chronic hypoxia.

clusters

Grouping data into similar domains or patterns.

Code of Ethics for Nurses.

A code that applies normative, moral guidance for nurses in terms of what they ought to do, be, and seek.

Cognition

A term used to describe our ability to think.

Cognitive impairment

Impairment in mental processes that drive how an individual understands and acts in the world, affecting the acquisition of information and knowledge.

Collaborative nursing interventions

Nursing interventions that require cooperation among health care professionals and unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP).

Colostrum

A thick yellowish-white fluid rich in proteins and immunoglobulin A (IgA) and lower in carbohydrates and fat than mature breast milk secreted within the first 2-3 days after giving birth.

Comfort care

Care that occurs when the patient’s and medical team’s goals shift from curative interventions to symptom control, pain relief, and quality of life.

Compassion fatigue

A state of chronic and continuous self-sacrifice and/or prolonged exposure to difficult situations that affect a health care professional’s physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

complete blood count (CBC)

The red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), platelets, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values.

Complete proteins

Proteins with enough amino acids in enough quantities to perform necessary functions such as growth and tissue maintenance.

Complex carbohydrates

Larger molecules of polysaccharides that break down more slowly and release sugar into the bloodstream more slowly than simple carbohydrates.

Complicated grief

Chronic grief, delayed grief, exaggerated grief, and masked grief are types of complicated grief.

Constipation

A decrease in normal frequency of defecation accompanied by difficult or incomplete passage of stool and/or passage of excessively hard, dry stool.

contracture

A contracture is the lack of full passive range of motion due to joint, muscle, or soft tissue limitations.

contrast

A special dye administered to patients before some diagnostic tests so that certain areas show up better on the X-rays.

convalescent period

The final period of disease.

Coordination of care

While implementing interventions during the nursing process, includes competencies such as organizing the plan, engaging the patient in self-care to achieve goals, and advocating for the delivery of dignified and holistic care by the interprofessional team.

Coughing and deep breathing

A breathing technique where the patient is encouraged to take deep, slow breaths and then exhale slowly.

Critical thinking

Reasoning about clinical issues such as teamwork, collaboration, and streamlining workflow.

Cues

Subjective or objective data that gives the nurse a hint or indication of a potential problem, process, or disorder.

Cultural awareness

A deliberate, cognitive process in which health care providers become appreciative and sensitive to the values, beliefs, lifeways, practices, and problem-solving strategies of a patient’s culture.

Cultural compe­tence

The process of applying evidence-based nursing in agreement with the preferred cultural values, beliefs, worldview, and practices of patients to produce improved patient outcomes.

Cultural competence

A lifelong process of applying evidence-based nursing in agreement with the cultural values, beliefs, worldview, and practices of clients to produce improved client outcomes

cultural desire

Refers to the intrinsic motivation and commitment on the part of a nurse to develop cultural awareness and cultural competency.

Cultural diversity

Cultural differences in people.

cultural encounter

A process where the nurse directly engages in face-to-face cultural interactions and other types of encounters with clients from culturally diverse backgrounds in order to modify existing beliefs about a cultural group and to prevent possible stereotyping

cultural humility

A humble and respectful attitude toward individuals of other cultures that pushes one to challenge their own cultural biases, realize they cannot possibly know everything about other cultures, and approach learning about other cultures as a lifelong goal and process.

Cultural knowledge

Seeking information about cultural health beliefs and values to understand patients’ world views.

Cultural negotiation

A process where the patient and nurse seek a mutually acceptable way to deal with competing interests of nursing care, prescribed medical care, and the patient’s cultural needs.

Cultural sensitivity

Being tolerant and accepting of cultural practices and beliefs of people.

Cultural skill

The ability to gather and synthesize relevant cultural information about their patients while planning care and using culturally sensitive communication skills while doing so.

Culturally congruent practice

Describes nursing care that is in agreement with the preferred values, beliefs, worldview, and practices of the health care consumer

Culturally responsive care

Nursing actions that integrate a person’s cultural beliefs into their care.

culturally safe environment

A safe space for patients to interact with health professionals, without judgment or discrimination, where the patient is free to express their cultural beliefs, values, and identity.

Culture

A set of beliefs, attitudes, and practices shared by a group of people or community that are accepted, followed, and passed down to other members of the group.

culture of safety

The behaviors, beliefs, and values within and across all levels of an organization as they relate to safety and clinical excellence, with a focus on people.

Cyanosis

Bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes.

cytokine storm

Severe immune reaction in which the body releases too many cytokines into the blood too quickly.

Cytokines

Proteins that affect interaction and communication between cells.

DAR

A type of documentation often used in combination with charting by exception. DAR stands for Data, Action, and Response. Focused DAR notes are brief and each note is focused on one patient problem for efficiency in documenting, as well as for reading.

Deductive reasoning

“Top-down thinking” or moving from the general to the specific. Deductive reasoning relies on a general statement or hypothesis—sometimes called a premise or standard—that is held to be true. The premise is used to reach a specific, logical conclusion.

Deep tissue pressure injuries

Persistent; non-blanchable; deep red, maroon, or purple discoloration of intact or non-intact skin revealing a dark wound bed or blood filled blister.

Defining characteristics

Observable cues/inferences that cluster as manifestations of a problem-focused, health-promotion diagnosis or syndrome. This does not only imply those things that the nurse can see, but also things that are seen, heard (e.g., the patient/family tells us), touched, or smelled.

dehiscence

Separation of the edges of a surgical wound.

Delegation

The assignment of the performance of activities or tasks related to patient care to unlicensed assistive personnel while retaining accountability for the outcome.

Delirium

An acute state of cognitive impairment that typically occurs suddenly due to a physiological cause, such as infection, hypoxia, electrolyte imbalances, drug effects, or other acute brain injury.

Dementia

A chronic condition of impaired cognition, caused by brain disease or injury, marked by personality changes, memory deficits, and impaired reasoning.

Dependent nursing interventions

Interventions that require a prescription from a physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician’s assistant.

Depression

A brain disorder with a variety of causes, including genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.

dermis

The layer of skin underneath under the epidermis, containing hair follicles, sebaceous glands, blood vessels, endocrine sweat glands, and nerve endings.

Development

Biological changes, as well as social and cognitive changes, that occur continuously throughout our lives.

Diabetic retinopathy

A complication of diabetes mellitus due to damaged blood vessels in the retina. If found early, treatments, such as laser treatment that can help shrink blood vessels, injections that can reduce swelling, or surgery, can prevent permanent vision loss.

Diarrhea

More than three unformed stools in 24 hours.

Dietary Reference Intakes

Set requirements or limit amounts of a certain nutrient, including protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Diffusion

The movement of solute particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Direct care

Interventions that are carried out by having personal contact with a patient.

Discrimination

Unfair and different treatment of another person or group, denying them opportunities and rights to participate fully in society.

disease

Signs and symptoms resulting in a deviation from the normal structure or functioning of the host.

Disenfranchised grief

Any loss that is not validated or recognized.

Disinfection

Removal of organisms from inanimate objects and surfaces.

do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order

A medical order that instructs health care professionals not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

dysphagia

Impaired swallowing.

Dyspnea 

A subjective feeling of not getting enough air. Depending on severity, dyspnea causes increased levels of anxiety.

Dysuria

Painful or difficult urination.

edema

Swelling.

electronic health record (EHR)

A digital version of a patient’s paper chart. EHRs are real-time, patient-centered records that make information available instantly and securely to authorized users.

Electronic Medical Record (EMR)

An electronic version of the patient’s medical record.

Enteral nutrition

Liquid nutrition given through the gastrointestinal tract via a tube while bypassing chewing and swallowing.

Enuresis

Incontinence when sleeping (i.e., bedwetting).

epidermis

The very thin, top layer of the skin that contains openings of the sweat gland ducts and the visible part of hair known as the hair shaft.

Epithelialization

The development of new epidermis and granulation tissue in a healing wound.

erythema

Redness.

Eschar

Dark brown/black, dry, thick, and leathery dead tissue in wounds.

Essential nutrients

Nutrients that must be ingested from dietary intake. Essential nutrients cannot be synthesized by the body.

ethical principle

A general guide, basic truth, or assumption that can be used with clinical judgment to determine a course of action

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one’s culture (or race, ethnicity, or country) is better and preferable than another’s.

Evidence-based practice

A lifelong problem solving approach that integrates the best evidence from well-designed research studies and evidence-based theories; clinical expertise and evidence from assessment of the health consumer’s history and condition, as well as healthcare resources; and patient, family, group, community, and population preferences and values.

Excoriation

Redness and removal of the surface of the topmost layer of skin, often due to maceration or itching.

Expected outcome

Statements of measurable action for the patient within a specific time frame and in response to nursing interventions. “SMART” outcome statements are specific, measurable, action-oriented, realistic, and include a time frame.

Expected outcomes

Expected outcomes.

exposure

An encounter with a potential pathogen.

expressive aphasia

The impaired ability to form words and speak.

Extracellular fluids (ECF)

Fluids found outside cells in the intravascular or interstitial spaces.

Exudate

Fluid that oozes from a wound.

Fading away

A transition that families make when they realize their seriously ill family member is dying.

Fat-soluble vitamins

Vitamins that dissolve in fats and oils and are stored in fat tissue and can build up in the liver, resulting in toxicity.

Fats

Fatty acids and glycerol that are essential for tissue growth, insulation, an energy source, energy storage, and hormone production.

Fecal impaction

A condition that occurs when stool accumulates in the rectum usually due to the patient not feeling the presence of stool or not using the toilet when the urge is felt.

Filtration

Movement of fluids through a permeable membrane utilizing hydrostatic pressure.

Fowler’s positioning

A position where the patient is supine with the head of bed placed at a 45- to 90-degree angle.

Frequency

Urinary frequency is the need to urinate many times during the day or at night (nocturia) in normal or less-than-normal volumes.

Friction

The rubbing of skin against a hard object, such as the bed or the arm of a wheelchair. This rubbing causes heat that can remove the top layer of skin and often results in skin damage.

Functional Health Patterns

An evidence-based assessment framework for identifying patient problems and risks during the assessment phase of the nursing process.

Functional incontinence

Occurs in older adults who have normal bladder control but have a problem getting to the toilet because of arthritis or other disorders that make it hard to move quickly.

Functional mobility

The ability of a person to move around in their environment, including walking, standing up from a chair, sitting down from standing, and moving around in bed.

Gait belts

A 2-inch-wide (5 mm) belt, with or without handles, that is fastened around a patient’s waist used to ensure stability when assisting patients to stand, ambulate, or to transfer from bed to chair.

Gas exchange

Refers to the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the alveoli and the pulmonary capillaries; also called respiration.

Gender expression

A person’s outward demonstration of gender in relation to societal norms, such as in style of dress, hairstyle, or other mannerisms.

Gender identity

A person’s inner sensibility that they are a man, a woman, or perhaps neither.

generalization

A judgment formed from a set of facts, cues, and observations.

Gerontology

The study of the social, cultural, psychological, cognitive, and biological aspects of aging.

Glaucoma

Gradual loss of peripheral vision caused by elevated intraocular pressure that leads to progressive damage to the optic nerve.

Global aphasia

A type of aphasia that results from damage to extensive portions of the language areas of the brain. Individuals with global aphasia have severe communication difficulties and may be extremely limited in their ability to speak or comprehend language. They may be unable to say even a few words or may repeat the same words or phrases over and over again. They may have trouble understanding even simple words and sentences.

glycemic index

A measure of how quickly glucose levels increase in the bloodstream after carbohydrates are consumed.

Goals

Broad statements of purpose that describe the aim of nursing care.

Granulation tissue

New connective tissue in a healing wound with new, fragile, thin-walled capillaries.

Grief

The emotional response to a loss, defined as the individualized and personalized feelings and responses that an individual makes to real, perceived, or anticipated loss.

Growth

Physical changes that occur during the development of an individual beginning at the time of conception.

Handoff reports

A transfer and acceptance of patient care responsibility achieved through effective communication. It is a real-time process of passing patient specific information from one caregiver to another, or from one team of caregivers to another, for the purpose of ensuring the continuity and safety of the patient’s care.

HCO3

Bicarbonate level of arterial blood indicated in an arterial blood gas (ABG) result. Normal range is 22-26.

health care disparity

Differences in access to health care and insurance coverage.

health care power of attorney

A legal document that identifies a trusted individual to serve as a decision maker for health issues when the patient is no longer able to speak for themselves.

Health disparities

Differences in health outcomes resulting from entrenched economic, sociopolitical, or environmental disadvantages.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Standards for ensuring privacy of patient information that are enforceable by law.

health promotion-wellness nursing diagnosis

A clinical judgment concerning motivation and desire to increase well-being and to actualize human health potential.

Health Teaching and Health Promotion

Employing strategies to teach and promote health and wellness.

healthcare-associated infection (HAI)

Infection that is contracted in a healthcare facility or under medical care.

healthy environment

A place of physical, mental, and social well-being supporting optimal health and safety.

Hematuria

Blood in urine, either visualized or found during microscopic analysis.

hemostasis phase

The first stage of wound healing when clotting factors are released to form clots to stop the bleeding.

holism

Treatment of the whole person, including physical, mental, spiritual, and social needs.

Hospice care

A type of care selected by clients who are terminally ill and whose health care provider has determined they are expected to live six months or less that focuses on providing comfort and dignity at the end of life. It involves care and support services that can be of great benefit to people in the final stages of dementia and to their families.

huffing technique

A technique helpful for patients who have difficulty coughing. Teach the patient to inhale with a medium-sized breath, and then make a sound like “ha” to push the air out quickly with the mouth slightly open.

Human factors

A science that focuses on the interrelationships between humans, the tools and equipment they use in the workplace, and the environment in which they work.

Hydrostatic pressure

The pressure that a contained fluid exerts on what is confining it.

Hypercapnia

Elevated level of carbon dioxide in the blood.

Hypertonic solutions

Intravenous fluids with a higher concentration of dissolved particles than blood plasma.

hypervolemia

Excessive fluid volume

hypodermis

The bottom layer of skin, also referred to as the subcutaneous layer, consisting mainly of adipose tissue or fat, along with some blood vessels and nerve endings. Beneath this layer lies muscle, tendons, ligaments, and bones.

hypothesis

A proposed explanation for a situation. It attempts to explain the “why” behind the problem that is occurring.

Hypotonic solutions

Intravenous fluids with a lower concentration of dissolved particles than blood plasma.

hypovolemia

Intravascular fluid loss. Used interchangeably with “deficient fluid volume” and “dehydration.”

Hypoxemia

A specific type of hypoxia that is defined as decreased partial pressure of oxygen in the blood (PaO2) indicated in an arterial blood gas (ABG) result.

Hypoxia

A reduced level of tissue oxygenation.

Impaired skin integrity

Altered epidermis and/or dermis.

impaired tissue integrity

Damage to deeper layers of the skin or other integumentary structures. The NANDA-I definition of impaired tissue integrity is, “Damage to the mucous membrane, cornea, integumentary system, muscular fascia, muscle, tendon, bone, cartilage, joint capsule, and/or ligament.”

incentive spiromete

A medical device commonly prescribed after surgery to reduce the build up of fluid in the lungs and to prevent pneumonia. While sitting upright, the patient should breathe in slowly and deeply through the tubing with the goal of raising the piston to a specified level. The patient should attempt to hold their breath for 5 seconds, or as long as tolerated, and then rest for a few seconds. This technique should be repeated by the patient 10 times every hour while awake.

incentive spirometer

A medical device commonly prescribed after surgery to reduce the build up of fluid in the lungs and to prevent pneumonia.

Incident reports

A specific type of documentation that is completed when there is an unexpected occurrence, such as a medication error, client injury, client fall, or a near miss, where an error did not actually occur, but was prevented from occurring.

Incomplete proteins

Proteins that do not contain enough amino acids to sustain life.

incubation period

The period of a disease after the initial entry of the pathogen into the host but before symptoms develop.

independent nursing intervention

Any intervention that the nurse can provide without obtaining a prescription or consulting anyone else.

Indirect care

Interventions performed by the nurse in a setting other than directly with the patient. An example of indirect care is creating a nursing care plan.

Inductive reasoning

A type of reasoning that involves forming generalizations based on specific incidents.

infection

The invasion and growth of a microorganism within the body.

inferences

Interpretations or conclusions based on cues, personal experiences, preferences, or generalizations.

Inflammation

A response triggered by a cascade of chemical mediators that occur when pathogens successfully breach the nonspecific physical defenses of the immune system or when an injury occurs.

inflammatory phase

The second stage of healing when vasodilation occurs to move white blood cells into the wound to start cleaning the wound bed.

Insomnia

A common sleep disorder that causes trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting good quality sleep.

Intellectual disability

A diagnostic term that describes intellectual and adaptive functioning deficits identified during the developmental period prior to the age 18.

intersectionality

The many ways in which a person expresses their cultural identity are closely intertwined and not separated.

interstitial fluid

Fluids found between the cells and outside of the vascular system.

Intestinal obstruction

A partial or complete blockage of the intestines so that contents of the intestine cannot pass through it.

Intimate partner violence (IPV)

Physical or sexual violence, stalking, and psychological or coercive aggression by current or former intimate partners.

Intracellular fluids (ICF)

Fluids found inside cells consisting of protein, water, and electrolytes.

Intravascular fluid

Fluids found in the vascular system consisting of the body’s arteries, veins, and capillary networks.

Invasion

Means the spread of a pathogen throughout local tissues or the body.

ISBARR

A mnemonic for the format of professional communication among health care team members that includes Introduction, Situation, Background, Assessment, Request/Recommendations, and Repeat back.

Isotonic solutions

Intravenous fluids with a similar concentration of dissolved particles as blood plasma.

Just Culture

A quality of an institutional culture of safety where people are encouraged, even rewarded, for providing essential safety-related information, but clear lines are drawn between human error and at-risk or reckless behaviors.

Justice

A principle and moral obligation to act on the basis of equality and equity, is a standard linked to fairness for all in society.

kinesthetic impairment

An altered sense of touch that can cause difficulty in performing fine motor tasks.

lactation

Breast milk production.

lateral positioning

A position where the client lies on one side of the body with the top leg over the bottom leg.

Learning culture

A quality of an institutional culture of safety that demonstrates the willingness and the competence to draw the right conclusions from safety information systems, and the will to implement major reforms when their need is indicated.

LGBTQ

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning in reference to sexual orientation.

licenced practical nurse

“An individual who has completed a state-approved practical or vocational nursing program, passed the NCLEX-PN examination, and is licensed by a state board of nursing to provide patient care.”

Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses (LPNs/LVNs)

Nurses that have had specific training and passed a licensing exam. The training is generally less than that of a Registered Nurse. The scope of practice of a LPN/LVN is determined by the facility and the state’s Nurse Practice Act.

living will

A legal document that describes the patient’s wishes if they are no longer able to speak for themselves due to injury, illness, or a persistent vegetative state.

local infection

Infection confined to a small area of the body, typically near the portal of entry, and usually presents with signs of redness, warmth, swelling, prulent drainage, and pain.

Loss

The absence of a possession or future possession with the response of grief and the expression of mourning.

maceration

A condition that occurs when skin has been exposed to moisture for too long causing it to appear soggy, wrinkled, or whiter than usual.

Macrominerals

Minerals needed in larger amounts and measured in milligrams, grams, and milliequivalents.

Macronutrients

Nutrients needed in larger amounts due to energy needs. Macronutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Macular degeneration

Loss of central vision with symptoms such as blurred central vision, distorted vision that causes difficulty driving and reading, and the requirement for brighter lights and magnification for close-up visual activities.

malaise

Not feeling well.

Malpractice

A specific term that looks at a standard of care, as well as the professional status of the caregiver.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

A theory used to prioritize the most urgent client needs to address first. The bottom levels of the pyramid represent the most important physiological needs intertwined with safety.

Mastication

The chewing of food in the mouth.

maturation phase

The final stage of wound healing when collagen continues to be created to strengthen the wound and prevent it from reopening.

mechanical digestion

Breaking food down into small chunks through chewing prior to swallowing.

mechanical lift

A hydraulic lift with a sling used to move patients who cannot bear weight or have a medical condition that does not allow them to stand or assist with moving.

Meconium

The black to dark green, sticky first bowel movement of a newborn.

medical diagnoses

A disease or illness diagnosed by a physician or advanced health care provider such as a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant. Medical diagnoses are a result of clustering signs and symptoms to determine what is medically affecting an individual.

medical restraints

Restraints used to manage nonviolent, non-self-destructive behaviors such as the client attempting to remove life-sustaining tubes, drains, IV catheters, urinary catheters, or endotracheal tubes.

melena

Passage of black, tarry stools that are caused by blood in the GI tract.

microbiome

Individual suite of microorganisms in and on the body.

Microsleep

Brief moments of sleep that occur when a person is awake.

Minimum Data Set (MDS)

A federally mandated assessment tool used in skilled nursing facilities to track a patient’s goal achievement, as well as to coordinate the efforts of the health care team to optimize the resident’s quality of care and quality of life.

Misuse

Taking prescription pain medications in a manner or dose other than prescribed; taking someone else’s prescription, even if for a medical complaint such as pain; or taking a medication to feel euphoria (i.e., to get high).

Mixed urinary incontinence

Urinary frequency, urgen­cy, and stress incontinence.

Mobility

The ability of a patient to change and control body position.

Morality

Personal values, character, or conduct of individuals within communities and societies.

Mourning

The outward, social expression of loss. Individuals outwardly express loss based on their cultural norms, customs, and practices, including rituals and traditions.

Narcolepsy

An uncommon sleep disorder that causes periods of extreme daytime sleepiness and sudden, brief episodes of deep sleep during the day.

Narrative notes

A type of documentation that chronicles all of the patient’s assessment findings and nursing activities that occurred throughout the shift.

National Patient Safety Goals

Annual patient safety goals and recommendations tailored for seven different types of health care agencies based on patient safety data from experts and stakeholders.

Near misses

An error that has the potential to cause an adverse event (client harm) but fails to do so because of chance or because it is intercepted.

necrosis

Tissue death.

necrotic

Dead tissue that is black.

Negligence

A general term that denotes conduct lacking in due care, carelessness; and a deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would use in a particular set of circumstances.

Never events

Adverse events that are clearly identifiable, measurable, serious (resulting in death or significant disability), and preventable.

nitrogen balance

The net loss or gain of nitrogen excreted compared to nitrogen taken into the body in the form of protein consumption; an indicator of protein status where a negative nitrogen balance equates to a protein deficit in the diet and a positive nitrogen balance equates to a protein excess in the diet.

nociceptor

A sensory receptor for painful stimuli.

Nocturia

The need for a patient to get up at night on a regular basis to urinate.

non-REM

Slow-wave sleep when restoration takes place and the body’s temperature, heart rate, and oxygen consumption decrease.

nonblanchable erythema

Skin redness that does not turn white when pressed.

Nonspecific innate immunity

A system of defenses in the body that targets invading pathogens in a nonspecific manner that is present from the moment we are born.

nontherapeutic responses

Responses to patients that block communication, expression of emotion, or problem solving.

nonverbal communication

Facial expressions, tone of voice, pace of the conversation, and body language.

normal flora

Microorganisms that live on our skin and in the nasopharynx and gastrointestinal tracts and don’t cause an infection unless the host becomes susceptible.

Normal grief

The common feelings, behaviors, and reactions to loss.

Nurse Licensure Compact

Allows a nurse to have one multistate license with the ability to practice in the home state and other compact states.

Nurse Practice Act (NPA)

nursing

Nursing integrates the art and science of caring and focuses on the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and human functioning; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; and alleviation of suffering through compassionate presence. Nursing is the diagnosis and treatment of human responses and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations in recognition of the connection of all humanity.

nursing care plan

Specific documentation of the planning and delivery of nursing care that is required by the Joint Commission.

nursing diagnosis

Defined as a “clinical judgment concerning a human response to health conditions/life processes, or a vulnerability for that response, by an individual, family, group or community.

Nursing interventions

Evidence-based actions that the nurse performs to achieve patient outcomes.

Nursing Practice Act

Legislation enacted by each state that establishes regulations for nursing practice within that state by defining the requirements for licensure as well as the scope of nursing practice.

nursing process

A systematic approach to patient-centered care with five steps including assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation, otherwise known by the mnemonic “ADOPIE.”

Nutrient dense

Foods with a high proportion of nutritional value relative to calories contained in the food.

Objective data

Data that the nurse can see, touch, smell, or hear or is reproducible such as vital signs. Laboratory and diagnostic results are also considered objective data.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

A common sleep condition that occurs when the upper airway becomes repeatedly blocked during sleep, reducing or completely stopping airflow.

occult blood

Hidden blood in the stool not visible to the naked eye.

Oliguria

Decreased urine output, defined as less than 500 mL urine in adults in a 24-hour period.

oncotic pressure

Pressure inside the vascular compartment created by protein content of the blood (in the form of albumin) that holds water inside the blood vessels.

Opioid intoxication

refers to significant behavioral or psychological changes (e.g., apathy, dysphoria, psychomotor agitation or retardation, or impaired judgment) that occur during or shortly after opioid use

opportunistic pathogen

A pathogen that only causes disease in situations that compromise the host’s defenses, such as the body’s protective barriers, immune system, or normal microbiota.

Oppression

The disadvantages (i.e., exclusion, marginalization, and inequality) experienced by people because of their membership in a cultural group.

order

An intervention, remedy, or treatment as directed by an authorized primary health care provider

Orthopnea

Difficulty in breathing that occurs when lying down and is relieved upon changing to an upright position.

Orthostatic hypotension

Low blood pressure that occurs when a patient changes position from lying to sitting or sitting to standing that causes symptoms of dizziness or light-headedness.

osmolality

Proportion of dissolved particles in a specific weight of fluid.

Osmolarity

Proportion of dissolved particles or solutes in a specific volume of fluid.

Osmosis

Movement of fluid through a semipermeable membrane from an area of lesser solute concentration to an area of greater solute concentration.

outcome

A measurable behavior demonstrated by the client's response to nursing interventions

Overdose

The biological response of the human body when too much of a substance is ingested.

Overflow incontinence

Occurs when small amounts of urine leak from a bladder that is always full.

PaCO2

Partial pressure of carbon dioxide level in arterial blood indicated in an ABG result. Normal range is 35-45 mmHg.

Pain

An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.

Palliative care

A broad philosophy of care defined by the World Health Organization as improving the quality of life of clients, as well as their family members, who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness

PaO2

Partial pressure of oxygen level in arterial blood indicated in an ABG result. Normal range is 80-100 mmHg.

paralytic ileus

A condition where peristalsis is not propelling the contents through the intestines.

Parenteral nutrition

An intravenous solution containing glucose, amino acids, minerals, electrolytes, and vitamins, along with supplemental lipids.

Partially complete proteins

Proteins that have enough amino acids to sustain life, but not enough for tissue growth and maintenance.

PASS

A mnemonic for actions to take when using a fire extinguisher, including Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep.

Passive range of motion

Movement applied to a joint solely by another person or a passive motion machine.

passive transport

Movement of fluids or solutes down a concentration gradient where no energy is used during the process.

pathogenicity

The ability of a microorganism to cause disease.

pathogens

Microorganisms that cause disease.

Patient confidentiality

Keeping your patient’s Protected Health Information (PHI) protected and known only by those health care team members directly providing care for the patient.

Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)

A method of pain management that allows hospitalized patients with severe pain to safely self-administer opioid medications using a programmed pump according to their level of discomfort.

Perception

The interpretation of sensation during the sensory process.

perfusion

The passage of blood through the arteries to an organ or tissue.

peristalsis

Involuntary contraction and relaxation of the muscles of the intestine, creating wave-like movements that push digested content forward in the digestive tract.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Gloves, gowns, face shields, goggles, and masks used to prevent the spread of infection to and from patients and health care providers.

PES

The format of a nursing diagnosis statement that includes:
Problem (P) - statement of the patient problem (i.e., the nursing diagnosis)
Etiology (E) - related factors (etiology) contributing to the cause of the nursing diagnosis
Signs and Symptoms (S) - defining characteristics (signs and symptoms) manifested by the patient of that nursing diagnosis.

PES format

Creating nursing diagnosis statements utilizing a problem, etiology, and sign and symptoms format.

Ph level

A measurement of acidity or alkalinity of the blood

Physical dependence

Withdrawal symptoms that occur when chronic pain medication is suddenly reduced or stopped because of physiological adaptations that occur from chronic exposure to the medication.

Physical examination

A systematic data collection method of the body that uses the techniques of inspection, auscultation, palpation, and percussion.

Pleural rub

Sounds like the rubbing together of leather and can be heard on inspiration and expiration. It is caused by inflammation of the pleura membranes that results in friction as the surfaces rub against each other.

Polyuria

Greater than 2.5 liters of urine output over 24 hours; also referred to as diuresis. Urine is typically clear with no color.

portal of entry

An anatomic site through which pathogens can pass into a host, such as mucous membranes, skin, respiratory, or digestive systems.

Postvoid residual

A measurement of urine left in the bladder after a patient has voided by using a bladder scanner or straight catheterization.

Prejudice

To “pre-judge;” a preconceived idea, often unfavorable, about a person or group of people.

presbycusis

Age-related hearing loss.

Presbyopia

The impairment of near vision and accommodation as the lens of the eye gradually becomes thicker and loses flexibility as a person ages.

Prescriptions

Interventions specifically related to medication as directed by an authorized primary health care provider

Pressure injuries

Localized damage to the skin or underlying soft tissue, usually over a bony prominence, as a result of intense and prolonged pressure in combination with shear.

Primary care

Care that is provided to patients to promote wellness and prevent disease from occurring. This includes health promotion, education, protection (such as immunizations), early disease screening, and environmental considerations.

Primary data

Information collected from the patient.

primary health care provider

Member of the healthcare team (usually a medical physician, nurse practitioner, etc.) licensed and authorized to formulate prescriptions on behalf of the client.

primary intention

A type of wound that is sutured, stapled, glued, or otherwise closed so the wound heals beneath the closure.

primary pathogen

A pathogen that can cause disease in a host regardless of the host’s resident microbiota or immune system.

Prioritization

The skillful process of deciding which actions to complete first for client safety and optimal client outcomes

problem-focused nursing diagnosis

A “clinical judgment concerning an undesirable human response to health condition/life processes that exist in an individual, family, group, or community.

prodromal period

The disease stage after the incubation period when the pathogen continues to multiply and the host begins to experience general signs and symptoms of illness that result from activation of the immune system, such as fever, pain, soreness, swelling, or inflammation.

progressive relaxation

Types of relaxation techniques that focus on reducing muscle tension and using mental imagery to induce calmness.

proliferative phase

The third stage of wound healing that begins a few days after injury and includes four processes: epithelialization, angiogenesis, collagen formation, and contraction.

prone positioning

A position where the patient lies on their stomach with their head turned to the side.

proprioception

The sense of the position of our bones, joints, and muscles.

Proteins

Peptides and amino acids that provide 4 kcal/g of energy

protocol

A precise and detailed written plan for a regimen of therapy.

provider

A physician, podiatrist, dentist, optometrist, or advanced practice nurse provider.

Pursed-lip breathing

A breathing technique that encourages a person to inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth at a slow, controlled flow.

Purulent

Drainage that is thick; opaque; tan, yellow, green, or brown in color. New purulent drainage should always be reported to the health care provider.

purulent sputum

Yellow, green, or brown sputum that often indicates a respiratory infection.

Pyuria

At least 10 white blood cells in each cubic millimeter of urine in a urine sample that typically indicates infection. In some cases, pus may be visible in the urine.

Quality

The degree to which health services for patients, families, groups, communities, or populations increase the likelihood of desired outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge.

Quality improvement

Combined and unceasing efforts of everyone–healthcare professionals, patients and their families, researchers, payers, planners and educators–to make the changes that will lead to better patient outcomes (health), better system performance (care) and better professional development (learning).

R.A.C.E.

A mnemonic for actions to immediately take during a fire, standing for Rescue, Activate, Confine, and Extinguish.

Race

A socially constructed idea; there are no truly genetically or biologically distinct races. Humans are biologically similar to each other, not different.

Racism

The presumption that races are distinct from one another and there is a hierarchy to race, implying that races are unequal. In racism, expression of one’s cultural beliefs are viewed as a heritable trait.

Rales

Also called fine crackles, are popping or crackling sounds heard on inspiration. They are associated with medical conditions that cause fluid accumulation within the alveolar and interstitial spaces, such as heart failure or pneumonia. The sound is similar to that produced by rubbing strands of hair together close to your ear.

range of motion (ROM) exercises

Activities aimed to facilitate movement of specific joints and promote mobility of extremities.

rapport

Developing a relationship of mutual trust and understanding.

Reaction

The response that individuals have to a perception of a received stimulus.

Reception

The initial part of the sensory process when a nerve cell or sensory receptor is stimulated by a sensation.

Receptive aphasia

Difficulty in understanding what is being communicated

Reckless behavior

According to the Just Culture model, an error that occurs when an action is taken with conscious disregard for a substantial and unjustifiable risk.

Rectal bleeding

Bright red blood in the stools; also referred to as hematochezia.

Referred pain

Pain perceived at a location other than the site of the painful stimulus. For example, pain from retained gas in the colon can cause pain to be perceived in the shoulder.

Refined grains

Grains that have been processed to remove parts of the grain kernel and supply little fiber.

Registered Nurse

An individual who has graduated from a state-approved school of nursing, passed the NCLEX-RN examination, and is licensed by a state board of nursing to provide patient care.

Registered Nurses (RNs)

A nurse who has had a designated amount of education and training in nursing and is licensed by the State Board of Nursing.

Related factors

The underlying cause (etiology) of a nursing diagnosis

relaxation breathing

A breathing technique used to reduce anxiety and control the stress response.

Religion

A unified system of beliefs, values, and practices that a person holds sacred or considers to be spiritually significant.

REM

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep when heart rate and respiratory rate increase, eyes twitch, and brain activity increases.

Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS)

A body system that regulates extracellular fluids and blood pressure by regulating fluid output and electrolyte excretion.

Reporting culture

A quality of an institutional culture of safety where people report errors and near misses.

respiration

Gas exchange occurs at the alveolar level where blood is oxygenated and carbon dioxide is removed.

Respite care

Care provided at home (by a volunteer or paid service) or in a care setting, such as adult day care or residential facility, that allows the caregiver to take a much-needed break.

Restraints

A device, method, or process that is used for the specific purpose of restricting a patient’s freedom of movement without the permission of the person.

Rhonchi

Also referred to as coarse crackles, are low-pitched, continuous sounds heard on expiration that are a sign of turbulent airflow through mucus in the large airways

right to self-determination

Patients have the right to determine what will be done with and to their own person.

risk nursing diagnosis

A clinical judgment concerning the vulnerability of an individual, family, group, or community for developing an undesirable human response to health conditions/life processes.

root cause analysis

A structured method used to analyze serious adverse events to identify underlying problems that increase the likelihood of errors, while avoiding the trap of focusing on mistakes by individuals.

Rule of Double Effect.

If the intent is good (i.e., relief of pain and suffering), then the act is morally justifiable even if it causes an unintended result of hastening death.

safety culture

A culture established within healthcare agencies that empowers nurses, nursing students and other staff members to speak up about risks to patients and to report errors and near misses, all of which drive improvement in patient care and reduce the incident of patient harm.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

Are hazardous communication sheets that let workers know certain information about chemicals they encounter in the workplace.

Sanguineous

Drainage from a wound that is fresh bleeding.

SaO2

Calculated oxygen saturation level in an ABG result. Normal range is 95-100%.

Saturated fats

Fats derived from animal products, such as butter, tallow, and lard for cooking or meat products such as steak.

Scheduled hourly rounds

Scheduled hourly visits to each patient’s room to integrate fall prevention activities with the rest of a patient's care.

Scope of practice

Defined as “services that a qualified health professional is deemed competent to perform, and permitted to undertake – in keeping with the terms of their professional license.”

Seclusion

The confinement of a client in a locked room from which they cannot exit on their own. It is generally used as a method of discipline for behavior that can cause harm to themselves or others, or as a way to decrease environmental stimulation.

Secondary care

Care that occurs when a person has contracted an illness or injury and is in need of medical care.

secondary data

Information collected from sources other than the patient.

secondary infection,

A localized pathogen that spreads to a secondary location.

Secondary intention

A type of healing that occurs when the edges of a wound cannot be brought together, so the wound fills in from the bottom up by the production of granulation tissue. An example of a wound healing by secondary intention is a pressure injury.

Self-determination

A person's right to determine what will be done with and to their own body.

self-limiting infections

Infections that develop rapidly and generally last only 10-14 days.

Semi-Fowler’s positioning

A position where the head of the bed is placed at a 30- to 45-degree angle.

sensory deprivation

When there is a lack of sensations that can occur due to sensory impairments or when the environment has few quality stimuli.

Sensory impairment

Any type of difficulty that an individual has with one of their five senses. When an individual experiences loss of a sensory function, such as vision, the way they interact with the environment is affected.

sensory overload

A condition that occurs when an individual receives too many stimuli or cannot selectively filter meaningful stimuli.

Sentinel events

A client safety event that reaches a client and results in death, permanent harm, or severe temporary harm requiring interventions to sustain life.

Sepsis

An existing infection that triggers an exaggerated inflammatory reaction called SIRS throughout the body.

septic shock

Severe sepsis that leads to a life-threatening decrease in blood pressure (systolic pressure <90 mm Hg), preventing cells and other organs from receiving enough oxygen and nutrients. It can cause multi organ failure and death.

septicemia

Bacteria that are both present and multiplying in the blood.

Serosanguinous

Serous drainage with small amounts of blood present.

Serous

Drainage from a wound that is clear, thin, watery plasma. It’s normal during the inflammatory stage of wound healing, and small amounts are considered normal wound drainage.

Sexual orientation

A person’s physical and emotional interest or desire for others. Sexual orientation is on a continuum and is manifested in one’s self-identity and behaviors.

Sexuality

Encompasses sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender roles, among other topics.

Shear

Damage that occurs when tissue layers move over the top of each other, causing blood vessels to stretch and break as they pass through the subcutaneous tissue.

Simple carbohydrates

Small molecules of monosaccharides or disaccharides and break down quickly and raise blood glucose levels quickly.

Simple human error

According to the Just Culture model, an error that occurs when an individual inadvertently does something other than what should have been done.

Sims positioning

A position where the patient is positioned halfway between the supine and prone positions with their legs flexed.

Sit to Stand Lifts

Mobility devices that assist weight-bearing patients who are unable to transition from a sitting position to a standing position by using their own strength.

Sleep apnea

a common sleep condition that occurs when the upper airway becomes repeatedly blocked during sleep, reducing or completely stopping airflow.

sleep diary

A record of the time a person goes to sleep, wakes up, and takes naps each day for 1-2 weeks.

sleep study

A diagnostic test that monitors and records data during a patient’s full night of sleep.

Sleep-wake homeostasis

The homeostatic sleep drive keeps track of the need for sleep, reminds the body to sleep after a certain time, and regulates sleep intensity.

slider board

A board (also called a transfer board) used to transfer an immobile patient from one surface to another while the patient is lying supine (e.g., from a stretcher to hospital bed).

Slough

Inflammatory exudate in wounds that is usually light yellow, soft, and moist.

SOAPIE

A mnemonic for a type of documentation that is organized by six categories: Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan, Interventions, and Evaluation.

Social determinants of health

Nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes, including conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider sets of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life.

social justice

Equal rights, equal treatment, and equitable opportunities for all.

Somatosensation

Sensory receptors that respond to specific stimuli such as pain, pressure, temperature, and vibration; includes vestibular sensation and proprioception.

Specific adaptive immunity

The immune response that is activated when the nonspecific innate immune response is insufficient to control an infection.

SPICES tool

A tool that focuses on areas of common problems for aging individuals and can lead to early intervention and treatment.

Spiritual distress

A state of suffering related to the impaired ability to experience meaning in life through connections with self, others, the world, or a superior being.

Spirituality

A dynamic and intrinsic aspect of humanity through which persons seek ultimate meaning, purpose, and transcendence and experience relationships to self, family, others, community, society, nature, and the significant or sacred.

SpO2

Hemoglobin saturation level measured by pulse oximetry. Normal range is 94-98%.

Sputum

Mucus and other secretions that are coughed up and expelled from the mouth.

Stage 1 pressure injuries

Intact skin with a localized area of nonblanchable erythema where prolonged pressure has occurred.

Stage 2 pressure injuries

Partial-thickness loss of skin with exposed dermis. The wound bed is viable and may appear like an intact or ruptured blister.

Stage 3 pressure injuries

Full-thickness tissue loss in which fat is visible, but cartilage, tendon, ligament, muscle, and bone are not exposed.

Stage 4 pressure injuries

Full-thickness tissue loss like Stage 3 pressure injuries but also have exposed cartilage, tendon, ligament, muscle, or bone.

standard precautions

The minimum infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status of the patient, in any setting where healthcare is delivered.

Stereotyping

Assuming that a person has the attributes, traits, beliefs, and values of a group because they are a member of that group.

Sterile technique

A process, also called surgical asepsis, used to eliminate every potential microorganism in and around a sterile field while also maintaining objects as free from microorganisms as possible.

sterilization

A process used to destroy all pathogens from inanimate objects, including spores and viruses.

Stress urinary incontinence

The involuntary loss of urine on intra-abdominal pressure (e.g., laughing and coughing) or physical exertion (e.g., jumping).

Stridor

Heard only on inspiration. It is associated with obstruction of the trachea/upper airway.

subculture

A smaller group of people within a larger culture, often based on a person’s occupation, hobbies, interests, or place of origin.

Subjective data

Data that the patient or family reports or data that the nurse makes as an inference, conclusion, or assumption, such as “the patient appears anxious.

Substance abuse

A maladaptive pattern of continued use of alcohol or a drug despite it causing persistent social, occupational, psychological, or physical problems that can be physically hazardous.

Substance abuse disorder

An illness caused by repeated misuse of substances (including opioids). When taken in excess, these substances have a common effect of directly activating the brain reward system and producing such an intense activation of the reward system that normal life activities may be neglected.

Sundowning

Increased confusion, anxiety, agitation, pacing, and disorientation in patients with dementia that typically begins at dusk and continues throughout the night.

supine positioning

A position where the patient lies flat on their back.

syndrome

A “clinical judgment concerning a specific cluster of nursing diagnoses that occur together, and are best addressed together and through similar interventions.”

systemic infection

An infection that becomes disseminated throughout the body.

Systemic infections

An infection that becomes disseminated throughout the body.

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)

An exaggerated inflammatory response to a noxious stressor (including, but not limited to, infection and acute inflammation) that affects the entire body.

Systemic racism

The purposeful abuse of power by the dominant cultural group to deny equal rights and opportunities on the basis of one’s race. Systemic racism prevents less powerful groups from participating as equals in social, political, legislative, and economic areas of society.

T cells

Immune cells that mature in the thymus.

Tachypnea

Elevated respiratory rate above normal range according to the patient’s age.

Tarry stools

Stools that are black and sticky that appear like tar; also referred to as melena.

Tertiary care

A type of care that deals with the long-term effects from chronic illness or condition, with the purpose to restore physical and mental function that may have been lost. The goal is to achieve the highest level of functioning possible with this chronic illness.

Tertiary intention

The healing of a wound that has had to remain open or has been reopened, often due to severe infection.

The Timed Get Up and Go Test

A mobility assessment by nurses that begins by having the patient stand up from an armchair, walk three yards, turn, walk back to the chair, and sit down.

Therapeutic communication

The purposeful, interpersonal information transmitting process through words and behaviors based on both parties’ knowledge, attitudes, and skills, which leads to patient understanding and participation.

Therapeutic communication techniques

Techniques that encourage patients to explore feelings, problem solve, and cope with responses to medical conditions and life events.

Tinnitus

Hearing ringing in the ears.

Tolerance

A diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of an opioid, or a need for increased amounts of opioids to achieve the desired effect or intoxication.

Trace minerals

Minerals needed in tiny amounts.

Trans fats

Fats that have been altered through hydrogenation and as such are not in their natural state.

transcellular fluid

Fluid in areas such as cerebrospinal, synovial, intrapleural, and gastrointestinal system.

Transcendance

An understanding of being part of a greater picture or of something greater than oneself, such as the awe one can experience when walking in nature.

transcultural nursing

Incorporating cultural beliefs and practices of people to help them maintain and regain health or to face death in a meaningful way.

Transferring:

The action of a patient moving from one surface to another.

transmission-based precautions

Used for clients with documented or suspected infection of highly transmissible pathogens, such as C. difficile (C-diff), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), measles, and tuberculosis (TB).

Trendelenburg positioning

A position where the head of the bed is placed lower than the patient’s feet.

tripod position

A position that enhances air exchange when a patient sits up and leans over by resting their arms on their legs or on a bedside table, also referred to as a three-point position.

Trousseau’s sign

A sign associated with hypocalcemia that causes a spasm of the hand when a blood pressure cuff is inflated.

Tunneling

Passageways underneath the surface of the skin that extend from a wound and can take twists and turns.

Undermining

A condition that occurs in wounds when the tissue under the wound edges becomes eroded, resulting in a pocket beneath the skin at the wound's edge.

Universal fall precautions

A set of interventions to reduce the risk of falls for all patients and focus on keeping the environment safe and comfortable.

Unlicensed Assistive Personnel

Any unlicensed person, regardless of title, who performs tasks delegated by a nurse. This includes certified nursing aides/assistants (CNAs), patient care assistants (PCAs), patient care technicians (PCTs), state tested nursing assistants (STNAs), nursing assistants-registered (NA/Rs) or certified medication aides/assistants (MA-Cs). Certification of UAPs varies between jurisdictions.

Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP)

Any unlicensed personnel trained to function in a supportive role, regardless of title, to whom a nursing responsibility may be delegated.

Unsaturated fats

Fats derived from oils and plants, though chicken and fish contain some unsaturated fats as well.

Unstageable pressure injuries

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.

Urge urinary incontinence

Also referred to as “overactive bladder”; urine leakage accompanied by a strong desire to void.

Urgency

A sensation of an urgent need to void.

Urinary retention

A condition when the patient cannot empty all of the urine from their bladder.

Urine specific gravity

A measurement of hydration status that measures the concentration of particles in urine.

Venous insufficiency

A condition that occurs when the cardiovascular system cannot adequately return blood and fluid from the extremities to the heart.

ventilation

Mechanical movement of air into and out of the lungs.

verbal communication

Exchange of information using words understood by the receiver.

vertigo

A sensation of dizziness as if the room is spinning.

vestibular sensation

A sense of spatial orientation and balance.

Vibratory Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) Therapy

Handheld devices such as flutter valves or Acapella devices are used with patients who need assistance in clearing mucus from their airways.

Virulence

The degree to which a microorganism is likely to become a disease.

Water-soluble vitamins

Vitamins that are not stored in the body and include vitamin C and B-complex vitamins: B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cyanocobalamin), and B9 (folic acid, biotin, and pantothenic acid).

Wheezes

Whistling noises produced when air is forced through airways narrowed by bronchoconstriction or mucosal edema. For example, clients with asthma commonly have wheezing

Whole grains

Grains with the entire grain kernel that supply more fiber than refined grains.

withdrawal

Symptoms that cause significant distress after stopping or reducing the use of substances (including opioids), with symptoms such as dysphoric mood, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, rhinorrhea or lacrimation, pupillary dilation, piloerection, sweating, diarrhea, yawning, fever, or insomnia.

Nursing Practice Act[/pb_glossary