Nursing Glossary

A set of practices and procedures performed under carefully controlled conditions to minimize contamination by pathogens, used during surgical procedures, wound care, catheter insertion, and other invasive procedures.

The first step of the nursing process involving systematic collection of subjective and objective patient data through interview, observation, and physical examination to establish a baseline and identify health problems.

A physical assessment technique using a stethoscope to listen to sounds produced by the body, including heart sounds, lung sounds, and bowel sounds, to detect normal and abnormal findings.

A heart rate below 60 beats per minute in adults, which may be normal in well-conditioned athletes but can indicate pathology such as heart block, hypothyroidism, or adverse medication effects when symptomatic.

A written document that outlines the nursing diagnoses, expected outcomes, and planned interventions for a specific patient, providing a roadmap for individualized care and serving as a communication tool among the healthcare team.

A documentation method in which only significant or abnormal findings are recorded in narrative form, while normal findings are documented using standardized checklists or flowsheets, reducing documentation time while maintaining comprehensive records.

A bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by inadequate oxygenation of the blood, indicating hypoxemia. Central cyanosis (lips, tongue) is more clinically significant than peripheral cyanosis (fingers, toes).

A class of medication that promotes the excretion of water and electrolytes through the kidneys, commonly used to treat conditions such as heart failure, hypertension, and edema. Major types include loop diuretics, thiazides, and potassium-sparing diuretics.

Subjective difficulty or discomfort in breathing reported by the patient, which may result from cardiac, pulmonary, neuromuscular, or psychological conditions. It is assessed using patient report and objective signs such as use of accessory muscles and oxygen saturation.

The accumulation of excess fluid in the interstitial spaces of body tissues, resulting in swelling. It can be localized (e.g., from inflammation) or generalized (e.g., from heart failure or kidney disease) and is assessed by palpation using a grading scale of 1+ to 4+.

The obstruction of a blood vessel by a traveling clot (thrombus), air bubble, fat globule, or other foreign material. Pulmonary embolism, in which a clot lodges in the pulmonary arteries, is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate intervention.

Having or relating to a fever, defined as a body temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). Fever is a physiological response to infection, inflammation, or other pathological processes and is an important clinical indicator.

The study of blood flow and the forces involved in circulating blood through the cardiovascular system, including cardiac output, blood pressure, vascular resistance, and preload/afterload. Hemodynamic monitoring is critical in managing critically ill patients.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a U.S. federal law that establishes standards for protecting patients' protected health information (PHI). Nurses must safeguard patient privacy in verbal, written, and electronic communications.

A breathing exercise device used to encourage patients to take slow, deep breaths to expand the lungs fully, preventing atelectasis (lung collapse) after surgery or during prolonged immobility. Nurses instruct patients to use it regularly, typically 10 breaths every hour while awake.

The inadvertent leakage of a non-vesicant intravenous solution into the surrounding tissue due to displacement of the IV catheter from the vein, causing localized swelling, coolness, pallor, and discomfort at the IV site.

NANDA International, the organization that develops and maintains the standardized classification system of nursing diagnoses used worldwide. NANDA-I diagnoses provide a common language for identifying patient problems that nurses can independently address.

An infection acquired during the course of receiving healthcare treatment in a hospital or other healthcare facility, also known as a healthcare-associated infection (HAI). Common examples include CAUTI, CLABSI, surgical site infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Difficulty breathing that occurs when lying flat, causing the patient to need to sit upright or use multiple pillows to breathe comfortably. It is commonly associated with left-sided heart failure due to fluid redistribution to the lungs in the supine position.

Specialized medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness, with the goal of improving quality of life for both the patient and the family. Unlike hospice, palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatment at any stage of illness.

The study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes drugs (ADME). Understanding pharmacokinetics helps nurses anticipate onset of action, peak effects, duration, and potential drug interactions when administering medications.

A noninvasive method of monitoring the oxygen saturation (SpO2) of a patient's blood using a sensor typically placed on the fingertip or earlobe. Normal SpO2 is 95-100%, and readings below 90% indicate hypoxemia requiring intervention.

A heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute in adults, which may be caused by fever, pain, anxiety, dehydration, hemorrhage, cardiac arrhythmias, or medication effects. Sustained tachycardia requires assessment of the underlying cause and potential intervention.

The process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition, used especially in emergency departments and disaster situations. Common systems include the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) which classifies patients into five levels from immediate to non-urgent.

A type of lung infection that develops in patients who have been on mechanical ventilation for 48 hours or more. Prevention strategies include the VAP bundle: head-of-bed elevation to 30-45 degrees, daily sedation vacations, DVT prophylaxis, stress ulcer prophylaxis, and daily assessment for extubation readiness.