| A | B |
|---|
| neglect | failure of person(s) responsible for an individual to provide necessary services to maintain the physical and mental health of the individual when such failure presents an imminent or probable danger to the individual |
| negligence | failure to perform in a reasonably prudent manner or by acceptable health care practices |
| nocturia | the need to urinate at night |
| nonintact skin | skin that is broken, chapped, or cracked |
| nosocomical infection | an infection acquired after admission to the facility |
| nursing process | a problem-solving technique that consists of eight steps: data collection, assessment, problem, need, goal, approach, implementation, and outcome/evaluation |
| nutrient | food that supplies the body with its necessary elements |
| nutrition | the process of taking in food and producing energy from it |
| obese | extremely fat |
| objective | way to reach a goal |
| obstruction | a blockage |
| ombudsman | one who speaks on behalf of another; a volunteer individual who helps reseidents in long-term care facilities |
| orthostatic hypotension | a sudden drop in blood pressure when the resident moves from a lying to a sitting or standing position; results in fainting; inability of cardiovascular system to respond quickly enough to body position change, causing a drop in blood pressure, often accompanied by dizziness, fainting, and falls |
| osteoporosis | a loss of mineral in the bone resulting in loss of bone density |
| ovaries | glands in the female that produce ovum (eggs) and hormones |
| pallor | paleness |
| paralyzed | absence of movement or sensation |
| paranoia | suspiciousness inappropriate to reality; individual feels that everyone is picking on him/her or out to get him/her |
| paraplegia | paralysis of the legs |
| passive range of motion exercises | movements the staff routinely conduct to prevent complications |
| pathogens | microbes that cause disease |
| peri care | cleaning the genital and anal areas; part of bath or shower procedure or a separate procedure |
| perineal | the genital and anal area |
| peristalsis | wavelike movements of the digestive tract that move food through the intestinal tract |
| perpetrator | person who inflicts harm |
| pharynx | the throat |
| physical | relating to the body and bodily functions |
| physical restraint | any manual method or physical or manual device, material, or equipment attached or adjacent to the resident's body that the individual cannot remove easily and that restricts freedom of movement or normal access to one's body |
| plaque | sticky, transparent bacterial flim found on the teeth |
| pneumonia | inflammation of the lungs with fluid accumulation in the affected alveoli |
| posterior | toward the back |
| postmortem | after death |
| pressure ulcer | an ulcer that forms on the skin over a bony area as a result of pressure |
| priority | that which should be considered or done first |
| privileged communication | any personal or private information that is relevant to a resident's care that the resident gave to medical personnel |
| projectile vomiting | vomitus forcibly ejected without nausea |
| pronation | to turn downward |
| psychological | associated with the thought processes of the brain |
| pulse | the beat of the heart felt at an artery as a wave of blood passes through the artery |
| pulse rate | the number of heartbeats or pulses felt in 1 minute |
| purulent | containing pus |
| pus | thick, yellowish secretion formed in certain kinds of inflammation |
| quadraplegia | paralysis of arms and legs |
| range of motion (ROM) | the extent of movement of a joint (maximum flexion to maximum extension) |
| reality orientation | techniques used to assist a person to become aware of the world in which he/she lives |
| rectum | last 6-8 inches of the large intestine |
| rehabilitation | restoring of an ill or injured resident so he/she will be able to help himself/herself to live at his/her highest potential |
| resident | a person who, due to aging or illness, receives or requires care and the services furnished by a facility and who lives at the facility |
| residential care facility (RCF) I or II | a facility licensed by the state of Missouri to provide 24-hour room, board, and protective oversight. The facility may provide assistance with medications, care during recovery from short-term illness, supervision of diets, and assistance with personal care. |
| residue | what remains of something after a part is removed |
| resistance | ability to fight off |
| respirations | act of breathing in and out of the lungs (inhalation/exhalation) |
| responsible party | a family member/friend of the resident who the resident designates in writing to handle matters and receive reports related to the resident's general condition |
| restorative | returning a resident to health or consciousness |
| restorative nursing | the process by which a disabled or ill person is helped to reach the highest possible level of wellness, considering his/her limitations |
| retention | inability to empty the bladder |
| rigor mortis | temporary rigidity of muscles of the body occurring after death |
| rotation | to move a joint in a circular motion |
| roughage/fiber | indigestible fiber of ruits, vegetables, and cereal that acts as a stimulus to aid intestinal peristalsis (e.g., bran, potato skins, fruit skins) |
| scrotum | the pouch containing the testicles |
| seizure | sudden, periodic attacks of muscles contracting and relaxing |
| shearing | occurs when the body slides on a surface that moves the skin in one direction and the underlying bones in the opposite direction |
| signal light | see call system |
| skilled nursing facility (SNF) | a facility that provides 24-hour room, board, and skilled nursing care and treatment to at least three residents. Skilled nursing care and treatment services are those performed by or under the supervision of a registered nurse for individuals requiring 24-hour-a-day care by licensed nursing personnel and under the direction of a licensed doctor. |
| slander | to make any oral defamatory false remark about another; spoken words that tend to damage the reputation of another |
| social | relating to human society; getting along with others |
| social service designee | social services representative appointed to take care of certain responsibilities and receive reports related to a resident's personal possessions and property |
| sphincter muscles | a circle of muscle fibers around the outlet of the urethra and rectum that is normally closed but can be relaxed to allow passage of urine and stool |
| sphygmomanometer | instrument used to measure BP that consists of a cuff that is applied to the upper arm and a measuring device |
| sputum | waste material coughed up from lungs or trachea |
| sterile | free of all germs |
| stethoscope | instrument used to listen to the sounds produced by the heart, lungs, and other body organs |
| strategy | a plan or method |
| sundowning | phenomenon when confusion becomes worse in the evening |
| supination | to turn upward |
| supine | lying on one's back |
| suppository | a semisolid substance that may contain medicine that dissolves when inserted into the rectum or vagina |
| systolic pressure | amount of force it takes to pump blood out of the heart into the arterial circulation (the top number) |
| tachycardia | fast pulse rate greater than 100 beats per minute |
| TED hose | elastic stockings applied to the legs to reduce inflammation of the veins and the formation of blood clots |
| temperature | measurment of heat within the body |
| terminal disinfection | thorough cleaning of room with disinfectant solution after transmission-based procedure is discontinued |
| toxin | a poisonous substance |
| transfer | to move |
| transient ischemic attack (TIA) | an episode of poor circulation to the brain characterized by visual disturbances, dizziness, weakness, numbness, or loss of consciousness. The attack is usually brief, lasting a few minutes. |
| transmitted | transferrred or spread |
| tuberculosis | an infection, primarily of the lung, from mycobacterium tuberculosis |
| unconscious | an individual's lacking in awareness |
| ureters | tubes that carry urine from kidneys to urinary bladder |
| urethra | the small passage from the bladder through which urine leaves the body |
| urinary catheter | a sterile tube inserted into bladder to drain urine |
| urinate (void) | to pass urine |
| validation therapy | a technique that creates a climate of acceptance by encouraging the resident who is confused to explore personal thoughts; it helps to confirm the emotions being experienced |
| value system | behavior related to a pattern of conduct or ideas that is accepted as worthwhile or meaningful |
| ventilate | to give air to |
| void | to pass urine |
| vital signs | temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure |
| wandering | aimless walking, which may result in a resident becoming lost |
