Nursing terms – Flashcards
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Abduction
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lateral movement of the limbs away from the median plane of the body
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adduction
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movement of a limb or eye toward the median plane of the body
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adverse reaction
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harmful or unintended effect of medication, diagnostic test or therapeutic intervention
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aerobic
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requiring oxygen for maintenance of life
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afebrile
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without fever
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alopecia
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complete or partial hairloss
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anaerobic
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absence of oxygen
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anemia
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disorder marked by a decrease in hemogloin in blood
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angioedema
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a condition marked by edematous areas of the skin, mucous membranes or internal organs
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anorexia
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condition in which ill or debilitated patient has no appetite
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aphasia
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disorder of difficulty in production and understanding language
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apical impulse
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point where the apex of the heart touches the anterior chest wall. best site for auscultation of the heart
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asepsis
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absence of germs or microorganisms
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ataxia
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defective muscular coordination
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atleectasis
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collapse of alveoli preventing gas exchange
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atrophy
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muscle wasting
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autonomy
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ability to function independently
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biopsy
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removal of a small piece of living tissue for microscopic examination
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blanching
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whitening of the skin from pressure, vasoconstriction or hypotension
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bruit
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abnormal sound or murmur heard while auscultating an organ, gland or artery
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buccal
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of or pertaining to the inside of the cheek
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cachexia
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generally ill health and malnutrition marked by weakness and emaciation
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cyanosis
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bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by deoxygenated hemoglobin
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defecation
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passage of feces
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dehiscence
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separation of a wound's edges that reveals underlying tissues
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dehydration
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excessive loss of water from the body tissues
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diaphoresis
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secretion of sweat
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diarrhea
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increase in the number of stools and the passage of liquid, unformed feces
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distal
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furthest from the center
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distention
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swelling of a body cavity
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Diuresis
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increased formation and excretion of urine
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dysphagia
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difficulty swallowing
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dysphashia
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difficulty speaking
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dyspnea
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shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
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dysrythmia
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heartbeat that deviates from normal pattern
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ecchymosis
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a bruise
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edematous/edema
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abnormal accumulation of fluid under the skin
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embolus
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a foreign object, a quantity of air or gas, a bit of tissue or tumor, or a piece of thrombus that circulates the bloodstream until it becomes lodged in a vessel.
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empathy
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ability to understand and accept another person's reality
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endoscopy
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visulaization of the interior of body organs and cavities through an endoscope
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epistaxis
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hemmorhage of the nose, noseebleed
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errythmia
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redness or inflamation
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eupnea
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normal respiration (quiet/effortless)
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eviseration
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protrusion of visceral organs through a surgical wound
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excoriation
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injury to skin's surface through abrasion
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extension
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a movement that brings the limb into or towards a straight line
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febrile
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pertaining to or characterized by an elevated body temeperature
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FUO (Fever of unknown origin)
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refers to a fever whose cause cannot be determined
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flaccid
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relaxed, flabby, having defective or absent muscle tone
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flatulence
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accumulation of gas in the lumen of the intestines
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flexion
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bending or being bent in the opposite of extension
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halitosis
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offensive breath
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hematemesis
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vomiting of blood
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hematoma
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collection of blood trapped in the tissues or organs
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hemiparesis
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muscular weakness of one half of the body
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hemiplegia
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paralysis on one side of the body
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hemoglobin
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iron-containing pigment of red blood cells that cayyr oxygen
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hemoptysis
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coughing up of blood
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hemostasis
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termination of bleeding by mechanical or chemical means or by the coagulation of blood in the body
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hirsutism
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excessive body hair
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hyperglycemia
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elevated blood glucose level
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hyperthermia
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body temperature exceeds set point; fever
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hypoglycemia
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low blood glucose
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hypovolemia
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decreased circulatory blood volume resulting from extracellular fluid loss
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hypoxemia
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low oxygen in aterial blood
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incontinence
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inability to control urination
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indurated
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hardened tissue, particularly the skin due to edema, inflamation or infiltration by a tumor
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ischemia
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a temporary deficiency of blood flow to an organ or tissue
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kyphosis
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exaggeration of the posterior curvature of the thoracis spine
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leukocytosis
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abnormal increase in WBC
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lordosis
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increased lumbar curvature
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nystagmus
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involuntary movement of the eye
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oliguria
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diminished capacity to form or pass urine
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orthopnea
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abnormal respiratory symptom in which a person must sit or stand to breathe comfortably or deeply
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orthostatic hypotension
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drop in systolic pressure (15mmHg or more) when a person stands up
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palliative care
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prevention, relief, or reduction of symptoms without effecting a cure
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pancytopenia
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reduction of all cellular elements of the blood
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petechiae
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purple or red spots that appear as small hemorrhages under the skin
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phlebitis
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inflammation of a vein
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pmeumothorax
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collection of air or gas in the plueral space
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polyps
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small tumor like growths that project from a mucous membrane
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polyuria
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excretion of an abnormally large amount off urine
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pruritis
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symptom of itching
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purulent
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producing or containing pus
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sanguineous
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fluid containing red blood cells
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scoliosis
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lateral spine curvature
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sepsis
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blood poisoning
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serosanguineous
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containing both serum and blood
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serous
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a clear fluid that forms an exudate at the site of inflammation
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strabismus
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crossed eyes
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stria
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stretch marks
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syncope
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fainting
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thrombocytopenia
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an abnormal decrease in the number of platelets
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thrombus
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blood clot
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turgor
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normal resiliency of the skin
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urticaria
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hives
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urosepsis
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urinary tract infection
