Chapter 17
asphyxiation: Lack of oxygen, leading to cell death
bioterrorism: The use of biologic agents to compromise safety and to cause fear
burns: Injuries caused by exposure to thermal, chemical, electrical, or radioactive energy
electrical shock: Interruption of body functions due to electrical current
falls: Collapses, dropping down, or toppling
ground: To connect electricity between an electrical conductor and the ground or earth
poisoning: Ingesting, inhaling, or absorbing potentially hazardous substances
pollution: Substances in air, water, or land that are potentially harmful to health
RACE: Group defined by biologic characteristics
restraint: Device that prevents a patient from moving or gaining normal access to a body part
safety: The avoidance or prevention of adverse outcomes for patients
safety zones: Safe places for children to stand or sit when a potentially dangerous activity is
under way
side rails: Safety bars that assist patients in turning and serve as a reminder not to inadvertently
roll out of bed; used on beds, stretchers, and similar equipment
suffocation: Oxygen deprivation
Chapter 18
accessory muscles: Scalene and sternomastoid muscles of the neck and shoulders
accommodation: Test that engages a patient to look at a close object and then look at a distant
object to see whether patient’s pupils constrict to focus on the close object and dilate to see the
distant object
anterior–posterior diameter: Distance between the sternum and vertebral column, drawn as a
straight line through the thorax
ascites: Accumulation of serous fluid in the peritoneum
audiometer: Device in hearing tests that uses headphones capable of transmitting sounds of
different frequencies
auscultation: Technique of listening to body sounds with a stethoscope
bronchial breath sounds: Loud, high-pitched sounds, with a hollow quality often compared to the
sound of air blowing through a pipe
bruits: Sounds heard with auscultation; due to turbulent blood flow, such as occurs in partially
obstructed blood vessels, tight or floppy heart valves, or dialysis fistulas
capillary refill time: Simple test of circulatory status that uses the nail beds
circulation, motion, sensation (CMS): A federal organization that pays for healthcare for lowincome and elderly people and tracks healthcare outcomes
clubbing: Swelling in the nails that flattens the profile angle to 180 degrees or less
crepitus: Grating feeling and pain that accompany problems with the temporal mandibular joint
cyanosis: Grayish, bluish, or purplish skin tone
diaphragmatic excursion: Percussion of the posterior diaphragm and measurement of the
difference between complete exhalation and full inhalation
edema: Accumulation of fluid in the interstitial tissues
erythema: Redness, usually from irritation or inflammation
expressive aphasia: Communication disorder in which the patient understands and follows
directions but cannot verbally and effectively communicate with the nurse
focused health assessment: Assessment based on the patient’s problems; components include
performing a general survey, taking vital signs, and assessing specific areas that relate to the
problem
gallops: Auscultation of S3 and S4 heart sounds that is clearest at the apex when the patient is
positioned on the left side
general survey: Apparent state of health, level of consciousness, and signs of distress in a
patient
Glasgow Coma Scale: Standardized assessment tool used when serial assessments are done
for high-risk patients (e.g., brain tumor, after brain surgery, after a cerebral vascular accident)
health history: Goal-directed conversation between nurse and patient
inspection: Systematic visual examination of the patient
jaundice: Yellowish tone to the skin that is also observed in liver disease
kyphosis: Thoracic abnormality that includes an exaggerated convex curve of the spine
lordosis: Commonly known as “swayback,” in which the lumbar region curves inward and the
sacral region curves outward
murmur: Vibrating sound that results from turbulent blood flow through the heart
nystagmus: Involuntary, rhythmic oscillations of the eyes
objective data: Observable, measurable information that can be validated or verified
ophthalmoscope: Instrument for examining the interior of the eye
otoscope: Instrument for examining the ear
pallor: Skin color that may appear pale with hypoxia and anemia
palpation: Use of the sense of touch to ascertain the size, shape, and configuration of
underlying body structures
percussion: Examination by tapping the body surface with the fingertips and evaluating the
sounds obtained
point of maximal impulse: Visible pulsation with ventricular contraction as the left side of the
heart strikes the anterior chest wall
primary data: Information that includes vital signs, height, and weight gathered directly from the
patient during the initial stage of the assessment to obtain a general overview of the patient’s
status
receptive aphasia: Disorder in which patients cannot understand simple directions
resonance: Echoing of sound through passages
respiratory excursion: Normal chest expansion during inspiration; usually symmetric, indicating
equal expansion of both lungs
retraction: Backward or inward movement of an organ or part
scoliosis: Lateral curvature of a portion of the spine
secondary data: Sources of data other than the patient, such as the chart
skin turgor: Tension or rigidity of skin
stethoscope: Device that collects and transmits sound, selects frequencies, and screens out
extraneous sound
subjective data: Symptoms or covert cues that include the patient’s feelings and statements
about his or her health problems
tactile fremitus: Sensation felt by a hand placed on a part of the body (as the chest) that vibrates
during speech
vesicular breath sounds: Sounds described as soft and breezy, with inspiration markedly longer
than expiration, normally heard over all areas of the lung except over or near the major airways