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abrupt
- sudden
- ex: The nurse noticed an abrupt change in the patient's level of pain
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abstain
- To voluntarily refrain from something.
- ex: The dental hygienist instructed the patient to abstain from smoking to improve his breath odor.
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access
- a means to obtain entry or a means of approach
- ex: To administer medications into the patient's vein, the nurse must access the vein with a special needle.
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Accountable
- responsible
- ex: Paramedics are accountable for maintaining up-to-date knowledge of resuscitation techniques
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adhere
- to hold fast or stick together
- ex: The tape must adhere to the patient's skin to hold the bandage in place.
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Adverse
- undesired, possibly harmful.
- ex: vomiting is an adverse effect of many medications.
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Affect
- Appearance of observable emotions.
- ex: The nurse observed that a depressed patient exhibited no obvious emotion and reported that the patient had a flat affect.
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Annual
- Accurring every year
- ex: The patient told the nurse that she had scheduled her annual mammogram, as she had been instructed.
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Apply
- To place, put on, or spread something.
- ex: The physical therapist will apply a medication to the wound before covering the wound with a bandage.
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audible
- able to be heard
- ex: The respiratory therapist noticed that when the patient was having difficulty breathing, the therapist could hear an audible wheezing sound
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bilateral
- Present on two sides
- ex: The unlicensed assistive personnel reported to the nurse that the patient had bilateral weakness in the legs when walking
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cast
- Hard protective device applied to protect a broken bone while the bone heals
- ex: The nurse instructed the child that he could not go swimming while the cast was on his broken arm.
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Cease
- Come to an end or bring to an end
- ex: Because the patient's breathing had ceased, the paramedic began resuscitation measures.
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Compensatory
- offsetting or making up for something
- ex: When the patient's blood pressure decreased, the paramedic noted that the heart rate increased, which the paramedic recoginzed as a compensatory event
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complication
- an undesired problem that is the result of some other event
- ex: The physician told the patient that loss of eyesight is a possible complication of eye surgery.
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comply
- do as directed
- ex: The nurse asked the patient to comply with the instructions for taking the medications.
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concave
- rounded inward
- ex: The dietician noticed that the patient was very thin, and the patient's abdomen appeared concave.
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concise
- brief, to the point
- ex: when teaching a patient, the nurse tried to be concise, so the instructions would be easy to remember.
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consistency
- degree of viscosity; how thick or thin a fluid is
- ex: The respiratory therapist noticed that the mucus the patient was coughing was of a thin, watery consistency
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constrict
- To draw together or become smaller
- ex: The nurse knows that the small blood vessels of the skin will constrict when ice is applied to the skin
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contingent
- dependent
- ex: The hygienist told the patient that a healthy mouth is contingent on careful daily brushing and flossing
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contour
- shape or outline of a shape
- ex: while bathing an overweight patient, the unlicensed assistive personnel noticed that the contour of the patient's abdomen was quite rounded.
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contract
- To draw together, to reduce in size
- ex: The physical therapist exercises the patient's muscles so they contract and expand
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contraindication
- a reason why something is not advisable or why it should not be done.
- ex: The patient's excessive bleeding was a contraindication for discharge from the hospital
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defecate
- expel feces
- ex: The unlicensed assistive personnel helped the patient to the toilet when he needed to defecate.
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deficit
- a deficiency or lack of something
- ex: The therapist explained that the patient will experience a fluid deficit if the patient continues to perspier heavily during exercise without drinking enough fluids.
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Depress
- press downward
- ex: The nurse will depress the patient's skin to see if any swelling is present
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Depth
- Downward measurement from a surface
- ex: The physician measures the depth of a wound by inserting a cotton swab into the wound.
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Deteriorating
- Worsening
- ex: The dental hygenist explains that the condition of the patient's gums is deteriorating, and treatment by the dentist is needed right away
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Device
- Tool or piece of equipment
- ex: A thermometer is a device used to measure the patient's body temp.
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Diameter
- The distance across the center of an object
- ex: When measuring a patient's blood pressure, the nurse knows that the diameter of a blood vessel increases, the pressure in that blood vessel goes down.
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Dilate
- To enlarge or expand
- ex: When shining a light in the patient's eyes, the nurse looks to see if both pupils dilate in response to the light.
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Dilute
- To make a liquid less concentrated.
- ex: So that the medication will be easier to swallow, the nurse uses fruit juice to dilute a foul-tasting drug.
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discrete
- Distinct, separate
- ex: The paramedic observed several discrete bruise marks on the patient's body
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Distended
- Enlarged or expanded from pressure
- ex: When a blood vessel is distended, it is easier for the laboratory technician to insert a needle to obtain a blood sample
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Elevate
- To lift up or place in a higher position
- ex: The paramedic decided to elevate the head of the stretcher in order to help the patient breathe more easily.
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Endogenous
- Produced within the body
- ex: The nurse explained that endogenous insulin produced by the body's pancreas helps regulate the body's blood sugar levels.
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Exacerbate
- to make worse or more severe
- ex: The physical therapist recognized that too much exercise would exacerbate the patient's breathing difficulties.
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excess
- more than what is needed or usual
- ex: the dietician explained that an excess consumption of caffeine may cause unpleasant effects such as feeling nervous and on edge
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exogenous
- produced outside the body
- ex: The nurse explained that people with diabetes often need to receive expgenous forms of insulin because their bodies are unable to produce enough insulin.
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expand
- to increase in size or amount
- ex: The unlicensed assistive personnel turns the patient frequently so that the size of the skin sore will not expand any further
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exposure
- contact
- ex: The nurse taught the parents of a newborn to avoid exposure to people with severe infections
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external
- located outside the body
- ex: The unlicensed assistive personnel measured the amount of blood in the external drain after the patient's surgery
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fatal
- resulting in death
- ex: The emergency medical technicians arrived too late to save any lives at the scene of a fatal car accident
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Fatigue
- Extreme tiredness, exhaustion
- ex: The dietician explained to the patient that eating more iron-rich foods may help reduce feelings of fatigue
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flaccid
- limp, lacking tone
- ex: After her stroke, the patient could not feed herself because her arms were flaccid
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flushed
- Reddened or ruddy appearance
- ex: The therapist observed that the patient's face was flushed after completing the exercise
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gaping
- wide open
- ex: in the emergency room, the nurse observed a gaping wound when examining a gunshot victim
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gender
- sex of an individual, as in male or female
- ex: Female gender places patients at higher risk for breast cancer
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hydration
- maintenance of body fluid balance
- ex: The nurse explains that adequate hydration helps keep skin soft and supple
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hygiene
- Measures contributing to cleanliness and good health
- ex: The dental assistant teaches patients about good hygiene practices to maintain strong teeth
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impaired
- diminished or lacking some usual quality or level
- ex: The paramedic stated that the patient's impaired speech was obvious in the way she slurred her words
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impending
- likely to occur soon
- ex: the nurse observed the patient signing the consent form for the impending procedure
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incidence
- occurrence
- ex: in recent years there has been an increased incidence of infections that do not respond to antibiotics
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inflamed
- reddened, swollen, warm, and often tender
- ex: the nurse observed that the skin around the patient's wound was inflamed
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Ingest
- to swallow for digestion
- ex: The paramedic may contact the poison control center when providing emergency care for a child who has ingested cleaning fluid
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Initiate
- to begin or put into practice
- ex: the nurse decided to initiate safety measures to prevent injury because the patient was very weak
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insidious
- so gradual as to not become apparent for a long time
- ex: The physician explained that the cancer probably started years ago but had not been detected because its spread was so insidious
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Intact
- In place, unharmed
- ex: The nurse observed that the bandage was intact after surgery
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Internal
- Located within the body
- ex: The paramedic reported that the patient was unconscious because of internal bleeding
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Invasive
- inserting or entering into a body part
- ex: The laboratory technician is careful when obtaining blood samples, because this invasive procedure may cause problems such as infection or bruising
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Labile
- Changing rapidly and often
- ex: Because the child's temp was very labile, the nurse instructed the unlicensed assistive personnel to check the temp frequently
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Latent
- Present, but not active or visible
- ex: The latent infection produced symptoms only when the patient's condition was weakened from another illness
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Lethargic
- difficult to arouse
- ex: The unlicensed assistive personnel observed that the morning after a patient received a sleeping pill, the patient was too lethargic to eat breakfast
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Manifestation
- An indication or sign of a condition
- ex: The dietician looked for manifestations of poor nutrition, such as excessive weight loss and poor skin condition
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Nutrient
- Substance or ingredient that provides nourishment
- ex: The dietician explains that fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that reduce the risk of some cancers
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Occluded
- Closed or obstructed
- ex: Because the patient's foot was cold and blue, the nurse reported that the patient's circulation to that foot was occluded
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Ominous
- Significantly important and dangerous
- ex: After a patient sustained a head injury, the paramedic noted that the patient's breathing was irregular, which was an ominous sign that the patient's condition was worsening
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ongoing
- continuous
- ex: The nurse instructed the patient that the treatment would be ongoing throughout the patient's entire hospital stay
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oral
- given through or affecting the mouth
- ex: The unlicensed assistive personnel reminded the patient not to take any fluids orally because he ws scheduled for surgery
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overt
- obvious, easily observed
- ex: The overt symptoms of the disease included vomiting and diarrhea
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Parameter
- A characteristic or constant factor
- ex: The dietician explained that the number or calories needed for energy is one of the important parameters of a healthy diet
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Paroxysmal
- Beginning suddenly or abruptly
- The respiratory therapist provided a breathing treatment to stop the patient's paroxysmal breathing difficulty
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patent
- open
- ex: The nurse checked to see whether the intravenous needle was patent before giving the patient a medication
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potent
- producing a strong effect
- ex: The medication was very potent, and it immediately relieved the patient's pain
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Potential
- Capable of occurring or likely to occur
- ex: Because the patient was very weak, the therapist felt the patient had a high potential for falling
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precaution
- Preventive measure
- ex: The laboratory technician wore gloves as a precaution against blood contamination
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Precipitous
- Rapid, uncontrolled
- ex: The paramedic assisted the pregnant woman during a precipitous delivery in her home
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Predispose
- to make more susceptible or more likely to occur
- ex: The dietician explains that high dietary fat intake predisposes some persons to heart disease
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preexisting
- already present
- ex: The nurse notiied the physician that the patient has a preexisting condition that might lead to complications during the emergency surgery
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primary
- first or most significant
- ex: The patient's primary concern was when he could return to work after the operation
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priority
- Of great importance
- The laboratory technician was gentle when inserting the needle because it is a high priority to ensure that the patient does not experience excessive pain and discomfort during the procedure
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prognosis
- The anticipated or expected course or outcome
- ex: The physician explained that with treatment the patient's prognosis was for a long and healthy life
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Rationale
- The underlying reason
- ex: To make sure that the patient will forllow the diet insturctions, the dietician explains the rationale for the low-salt diet
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Recur
- To occur again
- ex: To make sure that a tooth cavity does not recur, the dental hygienist instructs the patient to use toothpaste with fluoride regularly
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restrict
- to limit
- ex: The unlicensed assistive personnel removed the water pitcher from the room to assist the patient in following instructions to restrict the intake of fluids
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retain
- To hold or keep
- ex: The nurse administered a medication to prevent the patient from retaining excess body fluid, which might cause unpleasant sweeling
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site
- location
- ex: The nurse selected a site to start the patient's IV based on comfort for the patient
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status
- condition
- ex: The paramedic recognized that the patient's status was unstable, which necessitated immediate transport to the nearest medical center
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strict
- stringent, exact, complete
- ex: The nurse stressed that the patient must follow instructions to maintain strict bed rest to prevent further injury
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supplement
- to take in addition to or to complete
- ex: The dietician instructed the patient to supplement their diet with extra calcium tablets to help build strong bones
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suppress
- to stop or subdue
- ex: When the child's fever came down, the nurse checked to see if any medications had been given that would have suppressed the fever
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symmetric (symmetrical)
- Being equal or the same in size, shape, and relative position
- ex: The paramedic observed that the movement of both sides of the patient's chest was symmetrical after the accident
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symptom
- An indication of a problem
- ex: The nurse recognized that the patient's weakness was a symptom of bleeding after surgery
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untoward
- adverse or negative
- ex: The patient became very confused, which was an untoward effect of the medication received
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urinate
- excrete or expel urine
- ex: The nurse instructed the patient to report any discomfort felt druing urination
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verbal
- spoken, using words
- ex: The paramedic called in a verbal reprot on the patient's condition to the emergency room nurse while transporting the patient to the hospital
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Vital
- Essential
- ex: The paramedic knows that it is vital to learn what type of poison was taken when caring for a poisoning victim
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void
- excrete, or expel urine
- ex: The patient was instructed to void into the container so the nurse could observe the appearance of the urine
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volume
- amount of space occupied by a fluid
- ex: The nurse recorded the volume of cough syrup administered to the patient
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