Exam 4: Key Terms

Having a short and relatively severe course; a

disease process characterized by a relatively short

duration of signs and symptoms that are usually severe

and begin abruptly.

Evaluation or appraisal of a condition; includes

observing gathering, verifying, and communicating

pertinent data, usually information pertaining to the

patient.

• To listen for sounds within the body to evaluate the
• condition of the heart, lungs, pleura, intestines, or

other organs or to detect fetal heart sounds.

Loud, sounds that accompany increased motility of the bowel.

Abnormal swishing sound heard over organs, glands, and arteries.

Developing slowly and persisting for a long period, often for the remainder of an individual's life.

Short, discrete, interrupted crackling or bubbling

adventitious breath sounds heard on ausculation

of the chest, most commonly upon aspiration.

Produced by a passage of air through the bronchi that

contan secretions of exudate or are constricted by

spasms or thickening; usually heard during inspiration;

formerly called rales.

Any disturbance of a structure or function of the

body; a pathologic condition of the body.

Free flow or withdrawal of fluids from a wound or

cavity by some sort of system (such as a urinary catheter

or T-tube)

Low-pitched thudlike sound upon percussion of the

body.

Abnormal accumulation of fluids in interstitial

spaces of tissue; a combining form meaning swelling.

Redness or inflammation of the skin or mucous

membranes resulting from dilation and congestion

of superficial capillaries.

Examples: mild sunburn, nervous blushes, injury

resulting from trauma or infection.

The study of all factors that may be involved in the

development of a disease; the cause of disease.

Fluid, cells, or other substances that have been

slowly exuded or discharged from body cells or

blood vessels through small pores or breaks in cell

membrane.

• Soft, high-pitched, flat sound produced by performing
• percussion over tissue such as muscle tissue.

Concentration of attention on the part of the body

• where signs and symptoms are localized or most active
• in order to determine their significance.

May be manifested as an organic disease, but careful

examination fails to reveal evidence of structural or

physiologic abnormalities.

• Caused by an invasion of microorganisms such as
• bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, that produce

tissue damage.

Protective response of body tissues to irritation,

injury, or invasion by disease-producingorganisms.

The cardinal signs include erythema, edema, heat, and

loss of function.

Visual examination of the external surface of the

body and of its movements and posture, including

• observation of moods and all responses and
• nonverbal behaviors.

• Determine patient's LOC by asking:
• "Who are you?"

"Why are you here?"

"What is the date?"

"Where are you?"

Any abnormal growth of new tissue; benign or

malignant.

• Data collected about the patient's level of wellness,
• changes in life patterns, sociocultural role, and
• mental and emotional reactions to illness.

Identification by a nurse of the need preferences,

and abilities of a patient. Assessment provides the

scientrific basis for a complete nursing care plan.

Pertaining to clincal finding that is observed,

palpated, or ausculated. Labratory findings, as well

as radiologic and other studies, are included;

observable & measurable signs.

• Results in a structural change in an organ that
• interferes with its functioning.

A technique used in physical examination in which

the examiner feels the texture, size, consistency, and

location of certain parts of the body with the hands.

Using fingertips to tap the body's surface to produce

vibration & sound.

• Symptoms of itching; Uncomfortable sensation
• leading to the urge to scratch; Scratching also leads to

• secondary infection. Some causes of pruritus are
• allergy, infection, elevated serum urea, jaundice,

and skin irritation.

Producing or containing pus.

Partial or complete disappearance of clinical and

subjective characteristics of the disease. Sometimes

spontaneous and a result of therapy.

An objective finding as perceived by the examiner; a

sign can be seen, heard, measured, or felt by the

examiner.

Symptoms; verbal statements provided by the patient.

That which arises from within or is perceived by the

individual and related to the examiner.

Subjective; indication of a disease or change in

condition as perceived by patient.

• Fine vibration sensation along the artery, which is
• palpated by the examiner.

• The normal resiliency of the skin caused by the
• outward pressure of the cells and interstitial fluid;

may be assessed as increased or decreased skin turgor.

A high-pitched drumlike sound produced by

performing percussion over a hollow organ such as the

stomach.

• Breath sounds that have a whistling or sighing sound
• resulting from narrowing of the lumen of a

respiratory


passageway. May be heard on both inspiration and

expiration. Wheezes characteristically clear on

coughing.

• A belief that health and illness are controlled by a
• series of physical and biochemical processes that

• can be analyzed and manipulated by humans.
• *Primary health belief in U.S.

Awareness by the nurse of his or her own cultural

• beilief practices and an understanding of other
• beliefs and cultures. Nurse should be able to

react to others with openess and accept cultural

differences.

• A set of learned values, beliefs, customs, and
• practices that are shared by a group and passed
• from one generation to another.

Group of people who share a common social and

cultural heritage based on traditions, national

origin, and physical and biologic characteristics.

Often share practices such as language, religion, dress,

music, and food.

A fixed concept of how all members of an ethnic

group act or think.

A perception that the practices and beliefs of one's

own culture are superior to those of other cultures.

• Belief that health and illness are controlled by
• supernatural forces. May use native healers, plants,

religious rituals, and prayers.

Belief that forces of nature must be kept in natural

balance or harmony.

Accepted traditional customs, moral attitudes, or

manners of a particular social group.

Group of people who share biologic and physical

characteristics.

• A nation, community, or broad group of people who
• establish particular aims, beliefs, or standards of

living and conduct.

A generalization about a form of behavior, an

individual, or a group.

A group that shares any characteristics with the

primary culture but has chracteristic patterns of

behavior and ideals that distinguish it from the rest of a

cultural group.

• An integration of the nurse's understanding of
• culture into all aspects of nursing care.