AART BASIC PATIENT CARE TERMINOLOGY

BASIC PATIENT CARE TERMINOLOGY

Verbal communication speaking using clear, concise language

understood by the patient

Nonverbal communication communicating with facial expressions,

eye contact, or body motions

Diversity factors that distinguish humans from one another,

including age, gender, race or ethnicity, sexual preference,

traditional versus nontraditional families, nuclear versus

extended families, marital status, socioeconomic background,

political beliefs, religious beliefs, geographic origin

or residence, generation, physical or mental disability

Patient education providing the patient with information

regarding the procedure being performed, other imaging

procedures, or other medical center services

Torts personal injury law

Assault action that causes fear or apprehension in the patient

Battery inappropriate touching or harm done to the patient

False imprisonment unjustified restraint

Invasion of privacy violation of any aspect of patient

confidentiality

Libel written defamation of character

Slander spoken defamation of character

Negligence unintentionally omitting reasonable care

Respondeat superior an employer is responsible for the

employee’s actions

Res ipsa loquitur cause of the negligence is obvious

Implied consent assumes the patient would approve of care if

Conscious Informed consent patient provides consent after being fully

informed of need, risks, and alternatives

Patient bill of rights establishes rights for patients regarding

diagnosis, treatment, privacy, prognosis, and alternatives

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

(HIPAA) establishes legal regulations regarding confidentiality

of patient records

Do not resuscitate order (DNR) no code

Advance directive document used by patient to provide directives

regarding medical care before becoming incapacitated

Durable power of attorney patient provides for another person

(personal representative) to make decisions regarding

medical care if the patient is unable to communicate

Patient history provides information for the radiographer

about the extent of a patient’s injury and the range of

motion the patient can tolerate

Medical asepsis microorganisms have been eliminated as

much as possible Surgical asepsis complete removal of all organisms from equipment and environment

Standard precautions first tier of transmission-based isolation

precautions; uses barriers to prevent contact with blood, all

body fluids, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes when

there is a chance that infection could be transmitted

Airborne precautions particulate respirator required for individuals

entering a patient’s room

Droplet precautions mask required for persons coming in close

contact with a patient

Contact precautions gloves and gown required for individuals

coming in contact with a patient Direct contact transmission infected person touches susceptible Host Indirect contact transmission inanimate object containing

pathogenic organisms is placed in contact with a susceptible

person

Airborne transmission droplets and dust

Droplet transmission primarily transmission by coughs,

sneezes, or other methods of spraying onto a nearby host

Common vehicle transmission primarily transmission by contaminated

items such as food, water, medications, devices,

and equipment

Vector-borne transmission an animal contains and transmits

an infectious organism to humans

Handwashing most effective method to prevent the spread of

infection

Infection control barriers gloves, protective clothing, masks,

eye protection

Temperature normal adult oral temperature is 98° F to 99° F

Pulse normal adult pulse is 60 beats per minute

Tachycardia heart rate more than 100 beats per minute

Bradycardia heart rate less than 60 beats per minute

Respiration normal adult rate is 12 to 16 breaths per minute

Blood pressure normal adult blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg

Sphygmomanometer device used to measure blood pressure

Systolic pressure measurement of the pumping action of the

heart

Diastolic pressure measurement of the heart at rest

Oxygen administration usual oxygen flow rate is 3 L to 5 L per

Minute

Suction unit used to maintain patient’s airway

Cardiac arrest cessation of heart function

Crash cart used in cardiac arrest; contains medications, airways,

sphygmomanometers, stethoscopes, defibrillators, cardiac

monitors

Respiratory arrest cessation of breathing

Shock failure of circulation in which blood pressure is inadequate

to oxygenate tissues and remove by-products of metabolism

Hypovolemic shock follows loss of a large amount of blood or

plasma

Septic shock occurs when toxins produced during massive

infection cause a dramatic decrease in blood pressure

Neurogenic shock causes blood to pool in peripheral vessels

Cardiogenic shock secondary to cardiac failure or other interference

with heart function

Allergic shock (anaphylaxis) allergic reaction to foreign proteins

after injection of an iodinated contrast agent

Trauma serious and potentially life-threatening injuries

Ventilators mechanical respirators attached to tracheostomies

Nasogastric (NG) tube tube inserted through the nose and

down the esophagus into the stomach

Chest tube tube placed to remove fluid or air from the pleural

space

Negative contrast agent most commonly used negative contrast

agent is air

Positive contrast agent iodine or barium

Aqueous iodine compound water-soluble sterile contrast

agent

Iodinated ionic contrast agents salts of organic iodine compounds;

composed of positively and negatively charged ions

Iodinated nonionic contrast agents agents that do not ionize

into separate positive and negative charges

Anaphylactic reactions flushing, hives, nausea

Cardiovascular reactions hypotension, tachycardia, cardiac

arrest

Psychogenic factors may be caused by patient anxiety

Hypodermic needle gauge unit of measurement that indicates

diameter; the larger the gauge, the smaller the diameter of

the needle opening

Intravenous (IV) catheter combination unit with a needle

inside a flexible plastic catheter

Biohazardous materials—possible routes of entry inhalation,

swallowing, absorption through the skin or mucous

membranes

Material safety data sheets (MSDS) provide direction for

handling precautions, safe use of the product, cleanup and

disposal of biohazardous materials

PPE personal protective equipment

OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration

CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention