NCLEX-RN: Key Terms

ABCs

(Priority) Airway, Breathing, Circulation - the order for prioritizing patient care.

Maslow's hierarchy

(Priority) Framework prioritizing physiological needs before safety and psychosocial needs.

Nursing process (ADPIE)

(Process) Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation.

Hypertension

(Cardiac) Blood pressure persistently at or above 130/80 mmHg.

Hypotension

(Cardiac) Abnormally low blood pressure, risking inadequate perfusion.

Tachycardia

(Cardiac) A heart rate over 100 beats per minute.

Bradycardia

(Cardiac) A heart rate under 60 beats per minute.

Myocardial infarction

(Cardiac) Heart attack; death of heart muscle from blocked blood flow.

Hypoxia

(Respiratory) Inadequate oxygen reaching the body's tissues.

Dyspnea

(Respiratory) Difficult or labored breathing.

Pulse oximetry

(Respiratory) Noninvasive measurement of blood oxygen saturation (SpO2).

Hyperkalemia

(Electrolytes) Elevated blood potassium; can cause dangerous arrhythmias.

Hypokalemia

(Electrolytes) Low blood potassium; causes weakness and arrhythmias.

Hyponatremia

(Electrolytes) Low blood sodium; can cause confusion and seizures.

Edema

(Fluids) Swelling caused by excess fluid in the tissues.

Dehydration

(Fluids) A deficit of body fluid.

Hyperglycemia

(Endocrine) Elevated blood glucose.

Hypoglycemia

(Endocrine) Low blood glucose; treat a conscious patient with fast-acting carbohydrate.

Diabetes mellitus

(Endocrine) A disorder of impaired insulin production or use causing high blood glucose.

NPO

(Safety) 'Nothing by mouth'; the patient should not eat or drink.

PRN

(Medication) 'As needed'; a medication given when required rather than on a schedule.

Five rights of medication

(Medication) Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time.

Therapeutic range

(Medication) The drug concentration that is effective without being toxic.

Anticoagulant

(Medication) A drug that prevents blood clot formation, e.g., heparin, warfarin.

Analgesic

(Medication) A medication that relieves pain.

Standard precautions

(Infection) Infection-control practices used with all patients regardless of diagnosis.

Airborne precautions

(Infection) Isolation for diseases spread by tiny airborne particles, e.g., TB.

Asepsis

(Infection) Practices that reduce or eliminate microorganisms.

Sepsis

(Infection) A life-threatening, dysregulated body response to infection.

Fall risk

(Safety) The likelihood that a patient may fall, requiring preventive measures.

Informed consent

(Legal/Ethical) A patient's voluntary agreement to treatment after understanding risks and benefits.

Advance directive

(Legal/Ethical) A document stating a patient's wishes for future medical care.

HIPAA

(Legal/Ethical) A U.S. law protecting the privacy of patient health information.

Negligence

(Legal/Ethical) Failure to provide the standard of care, resulting in harm.

Fowler's position

(Positioning) A sitting position that eases breathing.

Supine

(Positioning) Lying flat on the back.

Prone

(Positioning) Lying flat on the stomach.

Orthostatic hypotension

(Assessment) A drop in blood pressure on standing, causing dizziness.

Pressure ulcer

(Skin) Tissue injury from prolonged pressure, often over bony areas.

Therapeutic communication

(Psychosocial) Techniques that encourage patients to express feelings and concerns.

Pain scale

(Assessment) A tool (e.g., 0-10) for rating a patient's pain level.

Vital signs

(Assessment) Temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation.