Nursing Practice and Evidence-Based Care

Using the best available research evidence to guide clinical decision-making in nursing.

A set of guidelines to promote quality care based on accumulated research.

The interconnectedness of best research evidence, nursing expertise, and patient values to guide clinical decisions.

To establish a legal framework for nursing practice and protect the public.

A specific, action-oriented plan developed by a nurse by first assessing a patient's needs then identifying goals to achieve.

The process of gathering information on a patient's health status, including their family and community.

Implementing the actions outlined in the nursing care plan to achieve the identified goals.

To critically evaluate the effectiveness of the nursing care plan, identify areas for improvement, and adjust strategies as needed.

A condition that increases the risk of developing a pressure injury.

Staying still for long periods, which can cut off blood flow and lead to pressure injuries.

Moisture on the skin can cause skin breakdown, making it more susceptible to pressure injuries.

A lack of nutrients can weaken the body and make it more prone to pressure injuries.

People who are older are more likely to develop pressure injuries due to thinner skin and reduced blood flow.

Being unable to feel pain or pressure can make it harder to identify and prevent pressure injuries.

A protective device used to prevent falls, but it can also restrict movement and increase the risk of pressure injuries.

This occurs when the skin slides over a surface, causing damage to underlying tissues.

Airborne precautions are used to prevent the spread of infections that can travel through the air, like measles, chickenpox, tuberculosis, and SARS.

Droplet precautions are used to prevent the spread of infections that travel on larger droplets, like coughs, sneezes, or talking, like meningitis, pneumonia, and pertussis.

Contact precautions are used to prevent the spread of infections through direct contact with an infected person or their environment, like C-diff, scabies, and MRSA.

This involves using personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves, gowns, and masks to reduce the risk of contamination during patient care.

Body mechanics refer to the efficient and safe use of your body to move and lift objects, avoiding injury.

Fowler's positions involve raising the head of the bed to different angles, allowing for better breathing and comfort for patients.

This involves positioning patients safely and comfortably, considering their specific needs and conditions.

Proper body mechanics are essential for safe patient handling and transferring, minimizing the risk of injury for both the patient and healthcare worker.

Practices used to restore balance between yin and yang, including acupressure, acupuncture, and acumassage.

A belief that health is maintained through harmony between humans and the universe, encompassing individual, family, community, tribe, environment, and spirit world.

A system where the mother has authority and plays a central role in the family structure.

Providing guidance and information to the dying patient and their families about physical changes, symptoms, and potential complications to prepare them.

Managing symptoms like pain, nausea, dyspnea, fatigue, and delirium that are common in the dying patient due to metabolic changes.

Pain management for dying patients using narcotics without fear of addiction or reaching a safety limit.

The cultural practice of offering food as a gesture of care and concern.

The cultural belief that illness is a sign of imbalance between yin and yang and often involves seeking help within the family first, sometimes consulting a curandero (folk healer).

A serious eating disorder characterized by extreme food restriction and a distorted body image, often leading to severe health problems such as bone loss, electrolyte imbalances, and cardiovascular issues.

A state of abnormally low blood calcium levels causing muscle cramps, twitching, tremors, seizures, and potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.

A condition with abnormally low blood potassium levels, characterized by muscle weakness, fatigue, and potential cardiac problems.

A state of excessively high blood acidity, often caused by conditions like diabetes or kidney failure, leading to symptoms like fatigue, confusion, and rapid breathing.

A state of excessively low blood acidity, often caused by conditions like hyperventilation or excessive vomiting, leading to symptoms like dizziness, tingling sensations, and muscle spasms.

A condition characterized by a decreased ability to absorb nutrients from food, often due to substance abuse, leading to malnutrition and potential health problems.

A medical condition that involves an excess of sodium in the body, which can contribute to fluid retention, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular complications.

A group of individuals who are at a higher risk for nutritional deficiencies and health complications due to age-related factors and potential changes in their dietary habits.

A type of pain caused by injury or tissue damage, often felt in the skin, joints, or internal organs.

A type of pain that arises from damage or dysfunction of the nervous system. Pain receptors become overly sensitive and send exaggerated pain signals.

Assisted feeding methods used when a patient can't swallow safely.

Principles focusing on safe and effective administration of nutrition directly into the stomach or small intestine.

A technique for providing nutrition through a tube inserted into the nose and passing into the stomach.

A group of therapies, not part of conventional medicine, that may complement or replace conventional medical practices.

A scale used to assess pain in infants and young children, taking into account facial expressions, leg movements, activity level, crying, and consolability.

A measure of pain intensity in infants and young children, using indicators such as crying, oxygen requirements, vital signs, expressions, and sleep disturbances.