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Dictionary

NCLEX words

The exam's own working vocabulary: assess, reinforce, prioritize, UAP and the rest.

ice chipsSmall pieces of crushed ice that a client sucks on to moisten the mouth and get small amounts of fluid.
ideationThe forming of thoughts or ideas, especially repeated thoughts about a particular act.
immediate follow-upAction the nurse must take right away, such as checking further, acting or reporting.
impairmentA loss or weakening of a body function or ability, such as sight, hearing, movement or thinking.
implementTo carry out a plan or action; in the nursing process, to put the planned interventions into practice.
in-personDone face to face, with the people physically in the same place, not by phone or video.
incentiveSomething that encourages a person to do something, such as a reward or a visible goal.
incident reportA written record of an unexpected event in a health care setting that caused or could have caused harm.
independent double checkA safety step in which a second qualified person checks a medication on their own, without being told the expected result, before it is given.
informed consentA person's agreement to a treatment or procedure, given freely after the risks, benefits and other choices have been explained to them.
instrumental activities of daily livingThe more complex tasks a person needs to live on their own, such as managing money, medicines, shopping and cooking.
intakeWhat a person takes into the body, especially fluids or food, counted over a set time.
intake and outputThe measured record of all fluids a client takes in and all fluids that leave the body over a set time.
intermittentStarting and stopping; happening at intervals rather than all the time.
interpersonalHappening between people, such as communication, relationships or conflict between two or more people.
interprofessionalInvolving people from two or more health professions working together.
interprofessional teamHealth workers from different professions who plan and give a client's care together.
interventionAn action taken to help a client, such as a treatment, a test, a teaching session or a nursing action.
intrinsicComing from inside, or belonging naturally to something itself.
invasion of privacyIntruding on a person's private life or sharing their private information or images without permission.
invasiveEntering the body through the skin or a body opening; for a cancer or infection, spreading into nearby tissue.
irreversibleNot able to be undone or changed back to the way it was before.
ISBARRIntroduction, Situation, Background, Assessment, Request, Repeat back: a set order for sharing client information.
isolation precautionsExtra infection-control measures, added to standard precautions, for clients known or thought to have certain contagious infections.