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Nursing practice

Delegation, prioritization, scope of practice and the working words of the profession.

pacifierA rubber or silicone nipple that a baby sucks on for comfort, not for feeding.
palliativeDescribing care that eases symptoms and improves comfort and quality of life rather than curing the disease.
palliative careCare that relieves pain, other symptoms and stress for people with serious illness, at any stage and alongside other treatment.
pandemicAn outbreak of disease that spreads across several countries or continents and affects very many people.
parentingThe work of raising a child: caring for, protecting, teaching and guiding them as they grow.
Patient Self-Determination ActA 1990 US federal law requiring health care facilities to tell adults about their right to make advance directives and to accept or refuse treatment.
patient-centeredBuilt around the client's own needs, values and wishes, with the client as a full partner in decisions.
patient-centered careCare planned around the client's own needs, values and choices, with the client as a full partner in decisions.
patterned injuryAn injury whose shape shows the outline of the object that caused it, such as a hand, a belt or a cord.
PCPAn abbreviation with several meanings: most often primary care provider, but also a type of pneumonia or the street drug phencyclidine.
pediatricHaving to do with the care of infants, children and teenagers.
pediatricsThe branch of health care that looks after infants, children and teenagers.
perceptionThe brain's way of taking in and making sense of what the senses detect; also a person's own view or understanding of something.
personal careHelp with hygiene and grooming tasks such as bathing, mouth care, hair care, dressing and toileting.
pharmacistA licensed health professional who prepares and dispenses medicines and advises on their safe use.
PhDDoctor of Philosophy: the highest research degree; in nursing, a doctorate focused on research.
physical abuseDeliberately using physical force against another person in a way that causes, or risks causing, injury or pain.
physical therapyTreatment that uses exercise, movement training and other physical methods to improve strength, mobility and function.
plan of careA written plan that lists a client's problems, goals and the nursing actions to reach them.
PMHAn abbreviation for past medical history; in mental health, it can mean psychiatric-mental health.
POLSTA medical order form, signed by a provider and the client, that states the client's wishes about life-sustaining treatment.
postmortemAfter death.
power of attorneyA legal paper that names someone to make decisions for another person.
practitionerA person who works in a profession, especially one who is licensed to give health care.
precautionA step taken ahead of time to prevent harm, such as the infection-control practices used with every client.
preexisting conditionA health problem a person already had before a certain point, such as before a pregnancy, a surgery or new insurance coverage.
prenatal careHealth care for a pregnant person and the unborn baby during pregnancy, before birth.
preparednessBeing ready ahead of time, especially with plans, training and supplies for a disaster or emergency.
preschoolerA child between about 3 and 5 years old.
prescribeTo order a medicine or treatment for a person, as a licensed health care provider.
prescriptionA written or electronic order from a licensed prescriber for a drug, device or treatment.
preventionAction taken to stop a disease, injury or problem from happening, or to keep it from getting worse.
primary careEveryday, first-contact health care for checkups, prevention and common health problems.
primary care providerThe doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant a person sees first for most health needs and routine care.
primary health careBasic, essential health care that people reach first in their community, covering prevention and common problems.
primary preventionActions taken to stop a disease or injury from happening in the first place.
prioritizeTo decide which client, problem or task comes first, second and so on.
prioritize hypothesesIn the NCLEX clinical judgment model, to rank the client's possible problems by how urgent and likely each one is.
professional boundariesThe limits that keep the nurse-client relationship focused on the client's needs and not on the nurse's own.
psychiatricRelating to psychiatry, the branch of medicine that diagnoses and treats mental illness.
psychiatryThe branch of medicine that diagnoses and treats mental illness.
psychosocialRelating to a person's mind and emotions together with their relationships and place in society.
psychotherapyTreatment of mental health problems by talking with a trained professional.
public healthThe work of protecting and improving the health of whole communities and populations.