Dictionary

Nursing practice

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

SAMHSASubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: the US government agency for mental health and substance use services.

samplingTaking a small part of something, such as blood or tissue, or choosing a group of people for a study.

SBARA four-part way to report about a client: situation, background, assessment and recommendation.

SBIRTScreening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment: a quick method for finding and addressing risky alcohol and drug use.

scope of practiceThe actions and duties a licensed professional is legally allowed to perform.

screeningTesting people who have no symptoms to find a disease or risk early.

screening testA test given to people who have no symptoms, to find a disease or risk early.

seclusionKeeping a client alone in a room, against their will, that they are prevented from leaving.

secondary preventionThe level of prevention that finds a disease early and treats it promptly so it does not get worse.

self-careThe things people do for themselves to look after their own health and daily needs.

self-conceptThe picture a person has of who they are, including their abilities, roles, body and worth.

self-determinationA person's right to make their own choices about their life and health care.

self-esteemHow much a person values and respects themselves.

self-harmHurting one's own body on purpose, such as by cutting, burning or hitting oneself.

sensory impairmentA loss or weakening of one or more senses, such as sight, hearing, touch, taste or smell.

sentinel eventAn unexpected event in health care that causes a client's death, permanent harm or severe temporary harm.

sexual abuseAny sexual act forced on a person, or done with someone who cannot agree to it, such as a child.

sexual orientationThe pattern of a person's emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to others.

sexualityThe part of a person's life that involves sexual feelings, attraction, behavior, relationships and identity.

SHSocial history: the part of a health history about a person's living situation, work, habits and supports.

signSomething about a person's body that another person can see, hear, feel or measure, such as a fever, a rash or a fast pulse.

sign and symptomThe findings of an illness taken together: what can be seen or measured (signs) and what the person feels and reports (symptoms).

significant otherA person who is very important in someone's life, such as a spouse, partner or close friend.

Simple Triage and Rapid TreatmentA quick method, called START, for sorting adult victims in a mass-casualty event by how urgently they need care.

sitterA staff member assigned to stay with one client and watch them continuously to keep them safe.

skilled nursing facilityA facility that gives round-the-clock nursing care and rehabilitation to people who no longer need a hospital.

social determinant of healthA condition of the places where people are born, live, learn, work and age that affects their health, such as income, housing and education.

social isolationHaving little contact with other people, or being cut off from family, friends and community.

social supportThe help and comfort a person gets from family, friends, community and groups.

social workerA professional who helps clients and families with social, emotional, financial and practical problems related to health and care.

socializationThe process by which a person learns the values, habits and ways of behaving of their family, culture or profession.

socioeconomic statusA person's social and financial position, usually measured by income, education and type of work.

speech therapistA health professional who assesses and treats problems with speech, language, voice and swallowing.

spiritual distressSuffering that comes when a person's sense of meaning, purpose, faith or connection is shaken.

spiritualityA person's sense of meaning, purpose and connection to themselves, others, nature or a higher power.

stabilizationBringing something to a steady, controlled state, such as a client's condition, an injured body part or a crisis.

stableDescribes a client whose condition is not changing and whose response to care can be predicted.

standard of careThe level of care that a reasonably careful nurse with the same training would give in the same situation.

step-down unitA hospital unit for clients who need closer care than a general floor but less than intensive care.

stigmaNegative beliefs and labels that society attaches to a condition or group of people, leading to shame and unfair treatment.

stranger anxietyFear and distress an infant shows around people they do not know.

stress managementWays of reducing stress or coping with it in healthy ways.

stressorAnything that causes stress, such as an illness, a loss, a change, pain or a threat.

subjective dataInformation the client (or family) tells the nurse, which only the person can know and the nurse cannot measure.

substance abuseAn older term for using alcohol or drugs in a harmful way; today it is usually called substance use disorder.

substance misuseUsing alcohol, drugs or medicines in a way that can cause harm, or using a medicine other than as prescribed.

substance useThe use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs or medicines not as prescribed; when it causes harm, it is called substance use disorder.

substance use disorderA condition in which a person keeps using alcohol or another drug even though it is causing them harm.

suffocationBeing unable to breathe because something stops air from reaching the lungs.

suicidal ideationThinking about, considering or planning suicide.