Dictionary

Nursing practice

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

take actionThe fifth step of the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model: carrying out the nursing actions chosen for the client.

teach-backA way to check understanding by asking the client to explain, in their own words, what they have just been taught.

TeamSTEPPS®A teamwork and communication training program for health care teams, created by AHRQ and the US Department of Defense.

telehealthHealth care, teaching and monitoring given at a distance by phone, video or other digital tools.

telephone orderA treatment or medication order a provider gives to a nurse by phone instead of entering it in writing.

terminal illnessAn illness that cannot be cured and is expected to lead to death.

tertiary preventionThe level of prevention that limits harm and disability from a disease a person already has.

The Joint CommissionAn independent US organization that inspects and accredits hospitals and other health care organizations against safety and quality standards.

therapeutic communicationPurposeful, client-centered communication that helps a client express feelings and work toward health.

therapeutic milieuA treatment setting, such as a mental health unit, arranged so that the place, the routine and the people in it help clients recover.

therapeutic relationshipA professional relationship between a nurse and a client that is focused on the client's needs and goals.

therapistA trained professional who treats a person's physical, mental or speech problems.

toddlerA young child between about 1 and 3 years of age.

toothbrushA small brush used to clean the teeth and gums.

tortA wrong act, or a failure to act, that harms another person and for which a court can make the wrongdoer pay.

trailing zeroA zero written after the decimal point in a whole-number dose, as in 1.0 mg; it must not be used.

traumaA physical injury to the body, or a deeply distressing event and the emotional harm it leaves.

treatment planA written plan of the care, therapies and goals agreed for a client's health problem.

trendThe direction a set of findings moves over time, such as a value that keeps rising or falling.

triageSorting clients by how urgently they need care, to decide who is seen first.

two client identifiersTwo pieces of information unique to a client, such as full name and date of birth, used to confirm who they are before care.