Dictionary

Nursing practice

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

health outcomeA change in a person's or a group's health that results from care, a program or other factors.

health promotionHelping people take actions that keep them well and improve their health.

health recordThe official, legal record of a client's health information and the care they receive.

Healthy People 2030The US government's set of national health goals and measurable targets for the years 2020 to 2030.

HIPAAThe Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a US law that protects the privacy of health information.

holistic careCare that looks after the whole person: body, mind, emotions, relationships and spiritual needs.

hospiceCare for people expected to live about six months or less, focused on comfort and quality of life rather than cure.

hospitalizationA stay in a hospital as an admitted client, or the act of being admitted to one.

HxA charting abbreviation for history, such as a client's medical history.

ice chipsSmall pieces of crushed ice that a client sucks on to moisten the mouth and get small amounts of fluid.

identificationConfirming who a person is, as in checking a client's identity before care.

imageryA relaxation method in which a person pictures calm, pleasant scenes in the mind to ease stress or pain.

immediate follow-upAction the nurse must take right away, such as checking further, acting or reporting.

immobilityBeing unable to move about freely, such as being kept in bed or a chair.

immunization scheduleThe recommended timetable of which vaccines to give, at what ages and how many doses.

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.

incident reportA written record of an unexpected event in a health care setting that caused or could have caused harm.

informaticsThe use of information technology and data to support health care and decisions.

informed consentA person's agreement to a treatment or procedure, given freely after the risks, benefits and other choices have been explained to them.

inpatientA person formally admitted to a hospital or other facility for care, usually staying overnight or longer.

intensive careClose, round-the-clock medical and nursing care for people who are critically ill or at high risk of getting worse.

intensive care unitA hospital unit that gives close, constant care to people who are critically ill.

interdisciplinaryInvolving people from several different professions who work together.

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.

intimate partner violencePhysical, sexual or emotional harm, stalking or control by a current or former partner or spouse.

invasion of privacyIntruding on a person's private life or sharing their private information or images without permission.

ISBARRIntroduction, Situation, Background, Assessment, Request, Repeat back: a set order for sharing client information.

isolationKeeping a client apart from others to stop an infection spreading or to protect them from infection; also, being alone without social contact.

justiceThe ethical principle of treating people fairly and sharing care and resources fairly.

leading zeroA zero written before the decimal point of a number less than one, as in 0.5 mg.

least restrictive interventionThe rule of choosing the measure that limits a client's freedom the least while still keeping everyone safe.

LGBTQIA+A short form for sexual and gender minority groups: L lesbian, G gay, B bisexual, T transgender, Q queer or questioning, I intersex, A asexual, + others.

licensed practical nurseA nurse who has passed the NCLEX-PN and is licensed to give basic nursing care under an RN or other provider.

licensureThe granting of a license by a government body that gives a person legal permission to practice a profession.

life spanThe whole length of a person's life, from conception or birth to death.

lifestyleThe way a person lives day to day, including eating, activity, sleep, smoking, alcohol use and stress.

limited English proficiencyLimited ability to read, speak, write or understand English, for a person whose main language is another one.

living willA written legal document that says which medical treatments a person does or does not want if they cannot speak for themselves.

long-term careOngoing help with health and daily living for people who cannot fully care for themselves over a long time.

long-term care facilityA place where people who cannot fully care for themselves live and receive ongoing care, often for months or years.

low-sodium dietAn eating plan that limits salt and other sources of sodium.

MAMedical assistant: a trained worker in clinics and offices who does clinical and office tasks under a provider's direction.

malpracticeNegligence by a professional, such as a nurse or doctor, that harms a client.

mandatory reportingA legal duty to report certain things, such as suspected abuse or some diseases, to the proper authorities.

Maslow hierarchy of needsA theory that ranks human needs in five levels, from basic body needs at the bottom to self-fulfillment at the top.

mass casualty triageSorting many injured people quickly by need when there are more victims than staff and supplies can treat at once.