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Nursing practice

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

QSENQuality and Safety Education for Nurses: a project that names six skill areas every nurse needs to give safe, high-quality care.
qualitativeDescribing qualities or kinds rather than measuring amounts with numbers.
quality assuranceAn organized way of checking that care meets set standards and of fixing problems when it does not.
quality improvementAn organized, ongoing effort to measure how care is given and change the way it is done so that results get better.
quality of lifeHow good a person feels their life is, including their health, comfort, independence, relationships and ability to do what matters to them.
RACEA memory aid for the steps to take in a fire: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish or Evacuate.
rapid response teamA team of critical care staff who come quickly to the bedside of a client whose condition is getting worse.
rapportA relationship of trust and understanding between two people, such as a nurse and a client.
RCTRandomized controlled trial: a study in which people are assigned by chance to a treatment group or a comparison group.
read-backWriting down a spoken order or test result and reading it back to the person who gave it, so they can confirm it is right.
readiness to learnHow prepared a person is, in body and mind, to take in and use new information.
reality testingThe ability to tell the difference between one's own thoughts and feelings and what is really happening in the outside world.
reassessmentAssessing a client again to see what has changed or how they responded to care.
recognize cuesThe first step of the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model: picking out the client information that matters most.
recoveryThe process of getting better after an illness, injury, surgery or substance use, or the time just after anesthesia.
referralSending a client to another professional, service or agency for care or help that they need.
regimenA planned schedule of treatment, such as which drugs to take, how much and when.
registered nurseA nurse who has passed the NCLEX-RN and holds a state license to practice as an RN.
rehabilitationCare that helps a person regain, keep or improve the skills and independence lost through illness, injury or surgery.
reinforceTo repeat and support teaching or care that has already been started, so the client remembers and follows it.
relapseThe return of a disease or its symptoms after a period of improvement, or a return to substance use after a time without it.
relaxationA state of calm with less physical and mental tension, or the methods used to reach it.
resilienceThe ability to cope with stress, hardship or trauma and to recover from it.
resourceSomething or someone that can be used for help or support, such as staff, equipment, money or a service.
respiratory therapistA licensed health worker who treats breathing problems and runs equipment such as oxygen, inhaled treatments and ventilators.
respiteA short break or rest from something hard, such as caring for a family member.
respite careShort-term care of a person so that their usual family caregiver can take a break.
restraintAny device, drug or method used to limit a person's movement or behavior that they cannot easily remove or refuse.
return demonstrationHaving a client or caregiver perform a skill they were just taught, while the nurse watches, to confirm they can do it correctly.
rights of delegationFive checks a nurse uses before handing a task to someone else: right task, circumstance, person, directions and communication, and supervision.
risk assessmentA structured check of how likely a client is to suffer a certain harm, such as a fall, pressure injury or suicide.
risk factorAnything that raises a person's chance of getting a disease or having a harmful event.
RN-BCRegistered Nurse–Board Certified: a credential showing a registered nurse has passed a specialty certification exam from the ANCC.
root cause analysisA structured review after a serious error or harmful event that looks for the underlying system problems that let it happen.
routine careThe regular, everyday care that most clients need, such as hygiene, meals, turning and vital signs.
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.