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Procedures and skills

The procedures nurses assist with and the skills they perform themselves.

dialysateThe fluid used in dialysis to pull waste products and extra fluid out of the blood.
dialysisA treatment that removes wastes and extra fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do it.
dilatorAn instrument used to stretch or widen an opening, canal or passage in the body.
dipstickA plastic strip with small chemical pads that change color to show what is in a urine sample.
dislodgementMovement of a tube, line or device out of its proper place.
Doppler ultrasoundAn ultrasound that uses sound waves to hear or show blood flowing through vessels or the fetal heartbeat.
drainA tube or device placed in a wound or body cavity to remove fluid, blood or air.
drainageFluid that flows out of a wound, body cavity or tube, or the removal of that fluid.
drapeA sheet placed over a client, either sterile to keep an area clean around a procedure site or plain to give privacy.
dressingA covering placed on a wound to protect it and help it heal.
dripA continuous IV infusion of fluid or a drug, given slowly over time by gravity or a pump.
drip chamberThe clear chamber at the top of IV tubing, under the bag, where fluid falls drop by drop.
drop factorThe number of drops in 1 mL of fluid for a given set of IV tubing, printed on the package.
ear irrigationRinsing the ear canal with a gentle stream of warm fluid to remove earwax, discharge or a foreign object.
early decelerationA gradual dip in the fetal heart rate that starts, bottoms out and ends at the same times as a uterine contraction.
effluentFluid that flows out of the body or a device, such as the used fluid drained after peritoneal dialysis.
electrocardiogramA test that records the heart's electrical activity as waves on paper or a screen.
electroconvulsive therapyA treatment for some severe mental illnesses in which a brief electric current is passed through the brain under anesthesia to cause a short seizure.
electrosurgeryUsing high-frequency electric current through a handheld tool to cut tissue or seal bleeding vessels during surgery.
elevationRaising something up, such as a body part above the level of the heart, or a rise in a value.
endoscopeA thin tube with a light and a camera that is passed into the body to look inside an organ or cavity.
endoscopicDone with an endoscope, a thin tube with a light and camera passed into the body.
endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographyA procedure that uses a scope passed through the mouth, with dye and X-rays, to see and treat the bile and pancreatic ducts.
endoscopyA procedure that uses a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera to look inside the body.
endotrachealInside the trachea, the windpipe.
endotracheal intubationPutting a breathing tube through the mouth or nose into the windpipe (trachea).
endotracheal tubeA flexible plastic tube passed through the mouth or nose into the windpipe to keep the airway open and allow breathing support.
enemaLiquid put into the rectum and lower bowel through the anus.
enteral feeding tubeA tube placed into the stomach or small intestine to give liquid food, water and drugs to a person who cannot eat enough by mouth.
enteral nutritionLiquid nutrition given through a tube into the stomach or small intestine.
epidural anesthesiaPain relief or numbness from an anesthetic drug given through a thin catheter into the space just outside the covering of the spinal cord.
episiotomyA cut made in the perineum, the tissue between the vagina and the anus, during birth to widen the opening.
escharThick, dry, dark dead tissue that covers part or all of a wound.
every 2 hoursAt two-hour intervals, around the clock unless the order says otherwise; written q2h.
excisionCutting out tissue, such as a growth or damaged area, during surgery.
expiration dateThe date after which a drug, supply or product should no longer be used.
extravasationThe leaking of an IV drug that damages tissue (a vesicant) out of the vein into the surrounding tissue.
exudateFluid, cells or other material that has leaked out of blood vessels into a wound or tissue.
fasciotomySurgery that cuts open the fascia, the tough tissue around a group of muscles, to relieve pressure inside it.
fat emulsionA milky-white IV fluid of fats, usually from soybean, olive or fish oil, given as part of nutrition by vein.
femoral arteryThe large artery that carries blood to the leg, running through the groin and down the thigh.
fetal heart rateThe number of times the unborn baby's heart beats per minute.
fetal heart rate monitoringChecking a fetus's heart rate during pregnancy or labor, with a handheld device or a continuous electronic monitor.
fetal heart rate variabilityThe small, irregular ups and downs of the baby's baseline heart rate seen on a fetal monitor tracing.
fetal monitorA device that records the fetal heart rate and the mother's contractions during pregnancy and labor.
fetal stationHow far the presenting part of the fetus has moved down the birth canal, measured against the ischial spines of the pelvis.
fingerbreadthThe width of one finger, about 1 to 2 centimeters, used as a quick bedside measure.
fingertipThe end of a finger.
FLACC scaleA pain scale based on watching a child's Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability, each scored 0 to 2.
fluid balanceThe match between the fluid that goes into the body and the fluid that leaves it.