Nursing practice

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

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

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

Action the nurse must take right away, such as checking further, acting or reporting.

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

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

A health care worker whose ability to work safely is weakened, most often by alcohol or drug use.

A loss or weakening of a body function or ability, such as sight, hearing, movement or thinking.

To carry out a plan or action; in the nursing process, to put the planned interventions into practice.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Involving people from several different professions who work together.

Happening between people, such as communication, relationships or conflict between two or more people.

Involving people from two or more health professions working together.

Health workers from different professions who plan and give a client's care together.

An action taken to help a client, such as a treatment, a test, a teaching session or a nursing action.

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

Intruding on a person's private life or sharing their private information or images without permission.

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

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices, a US nonprofit organization devoted entirely to preventing medication errors.

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

An enclosed, heated infant incubator that keeps a newborn warm in a controlled environment, used for care and for transport.