Procedures and skills

An operation that makes a new path for tears from the lacrimal sac straight into the nose, bypassing a blocked nasolacrimal duct.

A client's weight measured every day at the same time, on the same scale, in similar clothing.

To sit on the edge of the bed with the legs hanging over the side, before standing up.

The removal of dead, damaged or infected tissue from a wound so it can heal.

A temporary drop in the fetal heart rate below its baseline, seen on a fetal monitor.

An operation that strips a thick fibrous layer, a peel, off the surface of a lung so the trapped lung can expand again.

An electric shock given to the heart to stop a chaotic, life-threatening rhythm so a normal rhythm can return.

The thick, triangle-shaped muscle that covers the shoulder and lifts the arm out to the side.

A removable set of artificial teeth that replaces some or all natural teeth.

Drying out; in electrosurgery, contact coagulation, with the electrode touching the tissue so it dries and seals.

An IV fluid of 5 grams of glucose in every 100 mL of water, written D5W.

The fluid used in dialysis to pull waste products and extra fluid out of the blood.

A treatment that removes wastes and extra fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do it.

Heat made inside tissue by high-frequency electrical energy; in eye surgery, low-power heat applied to the sclera over a retinal tear.

A procedure that widens the cervix and then scrapes tissue from the cervical canal and the lining of the uterus.

An instrument used to stretch or widen an opening, canal or passage in the body.

A plastic strip with small chemical pads that change color to show what is in a urine sample.

Movement of a tube, line or device out of its proper place.

In robotic surgery, moving the patient cart into place at the bedside and attaching its arms to the ports.

An ultrasound that uses sound waves to hear or show blood flowing through vessels or the fetal heartbeat.

The artery on the top of the foot, the continuation of the anterior tibial artery past the ankle, and the pulse felt over it.

A tube or device placed in a wound or body cavity to remove fluid, blood or air.

Fluid that flows out of a wound, body cavity or tube, or the removal of that fluid.

A sheet placed over a client, either sterile to keep an area clean around a procedure site or plain to give privacy.

A covering placed on a wound to protect it and help it heal.

A continuous IV infusion of fluid or a drug, given slowly over time by gravity or a pump.

The clear chamber at the top of IV tubing, under the bag, where fluid falls drop by drop.

The number of drops in 1 mL of fluid for a given set of IV tubing, printed on the package.