STNA Vocabulary
abandonment - ANSWER Leaving a patient after care has been initiated and before the
patient has been transferred to someone with equal or greater medical training.
abdominal thrust - ANSWER a strong push into the region between the thorax and
pelvis (diaphragm) Helmick maneuver
abduction pillow - ANSWER goes between the legs; it helps keep the legs spread
abuse - ANSWER The intentional mistreatment or harm of another person
accidents - ANSWER an unfortunate event resulting from carelessness or ignorance
activities - ANSWER things that are done for enjoyment, often as part of education and
often in groups.
adaptive devices - ANSWER special equipment that helps a person who is ill or
disabled to perform ADLs; also called assistive devices.
ADL - ANSWER Activities of daily living
admission - ANSWER the act or process of admitting
admitting resident - ANSWER the individual being accepted into a Long-Term Care
Facility
affected side - ANSWER a weakened side from a stroke or injury; also called the
"weaker" or "involved" side.
aging process - ANSWER the natural occurrences in the body that produce the changes
associated with growing old
agitation - ANSWER commotion, excitement; uneasiness
alternating pressure mattress - ANSWER [P]:alt pressure increase/decreases with use
of pump; [TNI]:Assess on admit/schedule limited mobility + drainage, body fluids,
contained pus, Stage III/IV; post-operative flap, pain management; [R]: pressure can be
reduced under bony prominences but increased under others
Alzheimer's - ANSWER a progressive form of presenile dementia that is similar to senile
dementia except that it usually starts in the 40s or 50s; first symptoms are impaired
memory which is followed by impaired thought and speech and finally complete
helplessness
,ambulation - ANSWER walking or moving from one place to another
amputees - ANSWER an individual who has had a limb removed
anger - ANSWER a strong feeling of displeasure
antiembolic stockings - ANSWER stockings made of elastic fabric that provide support
promote blood flow and prevent the formation of blood clots
anxiety - ANSWER An emotional state of high energy, with the stress response as the
body's reaction to it.
aphasia - ANSWER inability to use or understand language (spoken or written) because
of a brain lesion
appropriate response - ANSWER a reply that is made that is suitable for the
circumstances
arthritis - ANSWER inflammation of a joint or joints
aseptic - ANSWER free from disease-causing microorganisms
assistive device - ANSWER see addaptive devices.
axillary temperature - ANSWER Temperature taken at the armpit
back strain - ANSWER hurting ones back
bacteria - ANSWER single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus; prokaryotes
bargaining - ANSWER occurs when patients accept death but want more time to live
basic needs - ANSWER These are the things people cannot live without, such as food,
clothing, and shelter.
basic skin care - ANSWER Clean and moisturize your skin daily. Block the sun. Seek
professional help for skin problems. Eat a balanced diet. Self screening.
bathing - ANSWER the act of washing yourself (or another person)
bathing resident - ANSWER the act of washing a patient
bed cradle - ANSWER a metal or plastic frame suspended over the hospital bed to keep
the weight of the linen off the resident's body
, bed height - ANSWER The level of a patient's bed
bed position - ANSWER the position the bed is in. also controlled by buttons on the
control of the bed.
bedpan - ANSWER a shallow vessel used by a bedridden patient for defecation and
urination
bladder training - ANSWER goal is to gain control of urination done as directed by nurse
and care plan person uses toilet/pan at frequent regular intervals and is slowly
increased. Person has catheter which is clamped to prevent urine flow for periods of
time (1-2hrs at first then up to 3-4hrs) to train bladder
blindness - ANSWER the inability to see
blood pressure - ANSWER the pressure that is exerted by the blood against the walls of
blood vessels
body alignment - ANSWER the way the head, trunk, arms, and legs are aligned with
one another; posture
body fluids - ANSWER tears, saliva, sputum (mucous coughed up), urine, feces,
semen, vaginal secretions, and pus or other wound drainage
body language - ANSWER nonverbal communication through gestures, facial
expressions, behaviors, and posture
body mechanics - ANSWER The proper use of the body to facilitate lifting and moving
and preventing injury.
bowel program - ANSWER Program that manipulates factors within a person's control
(timing of defecation, exercise, diet) to produce a regular pattern of comfortable
defecation without medication or enemas
breathing - ANSWER The process involving alternate inhalation and exhalation of air
that ventilates the lungs.
burnout - ANSWER exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation, usually
as a result of prolonged stress or frustration
call light - ANSWER allows the patient to call for help via light and/or sound
cancer - ANSWER disorder in which some of the body's own cells lose the ability to
control growth
abandonment - ANSWER Leaving a patient after care has been initiated and before the
patient has been transferred to someone with equal or greater medical training.
abdominal thrust - ANSWER a strong push into the region between the thorax and
pelvis (diaphragm) Helmick maneuver
abduction pillow - ANSWER goes between the legs; it helps keep the legs spread
abuse - ANSWER The intentional mistreatment or harm of another person
accidents - ANSWER an unfortunate event resulting from carelessness or ignorance
activities - ANSWER things that are done for enjoyment, often as part of education and
often in groups.
adaptive devices - ANSWER special equipment that helps a person who is ill or
disabled to perform ADLs; also called assistive devices.
ADL - ANSWER Activities of daily living
admission - ANSWER the act or process of admitting
admitting resident - ANSWER the individual being accepted into a Long-Term Care
Facility
affected side - ANSWER a weakened side from a stroke or injury; also called the
"weaker" or "involved" side.
aging process - ANSWER the natural occurrences in the body that produce the changes
associated with growing old
agitation - ANSWER commotion, excitement; uneasiness
alternating pressure mattress - ANSWER [P]:alt pressure increase/decreases with use
of pump; [TNI]:Assess on admit/schedule limited mobility + drainage, body fluids,
contained pus, Stage III/IV; post-operative flap, pain management; [R]: pressure can be
reduced under bony prominences but increased under others
Alzheimer's - ANSWER a progressive form of presenile dementia that is similar to senile
dementia except that it usually starts in the 40s or 50s; first symptoms are impaired
memory which is followed by impaired thought and speech and finally complete
helplessness
,ambulation - ANSWER walking or moving from one place to another
amputees - ANSWER an individual who has had a limb removed
anger - ANSWER a strong feeling of displeasure
antiembolic stockings - ANSWER stockings made of elastic fabric that provide support
promote blood flow and prevent the formation of blood clots
anxiety - ANSWER An emotional state of high energy, with the stress response as the
body's reaction to it.
aphasia - ANSWER inability to use or understand language (spoken or written) because
of a brain lesion
appropriate response - ANSWER a reply that is made that is suitable for the
circumstances
arthritis - ANSWER inflammation of a joint or joints
aseptic - ANSWER free from disease-causing microorganisms
assistive device - ANSWER see addaptive devices.
axillary temperature - ANSWER Temperature taken at the armpit
back strain - ANSWER hurting ones back
bacteria - ANSWER single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus; prokaryotes
bargaining - ANSWER occurs when patients accept death but want more time to live
basic needs - ANSWER These are the things people cannot live without, such as food,
clothing, and shelter.
basic skin care - ANSWER Clean and moisturize your skin daily. Block the sun. Seek
professional help for skin problems. Eat a balanced diet. Self screening.
bathing - ANSWER the act of washing yourself (or another person)
bathing resident - ANSWER the act of washing a patient
bed cradle - ANSWER a metal or plastic frame suspended over the hospital bed to keep
the weight of the linen off the resident's body
, bed height - ANSWER The level of a patient's bed
bed position - ANSWER the position the bed is in. also controlled by buttons on the
control of the bed.
bedpan - ANSWER a shallow vessel used by a bedridden patient for defecation and
urination
bladder training - ANSWER goal is to gain control of urination done as directed by nurse
and care plan person uses toilet/pan at frequent regular intervals and is slowly
increased. Person has catheter which is clamped to prevent urine flow for periods of
time (1-2hrs at first then up to 3-4hrs) to train bladder
blindness - ANSWER the inability to see
blood pressure - ANSWER the pressure that is exerted by the blood against the walls of
blood vessels
body alignment - ANSWER the way the head, trunk, arms, and legs are aligned with
one another; posture
body fluids - ANSWER tears, saliva, sputum (mucous coughed up), urine, feces,
semen, vaginal secretions, and pus or other wound drainage
body language - ANSWER nonverbal communication through gestures, facial
expressions, behaviors, and posture
body mechanics - ANSWER The proper use of the body to facilitate lifting and moving
and preventing injury.
bowel program - ANSWER Program that manipulates factors within a person's control
(timing of defecation, exercise, diet) to produce a regular pattern of comfortable
defecation without medication or enemas
breathing - ANSWER The process involving alternate inhalation and exhalation of air
that ventilates the lungs.
burnout - ANSWER exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation, usually
as a result of prolonged stress or frustration
call light - ANSWER allows the patient to call for help via light and/or sound
cancer - ANSWER disorder in which some of the body's own cells lose the ability to
control growth
