Patient Safety
A patient with C diff would be on this type of precaution.
What is contact?
A patient with limited mobility must have this risk documented immediately to support preventive equipment orders.
What is risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE)?
Before discharge, the nurse must remove this device unless the provider specifically orders continuation at home.
When a patient requires an additional medication outside of scheduled pain medication, you are treating this.
What is breakthrough pain?
This root word means heart.
What is cardi-?
This should be assessed prior to IV medication administration.
What is IV patency?
A patient admitted with confusion requires immediate assessment of this reversible condition that mimics dementia.
This two-word phrase describes asking the patient to repeat back instructions to confirm understanding.
What is "teach-back"?
This is the amount of time after an intervention that a pain reassessment should take place.
What is 30mins-1hr?
This prefix means deficient or low.
What is brady-?
This should be done when a critical lab value is reported to the nurse.
What is notify the provider?
When a patient states they have an allergy, the nurse must document both the allergen and this detail.
What is the reaction?
A patient wants to leave without receiving all recommended medical treatment. This must be completed prior to the patients discharge.
What is an AMA form (against medical advice)?
This pain descriptor indicates nerve-related pain and guides the provider toward medications like gabapentin or duloxetine.
What is neuropathic pain?
This suffix means inflammation.
What is -itis?
This type of alarm must never be silenced without clinical assessment because it indicates a physiologic danger.
What is telemetry or bedside monitor?
A newly admitted patient refuses treatment. The nurse must first assess and document this aspect before honoring the refusal.
What is decision making capacity?
Patients with heart failure should be taught to report this early, subtle sign of fluid overload after discharge.
What is rapid weight gain (ex. >2-3 pounds in 24 hours)?
This pain scale should be used in a patient who can not communicate with you.
What is nonverbal pain score (NVPS)?
This suffix means surgical removal.
What is -ectomy?
For high-alert medications such as insulin and heparin, many facilities require this safety method involving a second licensed professional.
A new admission with difficulty reading or understanding written instructions requires documentation of this factor.
What is health literacy?
The nurse must verify this key element before discharging a post-operative patient, even when vital signs and pain are stable.
What is gag reflex/safe swallowing?
A patient receiving IV ketorolac needs strict monitoring of this organ system because of increased toxicity risk.
What is renal function?
This common nursing abbreviation means “before meals.”
What is AC?