AMCA PCTC flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Homeostasis
- The body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment through feedback mechanisms, such as temperature regulation and blood glucose control.
- Sagittal plane
- A vertical plane that divides the body into left and right portions; the midsagittal plane divides it into equal halves.
- Cardiac output
- The volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute, calculated as heart rate multiplied by stroke volume; average adult value is about 5 liters per minute.
- Normal adult respiratory rate
- The number of breaths per minute in a healthy adult at rest, typically 12 to 20 breaths per minute.
- Nephron
- The functional unit of the kidney that filters blood, reabsorbs needed substances, and secretes waste to form urine.
- Six rights of medication
- A safety checklist ensuring the right patient, drug, dose, route, time, and documentation before administering any medication.
- First-pass effect
- The metabolism of an oral drug by the liver before it reaches systemic circulation, which reduces the drug's bioavailability.
- Naloxone
- An opioid antagonist used as an antidote to reverse respiratory depression and overdose caused by opioid medications.
- Therapeutic index
- The ratio of a drug's toxic dose to its therapeutic dose; a narrow index means close monitoring is needed to avoid toxicity.
- Intradermal injection angle
- The angle used for intradermal injections, typically 5 to 15 degrees, with the needle bevel up, often on the inner forearm.
- Chain of infection
- A model of disease transmission with six links: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.
- Standard precautions
- Infection control practices applied to all patients, including hand hygiene and use of gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection based on exposure risk.
- Airborne precautions
- Infection control measures for diseases spread by small particles that remain in the air, such as tuberculosis and measles, requiring an N95 respirator.
- RACE fire response
- A fire safety acronym: Rescue anyone in danger, Alarm activate, Contain the fire, and Extinguish or Evacuate.
- Hand hygiene duration
- The recommended time for washing hands with soap and water, which is at least 20 seconds, or using alcohol-based rub until dry.
- Informed consent
- A patient's voluntary agreement to a procedure after receiving and understanding information about diagnosis, risks, benefits, and alternatives.
- HIPAA Privacy Rule
- A federal regulation protecting individually identifiable health information and limiting disclosures to the minimum necessary.
- Mandatory reporting
- A legal requirement for healthcare workers to report suspected abuse, neglect, or certain communicable diseases to authorities.
- Scope of practice
- The set of tasks and procedures a healthcare worker is legally permitted to perform based on state law and employer policy.
- Durable power of attorney
- A legal document that designates a surrogate decision-maker to make healthcare choices if a patient becomes unable to do so.
- Gait belt
- A device placed around a patient's waist to provide a secure hold during transfers and ambulation, reducing fall risk.
- Fowler's position
- A semi-sitting position with the head of the bed elevated 45 to 60 degrees, often used to improve breathing.
- Intake and output measurement
- Recording all fluids a patient takes in and puts out, using equivalents such as 1 ounce equals 30 milliliters.
- Passive range of motion
- Movement of a joint by a caregiver without the patient's active effort, used to maintain flexibility when the patient cannot move independently.
- Body mechanics
- Techniques for safe movement that include bending at the knees, keeping loads close, and avoiding twisting to prevent injury.
- Suffix -itis
- A word ending meaning inflammation, as in arthritis (joint inflammation) or dermatitis (skin inflammation).
- Prefix tachy-
- A word beginning meaning fast or rapid, as in tachycardia (fast heart rate) or tachypnea (fast breathing).
- Abbreviation NPO
- A medical abbreviation meaning nothing by mouth, indicating the patient should not eat or drink.
- Term proximal
- A directional term meaning closer to the point of attachment or origin of a body part.
- Root cardi/o
- A word root meaning heart, used in terms such as cardiology (study of the heart) and cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease).
- Plural of diagnosis
- The correct plural form is diagnoses, following the rule that words ending in -is change to -es.
- Abbreviation STAT
- A medical abbreviation meaning immediately, used to indicate an urgent order or action.