Key Terms
- bedside assessment
- systematic exam of all patient body systems
- body language
- type of nonverbal communication based on physical movement and expression
- chief complaint
- reason the patient is currently seeking care
- comprehensive physical assessment
- detailed, inclusive assessment of body systems to provide a big-picture, broad view of a patient’s overall health
- constitutional
- relating to the whole body
- focused assessment
- physical examination centered on a patient’s chief complaint
- intuition
- “sixth-sense” of knowing that largely comes from years of education and problem-solving in real-world patient situations
- medication reconciliation
- process of reviewing a patient’s medications listed in their medical record and comparing that list to what the patient is actually currently taking at home
- negative
- used to note when signs or symptoms in a system are absent
- nonverbal communication
- physical movements or motions, including body language, that convey thoughts, attitudes, and sentiments
- patient-centered
- decisions made with respect for the patient’s interests, needs, culture, values, and preferences
- PERRLA
- eye assessment that determines if pupils are equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation
- poikilothermia
- inability to regulate core temperature
- positive
- used to note when signs or symptoms in a system are present
- professional boundary
- clear separation between personal and work life when interacting with patients
- verbal communication
- spoken word, in whatever language the patient can best communicate and understand
- visual communication
- strategies like return demonstration that can confirm a patient’s understanding
- written communication
- reinforcement of verbal information given to the patient in a format they can read