Open RN Nursing Mental Health and Community Concepts 2e — Chapter Glossaries
All 434 glossary terms from Nursing Mental Health and Community Concepts, 2nd edition (2e), copied word for word and verified against the source.
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A
Acetylcholine (ACh)
A neurotransmitter that stimulates nicotinic and muscarinic receptors in the parasympathetic nervous system.
Active listening
Communicating both verbally and nonverbally that we are interested in what the other person is saying while also actively verifying our understanding with them.
Adaptive coping strategies
Coping strategies, including problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping.
Addiction
Severe substance use disorders; a chronic brain disease that has the potential for both recurrence (relapse) and recovery.[1]
ADOPIE
A mnemonic for the components of the nursing process: Assessment, Diagnosis, Outcomes Identification, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation.
Adrenergic agonists
Substances that stimulate SNS receptors and cause effects similar to epinephrine and norepinephrine.
Adrenergic antagonists
Substances that block SNS receptors.
Adults at risk
Adults who have a physical or mental condition that impairs their ability to care for their own needs and are at risk for neglect and/or abuse.
Adults at risk
Adults who have a physical or mental condition that impairs their ability to care for their own needs. Adult Protective Services (APS): APS agencies are state-run programs that investigate reports of elder and vulnerable adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Adverse childhood experiences
Potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, parental loss, or parental separation before the child is 18 years old.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACE)
Traumatic experiences during childhood such as neglect, abuse, or witnessing violence, substance misuse, mental illness, divorce, or imprisonment of a family member.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
Traumatic circumstances experienced during childhood such as abuse, neglect, or growing up in a household with violence, mental illness, substance use, incarceration, or divorce.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
Potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood, such as violence, abuse, and growing up in a family with mental health or substance use problems.
Affect
A client’s expression of emotion.
Agoraphobia
Intense fear of two or more of the following situations: using public transportation, being in open spaces (e.g., parking lots, marketplaces, or bridges), being in enclosed spaces (e.g., shops or theaters), standing in line or being in a crowd, or being outside of the home alone.
Agranulocytosis
Extremely low white blood cell count.
Agranulocytosis
Extremely low white blood cell count and an adverse effect of clozapine and antipsychotic medication.
Akathisia
Motor restlessness.
Akathisia
Psychomotor restlessness (a feeling of being unable to sit still).
Alcohol intoxication
Refers to problematic behavioral or psychological changes (e.g., inappropriate sexual or aggressive behavior, mood lability, or impaired judgment) that develop during or shortly thereafter alcohol ingestion
Alexithymia
The inability to describe emotions with how one is feeling.
Alogia
Reduction or poverty in speech.
Alogia
Brief or reduced replies.
Amylophagia
Starch eating.
Anhedonia
The reduced ability to experience pleasure in daily activities.
Anhedonia
The lack of experiencing pleasure in activities normally found enjoyable.
Anorexia nervosa (AN)
A condition where people avoid food, severely restrict food, or eat very small quantities of only certain foods.
Anosognosia
The inability to recognize that one is ill.
Anticholinergics
Substances that block the effects of PSNS receptors.
Anxiety
A universal human experience that includes feelings of apprehension, uneasiness, uncertainty, or dread resulting from a real or perceived threat.
Anxiety disorders
A group of mental health conditions characterized by excessive fear or worry that interferes with daily activities.
Apathy
A lack of feelings, emotions, interests, or concerns.
Apathy
A decreased interest in activities that would otherwise be interesting.
Assault
Intentionally putting another person in reasonable apprehension of an imminent harmful or offensive contact.
Autonomy
The capacity to determine one’s own actions through independent choice, including demonstration of competence. The nurse’s primary ethical obligation is client autonomy.
Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
A condition where individuals limit the amount or type of food eaten.
Avolition
A lack of motivation or inability to initiate and persist in goal-directed activities.
Avolition
Reduced motivation or goal-directed behavior.
B
Battery
Intentional causation of harmful or offensive contact with another person without that person’s consent.
Beneficence
Benefiting others by preventing harm, removing harmful conditions, or affirmatively acting to benefit another or others, often going beyond what is required by law.
Bibliotherapy
A behavioral intervention that uses books to help children express feelings in a supportive environment, gain insight into feelings and behavior, and learn new ways to cope with difficult situations.
Binge drinking
Consuming several standard drinks on one occasion in the past 30 days, defined for males as drinking five or more standard alcoholic drinks on one occasion, and for females as drinking four or more standard drinks on one occasion.[2]
Binge eating episode
An episode characterized by both eating in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any two-hour period) an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most individuals would eat and a sense of a lack of control overeating during the episode; followed by purging behaviors.
Binge-eating disorder (BED)
A condition where people lose control over their eating and have recurring episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food. Unlike bulimia nervosa, periods of binge eating are not followed by purging, excessive exercise, or fasting.
Binge-eating/Purging type
Individuals experience episodes of binge eating and/or purging.
Biological therapies
Any form of treatment for mental health disorders that attempts to alter physiological functioning, including drug therapies, electroconvulsive therapy, and psychosurgery.[1]
Bipolar I disorder
The most severe bipolar disorder with at least one manic episode; most individuals experience additional hypomanic and depressive episodes.
Bipolar II disorder
A pattern of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes, but individuals have never experienced a full-blown manic episode typical of Bipolar I Disorder.
Blunted
A diminished range and intensity of affect or mood.
Board of Nursing
The state-specific licensing and regulatory body that sets standards for safe nursing care and issues nursing licenses to qualified candidates based on the Nurse Practice Act enacted by that state’s legislature.
Body illusion
A perception that one’s own body is significantly different from its actual configuration. For example, a person lying in bed may feel as if they are levitating.
Body mass index (BMI)
A person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters.
Boundaries
Limits that we set as individuals that define our levels of comfort when interacting with others. Personal boundaries include limits in physical, sexual, intellectual, emotional, sexual, and financial areas of our lives.
Boundary impairment
An impaired ability to sense where one’s influence ends and another person’s begins. For example, the person might walk up to a table and drink out of someone else’s glass.
Boxed Warning
A significant warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that alerts the public and health care providers to serious side effects, such as injury or death.
Bradykinesia
Slowed movement.
Brief interventions
Therapeutic techniques used to initiate change in individuals with unhealthy behaviors.
Bulimia nervosa (BN)
A condition where people have recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food and feeling a lack of control over these episodes.
C
Cannabis intoxication
Problematic behavior or psychological changes (e.g., impaired motor coordination, euphoria, anxiety, sensation of slowed time, impaired judgment, social withdrawal) that developed during or shortly after cannabis use.
Capacity
A functional determination that an individual is or is not capable of making a medical decision within a given situation.
Caregiver
A person who has taken responsibility for all or part of an individual’s care.
Catatonia
A state of unresponsiveness due to a person’s mental state.
Catatonia
A pronounced increase or decrease in the rate and amount of movement; excessive movement is purposeless.
Catecholamines
Substances that include epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine and are responsible for the body’s “fight-or-flight” response.
Central nervous system (CNS)
The brain and spinal cord.
Chelation therapy
Treatment for heavy metal poisoning such as mercury, arsenic, and lead. Chelators are medications that bind to the metals in the bloodstream to increase urinary excretion of the substance.
Chief complaint
The client’s primary reasons for seeking care.
Cholinergics
Substances that stimulate nicotinic and muscarinic receptors and cause effects similar to acetylcholine (ACh).
Circumstantial
Speaking with many unnecessary or tedious details without getting to the point of the conversation.
Civil law
The rights, responsibilities, and legal relationships between private citizens and involves compensation to the injured party.
Clang associations
Stringing words together that rhyme without logical association and do not convey rational meaning. For example, a client exhibiting clang associations may state, “Here she comes with a cat catch a rat match.”
Clang associations
Stringing words together that rhyme without logical association and do not convey rational meaning. For example, a client exhibiting clang associations may state, “Here she comes with a cat catch a rat match.”
Clouded consciousness
A state of reduced awareness to stimuli.
Cluster A personality disorders
Include paranoid personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, and schizotypal personality disorder; characterized by odd, eccentric, and socially awkward behavior.
Cluster B personality disorders
Antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders; characterized by dramatic, overly emotional, or unpredictable thinking or behavior.
Cluster C personality disorders
Avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders; characterized by anxious, fearful thinking or behavior.
Cognition
The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses. It includes thinking, knowing, remembering, judging, and problem-solving.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
A type of psychotherapy that helps a person recognize distorted/negative thinking with the goal of changing thought and behaviors to respond to changes in a more positive manner.
Cognitive impairment
Impaired mental processes that drive how an individual understands and acts in the world, affecting the acquisition of information and knowledge. Components of cognitive functioning include attention, decision-making, general knowledge, judgment, language, memory, perception, planning, and reasoning.[2]
Cognitive symptoms
A category of symptoms of schizophrenia that refer to problems in attention, concentration, and memory, such as difficulty processing information to make decisions; problems using information immediately after learning it; and trouble focusing or paying attention.
Coma
A state of unarousable unresponsiveness, where vigorous noxious stimuli may not elicit reflex motor responses.
Command hallucinations
Auditory hallucinations that command the individual to do something.
Community diagnosis
A summary statement resulting from analysis of the data collected from a community health needs assessment.
Community health needs assessment
A systematic process to identify and analyze community health needs and assets in order to prioritize these needs, plan, and act upon significant unmet community health needs.
Competency
A legal term related to the degree of cognitive ability an individual has to make decisions or carry out specific acts.
Compulsions
Repetitive behaviors that a person with OCD feels the urge to do in response to an obsessive thought.
Conduct disorder (CD)
A behavioral disorder diagnosed when a child shows an ongoing pattern of aggression toward others with serious violations of rules and social norms at home, school, and with peers.
Confidentiality
The right of an individual to have personal, identifiable medical information kept private.
Congruence
Consistency of verbal and nonverbal communication.
Controlled substance
Drugs regulated by federal law that can cause dependence and abuse.
Controlled substances
Substances regulated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency into one of five categories called schedules. This placement is based on the substance’s medical use, its potential for abuse or dependency, and related safety issues.
Coordinated specialty care (CSC)
A general term used to describe recovery-oriented treatment programs for people with first-episode psychosis, an early stage of schizophrenia.
Coping
Cognitive and behavioral efforts made to master, tolerate, or reduce external and internal demands and conflicts.[1]
Coping strategies
An action, series of actions, or a thought process used in meeting a stressful or unpleasant situation or in modifying one’s reaction to such a situation.[2]
Coping strategies
An action, a series of actions, or a thought process used to address a stressful or unpleasant situation or modify one’s reaction to such a situation.
Countertransference
A tendency for the examiner to displace (transfer) their own feelings onto the client, and these feelings may influence the client.
Criminal law
A system of laws that punishes individuals who commit crimes.
Crisis
The inability to cope or adapt to a stressor.
Crisis Intervention Training Officer
A law enforcement or public safety professional who is specially trained to respond to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis or other behavioral emergencies.
Cultural humility
A humble and respectful attitude toward individuals of other cultures that pushes one to challenge their own cultural biases, realize they cannot know everything about other cultures, and approach learning about other cultures as a life-long goal and process.[3]
Culture
A complex context of knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors that provide structure to specific ethnic, racial, religious, geographic, or social groups. Cultural humility: A lifelong process of self-reflection and self-critique whereby individuals actively engage in learning about different cultural perspectives while acknowledging the limitations of their own knowledge.
Cyclothymia
A disorder defined by periods of hypomanic symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms lasting for at least two years (1 year in children and adolescents). However, the symptoms do not meet the diagnostic requirements for hypomanic episodes or depressive episodes.
D
Damages
What the plaintiff requests from the court in order to remedy the injured party’s situation.
Decontamination
Any process that removes or neutralizes a chemical hazard on or in the client in order to prevent or mitigate adverse health effects to the client; protect emergency first responders, health care facility first receivers, and other clients from secondary contamination; and reduce the potential for secondary contamination of response and health care infrastructure.
Defamation of character
Actions when an individual makes negative, malicious, and false remarks about another person to damage their reputation.
Defendants
The parties named in the lawsuit.
Defense mechanisms
Unconscious reaction patterns used by individuals to protect themselves from anxiety that arises from stress and conflict.[3]
Defense mechanisms
Reaction patterns used by individuals to protect themselves from anxiety that arises from stress and conflict.
Delirium
An onset of an abnormal mental state, often with fluctuating levels of consciousness, disorientation, irritability, and hallucinations. Delirium is often associated with infection, metabolic disorders, or toxins in the central nervous system.
Delirium tremens (DTs)
A rapid-onset, fluctuating disturbance of attention and cognition, sometimes associated with hallucinations, due to alcohol withdrawal. In its most severe manifestation, DTs are accompanied by agitation and signs of extreme autonomic hyperactivity, including fever, severe tachycardia, hypertension, and drenching sweats. DTs typically begin between 72 and 96 hours after the client’s last drink.
Delusion
A fixed, false belief not held by cultural peers and persisting in the face of objective contradictory evidence. For example, a client may have the delusion that the CIA is listening to their conversations via satellites.
Delusions
A fixed, false belief not held by cultural peers and persisting in the face of objective contradictory evidence. For example, a client may have the delusion that the CIA is listening to their conversations via satellites.
Dependence
A condition that develops with chronic uses of a substance that causes a person to experience withdrawal symptoms if the substance is suddenly stopped.
Depression
A mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest or pleasure in activities, and various emotional and physical problems that interfere with daily functioning.
Depressive disorder due to another medical condition
When a person experiences a persistent depressed mood or a significant loss of interest or pleasure in activities, and these symptoms are directly caused by a medical illness or condition.
Depressive episode
An episode where the person experiences a depressed mood (feeling sad, irritable, empty) or a loss of pleasure or interest in activities for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. Several other symptoms are also present, which may include poor concentration, feelings of excessive guilt or low self-worth, hopelessness about the future, thoughts about dying or suicide, disrupted sleep, changes in appetite or weight, and feeling especially tired or low in energy.
Development
Physical, social, and cognitive changes that occur continuously throughout one’s life.
Developmental disabilities
A group of conditions with physical, learning, language, or behavioral impairments.
Developmental monitoring
Routine screenings for developmental delays during well-child visits based on observations of the child and discussion with parents.
Developmental screening
Formal questionnaires or checklists based on research that ask questions about a child’s development, including language, movement, thinking, behavior, and emotions.
Deviance
Behavior that violates social norms or cultural expectations because one’s culture determines what is “normal.”
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
The manual used to make mental health diagnoses established by mental health experts.
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
A structured, evidence-based psychotherapy that combines cognitive behavioral techniques for emotion regulation and reality-testing with concepts of mindfulness, acceptance, and dialectics (the idea that two seemingly opposite things can both be true).
Disaster
A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society at any scale due to hazardous events interacting with conditions of exposure, vulnerability, and capacity that lead to human, material, economic, and environmental losses and impacts.
Disaster management
Response to a disaster with integration of emergency response plans throughout the life cycle of a disaster event.
Disheveled
A client’s hair, clothes, or hygiene appears untidy, disordered, unkempt, or messy.
Dissociation
A break in how the mind handles information, causing a person’s disconnection from their thoughts, feelings, memories, and surroundings.
Dissociative symptoms
The experience of detachment or feeling as if one is outside one’s body with loss of memory.
Distractibility
A state when the client’s attention is easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli.
Distress
Psychological and/or physical pain.
Dopamine
A neurotransmitter that plays an essential role in several brain functions, including learning, motor control, reward, emotion, and executive functions.
Drug diversion
The act of redirecting medication from its intended destination for personal use, sale, or distribution to others. It includes drug theft, use, or tampering (adulteration or substitution). Drug diversion is a felony that can result in a nurse’s criminal prosecution and loss of license.[3]
Dyscalculia
A learning disorder with difficulty with math.
Dysfunction
Disturbances in a person’s thinking, emotional regulation, or behavior that reflects significant dysfunction in psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning.
Dysgraphia
A learning disorder with difficulty with writing.
Dyskinesia
Uncontrolled, involuntary movements.
Dyslexia
A learning disorder with difficulty with reading.
Dysphoric
A client’s mood or affect exhibiting persistent sadness or depression.
Dystonia
Involuntary contractions of muscles of the extremities, face, neck, abdomen, pelvis, or larynx in either sustained or intermittent patterns that lead to abnormal movements or postures.
E
Eating disorders (EDs)
Mental health conditions characterized by disturbances in eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions.
Echolalia
Repetitive imitation or echoing of words or phrases spoken by others.
Echolalia
Pathological repetition of another person’s words.
Echolalia
Pathological repetition of another person’s words.
Echopraxia
Mimicking the movements of another person.
Ego synotic
Behaviors and thoughts are consistent with the individual’s self-perception and are not seen as problematic by the individual, despite causing significant issues in their life.
Elder abuse
An intentional act or failure to act that causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult aged 60 or older.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
A medical treatment reserved for clients with severe major depression who have not responded to medications, psychotherapy, or other treatments. It involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the client is under anesthesia.
Emaciation
A condition of extreme thinness.
Emergency admission
Individuals are admitted to psychiatric facilities under emergency admission status when they are deemed likely to harm themselves or others.
Emergency preparedness
The planning process focused on avoiding or ameliorating the risks and hazards resulting from a disaster to optimize population health and safety. The process includes four key concepts: preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. Evaluation occurs after a disaster event as the planning process continues.
Emotion-focused coping
Adaptive coping strategies such as practicing mindfulness, meditation, and yoga; using humor and jokes; seeking spiritual or religious pursuits; engaging in physical activity or breathing exercises; and seeking social support.
Emotional abuse
Verbal or nonverbal behaviors that inflict anguish, mental pain, fear, or distress, such as humiliation or disrespect, verbal and nonverbal threats, harassment, and geographic or interpersonal isolation.
Entitlement
Unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment.
Environmental health hazard
A substance or pathogen that has the ability to cause an adverse health event in individuals or communities.
Environmental risk assessment
Identification of physical environment features that could be used to attempt suicide in clients identified as at a high risk for suicide.
Euphoric
A pathologically elevated sense of well-being.
Euthymic
Normal affect and mood with a wide range of emotion appropriate for the situation.
Exposure and response prevention (ERP)
A type of psychotherapy effective in reducing compulsive behaviors in clients with OCD. ERP includes spending time in the very situation that triggers compulsions (for example, touching dirty objects) but then being prevented from undertaking the usual resulting compulsion (e.g., handwashing).
Exposure therapy
A type of psychotherapy that focuses on confronting the fears underlying an anxiety disorder to help people engage in activities they have been avoiding.
Expressive language disorder
Difficulty communicating thoughts using language due to not knowing the words to use, not knowing how to put words together, or not being able to express the words.
Extrapyramidal symptoms
Involuntary or uncontrollable movements, tremors, and muscle contractions that can occur with antipsychotic medications.
Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)
Adverse effects, such as akathisia, rigidity, bradykinesia, tremor, and acute-dystonic reactions, that can occur from first-generation antipsychotics,
F
False imprisonment
An act of restraining another person and causing that person to be confined in a bounded area.
Family dynamics
Patterns of interactions among relatives, their roles and relationships, and the various factors that shape their interactions. Because family members rely on each other for emotional, physical, and economic support, they are primary sources of relationship security or stress. Family dynamics and the quality of family relationships can have either a positive or negative impact on an individual’s health.
Family-based therapy
A type of psychotherapy in which parents take an active role in managing their child’s eating behaviors and weight restoration.
Family-focused therapy
Psychotherapy that focuses on psychoeducation, communication enhancement training, and problem-solving skills. It includes attention to family dynamics and relationships as contributing factors to the client’s mood.
Financial abuse
The illegal, unauthorized, or improper use of money, benefits, belongings, property, or assets for the benefit of someone other than the individual.
First-generation antipsychotics
Also referred to as “typical antipsychotics”; this class of medications has several potential adverse effects due to the blockage of dopamine receptors. Medication is prescribed based on the client’s ability to tolerate the adverse effects.
Flat
No emotional expression.
Flat affect
A reduced expression of emotions via facial expression or voice tone.
Flight of ideas
A state where the client frequently shifts from one topic to another with rapid speech, making it seem fragmented. The examiner may feel the client is rambling and changing topics faster than they can keep track, and they probably can’t get a word in edgewise.[4] An example of a client exhibiting a flight of ideas is, “My father sent me here. He drove me in a car. The car is yellow in color. Yellow looks good on me.”[5]
Focus groups
A systematic way of collecting data through small group discussion. Focus group participants are chosen to represent a larger group of people.
Fraud
An intentional tort that occurs when an individual is deceived for personal gain.
G
Gamma-aminobutyric acid and Glycine
Inhibitory neurotransmitters that act like brakes in a car by slowing down overexcited nerve cells. Low levels of GABA are associated with seizures, anxiety, mania, and impulse control. Pregabalin is an anticonvulsant that mimics the effects of GABA and is used to treat generalized anxiety disorder.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Excessive anxiety and worry occurring for at least six months about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance).
Geophagia
Clay eating.
Glutamate
An excitatory neurotransmitter. Elevated levels of glutamate are associated with psychosis that can occur with schizophrenia, as well as with illicit drug use such as methamphetamines. Conversely, lamotrigine, a medication used to treat bipolar disorder, inhibits glutamate.
Grandiose delusions
A state of false attribution to the self of great ability, knowledge, importance or worth, identity, prestige, power, accomplishment.[6] Clients may withdraw into an inner fantasy world that’s not equivalent to reality, where they have inflated importance, powers, or a specialness that is opposite of what their actual life is like.
Grandiose delusions
A symptom associated with bipolar disorders of feeling unusually important, talented, or powerful.
Group therapy
A type of psychotherapy that brings people with similar disorders together in a supportive environment to learn how others cope in similar situations.
H
Hallucinations
False sensory perceptions not associated with real external stimuli that can include any of the five senses (auditory, visual, gustatory, olfactory, and tactile). For example, a client may see spiders climbing on the wall or hear voices telling them to do things. These are referred to as “visual hallucinations” or “auditory hallucinations.”
Hallucinations
False sensory perceptions not associated with real external stimuli that can include any of the five senses (auditory, visual, gustatory, olfactory and tactile). For example, a client may see spiders climbing on the wall or hear voices telling them to do things. These are referred to as “visual hallucinations” or “auditory hallucinations.”
Hallucinogens
A class of drugs that alter a person’s thoughts, feelings and awareness of their surroundings.
Health
A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Health disparities
Health differences that are linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantages. Health disparities adversely affect groups of people who often experience greater obstacles to health based on individual characteristics, such as socioeconomic status, age, gender, culture, religion, mental illness, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Health disparities
Health differences that are linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantages.
Health equity
A goal of everyone having a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
Health equity
The attainment of the highest level of health for all people.
Health inequities
Avoidable differences in health status seen within and between communities.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Federal regulations to ensure the privacy and protection of personal records and information.
Healthy community
A community in which local groups from all parts of the community work together to prevent disease and make healthy living options accessible.
Heavy drinking
Excessive drinking defined as a female consuming 8 or more drinks per week and a male consuming 15 or more standard drinks per week, or either gender binge drinking on 5 or more days in the past 30 days.
Histamine
A substance that mediates homeostatic functions in the body, promotes wakefulness, modulates feeding behavior, and controls motivational behavior. For example, diphenhydramine, a histamine antagonist, causes drowsiness.
Homicidal ideation
Threats or acts of life-threatening harm towards another person.
Human trafficking victims
Individuals forced to work or provide commercial sex against their will in legal business settings and underground markets.
Hypertensive crisis
A condition that can be caused by MAOIs with severe hypertension (blood pressure greater than 180/120 mm Hg) and evidence of organ dysfunction. Symptoms may include occipital headache (which may radiate frontally), palpitations, neck stiffness or soreness, nausea or vomiting, sweating, dilated pupils, photophobia, shortness of breath, or confusion.
Hypertensive crisis
An acute rise and significantly elevated blood pressure, typically over 180/120 mm Hg, that causes acute end-organ damage such as stroke, myocardial infarction, or acute kidney damage. It can be caused by monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), a class of antidepressants.
Hypomanic episode
Episodes similar to symptoms of a manic episode, but they are less severe and do not cause significant impairment in social or occupational functioning or require hospitalization.
I
Ideas of reference
False beliefs that coincidental events relate to oneself. For example, a person shopping in a store sees two strangers laughing and believes they are laughing at them, when in reality the other two people do not even notice them.
Illusions
Misperceptions of real stimuli. For example, a client may misperceive tree branches blowing in the wind at night to be the arms of monsters trying to grab them.
Illusions
Misperceptions of real stimuli. For example, a client may misperceive tree branches blowing in the wind at night to be the arms of monsters trying to grab them.
Impairment
A limited ability to engage in activities of daily living (i.e., they cannot maintain personal hygiene, prepare meals, or pay bills) or participate in social events, work, or school.
Inclusiveness
The practice of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those having physical or mental disabilities or belonging to other minority groups.[7]
Indicated prevention
Interventions that target individuals who have a high probability of developing disease.
Individual trauma
Trauma resulting from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening and can have lasting adverse effects on their functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being. Adverse childhood experiences are examples of individual traumas.
Informed consent
The fundamental right of an individual to receive information about the risks, benefits, and alternatives in order to make a health care decision.
Inhalants
Various products easily bought or found in the home, such as spray paints, markers, glue, gasoline, and cleaning fluids. People who use inhalants breathe in the fumes through their nose or mouth, usually by sniffing, snorting, bagging, or huffing.
Insight
The client demonstrates awareness of their situation.
Integrative therapies
Psychotherapy that selects theoretical models or techniques from various therapeutic schools to suit the client’s particular problems.[8]
Intellectual disability
A diagnostic term that describes intellectual and adaptive functioning deficits identified during the developmental period prior to the age 18.
Intellectual disability
A person’s ability to learn at an expected level and function in daily life is limited.
Intentional tort
A wrong that the defendant knew (or should have known) would be caused by their actions.
Interpersonal therapy
Therapy that focuses on developing healthy relationships with others.
Interviews
Structured conversations with specific individuals who have experience, knowledge, or understanding about a topic or issue.
Intimate partner violence (IPV)
Abuse or aggression that occurs in a romantic relationship. IPV can include physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, or psychological aggression.
Intoxication
A disturbance in behavior or mental function during or after the consumption of a substance.
Involuntary admission
Circumstances when a person becomes so mentally ill they are at risk of hurting themselves or others, and inpatient care becomes necessary even though the individual does not desire inpatient care.
J
Justice
A moral obligation to act on the basis of equality and equity and a standard linked to fairness for all in society.
K
Key informant interviews
Interviews are conducted with select people who are in key positions and have specific areas of knowledge and experience.
L
Labile
Rapid changes in emotional responses, mood, or affect that are inappropriate for the moment or the situation.
Lanugo
Growth of fine hair all over the body.
Latency
A delayed response to a question or comment.
Leading health indicators (LHIs)
A subset of high-priority Healthy People 2030 objectives to drive action toward improving health and well-being.
Learning disorder
Difficulty in one or more areas of learning, even when a child’s overall intelligence or motivation are not affected.
Libel
Written defamation.
Light therapy
Therapy for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) that involves sitting in front of a light therapy box that emits a very bright light. It usually requires 20 minutes or more per day, typically first thing in the morning during the winter months. Most people see some improvements from light therapy within one or two weeks of beginning treatment.
Lithium toxicity
Lithium has a narrow therapeutic range of 0.8 to 1.2 mEq/L. Levels above this range cause lithium toxicity. Signs of early lithium toxicity include diarrhea, vomiting, drowsiness, muscular weakness, and lack of coordination. At higher levels, giddiness, ataxia, blurred vision, tinnitus, and a large output of dilute urine may occur.
Loose associations
Jumping from one idea to an unrelated idea in the same sentence. For example, the client might state, “I like to dance; my feet are wet.”[9] The term “word salad” refers to severely disorganized and virtually incomprehensible speech or writing, marked by severe loosening of associations.[10] Magical thinking: A cognitive process in which an individual believes that their thoughts, words, or actions can directly influence events in the physical world in a way that defies the laws of cause and effect.
Loose associations
Jumping from one idea to an unrelated idea in the same sentence. For example, the client might state, “I like to dance; my feet are wet.”
M
Magical thinking
The idea that one can influence the outcome of specific events by doing something that has no bearing on the circumstances. For example, a person watching a baseball game exhibits magical thinking when believing that holding the remote control in a certain position caused their favorite player to hit a home run.
Magical thinking
Falsely believing that reality can be changed simply by one’s thoughts.
Major depressive episode
A period of at least two weeks during which a person experiences a persistently depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities, most of the day, nearly every day.
Major life activities
Activities of daily living such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.[1]
Maladaptive coping responses
Ineffective responses to stressors such as avoidance of the stressful condition, withdrawal from a stressful environment, disengagement from stressful relationships, and misuse of drugs and/or alcohol.
Malpractice
A specific term used for negligence committed by a health professional with a license.
Mandated reporters
Nurses and other professionals required by state law to report suspected neglect and/or abuse of children, adults at risk, and the elderly.
Mandated reporters
Nurses and other professionals required by state law to report suspected neglect or abuse of children, adults at risk, and the elderly they see in the course of their professional duties.
Manic episode
A persistently elevated or irritable mood with abnormally increased energy lasting at least one week. The mood disturbance is severe and causes marked impairment in social or occupational function. Severe episodes often require hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
A theory commonly used to prioritize the most urgent client needs.
Maturational crisis
A type of developmental crisis that occurs during normal life transitions or stages of growth.
Mental health
A state of well-being in which an individual realizes their own abilities, copes with the normal stresses of life, works productively, and contributes to their community.[2]
Mental health continuum
A continuum of mental health, ranging from well-being to emotional problems to mental illness.
Mental health disorders among children
Serious changes in the way children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions, causing distress and problems getting through the day.
Mental illness
A health condition involving changes in emotion, thinking, or behavior (or a combination of these) associated with emotional distress and problems functioning in social, work, or family activities.[3]
Mental status examination
An assessment of a client’s level of consciousness and orientation, appearance and general behavior, speech, motor activity, affect and mood, thought and perception, attitude and insight, and cognitive abilities.
Mentalization-based therapy
A type of psychotherapy designed to help individuals improve their ability to understand and interpret their own and others’ mental states—such as thoughts, feelings, and intentions. The goals are to improve self-awareness and understanding of one’s own emotions and enhance empathy and understanding of others’ perspectives. This subsequently helps individuals develop better interpersonal skills and communication.
Metabolic syndrome
A cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Symptoms include increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. Weight, glucose levels, and lipid levels should be monitored regularly.
Migrant worker
A person who moves within their home country or outside of it to pursue work. Migrant workers usually do not intend to stay permanently in the country or region in which they work.
Milieu therapy
Nursing interventions used to assist health care consumers to make positive change and promote recovery by creating a therapeutic milieu. Milieu therapy includes interventions such as providing empathy, assisting in problem-solving, acting as a role model, demonstrating leadership, confronting discrepancies, encouraging self-efficacy, decreasing stimuli when necessary, and manipulating the environment so that the above interventions can be effective.[11]
Mitigation
Actions taken to prevent or reduce the cause, impact, and consequences of disasters.
Mood
The predominant emotion expressed by an individual.[12]
Motivational interviewing (MI)
A communication skill used to elicit and emphasize a client’s personal motivation for modifying behavior to promote health.
Music therapy
A behavioral intervention to improve an individual’s physical, psychological, cognitive, behavioral, and social functioning by listening to music, singing, or moving to music.
N
Negative symptoms
A category of symptoms of schizophrenia that includes loss of motivation, diminished feelings of pleasure in everyday life, flat affect, and reduced speaking.
Neglect
When a parent or caregiver fails, refuses, or is unable, for reasons other than poverty, to provide the necessary care, food, clothing, or medical or dental care, which seriously endangers the physical health of a child or vulnerable adult.
Negligence
The failure to exercise the ordinary care a reasonable person would use in similar circumstances.
Neologisms
Words or phrases created by someone with schizophrenia.
Neuroadaptations
Progressive changes in the structure and function of the brain as a result of substance misuse. These neuroadaptations compromise brain function and also drive the transition from controlled, occasional substance use to chronic misuse that can be difficult to control.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)
A rare but fatal adverse effect that can occur at any time during treatment with antipsychotics. It typically develops over a period of days to weeks and resolves in approximately nine days with treatment. Signs include increased temperature, severe muscular rigidity, confusion, agitation, hyperreflexia, elevation in white blood cell count, elevated creatinine phosphokinase, elevated liver enzymes, myoglobinuria, and acute renal failure.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)
A rare but potentially fatal adverse effect that can occur at any time during treatment with antipsychotics. Signs include increased temperature, severe muscular rigidity, confusion, agitation, hyperreflexia, elevation in white blood cell count, elevated creatinine phosphokinase, elevated liver enzymes, myoglobinuria, and acute renal failure. The antipsychotic should be immediately discontinued if these signs occur.
Neurotransmitters
Chemical substances released at the end of a neuron by the arrival of an electrical impulse. They diffuse across the synapse and cause the transfer of the impulse to another nerve fiber, a muscle fiber, or other structure. Neurotransmitters interact with specific receptors like a key and a lock.
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI)
Intentional self-inflicted destruction of body tissue without suicidal intention and for purposes not socially sanctioned. Common forms of NSSI include behaviors such as cutting, burning, scratching, and self-hitting.
Nonmaleficence
The bioethical principle that specifies a duty to do no harm and balances avoidable harm with benefits of good achieved.
Norepinephrine and Epinephrine
Substances that stimulate alpha- and beta-receptors in the sympathetic nervous system.
Nurse Practice Act
Law enacted by that state’s legislature that establishes regulations for nursing practice within that state and defines the scope of nursing practice.
Nurse-client relationship
A relationship that establishes trust and rapport with a specific purpose of facilitating therapeutic communication and engaging the client in decision-making regarding their plan of care.
Nursing diagnosis
A clinical judgment concerning a human response to health conditions/life processes or a vulnerability for that response, by an individual, family, group, or community.
Nursing process
A critical thinking model based on a systematic approach to client-centered care. Nurses use the nursing process to perform clinical reasoning and make clinical judgments when providing patient care.
O
Obsessions
Persistent thoughts, ideas, images, or impulses that are experienced as intrusive or inappropriate and result in anxiety, distress, or discomfort. Common obsessions include repeated thoughts about contamination, a need to have things in a particular order or sequence, repeated doubts, aggressive impulses, and sexual imagery. Obsessions are distinguished from excessive worries about everyday occurrences because they are not concerned with real-life problems.[13]
Obsessions
Repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause anxiety.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
A common chronic disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and/or behaviors (compulsions) they feel the urge to repeat over and over. Performing the compulsive behaviors often brings the person brief relief from the anxiety the obsessive thoughts cause them.
Obtundation
A moderate reduction in the client’s level of awareness so that mild to moderate stimuli do not awaken the client. When arousal does occur, the client is slow to respond.
Opiates
Powerful analgesics prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain (such as morphine and oxycodone). Opiates also include illicit drugs (such as heroin).
Opioid intoxication
A condition where a person is affected by opioid drugs to the point of being impaired and potentially ill.
Opioid receptors
Mu, delta, and kappa receptors that are stimulated by endogenous peptides released by neurons (such as endorphins) and exogenous opiates.
Opioid system
A system in the brain that controls pain and reward and addictive behaviors.
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
A behavioral disorder diagnosed when children act out persistently, causing serious problems at home, in school, or with peers.
Outcome
A measurable behavior demonstrated by the client who is responsive to nursing interventions.
P
Pagophagia
Ice eating.
Panic
The most extreme level of anxiety that results in significantly dysregulated behavior. The individual is unable to process information from the environment and may lose touch with reality.
Panic attacks
Sudden periods of intense fear that come on quickly and reach their peak within minutes. Attacks can occur unexpectedly or can be brought on by a trigger, such as a feared object or situation.
Paranoia
An irrational fear that can range from being suspicious to thinking someone is trying to kill you.
Paranoia
A condition characterized by delusions of persecution.[14] Clients often experience extreme suspiciousness, mistrust, or expression of fear. For example, a resident of a long-term care facility may have delusions that the staff is trying to poison them.
Parasympathetic Nervous System (PSNS) receptors
Nicotinic and muscarinic receptors that are stimulated by acetylcholine (ACh).
Perinatal depression
Depressive disorder that occurs during pregnancy.
Persistent depressive disorder
A chronic form of depression that is typically less severe in intensity than major depressive disorder but lasts much longer.
Personality
A relatively stable pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving that evolves over a person’s lifetime and is unique to each individual. It is influenced by one’s experiences, environment (surroundings and life situations), and inherited characteristics.
Personality disorder
An enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates significantly from the expectations of one’s culture. Its onset can be traced back to adolescence or early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts. This pattern of behavior is manifested in two or more of the following areas: cognition/perceptions, affect, interpersonal functioning, and impulse control.
Personality traits
Characteristics, whether considered good or bad, that make up one’s personality.
Phobia
An intense fear or aversion to specific objects or situations (e.g., flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection, or seeing blood).
Physical abuse
Injury inflicted on a child or vulnerable adult by other than accidental means. Physical injury includes, but is not limited to, lacerations, fractured bones, burns, internal injuries, severe or frequent bruising, or great bodily harm.
Pica
An eating disorder in which an individual repeatedly eats things that are not considered food with no nutritional value, such as paper, dirt, soap, hair, glue, or chalk.
Plaintiff
A person bringing a lawsuit.
Play therapy
A behavioral intervention that encourages children to express feelings such as anxiety, self-doubt, and fear through their natural play. It also allows them to work through painful or traumatic memories.
Positive symptoms
A category of symptoms of schizophrenia that include hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, disorganized speech, and alterations in behaviors.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
A disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, frightening, or dangerous event where they feel stressed or frightened even when they are not in danger.
Postpartum depression
Feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that may make it difficult for mothers of newborns to complete daily care activities for themselves and/or for their babies. Severe postpartum depression can lead to postpartum psychosis.
Postpartum psychosis
Severe postpartum depression can cause delusions (thoughts or beliefs that are not true), hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or smelling things that are not there), mania (a high, elated mood that often seems out of touch with reality), paranoia, and confusion. Women who have postpartum psychosis are at risk for harming themselves or their child and should receive help as soon as possible by calling 911 or taking the mother to the emergency room.
Poverty of content
A conversation in which the client talks without stating anything related to the question, or their speech in general is vague and meaningless.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
A severe and disabling form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that involves significant mood disturbances and physical symptoms occurring in the week or two before menstruation.
Preparedness
Planning, training personnel, and providing educational activities regarding potential disastrous events. Planning includes evaluating environmental risks and social vulnerabilities of a community.
Primary data collection
Data collected to better understand the community’s needs and/or study who may be affected by actions taken for the community. Primary data collection includes tools such as public forums, focus groups, interviews, windshield surveys, surveys, and participant observation.[1]
Primary prevention
Interventions aimed at susceptible populations or individuals to prevent disease from occurring. Immunizations are an example of primary prevention.
Primordial prevention
Risk factor reduction strategies focused on social and environmental conditions targeted for vulnerable populations.
Prioritization
The process of identifying the most significant problems and the most important interventions to implement based on a client’s current status.
Problem-focused coping
Adaptive coping strategies that typically focus on seeking treatment such as counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy.
Prolonged grief disorder
A disorder that is characterized by intense longing and preoccupation with the deceased person that persists beyond 12 months and causes significant impairment.
Protected Health Information (PHI)
Individually identifiable health information, including demographic data that relates to the individual’s past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition; the provision of health care to the individual; and the past, present, or future payment for the provision of health care to the individual.
Protective factors
Factors that help prevent substance use disorders from developing despite the risk factors that are present.
Psychiatric advance directive (PAD)
A legal document that describes a person’s preferences for future mental health treatment or names an individual to make treatment decisions for them if they are in a crisis and unable to make decisions.
Psychiatric-mental health nursing
The nursing practice specialty committed to promoting mental health through the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of behavioral problems, mental disorders, and comorbid conditions across the life span. Psychiatric-mental health nursing intervention is an art and a science, employing a purposeful use of self and a wide range of nursing, psychosocial, and neurobiological evidence to produce effective outcomes.[15]
Psychodynamic therapy
Therapy that promotes self-reflection and self-examination of problematic relationship patterns and unresolved conflicts.
Psychoeducation
Education that teaches the client about their medications, psychotherapies, and support groups available in the community.
Psychomotor agitation
A condition of purposeless, non-goal-directed activity.
Psychomotor retardation
A condition of extremely slow physical movements, slumped posture, or slow speech patterns.
Psychosis
Conditions where there is loss of contact with reality. Psychosis may be a symptom of a mental illness or other medical conditions. When a person experiences psychosis, their thoughts and perceptions are disturbed, and the individual has difficulty understanding what is real and what is not real. Symptoms of psychosis include delusions and hallucinations. Other symptoms include incoherent or nonsensical speech and behavior that is inappropriate for the situation.
Psychotherapy
A variety of treatment techniques that help an individual identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.
Psychotherapy interventions
Generally accepted and evidence-based methods of brief or long-term therapy, including individual therapy, group therapy, marital or couple therapy, and family therapy. These interventions use a range of therapy models including, but not limited to, psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral, and supportive interpersonal therapies to promote insight, produce behavioral change, maintain function, and promote recovery.[16]
Psychotic episode
An episode of psychosis that can include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior.[1]
Public forums
Public gatherings where citizens discuss important issues at well-publicized locations and times.
Public health nurses
Nurses who work across various settings in the community such as government agencies, community-based centers, shelters, and vaccine distribution sites.[2]
Purging
Behavior in eating disorders used to compensate for overeating, such as forced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives, or diuretics.
Q
Quaternary prevention
Actions taken to protect individuals from medical interventions that are likely to cause more harm than good and to suggest interventions that are ethically acceptable.
R
Racing thoughts
Fast-moving and often repetitive thought patterns that can be overwhelming. They may focus on a single topic, or they may represent multiple different lines of thought. For example, a client may have racing thoughts about a financial issue or an embarrassing moment.
Rapid cycling
At least four mood episodes associated with bipolar disorder occurring in a 12-month period.
Receptive language disorder
Difficulty understanding what others say due to not hearing the words (hearing loss) or not understanding the meaning of the words.
Recovery
A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential. Although abstinence from all substance misuse is a primary feature of a recovery lifestyle, it is not the only healthy feature.[4]
Recovery
Restoration efforts occur concurrently with regular operations and activities, such as preventing or reducing stress-related illnesses and excessive financial burdens.
Recovery
A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.[4]
Refeeding syndrome
A potentially fatal complication for any client with negligible food intake for more than five days that involves hypophosphatemia; serious sodium and fluid imbalances; changes in glucose, protein, and fat metabolism; thiamine deficiency; hypokalemia; and hypomagnesaemia.
Relapse
The return to substance use after a significant period of abstinence.
Remission
The status of individuals with severe substance use disorders who overcome their disorder with effective treatment and regain health and social function.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
Treatment that uses a magnet to activate specific sites in the brain.
Resilience
The ability to rise above circumstances or meet challenges with fortitude. Resilience includes the process of using available resources to negotiate hardship and/or the consequences of adverse events.
Resilience
The ability to rise above circumstances or meet challenges with fortitude.[5]
Resilience
The ability to overcome serious hardship or traumatic experiences.
Resiliency
The ability to cope with adversity and recover emotionally from a traumatic event.
Resilient zone
A healthy balance of stimulation by the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS).
Response
Actions taken in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, such as saving lives, treating injuries, and minimizing the effects of the disaster. Immediate needs are addressed, such as medical treatment, shelter, food, and water, as well as psychological support of survivors.
Restraint
Any manual method, physical or mechanical device, material, or equipment that immobilizes or reduces the ability of a client to move their arms, legs, body, or head freely.
Restraints
Devices used in health care settings to prevent clients from causing harm to themselves or others when alternative interventions are not effective.
Restricting type
Individuals severely limit the amount and type of food they consume and may engage in excessive exercise.
Rhabdomyolysis
Severe muscle breakdown that releases myoglobin into the bloodstream and subsequently clogging renal filtrations and causing kidney damage.
Role fidelity
Being responsible for providing competent nursing care.
Rumination
Obsessional thinking involving excessive, repetitive thoughts that interfere with other forms of mental activity.[17]
S
Safety plan
A set of actions that can help lower the risk of a person being hurt by an abusive partner that includes specific information and resources that increases their safety at school, home, and other places visited regularly.
Safety plan
A prioritized written list of coping strategies and sources of support that clients can use before or during a suicidal crisis. The plan should be brief, in the client’s own words, and easy to read. After the plan is developed, the nurse should problem solve with the client to identify barriers or obstacles to using the plan. It should be discussed where the client will keep the safety plan and how it will be located during a crisis.
Safety plan
A prioritized written list of coping strategies and sources of support that clients can use before or during a suicidal crisis. The plan should be brief, in the client’s own words, and easy to read. After the plan is developed, the nurse should problem solve with the client to identify barriers or obstacles to using the plan. It should be discussed where the client will keep the safety plan and how it will be located during a crisis.
Schizophrenia
A severe mental illness characterized by periods of psychosis for at least six months.
School nurse
Provide a specialized practice of nursing which protects and promotes student health, facilitates optimal development, and advances academic success.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
A type of depression causing symptoms during the fall and winter months when there is less sunlight and usually improves with the arrival of spring. SAD is more than just “winter blues.” The symptoms can be distressing and overwhelming and can interfere with daily functioning.
Seclusion
The involuntary confinement of a client alone in a room or area from which the client is physically prevented from leaving.
Seclusion
The confinement of a client in a locked room from which they cannot exit on their own. It is generally used as a method of discipline, convenience, or coercion.
Second-generation antipsychotics
Also referred to as “atypical antipsychotics”; this class of medication has fewer adverse effects because they block selective dopamine D2 receptors as well as serotonin. For this reason, they are generally better tolerated than first-generation antipsychotics.
Secondary analysis
Analyzing previously collected data and research about the community to determine community needs.
Secondary prevention
Interventions that emphasize early detection of disease and target healthy-appearing individuals with subclinical forms of disease.
Sedative, Hypnotic, and Anxiolytic
Medications that cause decrease in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity, resulting in behavioral and psychological changes.
Selected prevention
Interventions that target individuals or groups with greater risk factors for illness (and perhaps fewer protective factors) than the broader population.
Selective mutism
A condition when people fail to speak in specific social situations despite having normal language skills.
Separation anxiety
A condition of children being very afraid when away from parents or caregivers.
Separation anxiety disorder
A condition where an individual has a fear about being separated from people to whom they are attached.
Serious mental illness
Mental illness that causes disabling functional impairment that substantially interferes with one or more major life activities. Examples of serious mental illnesses that commonly interfere with major life activities include major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.[6]
Serotonin
A neurotransmitter that modulates multiple neuropsychological processes such as mood, sleep, libido, and temperature regulation. Abnormal levels of serotonin have been linked to many mental health disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. Many psychotropic medications target serotonin.
Serotonin syndrome
A syndrome caused by the combination of multiple medications that affect serotonin. It typically develops within 24 hours from the combination of medication and can range from mild to a life-threatening syndrome. Signs of serotonin syndrome include mental status changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations, coma), autonomic instability (e.g., tachycardia, labile blood pressure, hyperthermia), incoordination, or gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea). Serotonin syndrome, in its most severe form, can resemble neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).
Serotonin syndrome
A medical emergency that can occur in clients taking medications that affect serotonin levels.
Sexual abuse
Sexual intercourse or sexual touching; sexual exploitation; human trafficking; forced viewing of sexual activity; or permitting, allowing, or encouraging prostitution with a child or vulnerable adult.
Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START)
A triage system from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that prioritizes victims by color (red, yellow, green, and black) for efficient and effective treatment.
Slander
Spoken defamation.
SLUDGE
A mnemonic for anticholinergic side effects: Salivation decreased, Lacrimation decreased, Urinary retention, Drowsiness/dizziness, GI upset, Eyes (blurred vision/dry eyes).
SMART outcomes
Outcome statements should contain five components easily remembered using the SMART mnemonic: Specific, Measurable, Attainable/Action-oriented, Relevant/Realistic, with a Time frame.
SOLER
A mnemonic for effective nonverbal communication that stands for the following[1]: S: Sit and squarely face the client O: Open posture L: Lean towards the client to indicate interest in listening E: Eye contact R: Relax
Spirituality
A sense of connection to something larger than oneself that typically involves a search for meaning and purpose in life.
Splitting
A pattern of unstable and intense personal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.
Standard drink
14 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol. Examples of a standard drink are one 12-ounce beer, 8 – 9 ounces of malt liquor, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces distilled spirits.
Standards of Professional Nursing Practice
Authoritative statements from the American Nurses Association regarding the actions and behaviors that all registered nurses, regardless of role, population, specialty, and setting, are expected to perform competently.
Standards of Professional Performance
Twelve standards set by the American Nurses Association that describe a nurse’s professional behavior, including activities related to ethics, advocacy, respectful and equitable practice, communication, collaboration, leadership, education, scholarly inquiry, quality of practice, professional practice evaluation, resource stewardship, and environmental health.
State of emergency
Status that is declared when the public health or the economic stability of a community is threatened, and extraordinary measures of control may be needed.
Stigma
A cluster of negative attitudes and beliefs that motivates the general public to fear, reject, avoid, and discriminate against people with mental health disorders.
Stimulants
Include amphetamine-type substances, cocaine, and crack. Stimulants cause the release of dopamine in the brain and are highly addictive because the flood of dopamine in the brain’s reward circuit strongly reinforces drug-taking behaviors.
Stress response
The body’s physiological response to a real or perceived stressor. For example, the respiratory, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal systems are activated to breathe rapidly, stimulate the heart to pump more blood, dilate the blood vessels, and increase blood pressure to deliver more oxygenated blood to the muscles.
Stressors
Any internal or external event, force, or condition that results in physical or emotional stress. Amnie, A. G. (2018). Emerging themes in coping with lifetime stress and implication for stress management education. SAGE Open Medicine, 6. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2050312118782545 ↵ American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Stressor. APA Dictionary of Psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org ↵ American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Stressor. APA Dictionary of Psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org ↵
https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2050312118782545↵https://dictionary.apa.org↵https://dictionary.apa.org↵
Stupor
A state of unresponsiveness unless a vigorous stimulus is applied, such as a sternal rub. The client quickly drifts back into a deep sleep-like state on cessation of the stimulation.
Substance
A psychoactive compound with the potential to cause health and social problems, including substance use disorders. Substances can be divided into four major categories: alcohol, illicit drugs (including nonmedical use of prescription drugs), tobacco products, and over-the-counter drugs.
Substance misuse
The use of alcohol or drugs in a manner, situation, amount, or frequency that could cause harm to the user or to those around them.[5]
Substance use
The use (even one time) of any psychoactive substance.
Substance use disorder (SUD)
A chronic illness caused by repeated misuse of psychoactive substances (e.g., alcohol, caffeine, cannabis, hallucinogens, inhalants, opioids, sedatives, hypnotics, anxiolytics, stimulants, and tobacco) that have a common effect of directly activating the brain’s reward system.
Substance/Medication-induced depressive disorder
A type of depression that occurs as a direct result of using, misusing, or withdrawing from certain substances or medications.
Suicidal ideation
When an individual has been thinking about suicide but does not necessarily have an intention to act on that idea.
Suicidal ideation
Thoughts of killing oneself.
Suicide attempt
An action in which there is intent to end one’s life but the individual does not die as a result of their actions.
Suicide plan
An individual who has a plan for suicide, has the means to injury oneself, and has the intent to die.
Suicide risk assessment
Identifying the risk of a client dying by suicide by assessing suicidal ideation, plan, intent, suicidal or self-harm behaviors, risk factors, and protective factors.
Surveys
Standardized questions that are relatively easy to analyze and are beneficial for collecting information across a large geographic area, hear from as many people as possible, and explore sensitive topics.
Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) receptors
Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1, and Beta-2 receptors that are stimulated by epinephrine and norepinephrine.
T
Tardive dyskinesia (TD)
A syndrome of movement disorders that can occur in clients taking first-generation antipsychotics, persisting for at least one month and up to several years despite discontinuation of the medications. The movement disorders include akathisia, dystonia, tics, and other abnormal involuntary movements. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Desk reference to the diagnostic criteria from DSM-5. ↵
Tardive dyskinesia (TD)
A syndrome of movement disorders associated with antipsychotic medications that persists for at least one month and can last up to several years despite discontinuation of the medications.
Teen dating violence
Intimate partner violence that occurs during adolescence.
Telehealth
The use of digital technologies to deliver medical care, health education, and public health services by remotely connecting multiple users in separate locations.
Telehealth
The use of digital technologies to deliver medical care, health education, and public health services by connecting multiple users in separate locations.
Teletherapy
Mental health counseling over the phone or online with videoconferencing tools.
Tertiary prevention
Interventions implemented for symptomatic clients to reduce the severity of the disease and potential long-term complications.
Therapeutic communication
A type of professional communication defined as the purposeful, interpersonal, information-transmitting process that leads to client understanding and participation.[2] Stickley, T. (2011). From SOLER to SURETY for effective non-verbal communication. Nurse Education in Practice, 11(6), 395–398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2011.03.021 ↵ Abdolrahimi, M., Ghiyasvandian, S., Zakerimoghadam, M., & Ebadi, A. (2017). Therapeutic communication in nursing students: A Walker & Avant concept analysis. Electronic Physician, 9(8), 4968–4977. https://doi.org/10.19082/4968 ↵
[2]https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2011.03.021↵https://doi.org/10.19082/4968↵
Therapeutic milieu
A safe, welcoming, supportive, and functional physical treatment environment.
Tics
Sudden twitches, movements, or sounds that people do repeatedly with the inability to stop their body from doing these actions.
Tolerance
A need for progressively increased amounts of a substance to achieve the desired effect or a diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of a substance.
Tort
An act of commission or omission that gives rise to injury or harm to another and amounts to a civil wrong for which courts impose liability.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
A noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression when other depression treatments haven’t been effective.
Transference
When the client projects (i.e., transfers) their feelings to the nurse. For example, a client is feeling angry at a family member related to a previous disagreement and displaces the anger to the nurse during the interview. American Psychological Association. (n.d.). APA Dictionary of Psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/ ↵ Schofield, D. W. (2018). Cognitive deficits. Medscape. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/917629-overview ↵ American Nurses Association. (2021). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice (4th ed.). American Nurses Association. ↵ Martin, D. C. (1990). The mental status examination. In Walker, H. K., Hall, W. D., Hurst, J. W., (Eds.), Clinical methods: The history, physical, and laboratory examinations. (3rd ed.). Butterworths. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK320/ ↵ PsycholoGenie. (n.d.). The true meaning of flight of ideas explained with examples. https://psychologenie.com/flight-of-ideas-meaning-examples ↵ American Psychological Association. (n.d.). APA Dictionary of Psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/ ↵ Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries. (n.d.). Inclusion. Oxford University Press. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/inclusion ↵ American Psychological Association. (n.d.). APA Dictionary of Psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/ ↵ American Psychological Association. (n.d.). APA Dictionary of Psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/ ↵ American Psychological Association. (n.d.). APA Dictionary of Psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/ ↵ American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, and International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses. (2014). Psychiatric-mental health nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.) Nursebooks.org. ↵ Martin, D. C. (1990). The mental status examination. In Walker, H. K., Hall, W. D., Hurst, J. W., (Eds.), Clinical methods: The history, physical, and laboratory examinations. (3rd ed.). Butterworths. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK320/ ↵ American Psychological Association. (n.d.). APA Dictionary of Psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/ ↵ American Psychological Association. (n.d.). APA Dictionary of Psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/ ↵ American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, and International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses. (2014). Psychiatric-mental health nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.). Nursebooks.org. ↵ American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, and International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses. (2014). Psychiatric-mental health nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.). Nursebooks.org. ↵ American Psychological Association. (n.d.). APA Dictionary of Psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/ ↵
https://dictionary.apa.org/↵https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/917629-overview↵↵https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK320/↵https://psychologenie.com/flight-of-ideas-meaning-examples↵https://dictionary.apa.org/↵https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/inclusion↵https://dictionary.apa.org/↵https://dictionary.apa.org/↵https://dictionary.apa.org/↵↵https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK320/↵https://dictionary.apa.org/↵https://dictionary.apa.org/↵↵↵https://dictionary.apa.org/↵
Trauma
An event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful and that which can have lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)
An evidence-based treatment that helps children process trauma, develop coping skills, and reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress.
Trauma-informed care (TIC)
A strengths-based framework that acknowledges the prevalence and impact of traumatic events in clinical practice, placing an emphasis on instilling in clients a sense of safety, control, and autonomy over their life and health care decisions. The basic goals of TIC are to avoid retraumatization; emphasize survivor strengths and resilience; aid empowerment, healing, and recovery; and promote the development of survivorship skills.
Trauma-informed care (TIC)
A strengths-based framework that acknowledges the prevalence and impact of traumatic experiences in clinical practice. TIC emphasizes physical, psychological, and emotional safety for both survivors and health professionals and creates opportunities for survivors to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment referred to as resilience.[7]
Triage
Prioritizing care for individuals affected by a disaster or emergency.
U
Unintentional tort
A wrong that occurs when the defendant’s actions or inactions were unreasonably unsafe. Unintentional torts can result from acts of commission (i.e., doing something a reasonable nurse would not have done) or omission (i.e., failing to do something a reasonable nurse would do).
Universal prevention
Interventions designed to reach entire groups or populations such as schools, whole communities, or workplaces.
V
Veracity
Telling the truth.
Voluntary admission
An individual over age 16 who presents to a psychiatric facility and requests hospitalization. They are considered competent with the capacity to make health care decisions (unless determined otherwise).
Vulnerable population
A group of individuals who are at increased risk for health problems and health disparities.
W
Well-being
The “healthy” range of the mental health continuum where individuals are experiencing a state of good mental and emotional health.
Windshield survey
A form of direct observation of community needs while driving and literally looking through the windshield. Heaven, C. (n.d.). Section 1. Developing a plan for assessing local needs and resources. Center for Community Health and Development | University of Kansas. https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/assessing-community-needs-and-resources/develop-a-plan/main ↵ Greenwood, B. (2018). What are the primary roles of the community nurse? CHRON. https://work.chron.com/primary-roles-community-nurse-15144.html ↵
https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/assessing-community-needs-and-resources/develop-a-plan/main↵https://work.chron.com/primary-roles-community-nurse-15144.html↵
Withdrawal
A group of physical and mental symptoms that can range from mild to life-threatening when a person suddenly stops using a substance.
Withdrawal management
Interventions that manage the physical and emotional symptoms that occur after a person stops using a psychoactive substance; also referred to as detoxification. Withdrawal symptoms vary in intensity and duration based on the substance(s) used, the duration and amount of use, and the overall health of the individual. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, & Office of the Surgeon General. (2016). Facing addiction in America: The surgeon general's report on alcohol, drugs, and health. United States Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424857/ ↵ National Survey on Drug Use and Health. (2025). Welcome to the national survey on drug use and health (NSDUH). https://nsduhweb.rti.org/respweb/homepage.cfm ↵ Nyhus, J. (2021). Drug diversion in healthcare. American Nurse. https://www.myamericannurse.com/drug-diversion-in-healthcare/ ↵ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, & Office of the Surgeon General. (2016). Facing addiction in America: The surgeon general's report on alcohol, drugs, and health. United States Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424857/ ↵ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, & Office of the Surgeon General. (2016). Facing addiction in America: The surgeon general's report on alcohol, drugs, and health. United States Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424857/ ↵
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424857/↵https://nsduhweb.rti.org/respweb/homepage.cfm↵https://www.myamericannurse.com/drug-diversion-in-healthcare/↵https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424857/↵https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424857/↵
Workplace violence
Physically and psychologically damaging actions that occur in the workplace or while on duty. Examples of workplace violence include direct physical assaults (with or without weapons), written or verbal threats, physical or verbal harassment, and homicide.
Workplace violence
The act or threat of violence, ranging from verbal abuse to physical assaults, directed toward persons at work or on duty.
World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale (WHODAS)
A generic assessment instrument that provides a standardized method for measuring health and disability across cultures. Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. (2009). ADA Amendments Act of 2008 frequently asked questions. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/faqs/americans-with-disabilities-act-amendments ↵ World Health Organization. (2018). Mental health: Strengthening our response. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response ↵ American Psychiatric Association. (n.d.). What is mental illness? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness ↵ Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2014). Trauma-informed care in behavioral health services. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207201/ ↵ Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2014). Trauma-informed care in behavioral health services. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207201/ ↵ American Psychiatric Association. (n.d.). What is mental illness? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness ↵ Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2014). Trauma-informed care in behavioral health services. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207201/ ↵
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/faqs/americans-with-disabilities-act-amendments↵https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response↵https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness↵https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207201/↵https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207201/↵https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness↵https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207201/↵