II Glossary

ABCs: Airway, breathing, and circulation.

Actual problems: Nursing problems currently occurring with the patient.

Acuity: The level of patient care that is required based on the severity of a patient’s illness or condition.

Acuity-rating staffing models: A staffing model used to make patient assignments that reflects the individualized nursing care required for different types of patients.

Acute conditions: Conditions having a sudden onset.

Chronic conditions: Conditions that have a slow onset and may gradually worsen over time.

Clinical reasoning: “A complex cognitive process that uses formal and informal thinking strategies to gather and analyze patient information, evaluate the significance of this information, and weigh alternative actions.”^[1]

Critical thinking: A broad term used in nursing that includes “reasoning about clinical issues such as teamwork, collaboration, and streamlining workflow.”^[2]

CURE hierarchy: A strategy for prioritization based on identifying “critical” needs, “urgent” needs, “routine” needs, and “extras.”

Data cues: Pieces of significant clinical information that direct the nurse toward a potential clinical concern or a change in condition.

Expected conditions: Conditions that are likely to occur or anticipated in the course of an illness, disease, or injury.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: Prioritization strategies often reflect the foundational elements of physiological needs and safety and progress toward higher levels.

Ratio-based staffing models: A staffing model used to make patient assignments in terms of one nurse caring for a set number of patients.

Risk problem: A nursing problem that reflects that a patient may experience a problem but does not currently have signs reflecting the problem is actively occurring.

Time estimation: A prioritization strategy including the review of planned tasks and allocation of time believed to be required to complete each task.

Time scarcity: A feeling of racing against a clock that is continually working against you.

Unexpected conditions: Conditions that are not likely to occur in the normal progression of an illness, disease, or injury.