precaution (redirected from universal p)

precaution [pre-kaw´shun]

a protective measure taken in advance.

airborne p's a group of transmission-based precautions used when caring for patients who have diseases that spread through the air, such as tuberculosis, chickenpox, and measles. The patient should be in a private room.

aspiration p's in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as the prevention or minimization of risk factors in the patient at risk for aspiration.

bleeding p's in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as reduction of stimuli that may induce bleeding or hemorrhage in at-risk patients.

cardiac p's in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as the prevention of an acute episode of impaired cardiac function by minimizing myocardial oxygen consumption or increasing myocardial oxygen supply. See also myocardial infarction.

circulatory p's in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as the protection of a localized area with limited perfusion.

contact p's a group of transmission-based precautions used when caring for patients who have diseases that spread through direct skin to skin contact or through indirect contact with contaminated equipment.

droplet p's a group of transmission-based precautions used when caring for patients who have diseases that spread by droplets or dust particles, such as by coughing, sneezing, or talking or during procedures such as suctioning and bronchoscopy. The diseases include rubella, mumps, diphtheria, and influenza.

elopement p's in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as minimizing the risk of a patient leaving a treatment setting without authorization when departure presents a threat to the safety of the patient or others.

embolus p's in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as the reduction of the risk of an embolus in a patient with thrombi or at risk for developing thrombus formation.

fire-setting p's in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as the prevention of fire-setting behaviors.

isolation p's see isolation precautions.

laser p's in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as limiting the risk of injury to the patient related to use of a laser.

latex p's in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as reducing the risk of systemic reaction to latex. See also latex allergy.

malignant hyperthermia p's in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as prevention or reduction of malignant hyperthermia (hypermetabolic response to pharmacologic agents used during surgery).

pneumatic tourniquet p's in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as applying a pneumatic tourniquet while minimizing the potential for patient injury from use of the device.

seizure p's in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as prevention or minimization of potential injuries sustained by a patient with a known seizure disorder.

standard p's a classification of isolation precautions that replaces the former classifications of universal precautions and measures used for isolation of moist body products.

subarachnoid hemorrhage p's in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as the reduction of internal and external stimuli or stressors to minimize the risk of rebleeding prior to aneurysm surgery.

surgical p's in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as minimizing the potential for iatrogenic injury to the patient related to a surgical procedure.

transmission-based p's isolation precautions used when caring for patients with highly transmissible or epidemiologically important pathogens; these constitute additional measures beyond standard precautions. There are three types, depending on the type of disease the patient has: airborne precautions, droplet precautions, and contact precautions.

universal p's a group of measures formerly recommended for protection of noninfected individuals against bloodborne infections such as hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus, now replaced by the measures called standard precautions.