edema
Medical term Patient Preparation
Swelling from excess fluid in the tissues. An edematous (swollen) arm is not used for venipuncture; choose another site.
Related terms
- venipunctureEntering a vein with a needle to withdraw blood, usually at the antecubital area of the arm.
- deliriumSudden, often reversible confusion. A delirious patient may not give reliable identifiers, so a nurse or…
- diabetes mellitusLong-term condition in which glucose stays too high because the body makes little insulin, responds poorly…
- diurnal variationNormal rise and fall of some substances over the day; cortisol, for example, is highest in the morning and…
- dorsal hand veinsVeins on the back of the hand, the next site to assess when the antecubital veins cannot be used.
- empathyRecognizing and naming the patient's feeling while keeping the focus on them ("That sounds stressful")…
- express consentConsent the patient states directly, aloud or in writing; required for invasive or riskier procedures.
- fasting blood glucoseGlucose measured after at least 8 hours with no food or drink other than water.
- fasting specimenBlood drawn after no food or drink except water for the ordered time, at least 8 hours for fasting glucose…
Study Patient Preparation