NCLEX-PN®: Terminology

00:00 In this portion of our series, we're going to talk about specific NCLEX terminology and what it means on the test. Now you have likely seen the same words on your nursing school exams, but I want to break it down specifically what it means on the NCLEX.

00:16 So when you see the term "client" remember that this refers to an individual, a family or group, and that also includes significant others and a population. So don't assume when you see the word "client" that it just means one individual. Now, a client can also be the same as a resident or a patient, as an interchangeable term and you will most likely see the word or term "client" in an NCLEX question. Now, HCP. You'll see that in a question. That means a healthcare provider. Usually it's a primary healthcare provider, but a healthcare provider is any member of the healthcare team, usually it's a medical physician or some other specialty like a surgeon or nephrologist, could be a nurse practitioner, rock on, but anyone who is licensed and authorized to write prescriptions in the care of a patient. That's the definition of a healthcare provider.

01:12 So it can be a physician, a nurse practitioner, might even be a physician's assistant but it's going to be an HCP or a healthcare provider. You'll see that more often than you see the term physician or doctor. Now, UAP, unlicensed assistive personnel.

01:33 So this is any personnel that does not have a license, hence the name, unlicensed assistive personnel. Now, they are trained to function in a supportive role for you.

01:43 So, regardless of the title. So, when you think of things like CNAs or special task in whatever facilities you may have worked in or done clinicals, they may have their own unique name for it but the universal name on the NCLEX will be UAP. That covers all of the unlicensed personnel or in a supportive position. Now remember as an LPN, you can delegate to a UAP. Prescription. Okay, now this word means orders. So usually when I think of prescriptions, I think of like what you've written out for a medication. But in NCLEX world that includes orders, interventions, remedies, treatments, anything that's directly ordered by an authorized primary HCP, a healthcare provider. Now, age.

02:33 In general, if the age or age category isn't stated in the item like they don't tell you that's a young child or they don't tell you the years or that they're elderly, you can go ahead and consider them to be an adult, just a middle-aged adult. So if the age is not specified, then you know that this is a middle-aged adult person. If it's something specific like a pediatric or a geriatric client, then list the years or description in the stem of the question. Now, what about settings? When you talk about settings, the NCLEX can be anywhere, I mean anywhere. So, it could be acute and critical care, could be a long-term care rehab, it could be skilled care, outpatient care, or even community based in home care settings. So, keep in mind you're going to be answering questions from different perspectives of that setting. Remember I function differently in a home setting than I would in an acute care or critical care setting. So that's all part of the context of the questions and don't worry we're going to teach you how to break that down into questions in our later series.