Prophylactic antibiotic premedication is the practice of prescribing limited antibiotic therapy to dental patients who are at risk of contracting microbial disease as a result of invasive dental procedures. This article does not cover prophylactic antibiotic use in orthopaedics (OWL Editor)

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) is a rehabilitation technique that was initiated over 50 years ago. It is used to stimulate the neuromuscular system in an effort to excite proprioceptors (sensory organs in muscles, tendons, bones and joints) in order to produce a desired movement

Pulse assessment is the detection of a patient's pulse. Purpose Pulse assessment is performed to establish a baseline on a patient's admission (from which to compare any significant changes), and to detect any abnormalities from the healthy state.

The pulse oximeter is a photoelectric instrument for measuring oxygen saturation of the blood.

Respiratory therapy is a therapeutic treatment for respiratory diseases and conditions. A respiratory therapist (RT) is a health care professional who usually provides these treatments and evaluates the patient's response to the treatments.

A restraint, or physical restraint, is a piece of equipment or device that restricts a patient's ability to move. Restraints may keep a patient from getting out of bed or moving arms and legs excessively.

Sensory testing involves the evaluation of a patient's perception in an effort to assess the integrity of the peripheral nervous system.

A thermometer is a device used to monitor temperature.

A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit is used to apply electrical currents through the skin to the nerves via electrodes in order to reduce chronic and acute pain from various causes.

Transfusion therapy refers to the process of administering whole blood or blood components to a patient through an intravenous (IV) needle or catheter placed in a patient's vein. Blood and blood products may be autologous (comprised of the patient's own blood), homologous (blood donated from another person), or synthetic (blood products developed in a laboratory). Some of the types of blood products available for transfusion include: whole blood, plasma, platelets, packed red blood cells (RBCs), leukocyte-poor RBCs, white blood cells (WBCs), clotting factors (II, VII, VIII, IX and X complex), anti-inhibitor coagulant complex, human antithrombin III, and human Rh (D) immune globulin.

Simply stated, vital signs are "signs of life." Temperature, beat of the heart (pulse), respiratory rate, and blood pressure signal that a person is alive. All of these vital signs can be observed, measured, and monitored. This will enable the assessment of the level at which the individual is functioning. Normal ranges of measurements of vital signs change with a person's age and medical condition.

Vital signs are the observation of temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure. Vital signs may be different in children those of adults or the elderly.

Vital signs are basic health status indicators. They include temperature, pulse, rate of respiration, and blood pressure. Several physiologic changes occur in the elderly which may impact the measurement of vital signs by the health care practitioner.

A wheelchair is a mobile chair used by individuals who have impairments that limit their ability to walk. A wheelchair prescription defines the specifications of a chair according to an individual's particular needs.

A wound is a disruption in the continuity of cells—anything that causes cells that would normally be connected to become separated. Wound healing is the restoration of that continuity. Several effects may result with the occurrence of a wound: immediate loss of all or part of organ functioning, sympathetic stress response, hemorrhage and blood clotting, bacterial contamination, and death of cells. The most important factor in minimizing these effects and promoting successful care is careful asepsis.