Nursing Terminology

Acute

Sudden or sharp

Ambulatory

Able to walk

Aphasia

Inability to express oneself properly through speech and/or loss of verbal comprehension

Comatose

Condition of being in a sleep like state/ unconscious

Constipation

Infrequent of difficult bowel movements

Cognition

Ability to think and reason

Cyanosis

Bluish color to the skin due to lack of oxygen

Dementia

Progressive loss of mental function

Decubitus Ulcer

Ulcerated, worn away area of skin, aka pressure sore

Defecate

Bowel movement

Degeneration

Breakdown or deteriorate

Delusion

False, fixed belief

Diarrhea

Frequent, watery bowel movement

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing

Edema

Body tissues retain excessive amounts of water, swelling

Ethics

Knowing from right and wrong

Extremities

Arms and legs

Ethnicity

Special customs, language, heritage

Geriatrics

Study of the elderly

Hemorrhage

Excessive loss of blood

Hypertension

High blood pressure

Hypotension

Low blood pressure

Impaction

Tightly wedged hard stool in the bowel

Involuntary

Not able to control

Incontinent

Involuntary evacuation of urine or bowel movement

Neglect

Failure to provide services necessary to avoid physical or mental harm

Pathogen

Disease causing organism, germ

Prosthesis

Artificial body part

Pressure sore

Ulcerated wound away skin aka decubitus ulcer

Regress

Go back, child - like state

Sign

Evidence of illness that can be seen, heard, smelled, or touched

Symptom

Evidence of illness that a resident has to tell you what’s wrong

Standard precautions

Infection control practices used on all patients

Void

To urinate

Voluntary

Able to control

A

Axillary temp

Abd.

Abdomen

a.c.

Before meals

ADA

American Dietetic Association

ADL

Activities of daily living

ad lib

As desired

A.M.

Morning

B&B

Bowel and bladder program

b.i.d.

Twice a day

BM

Bowel movement

BP

Blood pressure

BRP

Bathroom privileges

C or w

With

C.C.

Cubic centimeter

C/O

Complains of

CVA

Stroke

DAT

Diet as tolerated

DNR

Do not resuscitate

H or Hr

Hour

H2O

Water

HOB

Head of bed

HOH

Hard of hearing

h.s

Bedtime/ hour of sleep

I&O

Intake and output

MI

Myocardial Infaction

Na

Sodium

NKA

No known allergies

NPO

Nothing by mouth

OOB

Out of bed

O.D

Right eye

O.S

Left eye

O.U

Both eyes

O2

Oxygen

OT

Occupational Therapy

Oz

Ounce= 30cc

p.c

After meals

Peri

Perineal

P.M.

Afternoon and evening

PT

Physical therapy

p.r.n.

As needed or desired

PROM

Passive range of motion

q

Every

q.d.

Every day

q.h.

Every hour

q.4.h.

Every four hours

q.i.d.

Four times a day

q.o.d

Every other day

R

Rectal

Rt

Right

W/o, S with line over it

Without

Stat

Immediately

SOB

Shortness of breath

TCH

Turn, cough, Hyperventilate

t.i.d.

Three times a day

TLC

Tender loving care

TPR

Temperature, pulse, respirations

V.S.

Vital signs

W/C

Wheel chair

Wt

Weight