LPN TERMS

  • Hypoxia: Lack of oxygen

  • Ischemia: Reduction of blood supply

  • Anoxia: Absence or deficiency of oxygen reaching the tissues; severe hypoxia

  • Hypoxemia: Low blood oxygen

  • Atrophy: Decrease in cell size

  • Hypertrophy: Increase in cell size

  • Hyperplasia: Increase in cell number

  • Metaplasia: Reversible replacement of a differentiated cell type by another cell type

  • Dysplasia: Deranged cellular growth

  • Diaphoresis: Sweating

  • Paresthesia: Tingling, burning, itching, or prickling of the skin (“pins and needles”)

  • Diplopia: Seeing two images of a single object

  • Bradykinesia: Slowness of movement

  • Akinesia: Loss of voluntary muscle movement

  • Hyposmia: Reduced sense of smell or inability to detect odors

  • Hypertension: High blood pressure

  • Fever: Resetting of the hypothalamic thermostat to a higher level

  • Apnea: Brief period when breathing stops

  • Free Radicals: Unstable molecules that can cause cellular damage

  • NPO: Nothing by mouth

  • PO: By mouth

  • STAT: Immediately or instantly

  • Q or q: Every

  • QD or qd: Every day

  • TID: 3 times a day

  • QID: 4 times a day

  • QH, Q2H, Q3H, Q4H: Every hour, every 2 hours, every 3 hours, and every 4 hours

  • Q2: Oxygen or oxygenation

  • OOB: Out of bed

  • ROM: Range of motion

  • PPE: Personal protective equipment

  • I&E: Intake and output

  • CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

  • DNR: Do not resuscitate

  • T: Temperature or type screen

  • VS: Vital signs

  • ADL: Activities of daily living

  • PC: After meal

  • AC: Before meal

  • U/S: Ultrasound

  • NKA: No known allergies

  • KNDA: No known drug allergies

  • BM: Bowel movements

  • EKG: Electrocardiogram

  • EEG: Electroencephalogram

  • XR: Extended release or X-ray

  • DX: Diagnosis

  • OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

  • UTI: Urinary tract infection

  • CHF: Congestive heart failure

  • COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

  • IV: Intravenous

  • CVA: Cerebrovascular accident

  • PT: Physical therapy

  • Cardi-: Heart

  • Cephal-: Head

  • Dors-: Back

  • Home-: Same

  • Integ-: Skin covering

  • Vas-: Vessel

  • A-, An-: No, not, without, absent

  • Hyper-: Above, more than normal

  • Hypo-: Below, less than normal

  • Inter-: Between or among

  • Intra-: Within or inside

  • Extra-: Outside

  • Peri-: Around or surrounding

  • Para-: Beside

  • Sub-: Below

  • Supra-: Above or excessive

  • -itis: Inflammation

  • -ectomy: Surgical removal

  • -otomy: Cut into

  • -ology: Study of

  • Hydr-: Water

  • Sacchar-: Sugar, sweet

  • Gluc-: Sugar, sweetness, glucose

  • -ose: Sugar

  • -lys: To break apart

  • Lip-: Fat