A-D
E-H
I-L
M-P
Q-Z
100
c/o
What is complains of?
This is what we say when a patient is relaying subjective data. "The patient c/o a headache" for example.
100
HTN
What is hypertension, also known as high blood pressure?
100
LLE
What is the left lower extremity (aka left leg)?
100
Pt
What is a patient?
100
Standby
What is a term we use to describe a patient who mobilizes with someone present who does not need to put hands on the patient but needs to be nearby to assist with a device or to watchfully guard the patient who may have intermittent balance issues or other issues that may threaten their safety while moving.
200
AC & HS
What is before meals and at the hour of sleep?
Generally refers to the frequency with which many people who are diabetic have their blood sugars (or blood glucose levels) checked.
200
Heavy 2 Asst.
What is a heavy 2 person assisted patient for transfers?
This person is very weak or debilitated and needs the assistance of two people to help them move in bed or from one place to another. May use a machine or just body power to complete this task.
200
What is independent?
When a patient is deemed safe to move around their environment with the assistance of staff, they are referred to as independent and you will see this often written as a capital I in a circle.
200
PO
What is per oral (more commonly known as by mouth)?
200
Trach
What is a tracheostomy, a surgically created hole in one's neck to allow the passage of air in/ out of the trachea.
300
CPAP
What is a continuous positive airway pressure device?
This is a mask or nasal pillow connected to a machine that a person with sleep apnea wears at night to keep them breathing regularly.
300
Full Code
What is it called when a patient wants all medical interventions if their heart should stop, including chest compressions, drugs, defibrillation, artificial airway in a attempt to try to resuscitate them?
Unless you state otherwise, you are, by default, a full code.
300
LUQ
What is left upper quadrant?
Usually refers to a region on the abdomen, taken from the point of view of the patient. If you were to draw a t on a patient's abdomen, it would the 1/4 of the abdomen on the patient's left and to the top of the abdomen.
300
prone
What is the position in which a patient is lying face down?
Note that prONe have two of the same letters (ON) as in face dOwN.
300
tele
What is telemetry?
Telemetry is a cardiac monitoring system to allow clinicians to observe a patient's heart rhythms.
400
CVA
What is a Cerebrovascular Accident, more commonly known as a stroke?
400
High Fowler's
What do you call the position in which one is sitting up at a full 90 degrees in bed?
400
ileostomy
What is a stoma (a surgically created opening) that attaches part of the end of the small intestine to a hole outside the body to drain partially digested food?
400
NG
What is a Naso-Gastric tube?
An NG tube is inserted through the nose and fed down the esophagus to the stomach to either feed a person or to drain stomach contents.
400
Tx
What is treatment?
Sometimes this is also used to mean therapy, but not usually.
500
CHG
What is chlorhexidine gluconate?
This usually will refer to a disinfecting chemical used to clean patients' skin either pre-procedurally, or prophylactically to prevent infection while in the hospital.
500
Hoyer
What is a hoyer lift? A type of machine that attaches to a sling and allows us to move patients who are not strong enough to move themselves or who lack the body parts necessary to move themselves.
500
IJ
What is an internal-jugular venous catheter?
An IJ is a large IV, inserted in the jugular vein with a long catheter reaching to one's aorta. It is usually placed rather emergently.
500
PIV
What is a peripherally inserted intravenous catheter?
This is the kind of IV most people have. It is of a smaller diameter, comparatively.
500
tid
What is three times a day?