Clinical Communication (SBAR & Documentation)
In the SBAR protocol, this letter represents the "S" and answers the question: "What is happening right now?"
What is Situation?
This is the universal emergency code announced over the hospital PA system when a patient has a cardiac arrest.
Answer: What is Code Blue?
This is the clinical term for "hinchazón" caused by fluid retention, common in heart failure.
Answer: What is Edema?
This is the ethical principle of "doing good" and acting in the best interest of the patient.
Answer: What is Beneficence?
The medical abbreviation for "Nothing by Mouth."
Answer: What is NPO?
This term refers to the process of giving clinical information to the next nurse during a shift change.
What is a Hand-off (or Handover)?
In the Triage system, this color is used for "Expectant" patients who have little to no chance of survival.
Answer: What is Black?
The medical abbreviation "PO" means the medication should be administered in this way.
Answer: What is By Mouth (or Orally)?
This is the term for the patient's right to make their own decisions about their medical care.
Answer: What is Autonomy?
This abbreviation stands for "Twice a day" and is commonly used for long-term medication orders.
What is BID? (Bis in die).
When documenting, this type of data refers to what the patient tells you, such as "I feel dizzy."
What is Subjective Data?
This is the priority level in Triage for patients with life-threatening injuries that need immediate action.
Answer: What is Emergent? (or Red).
This term describes a clean, surgical cut made in the skin during an operation.
Answer: What is an Incision?
The process of ensuring a patient understands a procedure before they sign a legal document.
Answer: What is Informed Consent?
The abbreviation "PO" means the medicine is taken this way.
What is By Mouth?
In SBAR, this is the "B", where you explain the patient's medical history and reason for admission.
Answer: What is Background?
This piece of equipment is used to provide an electrical shock to "restart" the heart during a Code Blue.
Answer: What is a Defibrillator?
This is the action of cleaning a wound and applying a new sterile bandage.
Answer: What is Wound Dressing?
This communication technique involves asking the patient to repeat instructions in their own words to confirm understanding.
Answer: What is the Teach-Back Method?
This abbreviation stands for "As Needed" (usually for pain meds).
Answer: What is PRN?
This is the specific term for the instructions and paperwork given to a patient when they are ready to leave the hospital.
What is Discharge Planning?
This is the English term for "obstrucción de la vía aérea," a top priority in the ABC assessment.
Answer: What is Airway Obstruction?
This type of medication is used specifically to prevent blood clots (often mentioned in post-op care)
Answer: What is an Anticoagulant? (or Blood thinner).
This term refers to the nurse's ability to understand and respect the patient's diverse beliefs and values.
Answer: What is Cultural Competence?
This stands for "Shortness of Breath," a common chief complaint.
Answer: What is SOB?