PAPER

NURSING TERMINOLOGY

BY GROUP 9
Names of group members : Windy N. R. Radja Kudji (PO5303209221048)
Yermia Nati (PO5303209221050)
Yolanda S. Alelang (PO5303209221051)
Yuniarti L. Manoh (PO5303209221052)
Yunitha G.I Taopan (PO5303209221053)
Course : English 1
Class : Level 2 PPN Regular C
Advisior : Mrs. Diana Rade Kale, SPd., MPd

MINISTRY OF HEALTH
NERS PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION STUDY PROGAM
THE HEALTH POLYTECHNIC OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH KUPANG
ACADEMIC YEAR 2023/2024

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 PREFACE
We would like to express our gratitude to the presence of Almighty God who has
bestowed His mercy and grace, so that we can complete this paper to fulfill the group
assignment for subject: English 1, with the title: nursing terminology.
We are fully aware that this paper is still far from perfection due to the limited
experience and knowledge we have. Therefore, we expect all forms of suggestions and
constructive criticism from various parties. Finally, we hope that this paper can provide benefits
for educational progress.

Kupang, 15 October 2023

Group 9

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE .......................................................................................................................... ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. iii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background ................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 1
CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................ 1
2.1 The Definition Of Nursing Terminology ..................................................................... 1
2.2 Simplified Medical Language ...................................................................................... 3
2.3 Writing Medical Terms ................................................................................................ 3
2.4 Eponyms ...................................................................................................................... 8
2.5 Abbreviations And Pharmacology ............................................................................... 8
2.6 Plural ............................................................................................................................ 9
2.7 Medical Specialists And Their Specialties ................................................................... 9
2.8 Surgical Procedures ..................................................................................................... 10
2.9 Body Structures............................................................................................................ 11
2.10 Symptoms Or Diagnosis ............................................................................................ 12
2.11 Miscellaneous Suffixes .............................................................................................. 14
2.12 Miscellaneous Word Parts ......................................................................................... 15
2.13 Numbers And Quantities ........................................................................................... 16
2.14 Position Or Direction ................................................................................................. 16
2.15 Miscellaneous Prefixes .............................................................................................. 18
2.16 Combining Forms For Colors .................................................................................... 20
2.17 Combining Forms And Related Suffixes ................................................................... 21
2.18 Miscellaneous Combining Forms .............................................................................. 22
2.19 Vital Signs ................................................................................................................. 24
2.20 Four Techniques In Physical Examination ................................................................ 25
2.21 Common Diagnostic Tests And Procedures .............................................................. 26
2.22 Organization Of The Body ........................................................................................ 26
2.23 Reference Plane ......................................................................................................... 27
2.24 Nursing Terms ........................................................................................................... 32

CHAPTER III .................................................................................................................. 37

3.1 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 37

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3.2 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 37
REFERENCE LIST .......................................................................................................... 38

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 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background
The field of nursing is an integral part of the healthcare system, playing a crucial
role in patient care and well-being. Effective communication within the healthcare
environment is paramount, and nursing terminology serves as a fundamental tool in
achieving this. Nursing terminology comprises a vast array of specialized terms and
acronyms that are used by healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, to describe
patient conditions, interventions, and outcomes. These terms are essential for ensuring
accurate documentation, effective communication between healthcare providers, and
the safe and quality care of patients.
The complexity and specificity of nursing terminology can, at times, be
daunting for both novice and experienced nurses. It includes a wide range of
classifications, categories, jargon and standardized language systems, such as 3S
(SDKI, SLKI, and SIKI) NANDA-I, NIC and NOC to name a few. Understanding the
types, functions, and proper utilization of nursing terminology is crucial for nurses to
document patient assessments, develop care plans, and communicate effectively with
other healthcare team members.
This paper aims to explore the various types of nursing terminology, their
significance, and the practical applications in healthcare settings. By delving into the
intricacies of nursing terminology, this research seeks to provide insights into how its
effective use can improve patient care, promote collaboration among healthcare
professionals, and ultimately contribute to better healthcare outcomes.
1.2 Objectives
Students are able to understanf and exolain about :
1. The Definition Of Nursing Terminology
2. Simplified Medical Language
3. Writing Medical Terms
4. Eponyms
5. Abbreviations And Pharmacology
6. Plural
7. Medical Specialists And Their Specialties
8. Surgical Procedures

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9. Body Structures
10. Symptoms Or Diagnosis
11. Miscellaneous Suffixes
12. Miscellaneous Word Parts
13. Numbers And Quantities
14. Position Or Direction
15. Miscellaneous Prefixes
16. Combining Forms For Colors
17. Combining Forms And Related Suffixes
18. Miscellaneous Combining Forms
19. Vital Signs
20. Four Techniques In Physical Examination
21. Common Diagnostic Tests And Procedures
22. Organization Of The Body
23. Reference Plane
24. Nursing Terms

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 CHAPTER II
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 The Definition Of Nursing Terminology

The term "nursing terminology" refers to a set of specific terms, phrases, words,
and language used in the field of nursing to describe various concepts, procedures,
interactions, and communications relevant to healthcare and nursing practice. This
terminology is employed to facilitate accurate understanding and communication
among nursing professionals. For a layperson, learning medical language may seem
difficult, but it becomes easier as one gets to know the origin and meaning of medical
terms. For healthcare professionals,it’s already second nature. The majority of the
medical terms are borrowed from Latin and Greek, but it’s unnecessary for you to learn
these languages to become experts in the use of and understanding of medical terms.
All you need to do is to study and learn word parts.

2.2 Simplified Medical Language

The building block for most medical terms is the word root, or the primary body
of a word. At times, a medical term can be made up of compound words. A compound
word may consist of two word roots, such as in the case of collarbone (collar + bone).
To facilitate the pronunciation of words, a combining vowel is placed in between word
roots. A significant number of medical terms use the vowel “o”. However, it’s good to
note that “o” isn’t the only vowel.

1. Word Parts
Medical terms are built from word parts. Those word parts are prefix, word root,
suffix, and combining form vowel. When a word root is combined with a
combining form vowel the word part is referred to as a combining form.
Examples :

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 Intravenous
Intra/ven/ous – Pertaining to within a vein.
Intra- is a prefix that means within
ven/o – is a combining form that means vein
-ous is a suffix that means pertaining to
Notice, when breaking down words that you place slashes between word parts
and a slash on each side of a combining form vowel
2. Language Rules
Language rules are a good place to start when building a medical terminology
foundation. Many medical terms are builtfrom word parts and can be translated
literally. At first, literal translations sound awkward. Once you build a medical
vocabulary and become proficient at using it, the awkwardness will slip away.
For example, suffixes will no longer be stated and will be assumed. The
definition of intravenous then becomes within the vein. Since you are at the
beginning of building your medical terminology foundation, stay literal when
applicable. It should be noted that as with all language rules there are always
exceptions and we refer to those as rebels.

Language Rules for Building Medical Terms

a. When combining two combining forms, you keep the combining form
vowel
b. When combining a combining form with a suffix that begins with a
consonant, you keep the combining form vowel.
Gastr/o/enter/o/logy – The study of the stomach and the intestines
- Following rule 1, when we join combining form gastr/o (meaning
stomach) with the combining form enter/o (meaning intestines) we
keep the combining form vowel o.
- Following rule 2, when we join the combining form enter/o
(meaning intestines) with the suffix -logy (that starts with a suffix
and means the study of) we keep the combining form vowel o.
c. When combining a combining form with a suffix that begins with a vowel,
you drop the combining form vowel.

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 d. A prefix goes at the beginning of the word and no combining form vowel is
used.
Intra/ven/ous – Pertaining to within the vein
- Following rule 3, notice that when combining the combining form
ven/o (meaning vein) with the suffix -ous ( that starts with a vowel
and means pertaining to) we drop the combining form vowel o.
- Following rule 4, the prefix intra- (meaning within) is at the
beginning of the medical term with no combining form vowel used
e. When defining a medical word, start with the suffix first and then work left
to right stating the word parts. You may need to add filler words. As long as
the filler word does not change the meaning of the word you may use it for
the purpose of building a medical vocabulary. Once you start to apply the
word in the context of a sentence it will be easier to decide which filler
word(s) to choose
Intra/ven/ous – Pertaining to within the vein or Pertaining to within a
vein.
- Following rule 5, notice that I start with the suffix -ous (that means
pertaining to) then we work left to right starting with the prefix Intra-
(meaning within) and the combining form ven/o (meaning vein).
- Notice that we have used two different definitions that mean the
same thing.
- In these examples we do not have the context of a full sentence. For
the purpose of building a medical terminology foundation either
definition is accepted.
3. Prefixes And Suffixes
Prefixes are located at the beginning of a medical term. The prefix alters the
meaning of the medical term. It is important to spell and pronounce prefixes
correctly. Many prefixes that you find in medical terms are common to English
language prefixes. A good technique to help with memorization is the following:
- Start by reviewing the most common prefixes.
- Consider common English language words that begin with the same
prefixes.
- Compare them to the examples of use in medical terms.

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Suffixes are word parts that are located at the end of words. Suffixes can alter the meaning of
medical terms. It is important to spell and pronounce suffixes correctly. Suffixes in medical
terms are common to English language suffixes. Suffixes are not always explicitly stated in the
definition of a word. It is common that suffixes will not be explicitly stated when defining a
medical term in the workplace. However, when transcribing or reading medical reports the
suffix is always clearly written. In order to properly spell and pronounce medical terms, it is
helpful to learn the suffixes.

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Prefixes and suffixes may accompany a word root to alter its meaning. A prefix is attached
before the word, while a suffix is placed at the end of a word root. Sometimes, a word may
consist of a prefix and a suffix only

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2.3 WRITING MEDICAL TERMS

Building words follows certain guidelines. Table 2 presents some common rules in word
building.

To better recognize the parts that make up a medical term, word division is commonly used
throughout this course. For instance, appendectomy may be written as append + ectomy to
highlight its component parts.

2.4 EPONYMS

Eponyms are names derived from a proper noun. They may originate from the name of a
person, place, or thing. In the medical field, diseases, organs, procedures, or body functions
can be eponyms; hence, they are frequently capitalized. Examples of eponyms include
Alzheimer’s disease, after Alois Alzheimer, and Babinski sign, after Joseph Babinski.

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2.5 ABBREVIATIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

- An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Abbreviations can be in the

form of: Letters: The abbreviation for chest x-ray is CXR.
- Shortened words: The abbreviation “tab” is short for “tablet.”
- Acronyms: The acronym CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation

The branch of science that deals with the preparation, properties, uses, and actions of drugs is
known as pharmacology. Drugs, most commonly referred to as medicines, are used in the
prevention and treatment of diseases. Concepts related to drugs include the following:

- Route of administration: ways in which drugs can be given (usually via the mouth or
via an injection)
- Generic name: nonproprietary name of the drug (for example, ibuprofen)
- Trade name: company name, otherwise known as the brand name (for example, Motrin)

2.6 Plural

The plural form of many medical terms follows the rules used in common language.

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2.7 MEDICAL SPECIALISTS AND THEIR SPECIALTIES

Identifying medical specialists and their specialties is made easy by recognizing the meanings
of the suffixes attached to the word root. For example, the suffix -logy refers to the “study or
science of.” Anesthesiology is the branch of medical science that specifically, deals with the
study of anesthesia or anesthetics. On the other hand, the suffix -logist means “one who studies”
or “specialist.” An anesthesiologist is a physician who specializes in anesthesia. It’s important
not to confuse anesthesiologist with anesthetist. The suffix -ist means “one who”; hence, an
anesthetist is one who administers anesthesia. An anesthetist can be a physician or a nurse,
while an anesthesiologist is a medical doctor or physician. Study the following suffixes and
their meanings.

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The following table lists some of the most common combining forms associated with medical
specialties and specialists.

2.8 SURGICAL PROCEDURES

A significant number of medical terms refer to surgical procedures. Generally, the suffixes used
will give you an idea about the type of surgery or procedure performed. For instance, the suffix
-ectomy means surgical removal. Polypectomy and adrenalectomy refer to the excision or
removal of polyps and adrenal glands, respectively. Knowing a familiar word related to the
suffix makes it easier to analyze a medical term. This process is known as word association.
Take a look at the following table.

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2.9 BODY STRUCTURES

Some of the combining forms for body structures have already been introduced when naming
medical specialists. In this section, you’ll be presented with additional combining forms and
the most frequent word associations used. Hepat/o is one of the most common combining forms
used in the medical field. Note that hepat/o means liver; hence, hepatitis refers to an
inflammatory condition of the liver. More examples are presented in the following table.

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2.10 SYMPTOMS OR DIAGNOSIS

Symptom and diagnosis are common terms used in the medical field. A symptom indicates a
disorder or disease in which changes in health status are perceived by the client. For instance,
a client says: “My stomach hurts.” Diagnosis, on the other hand, is the scientific determination
of a disease process or condition after evaluation. “Peptic ulcer disease” is an example of a
medical diagnosis.

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2.11 MISCELLANEOUS SUFFIXES

Aside from the suffixes categorized earlier, there are other various suffixes that are widely
utilized by healthcare professionals. As you go further into the course, you should become more
familiar with these suffixes. The following is a list of select miscellaneous suffixes

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2. 12 MISCELLANEOUS WORD PARTS

These word parts aren’t categorized under a specific group, but note that they’re frequently
used in medical terminologies. The word microscope (word part= micro), for example, is used
not only by healthcare professionals but in customary language as well.

2.13 NUMBERS AND QUANTITIES

The medical field, like any other group of professions, makes use of terms related to numbers
and quantities. The prefixes used in these medical terms are the same ones we use in everyday
language. For example, the prefix bi- is a prefix which means two. Examples of words
associated with this prefix include bicycle (a vehicle with two wheels) and biannual (an event

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occurring twice a year). The prefix bi- has the same meaning when used in medical language.
Bicuspid means two cusps or valves, as in the case of heart valves. Study the following table
for more examples

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2.14 POSITION OR DIRECTION

Knowledge of the prefixes used in identifying positions or directions is essential in

understanding medical terminologies. You might have heard the word postoperative. This term
refers to the period following surgery. Note that the prefix post- means after. Inversely, pre-

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denotes before. Thus, the term preoperative refers to the period prior to surgery. More positional
or directional suffixes are outlined in the following table

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2.15 MISCELLANEOUS PREFIXES

Miscellaneous prefixes are easy to remember since most of them are being used frequently,
even in lay conversations. To promote organization of content, these miscellaneous prefixes
are categorized into the following: (1) related to description, (2) related to time, (3) related to
size, and (4) related to negation.

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2.16 COMBINING FORMS FOR COLORS

Medical terms also utilize combining forms for colors. Unlike the combining forms discussed
in the earlier chapters, these forms are not generally used in everyday conversations. Most of
these forms are used in the health sciences. The following table lists the most common
combining forms for colors and their meanings.

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2.17 COMBINING FORMS AND RELATED SUFFIXES

Some combining forms are closely associated with suffixes that are commonly used to write
medical terms. These suffixes can be used to form nouns and adjectives. Note that all the
suffixes in the following list form nouns except for those ending in -ic and -tic, which are used
to form adjectives. For example, phagocytes (with the suffix -cyte) refer to cells that ingest
foreign matter. Phagocytic (with the suffix -tic), on the other hand, refers to a cell capable of
functioning as a phagocyte. More examples follow.

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2.18 MISCELLANEOUS COMBINING FORMS

Miscellaneous combining forms are named as such because they can’t be classified under a
specific category, but are frequently used. Combining forms such as therm/o (in thermometer)
and carcin/o (in carcinogenic) are usual examples. Study the following combining forms and
their word associations.

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2.19 Vital Signs

Vital signs are clinical measurements that indicate the state of a client’s life-sustaining
functions. There are three to six signs being measured, depending on the institution’s protocol.
The basic ones are pulse, respiration, and temperature. Some facilities include blood pressure,
oxygen saturation, and pain.

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2.20 Four Techniques in Physical Examination

Physical examination is a means of gathering clinical data from the client using the examiner’s
senses, namely the senses of sight, hearing, and touch

2.21 COMMON DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND PROCEDURES

Endoscopy (endo = inside + scopy = visual examination using a lighted instrument) is one of
the most common visualization procedures used in healthcare. It makes use of an endoscope
(endo + scope) to view the internal body cavities or organs. Catheters and cannulas are
instruments inserted into a body cavity. Both instruments are hollow and flexible and have
several purposes, such as withdrawal and instillation of fluids, or visualization of vessels or
cavities.

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2.22 ORGANIZATION OF THE BODY

The human body is made up of structures that come together to make up a whole. These
structures start from the smallest unit, which is an atom, to the largest, most complex unit, the
human organism. The body is made up of many levels of structural organization: cells make
up tissues, tissues form organs, organs form body systems, and the body systems make up an
organism. Organism refers to an individual being with life.

The basic unit of life is the cell. Cells divide until they mature. Some cells can divide
without limit. These are referred to as stem cells. These specialized cells are ample in a fetus
and in newborn cord blood. Cytology refers to the study of the formation, structure, and
function of cells. A group of similar cells that work together and perform a specific function
forms the next level of organization, tissues. Histology is the study of the microscopic structure
of tissues. There are four types of tissues according to function: connective, epithelial,
muscular, and nervous. Organs are formed when two or more tissue types work together to
accomplish a particular function. The heart, lungs, and skin are examples of organs. A set of
organs that have a collective function make up a body system. Body systems will be discussed
in detail in the later sections. The major body systems are listed as follows:

1. Muscular system
2. Skeletal system
3. Cardiovascular system
4. Lymphatic system
5. Respiratory system
6. Digestive system
7. Urinary system
8. Reproductive system
9. Integumentary system
10. Nervous system
11. Endocrine system

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The organism or the human body is the largest and the most complex level in the organizational
structure. It’s composed of different body systems. There are instances when tissues or organs
are abnormally formed. The prefix ana- and suffix -plasia are commonly used to describe these
abnormalities. Ana- means upward, excessive, or again, while -plasia refers to development or
formation of tissue. The following word parts are frequently used to describe abnormal tissue
development.

2.23 REFERENCE PLANE

Directional terms and planes are used to depict the position and direction of different body
structures relative to the anatomic position. The anatomical position is defined as the body
standing erect, eyes directed forward, hands at the side, palms turned outward, and lower limbs
parallel with the toes pointing forward.

Directional Terms
Directional terms denote the position of a structure in relation to another structure. In Chapter
5 of your textbook, you’ll find a list of directional terms. Here are additional terms relating to
direction:
1. Abduction: movement of body parts away from the midline
2. Adduction: movement of body parts toward the midline
3. Inversion: turning inward
4. Eversion: turning outward
5. Palmar: pertains to the palm of the hand
6. Plantar: pertains to the sole of the foot
7. Supination: turning upward
8. Pronation: turning downward

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Planes
The orientation of the body can be described using terms such as plane and aspect. Reference
planes are imaginary flat surfaces that divide the body into portions or sides. The three
reference planes are:

1. Frontal/coronal plane: splits the body into front and back portions
2. Transverse plane: splits the body into upper and lower portions
3. Sagittal plane: splits the body into right and left sides These planes form aspects used
to identify locations:
a. Anterior (front)
b. Posterior (behind)
c. Lateral (side)
d. Medial (middle)
e. Superior (uppermost)
f. Inferior (lowermost)

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2.24 Nursing Terms

Medical terms for patient status

1. Acute: Patient with a sudden flare-up or potentially severe issue who needs immediate
care.
2. Critical: Patient’s vital signs are out of the normal range and patient may be
unconscious.
3. Inpatient: Status of a patient who requires hospital admission.
4. Observation: A temporary status that allows patients to continue receiving care for a set
amount of time in the hospital while the physician determines whether admission or
discharge is best.
5. Outpatient: Status of a patient who is not admitted to a hospital for overnight care. This
can include clinic visits, same-day surgeries, and one-day emergency room visits.

Medical terms for conditions and diseases

1. Abrasion: A scrape that typically only affects the skin and can usually be treated at
home.
2. Abscess: A tender, pus-filled pocket usually due to infection.
3. Acute: Signifies a condition that begins abruptly and is sometimes severe, but usually
short.
4. Aneurysm: A bulge in the wall of an artery that weakens the artery and can lead to
rupture.
5. Aortic dissection: A tear in the inner layer of the aorta.
6. Bradycardia: A slowing of the heart rate—typically less than 60 beats per minute for
adults.
7. Benign: Usually in reference to tumors or growth, meaning not cancerous or malignant.
8. Biopsy: A small sample of tissue that’s taken for testing to discover the cause or extent
of a disease.
9. Chronic: Signifies a recurring, persistent condition, usually more than three months.
10. Contusion: A bruise typically from impact or force.
11. Cyanosis: Condition resulting bluish skin, stems from lack of oxygen in the blood.
12. Diagnosis: Identification of a condition, disease or disorder by evaluation of symptoms,
tests and other factors.
13. Thrombosis: A blood clot within a blood vessel that affects normal blood flow.

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 14. Edema: Swelling caused by fluid accumulation.
15. Embolus: A blood clot, air bubble or other obstruction blocking blood flow in the
affected blood vessel.
16. Fracture: Broken bone ranging from a crack to a complete break.
17. Atrial fibrillation: An uncoordinated, quivering movement of the heart muscle resulting
in an irregular pulse and poor blood flow.
18. Hypertension: Abnormally high blood pressure.
19. Hypotension: Abnormally low blood pressure.
20. Ischemia: Characterized by a lack of blood flow to an organ or part of the body. Often
refers to the heart-cardiac ischemia.
21. Malignant: In reference to tumors or growths—indicating the presence of cancerous
cells.
22. Cancer: Collection of related diseases where some of the body’s cells multiply out of
control spreading into surrounding tissues and interfering with normal body function.
23. Normal sinus rhythm: A normal heartbeat pattern, usually is between 60 and 80 beats
per minute in an adult.
24. Tumor: A swelling or mass, often used in relation to cancer.
25. Tension pneumothorax: A collapsed lung that occurs when air leaks into the space
between the lungs and the chest wall.
26. Pericardial effusion: Blood or fluid leaking into the pericardium, the sac surrounding
the heart.
27. Myocardial infarction: When an arterial blockage or slow blood flow deprives the heart
of blood. Known more commonly as a heart attack.
28. Angina: A disease in which narrowing of the arteries supplying the heart results in
reduced blood flow and chest pain. Usually a symptom of coronary artery disease.
29. Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA): Commonly called a stroke. Occurs when the brain is
deprived of blood and oxygen by either a blockage or the rupture of a blood vessel.
30. Sepsis: A serious condition caused the body’s response to severe infection. Occurs when
the body’s infection-fighting response gets out of balance and can lead to severe issues
like organ failure.

Tools and equipment, and medication terms

1. Endoscope: A long flexible tube with its own special lighting and camera used to look
into the body. There are many specific kinds of endoscopes.

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 2. Foley: An indwelling catheter. A thin flexible tube inserted into the urethra to drain the
bladder.
3. Fluoroscope: An X-ray machine—can be used for still images or in motion, like an
animation created by x-ray images.
4. Stethoscope: A small instrument used for listening to a patient’s breathing and
heartbeat.
5. Intravenous (IV): Indicates medication or fluid given through the vein.
6. Epidural: An injection of a local anesthetic to the lumbar level of the spin often used to
relieve pain during labor.
7. Sublingual: Meaning “below the tongue,” typically seen with medication that is
administered by dissolving it under the patients’ tongue.
8. Nocte: Latin for at night, typically in reference to when medication should be
administered.
9. Mane: Latin for in the morning, typically in reference to when medication should be
administered.
10. OD: When referring to medication instructions, “once daily.”
11. BDS : Latin, “bis die sumendum” meaning take two times per day.
12. TDS: Latin, “ter die sumendum” meaning take three times per day.
13. QDS: Latin, “quarter die sumendum” meaning take 4 times per day.
14. PRN: Latin, “pro re nata” or take as needed.
15. PR: Latin, “per rectum” to be taken rectally.
16. PO: Latin, “per orem” to be taken by mouth or orally.
17. IV push: A direct, rapid injection of medication delivered intravenously.
18. NS: Normal saline—a mixture of salt and water similar to what’s produced by the body.

Medical jargon/slang

1. Champagne tap: A successful lumbar puncture done by a student with no red blood cells
found. Traditionally this challenging procedure is celebrated with a bottle of champagne
from a supervising doctor—in part because the fluid collected resembles the color of
champagne.
2. Stat: Immediately
3. Thready: Refers to a weak pulse that disappears with pressure—an indicator of larger
issues.

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4. Golden hour: Refers to the first hour after a traumatic injury or event where chances of
successful treatment are highest.
5. Medical procedures and tests
6. Blood culture: A test used to find any unusual bacteria or fungi in a patient’s blood.
7. Blood gas: A test to show the gas-phase components of blood including oxygen, carbon
dioxide, pH balance, etc.
8. Blood pressure: Measure of how well the blood is circulating. Normal blood pressure
measure about 120/80 for adults.
9. Blood swab: A blood sample taken with a cotton-tipped stick.
10. Bowel disimpaction: Manual removal of hardened fecal matter from a patient's rectum.
11. Central line: Catheter placed in a large vein that allows multiple IV fluids to be given
and blood to be drawn more easily.
12. C-section: Shorthand for cesarean section the surgical delivery of a baby through the
abdominal wall.
13. Puls/ox: Pulse oximetry, a measure of oxygen saturation in blood.
14. Dialysis: Procedure to filter blood for patients with kidney failure.
15. Pulse: Measure of a pulsating artery.
16. Intubation: Insertion of an endotracheal tube to assist patient breathing.
17. Laparotomy: Any surgery involving an incision in the abdominal wall.
18. Lumbar puncture: Withdrawal of cerebrospinal fluid through a hollow needle inserted
into the lumbar region. Also referred to as a spinal tap.
19. Sternotomy: Surgical opening of the breast bone.
20. Thoracotomy: Surgery on the chest cavity.
21. Tox screen: Toxicological analysis of the blood. Ordered when a drug overdose is
suspected and the drugs need to be identified.
22. Ultrasound: A form of diagnostic imaging that uses high-frequency sound waves.
23. Venipuncture: The drawing of blood from a vein.

Abbreviations

1. ALOC: Acute Loss of Consciousness

2. ASA: The abbreviation for acetylsalicylic acid, commonly known as aspirin.
3. BMI: Body mass index, a measure of body fat based on height and weight.
4. BP: Blood pressure.
5. BLS: Basic life support includes CPR and removal of foreign body airway obstruction.

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6. CAT scan: Computerized axial tomography—another form of diagnostic imaging.
7. CHF: Congestive heart failure.
8. CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a life-saving technique that’s also called mouth-
to-mouth resuscitation.
9. DNR: Do not resuscitate. A medical order indicating providers should not perform CPR
or other life-saving measures on a patient.
10. DOA: Dead on arrival.
11. ED/ER: Emergency department or emergency room.
12. EEG: Measures brain activity.
13. EKG/ECG: Electrocardiogram. Records the electrical signals in the heart.
14. EMS: Emergency medical services.
15. HR: Heart rate, expressed as beats per minute.
16. KUB: Kidney, ureter, and bladder x-ray, commonly used for diagnosing abdominal
pain.
17. LFT: Liver function test.
18. MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging, a form of diagnostic imaging that uses a large
magnet and radio waves to view organs inside of the body.
19. NICU: Neonatal intensive care unit, a specialized unit for premature infants.
20. NSAID: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen).
21. OR: Operating room where surgeries are performed.
22. OT: Occupational therapy.
23. Psych: Refers to psychiatry practice or the psychiatric ward.
24. PT: Physical therapy—rehabilitative exercises used to rebuild strength and flexibility
after injury.
25. Rx: Shorthand for prescription, usually for medication but can also signify another
treatment.
26. U/A: Urinalysis–the process of testing patient urine for signs of kidney failure,
dehydration, diabetes, undernourishment, or bladder, kidney infection and more.

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 CHAPTER III
CLOSING
3.1 CONCLUSION
Nursing terminology plays a crucial role in the field of healthcare, facilitating effective
communication, precise documentation, and the delivery of high-quality patient care. The
use of standardized nursing terminology allows healthcare professionals to accurately
assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care. It also promotes interdisciplinary
collaboration and ensures a holistic approach to patient well-being. Nursing terminology
serves as a bridge that connects healthcare providers, improving the overall quality of
healthcare services. As healthcare practices and technology continue to evolve, the
importance of clear and standardized nursing terminology remains constant, enhancing
patient safety and outcomes.

3.2 SUMMARY

In studying nursing terminology, students are expeceted to understand da comprehend

correctly in order to avoid misunderstanding

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 REFERENCE LIST

Nelson, A., & Greene, K. (2021). Medical Terminology for Healthcare Professions.
University of West Florida Pressbooks.

Batan, T. L ( 2017 ).Medical Terminology. PENN FOSTER

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