Nursing Terminology
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distention
A condition of being stretched, inflated, or larger than normal
palpitation
A noticeably rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat due to agitation, exertion, or illness
lateral
Away from the midline of the body
disoriented
Confused as to time or place; out of touch
diaphoresis
Excessive sweating
nocturia
Excessive urination during the night
alert
Referring to a state in which an individual is awake and appropriately answers all questions
secretion
Release of a substance by exocytosis from a cell that may be a gland or part of a gland
RUQ
Right upper quadrant
hemoccult
Test which determines bleeding in the GI tract
R/O
This part of a patients medical record means to rule out. Used to indicate a differential diagnosis when one or more diagnoses are suspected.
ambulate
Walk; move about
cyanosis
a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes
mass
a body of matter without definite shape
hypertension
a common disorder in which blood pressure remains abnormally high (a reading of 140/90 mm Hg or greater)
orthopnea
ability to breathe only in an upright position
dysplasia
abnormal development or growth of cells, tissues, or organs
hypertrophy
abnormal enlargement of a body part or organ
hyperplasia
abnormal increase in number of cells
paresthesia
abnormal sensation of numbness and tingling without objective cause
hypotension
abnormally low blood pressure
bradycardia
abnormally slow heartbeat
anorexia
an obsessive fear of gaining weight in which a person refuses to eat
nausea
an upset stomach that makes a person feel like vomiting
lesion
any visible change in tissue resulting from injury or disease
atrophy
any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use)
ad lib
as desired
PRN
as needed
BM
bowel movement
c/o
complains of
CBC
complete blood count
inflammation
condition defined by redness, swelling, pain, and warmth
dysphagia
condition in which swallowing is difficult or painful
hemoptysis
coughing up blood from the respiratory tract
dyspnea
difficult or labored respiration
expectorate
discharge (phlegm or sputum) from the lungs and out of the mouth
ECG/EKG
electrocardiogram
discharge
eliminate (substances) from the body
flatus
gas in the digestive tract or expelled through the anus
defecate
have a bowel movement
hs
hour of sleep, bedtime
aphasia
impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to wernicke's area (impairing understanding)
incontinence
involuntary urination or defecation
LMP
last menstrual period
LLQ
left lower quadrant
prone
lying face downward
gait
manner of walking
NIDDM
mild form of diabetes mellitus that develops gradually in adults
NKA
no known allergies
epistaxis
nosebleed
NPO
nothing by mouth
OOB
out of bed
dysuria
painful or difficult urination
dorsal
pertaining to the back
medical asepsis
practices used to remove or destroy pathogens and to prevent their spread from one person or place to another person or place; clean technique
purulent
producing or containing pus
ROM
range of motion
RBC
red blood cells
pruritis
severe itching
bradypnea
slow respiratory rate, usually below 10 respirations per minute
feces
solid excretory product evacuated from the bowels
anemic
someone who has a decreased number of red blood cells
edema
swelling caused by excess fluid in the body tissues
diastolic
the blood pressure during that part of the heartbeat when the hearts venticles are relaxing
hematuria
the presence of blood in the urine
excretion
the process by which wastes are removed from the body
asepsis
the process of removing pathogenic microorganisms or protecting against infection by such organisms
medial
toward the midline of the body
b.i.d.
twice a day
emesis
vomiting
hematemesis
vomiting blood
c (with overline)
with
s with a line above it
without
jaundice
yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes caused by an accumulation of bile pigment (bilirubin) in the blood