Medical Terms in Medical-Surgical Nursing PDF

FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OYE-EKITI FACULTY OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF NURSING SCIENCE COURSE TITLE: Nursing Ethics and Jurisprudence COURSE CODE: NSC 3...

FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OYE-EKITI FACULTY OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF NURSING SCIENCE COURSE TITLE: Nursing Ethics and Jurisprudence COURSE CODE: NSC 303 CREDIT UNIT: 3 Units (Dr. O. Olorunfemi ) MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING Medical-surgical nursing is a nursing specialty area concerned with the care of adult patients in a broad range of settings Med surg stands for medical-surgical nursing. This type of nursing focuses on providing care for adults who are either preparing for, or recovering from, a surgical procedure. WHAT DOES A MED SURG NURSE DO?.At the forefront of a med surg RN’s job duties is patient safety and patient care. A med surg nurse has certain tasks that will always be expected of them on the job. During an average shift, med surg nurses should be prepared to perform any of the following tasks:  Administer medications  Wound care and changing dressings  Assess the condition of patients  Check vitals  Update records  Equipment operation (such as IVs, feeding tubes, catheters, and oxygen tanks)  Running blood tests on patients These duties are typically the foundation of many other nursing positions. For med surg nurses, the tasks listed above are going to make up a large portion of their daily work, and any registered nurse considering joining a med surg unit should be thoroughly trained in these procedures. WHAT KIND OF PATIENTS ARE ON A MED SURG FLOOR? A travel or perm med surg nurse should expect to treat a wide variety of patients on the job. While the common trait shared by all patients is their proximity to recent or upcoming surgeries, the reasons for these procedures can differ vastly from person to person. Some common conditions that med surg nurses may have to treat include:  Traumatic brain injury  Hip and knee replacements  Injury from falls  Amputation  Advanced infection  Sepsis  Diabetes In addition to these conditions, many patients may also suffer from one or multiple comorbidities. A scenario like this will require a med surg RN to have a full understanding of all medical issues in order to properly treat their patients. Medical terms used in medical surgical nursing 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 6. Abrasion: A scrape that typically only affects the skin and can usually be treated at home. 7. Abscess: A tender, pus-filled pocket usually due to infection. 8. Acute: Signifies a condition that begins abruptly and is sometimes severe, but usually short. 9. Aneurysm: A bulge in the wall of an artery that weakens the artery and can lead to rupture. 10. Aortic dissection: A tear in the inner layer of the aorta. 11. Bradycardia: A slowing of the heart rate—typically less than 60 beats per minute for adults. 12. Benign: Usually in reference to tumors or growth, meaning not cancerous or malignant. 13. Biopsy: A small sample of tissue that’s taken for testing to discover the cause or extent of a disease. 14. Chronic: Signifies a recurring, persistent condition, usually more than three months. 15. Contusion: A bruise typically from impact or force. 16. Cyanosis: Condition resulting bluish skin, stems from lack of oxygen in the blood. 17. Diagnosis: Identification of a condition, disease or disorder by evaluation of symptoms, tests and other factors. 18. Thrombosis: A blood clot within a blood vessel that affects normal blood flow. 19. Edema: Swelling caused by fluid accumulation. 20. Embolus: A blood clot, air bubble or other obstruction blocking blood flow in the affected blood vessel. 21. Fracture: Broken bone ranging from a crack to a complete break. 22. Atrial fibrillation: An uncoordinated, quivering movement of the heart muscle resulting in an irregular pulse and poor blood flow. 23. Hypertension: Abnormally high blood pressure. 24. Hypotension: Abnormally low blood pressure. 25. Ischemia: Characterized by a lack of blood flow to an organ or part of the body. Often refers to the heart-cardiac ischemia. 26. Malignant: In reference to tumors or growths—indicating the presence of cancerous cells. 27. 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. 28. Normal sinus rhythm: A normal heartbeat pattern, usually is between 60 and 80 beats per minute in an adult. 29. Tumor: A swelling or mass, often used in relation to cancer. 30. Tension pneumothorax: A collapsed lung that occurs when air leaks into the space between the lungs and the chest wall. 31. Pericardial effusion: Blood or fluid leaking into the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart. 32. Myocardial infarction: When an arterial blockage or slow blood flow deprives the heart of blood. Known more commonly as a heart attack.  33. 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. 34. 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. 35. 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 36. 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. 37. Foley: An indwelling catheter. A thin flexible tube inserted into the urethra to drain the bladder. 38. Fluoroscope: An X-ray machine—can be used for still images or in motion, like an animation created by x-ray images. 39. Stethoscope: A small instrument used for listening to a patient’s breathing and heartbeat. 40. Intravenous (IV): Indicates medication or fluid given through the vein. 41. Epidural: An injection of a local anesthetic to the lumbar level of the spin often used to relieve pain during labor. 42. Sublingual: Meaning “below the tongue,” typically seen with medication that is administered by dissolving it under the patients’ tongue. 43. Nocte: Latin for at night, typically in reference to when medication should be administered. 44. Mane: Latin for in the morning, typically in reference to when medication should be administered. 45. OD: When referring to medication instructions, “once daily.” 46. BDS : Latin, “bis die sumendum” meaning take two times per day. 47. TDS: Latin, “ter die sumendum” meaning take three times per day. 48. QDS: Latin, “quarter die sumendum” meaning take 4 times per day. 49. PRN: Latin, “pro re nata” or take as needed. 50. PR: Latin, “per rectum” to be taken rectally. 51. PO: Latin, “per orem” to be taken by mouth or orally. 52. IV push: A direct, rapid injection of medication delivered intravenously. 53. NS: Normal saline—a mixture of salt and water similar to what’s produced by the body. Medical jargon/slang 54. 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. 55. Stat: Immediately 56. Thready: Refers to a weak pulse that disappears with pressure—an indicator of larger issues. 57. Golden hour: Refers to the first hour after a traumatic injury or event where chances of successful treatment are highest. Medical procedures and tests 58. Blood culture: A test used to find any unusual bacteria or fungi in a patient’s blood. 59. Blood gas: A test to show the gas-phase components of blood including oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH balance, etc. 60. Blood pressure: Measure of how well the blood is circulating. Normal blood pressure measure about 120/80 for adults. 61. Blood swab: A blood sample taken with a cotton-tipped stick. 62. Bowel disimpaction: Manual removal of hardened fecal matter from a patient's rectum. 63. Central line: Catheter placed in a large vein that allows multiple IV fluids to be given and blood to be drawn more easily. 64. C-section: Shorthand for cesarean section the surgical delivery of a baby through the abdominal wall. 65. Puls/ox: Pulse oximetry, a measure of oxygen saturation in blood. 66. Dialysis: Procedure to filter blood for patients with kidney failure. 67. Pulse: Measure of a pulsating artery. 68. Intubation: Insertion of an endotracheal tube to assist patient breathing. 69. Laparotomy: Any surgery involving an incision in the abdominal wall. 70. Lumbar puncture: Withdrawal of cerebrospinal fluid through a hollow needle inserted into the lumbar region. Also referred to as a spinal tap. 71. Sternotomy: Surgical opening of the breast bone. 72. Thoracotomy: Surgery on the chest cavity. 73. Tox screen: Toxicological analysis of the blood. Ordered when a drug overdose is suspected and the drugs need to be identified. 74. Ultrasound: A form of diagnostic imaging that uses high-frequency sound waves. 75. Venipuncture: The drawing of blood from a vein. Abbreviations 76. ALOC: Acute Loss of Consciousness 77. ASA: The abbreviation for acetylsalicylic acid, commonly known as aspirin. 78. BMI: Body mass index, a measure of body fat based on height and weight. 79. BP: Blood pressure. 80. BLS: Basic life support includes CPR and removal of foreign body airway obstruction. 81. CAT scan: Computerized axial tomography—another form of diagnostic imaging. 82. CHF: Congestive heart failure. 83. CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a life-saving technique that’s also called mouth-to- mouth resuscitation. 84. DNR: Do not resuscitate. A medical order indicating providers should not perform CPR or other life-saving measures on a patient. 85. DOA: Dead on arrival. 86. ED/ER: Emergency department or emergency room. 87. EEG: Measures brain activity. 88. EKG/ECG: Electrocardiogram. Records the electrical signals in the heart. 89. EMS: Emergency medical services. 90. HR: Heart rate, expressed as beats per minute. 91. KUB: Kidney, ureter, and bladder x-ray, commonly used for diagnosing abdominal pain. 92. LFT: Liver function test. 93. MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging, a form of diagnostic imaging that uses a large magnet and radio waves to view organs inside of the body. 94. NICU: Neonatal intensive care unit, a specialized unit for premature infants. 95. NSAID: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen). 96. OR: Operating room where surgeries are performed. 97. OT: Occupational therapy. 98. Psych: Refers to psychiatry practice or the psychiatric ward. 99. PT: Physical therapy—rehabilitative exercises used to rebuild strength and flexibility after injury. 100. Rx: Shorthand for prescription, usually for medication but can also signify another treatment. 101. U/A: Urinalysis–the process of testing patient urine for signs of kidney failure, dehydration, diabetes, undernourishment, or bladder, kidney infection and more. DESCRIPTION OF DISEASES 102. Signs and symptoms People may use the words ‘sign’ and ‘symptom’ interchangeably.  However, a symptom is something an individual experiences,  while a sign is something a doctor, or other person, notices. People may confuse signs and symptoms, but there are important differences that affect their use in the field of medicine. Any objective evidence of a disease, such as a skin rash or a cough, is a sign. A doctor, family member, and the individual experiencing the signs can identify these. A symptom is a manifestation of disease apparent to the patient himself, while a sign is a manifestation of disease that the physician perceives. The sign is objective evidence of  disease; a symptom, subjective. Symptoms represent the complaints of the patient, and if severe, they drive him to the doctor's office 103. Syndrome SYNDROME is a group of signs and symptoms that occur together and characterize a particular abnormality or condition Disease literally means dis+ ease= not at ease. Of course, this is overly simplistic, but is efficient at communicating the essence of the matter. It is important to remember that the definition of what constitutes a ‘disease’ has evolved over time. The term also varies with culture. So what are the main types of diseases? There are numerous classifications of diseases, but for now we will focus on the simplest: Infectious (Communicable) and Non-infectious (Non-communicable) diseases. A. Infectious (Communicable) disease: A disease caused by an infection Infection: The invasion of a host by disease causing agents, their multiplication, and the reaction of the host tissues to these organisms and their toxins. Infectious agent: Anything capable of causing an infection: viruses, bacteria, prions, protozoa, nematodes, arthropods, etc. Communicable disease: Although considered to be synonymous infectious disease, a communicable disease is one that can be communicated (transferred) from an infected organism to an uninfected (and susceptible) organism. The transmission of infection may occur through direct or indirect means. Direct transmission: Through touch, inhalation, sexual contact, contact with infected discharges etc. Indirect transmission: Through vectors, for example. Vector: Something (living) that carries and transfers an infectious agent into another living organism. Example: Mosquito Fomite: An inanimate object or substance that carries (and therefore transfers) an infectious agent from one organism to another. Example: Doorknob, Bedsheets Contagious disease: A special type of communicable disease that easily spreads from one to another. The distinction between communicable and contagious is important because those with contagious diseases are usually subjected to isolation or quarantine. Example: Measles Isolation: The separation of an infected organism, after the development of infection, from other (susceptible) organisms , for the period of communicability. The purpose is to protect others from getting infected, and limit the spread of disease. Quarantine: The separation of an organism from other (susceptible) organisms for the duration of incubation period. The intention is the same as in isolation, but there is one important difference between the two: here we are not sure if the organism actually is infected. Since we are not sure, we segregate the organism for as long as it would take for the disease to ordinarily manifest itself after infection (incubation period). Once the incubation period is over, we definitively know whether the organism was infected or not. this allows appropriate responses to be initiated. Period of communicability: The length of time, from acquiring the infection, during which the infection can be communicated/ transmitted to another uninfected organism. Incubation period: The time it takes for the first clinical symptoms to appear after infection. Host: The organism harboring the infectious agent (usually a parasite) Definitive Host: The host in which the parasite achieves sexual maturity Intermediate Host: The host(s) in which the parasite develops but does not attain sexual maturity