MEDICAL TERMS THAT EVERY NURSING STUDENT NEEDS TO KNOW

• Aphasia: Can’t talk

• Asytole: No heart electrical activity, flat lined

• Anuric: generally <100 cc urine output a day

• Ataxia: Inability to control body movement, coordination, balance

• Bilateral: Both sides

• Bradycardia: Slow heart rate <60 beats per minute

• Calculi: Kidney stone

• Diminished lung sounds: Often in smokers. Lung sounds are often harder to hear due to diminished air flow. There are also other causes for this that are acute in nature.

• DKA: Diabetic ketoacidosis is a condition that can lead to death. These patients often have polyuria, confusion, fruity breath, disorientation, hyperkalemia, and elevated anion gap (among other abnormal labs see for more). Diabetics who go into metabolic acidosis many times from uncontrolled glucose. The usually will be placed on an insulin drip and aggressive hydration

• DNR: Do Not Resuscitate. Usually outlined in an advanced directive. This does not mean do not care for this patient. They should not die from neglect. It is generally if they are dying from natural causes that no CPR and no other life extending procedures be performed

• DVT: Deep vein thrombosis., generally in legs. Could potentially travel to lungs

• Dysphagia: Difficulties eating

• Dysphasia: Difficulties with speech

• Edema: Swelling

• Erythema: Red

• Expiration time: Time of death

• Fistula: Vascular access for dialysis for end stage renal disease patients

• Hyperglycemia: High glucose

• Hyperkalemia: High potassium

• Hypernatremia: High sodium

• Hypomagnesemia: Low magnesium

• Hyponatremia: Low sodium

• Hypocalcemia: Low calcium

• Hypoglycemia: High glucose

• Hypokalemia: Low potassium

• Macule: Flat lesion, no raised edges.

• Oliguric: Generally urine output < 500 cc a day

• Organomegaly: Enlarged organ to palpation

• Pruritis: Itching

• Rhonchi: Snoring quality to lung sounds. May hear in pneumonia, bronchitis

• Sun Downers: Often happens with Alzheimer’s patient. As the name implies, The may begin to become agitated, disoriented, forgetful, combative when sunsets (early evening)

• Symmetrical: Both sides are equal, the same

• Tachycardia: Fast heart rate >100 beat per minute

• CHF: Congestive heart failure

• Dyspnea: Difficulties breathing

• Orthopnea: Shortness of air specifically when lying flat (often seen in CHF)

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