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Glossary

What is a Nurse?

Nurses are health care professionals who provide patient care in a variety of settings. Nurses complete rigorous educational studies and examinations. Nurses play a crucial role in the health care field and operate in a variety of settings. There are different types of nurses:

  • LPN (Licensed Practical Nurses) or LVNs (Licensed Vocational Nurses)

  • RNs (Registered Nurses)

  • APRN (Advanced Practiced Registered Nurses)

All glossary terms

a

ABG (Arterial Blood Gas)ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)Acute CareADL (Activities of Daily Living)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)AED (Automated External Defibrillator)AFib (Atrial Fibrillation)AKA (Above Knee Amputation)Ambulatory CareAssisted Living

b

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)Basic Life Support (BLS)BioethicsBKA (Below Knee Amputation)Blood Pressure (BP)BMI (Body Mass Index)BP (Blood Pressure)BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder)BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)

c

CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft)CAD (Coronary Artery Disease)CAPD (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis)CardiologyCathetersCBC (Complete Blood Count)Certified Nurse Assistant or Aide - CNACheat SheetsCHF (Congestive Heart Failure)Chronic Care MeanCKD (Chronic Kidney Disease)CLABSI (Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection)Clinical JudgmentClinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)Code of EthicsCOPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)Critical CareCritical ThinkingCultural CompetenceCVA (Cerebrovascular Accident)

d

DefibrillatorDelegationDNR (Do Not Resuscitate)Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)DOE (Dyspnea on Exertion)DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)

e

ECG or EKG (Electrocardiogram)EEG (Electroencephalogram)Electronic Health Record (EHR)Emergency Department (ED)End-of-Life CareESRD (End-Stage Renal Disease)Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

f

Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS)Feeding PumpFetal MonitorFHR (Fetal Heart Rate)Forceps

g

Gait BeltGCS (Glasgow Coma Scale)GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)GeriatricsGlasgow Coma Scale (GCS)Glucometer

h

H&P (History and Physical) Mean?HAI (Healthcare-Associated Infection)Health LiteracyHemostatHIPAAHIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)Holistic CareHome Health CareHomeostasisHospice CareHospital BedHTN (Hypertension)Hypertension (HTN)

i

I&O (Intake and Output)IABP (Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump)IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease)ICU (Intensive Care Unit)IDDM (Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus)Infection ControlInformed ConsentInpatient CareIntensive Care Unit (ICU)Interdisciplinary TeamIntravenous (IV)Intravenous (IV) StandIntravenous Pump

j

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)JVD (Jugular Venous Distention)

l

L&D (Labor and Delivery)LancetsLong-Term CareLPN (Licensed Practical Nurse)

m

Manual ResuscitatorsMaster of Science in Nursing (MSN)MDS (Minimum Data Set)Medical PenlightMI (Myocardial Infarction)MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus)

n

NCLEXNebulizerNeurologyNICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)NIDDM (Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus)NPO (Nil Per Os - Nothing by Mouth) NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug)NurseNurse Practitioner (NP)Nursing Clipboard

o

OncologyOperating Room (OR)OphthalmoscopesOtoscopesOutpatient Care

p

Palliative CarePatient AdvocacyPatient-Centered CarePatient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA)Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)PediatricsPersonal Protective Equipment (PPE)PharmacologyPrimary CarePsychiatryPulse Oximeter

q

Quality Improvement (QI)Quaternary Care

r

Reflex HammerRegistered Nurse (RN)RehabilitationResidential CareRetractable Pens

s

Scope of PracticeSecondary CareSkilled Nursing FacilitySphygmomanometerStethoscopeSubacute CareSuctioning ToolsSurgical ScissorsSyringes and Needles

t

TelehealthTertiary CareThermometerTravel NurseTriage

u

Unlicensed assistive personnel

v

Vital Signs (VS)