Nursing glossary
20 My glossary includes some common nursing terms used at the hospital. terms
As a nursing student, it is important to know the most common terms both in French and in English in order to help people that speak in another language. Here in Thetford, we have an English community that also need care, so being able to translate common nursing or medical terms will help treat them and create a patient-nurse bond of trust.
- Blood Pressure (BP)
- The force of blood against the walls of the arteries, measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
- Catheter
- A flexible tube inserted into the body to drain fluids or administer medication.
- Diagnosis
- The identification of a disease or condition based on symptoms, tests, and medical history.
- Elderly homes/units
- Facilities or designated units that provide housing and care for elderly individuals who may need assistance with daily activities or medical support
- Emergency Room (ER)
- A hospital department that provides immediate care for urgent and life-threatening conditions.
- Glucose Monitoring
- The process of measuring blood sugar levels, often used in diabetes management.
- Hemoglobin
- A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.
- Intravenous drip
- A method of delivering fluids, medications, or nutrients directly into a vein through a needle or catheter, usually regulated by a drip system
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- A nurse who provides basic medical care under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or a physician. (In Canada, « Legal Practical Nurse » is not a common term; « Licensed Practical Nurse » is the correct one.)
- Medication
- A specific drug or substance prescribed or taken to treat or manage a medical condition
- Medicine
- A substance used to treat, cure, or prevent diseases; also refers to the field of study and practice related to health and healing.
- Pain Management
- The practice of relieving pain through medication, therapy, or other interventions.
- Palliative care
- Specialized medical care focused on relieving pain and symptoms for patients with serious or terminal illnesses, aiming to improve quality of life
- Pediatrics/Obstetrics
- Pediatrics si the branch of medicine that deals with the health and medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. Obstetrics focuses on pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- A healthcare professional who has completed a nursing program and licensing requirements to provide patient care, administer medications, and coordinate treatment plans.
- Resuscitation
- The act of reviving a person from unconsciousness or apparent death, often through CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) or advanced medical techniques.
- Sterile Technique
- A method used to prevent contamination and infection during medical procedures.
- Subcutaneous
- A medical term referring to the area beneath the skin; often used to describe injections administered into the fatty tissue under the skin.
- Surgery
- A medical procedure that involves making incisions in the body to treat diseases, injuries, or abnormalities.
- Vital signs
- Key physiological measurements used to assess a patient’s health status, including body temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure.