Hello, my name is Eric, and I've been a nursing student at Cégep de Sherbrooke for over a year now. This profession is a true passion of mine. I thought it would be very useful to provide nursing staff with a glossary of 20 of the most frequently used English words. This would greatly facilitate searching for these expressions. To create this glossary, I relied on the definitions of these words in the English dictionary, taking care to include the word class, pronunciation, meaning, and definition. I recommend you consult it.
Bandage
Noun
a strip of material used to bind a wound or to protect an injured part of the body.
fr: Pansement
bandage scissors
Noun
Bandage scissors are specialized medical cutting instruments designed with an angled, blunt-tipped blade to safely remove bandages, dressings, and clothing close to the skin without causing injury.
Example: we use it for many purpose in hospital.
fr: ciseaux à pansements
Bedpan
Noun
A bedpan is a container used to collect urine or feces, and it is shaped to fit under a person lying or sitting in bed.
fr: Bassin de lit
Blood pressure monitor
noun
A blood pressure monitor is a medical device used to measure the force of blood against artery walls, with readings shown in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) as two main numbers: systolic (top/higher) and diastolic (bottom/lower), plus heart rate.
Example: I need a blood pressure monitor to check the patient in room 23.
fr: Tensiomètre
drugs
Noun
A drug is any chemical substance, excluding nutrients and essential dietary ingredients, that produces a biological effect when administered to a living organism. Drugs can affect the structure or function of the body and are used for diagnosing, curing, treating, or preventing diseases. Consumption methods include ingestion, injection, inhalation, or absorption.
Example: Should it be decided to continue with developing DRUGS against malaria and administrating them.
fr: médicaments
emergency car
Noun
An emergency vehicle is a specially equipped vehicle authorized by law to respond to urgent situations—typically police, fire, or ambulance services—to protect life and property
Example: used for emergency heath situation
fr: voiture d'urgence
Gloves
Noun
a covering for the hand worn for protection against cold or dirt and typically having separate parts for each finger and the thumb.
Example: Alwsays wear sterile gloves when performing a wound dressing.
fr: Gants
Glucometer
Noun
A glucometer (or blood glucose meter) is a small, portable medical device used to measure the concentration of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Primarily used by individuals with diabetes, it works with disposable test strips to provide fast, actionable, and accurate blood sugar readings to manage diet, exercise, and medication.
Example: Do not forget to replace the batteries of glucometer
fr: Glucomètre
IV BAG
Noun
An IV (intravenous) bag is a sterile, flexible plastic container filled with fluids, medications, nutrients, or blood products designed to be delivered directly into a patient's vein
fr: Sac a soluté
iv catheter
Noun
An IV (intravenous) catheter is a thin, flexible, hollow plastic tube inserted into a vein by a needle to deliver fluids, medications, blood products, or nutrients directly into the bloodstream.
fr: cathéter intraveineux
Medical tape
Noun
Medical tape (or surgical tape) is a specialized, pressure-sensitive, and often hypoallergenic adhesive tape used to secure bandages, dressings, and medical devices (like tubing) to the skin
fr: Ruban adhésif médical
nurse Gown
Noun
A nurse gown, often referred to as a medical or isolation gown, is a form of personal protective equipment (PPE) worn by nurses and healthcare professionals to create a barrier between themselves and infectious agents, such as blood, bodily fluids.
fr: Blouse
Penligth
Noun
a small flashlight shaped like a fountain pen.
fr: Lampe-stylo
pulse oximeter
Noun
A pulse oximeter is a small, noninvasive device—typically clipped onto a finger, earlobe, or toe—that measures the oxygen saturation level in your blood (
) and your heart rate. It uses light beams to estimate how well oxygen is being sent to parts of the body furthest from the heart.
Example: The pulse oximeter is showing a saturation of 98 per cent.
fr: oxymètre de pouls
Stethoscope
Noun
a medical instrument for listening to the action of someone's heart or breathing, typically having a small disk-shaped resonator that is placed against the chest, and two tubes connected to earpieces.
Example: put both ends of the stethoscope in your ears, then put the other end, which is shaped like a small disc, on the part of the body you want to auscultate, then remain silent and listen for sounds.
fr: Stéthoscope
Surgical mask
Noun
A surgical mask, also known by other names such as a medical face mask or procedure mask, is a personal protective equipment used by healthcare professionals
Example: The nurse put on a fresh surgical mask before entering the room.
fr: Masque chirurgical
Syringe
Noun
a tube with a nozzle and piston or bulb for sucking in and ejecting liquid in a thin stream, used for cleaning wounds or body cavities, or fitted with a hollow needle for injecting or withdrawing fluids.
Example: The nurse filled the syringe with the correct dose of meditation
fr: Seringue
Thermometer
Noun
A thermometer is an instrument used to measure temperature, indicating how hot or cold a substance, environment, or body is. It operates by sensing heat changes through materials like mercury, alcohol, or electronic sensors, displaying the reading in numerical scales such as Celsius, Fahrenheit, or Kelvin.
Example: The nurse used a thermometer to check the patients temperature.
fr: Thermomètre
Tourniquet
Noun
a device for stopping the flow of blood through a vein or artery, typically by compressing a limb with a cord or tight bandage.
fr: Garrot
Urinary catheter
Noun
A urinary catheter is a flexible tube inserted into the bladder to drain urine when a person cannot urinate independently, has bladder control issues, or is undergoing surgery. Placed via the urethra or a lower abdomen incision, it collects urine in an external bag. Common types include short-term, long-term, and intermittent catheters.
