Learning all the medical words and short forms in nursing school can feel really hard at first. That is why I made this glossary. It is a simple tool that explains common medical words in clear, easy language. Whether you are getting ready for a clinical shift, studying for a test, or just trying to organize your notes, this guide will help you understand everything faster and make studying a lot easier.
acuity
noun
the sharpness, keenness, or clarity of thought, vision, hearing, or other senses.
Example: She checked the acuity board to see which patients needed the closest supervision.
en: degré de gravité
aspiration
noun
The medical and physical act of drawing in, breathing, or removing fluids.
Example: If there is a large effusion then symptomatic relief can be achieved via ASPIRATION of the effusion.
en: aspiration
bradycardia
noun
Bradycardia is a resting heart rate that is slower than normal, usually defined as fewer than 60 beats per minute (bpm).
Example: Reperfusion arrhythmias Studies have shown that after reperfusion of the myocardium, ventricular arrhythmias, such as ideoventricular rhythm, non-sustained ventricular tachycardia and BRADYCARDIA have occurred.
en: bradycardie
code blue
noun phrase
A code blue means a person in a hospital or medical facility is experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, most commonly a sudden cardiac arrest (the heart stops beating) or respiratory arrest (breathing stops).
Example: Hearing the overhead announcement for a code blue in room 405, the team rushed down the hall.
en: code bleu
cyanosis
noun
Cyanosis is the medical term for a bluish or purplish discoloration of the skin, lips, or nail beds caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood.
Example: Other signs associated with hypoxia may also occur in life-threatening attack such as CYANOSIS, exhaustion and confusion.
en: cyanose
dyspnea
noun
Dyspnea is the medical term for shortness of breath or the subjective feeling of difficult, labored, or uncomfortable breathing.
Example: The patient reported sudden dyspnea after climbing up a single flight of stairs.
en: dyspnée
edema
noun
Edema is the medical term for swelling caused by fluid trapped in your body's tissues.
Example: Gentle massage and elevation can help reduce peripheral edema in the lower legs.
en: œdème
hematuria
noun
Hematuria means the presence of blood or red blood cells in the urine.
Example: Laboratory testing was ordered immediately to investigate the cause of the patient's hematuria.
en: hématurie
hypertension
noun
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a common medical condition where the force of blood pushing against your artery walls is consistently too high.
Example: Lifestyle modifications such as reducing sodium intake are often recommended for managing mild hypertension.
en: hypertension artérielle
hypoglycemia
noun
Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar, which occurs when blood glucose levels drop below a healthy range—typically under 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) for people with diabetes.
Example: Drinking a fast-acting glucose beverage quickly reversed the symptoms of hypoglycemia.
en: hypoglycémie
ileus
noun
Ileus is a temporary medical condition where your intestines slow down or stop moving food, fluids, and waste through your body.
Example: Early ambulation after surgery helps prevent the development of a postoperative ileus.
en: iléus (occlusion intestinale)
malaise
noun
Malaise is a general, vague feeling of discomfort, illness, or lack of well-being that is hard to identify or describe.
Example: The patient reported experiencing generalized malaise and fatigue for several days before developing a fever.
en: malaise
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
noun phrase
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are a common group of medicines used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and lower fevers.
Example: He patient was advised to take an NSAID with food to avoid stomach irritation.
en: anti-inflammatoire non stéroïdien (AINS)
nothing by mouth (NPO)
adjective phrase / adverbial phrase
Nothing by mouth (NPO) is a medical instruction meaning a person cannot eat or drink anything by mouth.
Example: Placing a prominent sign above the bed reminding staff that the patient is NPO prevents accidental feeding errors.
en: rien par la bouche (NPO)
pallor
noun
Pallor means an unnatural or abnormal paleness of the skin and mucous membranes compared to a person's usual skin tone.
Example: Sudden facial pallor and dizziness can be early warning signs of orthostatic hypotension.
en: pâleur
specimen
noun
A specimen is a single plant, animal, object, or small amount of material collected as an example to study, test, or show what an entire group or whole is like.
Example: She carefully sealed and labeled the biological specimen before placing it in the transport bag.
en: spécimen
syncope
noun
Syncope is the medical term for fainting or passing out, caused by a sudden, temporary drop in blood flow to the brain.
Example: Temporary loss of consciousness and posture, usually related to insufficient blood flow to the brain.
en: syncope
tachycardia
noun
Tachycardia is a medical term for a fast heart rate, defined as a heart beating more than 100 beats per minute while at rest.
Example: Anxiety and high fever can both trigger temporary sinus tachycardia.
en: tachycardie
triage
noun
Triage is the process of quickly assessing and sorting people, items, or tasks to decide which ones need attention first based on urgency and available resources.
Example: The emergency department nurse completed rapid triage to determine which arriving patients needed immediate medical intervention.
en: triage
vital signs
noun phrase
Vital signs are objective measurements of the body's most basic and essential physiological functions used to evaluate overall health.
Example: Recording accurate baseline vital signs on admission is a critical first step in patient assessment.
