Words and phrases that I didn't know before I became a psych nurse

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

I noticed the other day while writing my progress notes that we tend to use alot of terminology that non mental health staff are not familiar with. A few examples that I can think of off the top of my head are:

Pt is visable in milieu

Word salad

thought blocking

responding to internal stimuli (usually written just "responding")

Pt denies SI/HI/AH

anhedonia

quiet room

contracting for safety

AECPS

tangential

flight of ideas

hypomanic

If anyone can think of anything else to add, please feel free.

Kay28

Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

4 points

chapter 51

owp

polydipsic (really, never heard or worked with pts that have polydipsia before psych)

Specializes in psych, ltc, case management.

I work with a nurse who was once on the phone with a doctor and said "I think the pt is experiencing retarded dyskinesia." AMAAAZING!

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
I work with a nurse who was once on the phone with a doctor and said "I think the pt is experiencing retarded dyskinesia." AMAAAZING!

Keep in mind that the word "retarded" doesn't always refer to developmental issues (like they used to say "mentally retarded" in the past to refer to someone who was developmentally disabled--that use of the word isn't considered appropriate anymore).

The word can also refer to something being delayed or slowed. In this case, he may have been referring to a delayed reaction.

"thanks for sharing."

Specializes in mental health.

from the EMTs: "nutted up" = decompensated

usually with a groan: Cluster B or Axis II

Specializes in Psych.

On the east coast we usually assessed for SI/HI (suicidal ideation/homicidal ideation), but in AZ we assess for DTS/DTO (danger to self/danger to others).

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
usually with a groan: Cluster B or Axis II

Most of the time the person cuts straight to chase and says, "it's a borderline." That one little word can convey so much.

Specializes in Cath lab, acute, community.

We learnt that terminology in nursing college, however I think a lot of it goes away when people work in med/surg etc. I remember learning about "Word salad" and thought it was a funny word. Then I saw it in action when doing a psych rotation and thought that was the most apt word for what I saw in that poor man.

Specializes in Psychiatric.

CFS - contract for safety

Sin Eater - my favorite, which is not a clinical term...someone once called me it, as we absorb all of these patients' stories about awful pasts filled with horrible things day after day after day. Takes a lot of strength and shows a lot of character.

Specializes in Psych.

Perservates ( finally have a word that describes what my daughter does)

Sexually Preoccupied

Repeated fecal smearing

Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
Most of the time the person cuts straight to chase and says, "it's a borderline." That one little word can convey so much.
Unfortunately, most people misuse it, applying it to just about anyone with a personality d/o...or to a patient they just dislike.
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Unfortunately, most people misuse it, applying it to just about anyone with a personality d/o...or to a patient they just dislike.

Definitely agree with you...that's one of my pet peeves, actually.

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