American - Australian Translations

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Specializes in ICU.

I thought this would be a good thread to start so any new people could just drop a question in about the term or terms that confuse them

There are a lot of terms on the board that are unique to the different countries represented. Although there is a glossary it does not take into account some of those ordinary every day terms that are common knowledge in the country of origin.

Some terms you might come across are:=

LPN/LVN - licenced vocational or practical nurse equivalent to enrolled nurse.

PA Physician's Assistant

MA Medical Assistant

MAR - Medical Asministration Record (Drug chart)

Schedule = roster

Gtt - IV more specifically a drip

Please feel free to ask or add your own.

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what is this R/T used in the paediatrics nursing?

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Specializes in ICU.

Depends on the context but it could be Respiratory Technician. We don't have them over here and from what I gather they give the nebs and ? chest physio?

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Specializes in ICU.

Here is another one - LTC = long term care

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Specializes in ICU.

CNA = Certified Nursing Assistant

CRNA = Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetist

Assigment - now here is one that tripped me up:chuckle for the longest time I thought it meant an essay but our American colleagues use it as we would allocation so

Patient assignment = patient allocation.

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this may be the most obvious thing ever, but what does IMHO stand for??

i try and put it into the context of what is being said, but still have no idea..

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Specializes in ICU.

Get ready...............

You are going to kick yourself..........................

It stands for In My Humble Opinion:roll

You see various permutations of it around from JHMO (Just my humble opinion) to JMO - just my opinion. usually it is stated by someone who is doind everything BUT state a "humble" opinion:D

I hit a new one the other day - CBC = FBC they say Complete Blood Count instead of Full Blood Count

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Specializes in ICU/CCU (PCCN); Heme/Onc/BMT.

:chuckle

American - Australian Translations! Really good topic, Gwenith! :) Does make me chuckle, though. . .

R/T can be respiratory therapist. . . could also be used as "Related To". There's a movement to minimalize abbreviations here. This is being done mainly for safety measures. For example, instead of QD we'll soon be required to write "Once a day". . . or instead of gm, well be needing to writing out "gram", etc. . . Overall, I think that this will be a good thing except that using abbreviations does save time in charting. But sometimes I get sooooo lost in the sea of acronyms! :eek:

I'm going to check in on this thread every once in a while so that I can learn an acyonym or two. . . :imbar

Cheers! :)

Ted

By the way, CBC will probably be required to be fully written out as "Complete Blood Count" soon. . . I feel the arthritis in my hands getting worse already!

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I hit a new one the other day - CBC = FBC they say Complete Blood Count instead of Full Blood Count

ha! i knew that one, being a devoted ER watcher.. :chuckle

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This has absolutely no connection to nursing, but I think the US call fringes (hair - on you hair) bangs!

Just made me laugh a little

Rachel

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Originally posted by NurseRachy

This has absolutely no connection to nursing, but I think the US call fringes (hair - on you hair) bangs!

Just made me laugh a little

Rachel

Yes, we call them bangs. "Fringes" makes ever so much more sense, though! :)

I don't even know why we call them bangs. Has always sounded strange to me and I'm a born and reared American! :chuckle

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

"Fringes" makes me think of curtains or something. LOL

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