Nurse Progress Note About Vomit

I am an international nurse and my medical English is not very good. I had a patient who vomited and I want to write about how much she vomited and what kind of things she vomit, but I don't know the exact English words to describe the vomiting thing. Is there anyone who knows where I can find an example on what a progress note looks like and what kind of words I can use to describe vomiting?

What Members Are Saying (AI-Generated Summary)

Members are discussing how to accurately describe vomiting in medical English for progress notes, with some users suggesting using terms like small, medium, or large emesis, while others mention specific details like appearance or contents. The idea of translating descriptions from one's primary language into English for documentation purposes is also brought up.

3 Answers

Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Small, medium, large emesis. I don't typically describe it unless there's something unique or important-- say it has a coffee grounds appearance (indicative of a GI bleed), or pill fragments present (meaning pt did not get full doses), or if I noted some being expelled from the pt's trach (true story.)

Ordinary vomit containing dinner...no. Unless I want to nauseate myself. :barf02:

And of course I include what (if anything) preceded the episode, my interventions and effectiveness, etc.

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

Projectile vomiting can be used if the patient vomits and it spews out like a faucet or water hose. A poster above had a good suggestion when he said describe it in your primary language, then translate that into English for the purpose of your nurse's progress notes.

Specializes in ED.

Are there words in your language that describes it? How would you describe it.

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