So this morning, after my alarm clock rudely woke me up (so ruuuuude ) , I engaged in my terrible terrible habit of getting on facebook immediately after shutting my alarm off on my phone. I am friends with a few nursing students and they are always posting funny little nursey articles. Well this morning, one of my nursing student friends left a link to a pretty funny article that discussed the different slang used by nurses at work.They had it set up in a dictionary format, where they would use the words in a sentence as an example. As a dorky, overly excited pre-nursing student, I found them hilarious!
My fave was "PITA" which stood for Pain in the orifice.
Such as There is a PITA in room 9, just to let you know.
So I wanted everyone to share some of their "Nurse Slang" they may use daily or have heard before.
Train Wreck: patient is really sick, totally messed up, etc. A very complicated involved patient.
Face down, a** up: on a rotoprone
DFO: done fell out (of bed, at home, od'd, etc)
Vitamin a deficient: needs ativan
B52: benadryl 50, haldol 5, ativan 2.
45 caliber therapy: gunshot. Or, you want to shoot your jerk patient/ family member, as in "that patient spit on me! He needs some 45 caliber therapy."
Vegetable garden: LTAC for long term vents or your PVS patient still in icu awaiting placement.
Bought a tube: intubated
Status dramaticus: self explanatory
MGM syndrome: drama queen (referring to the movie company Metro Goldwyn Mayer)
Scoop and run: in my transport world, this means that the patient can be scooped up in the litter and transported with minimal hassle. The opposite of a trainwreck.
Shake and bake: coming down from a high/ DTs. Feverish and shaky.
Specializes in Med-Surg, OB, ICU, Public Health Nursing.
We made some up. Train wreck was common in ICU. NE (Not Einstein), pre-op or OR nurse warning recovery/post-op nurse that teaching had to be thorough, slow and clear because patient was not a quick learner.
Any gentleman with white hair and a beard= Santa guy. I've had a few Santa guys.
I often refer to patients "buying themselves xyz", as in, "Santa guy freaked out, ripped off all his leads, and ran down the hallway naked. He bought himself some haldol and 4 points."
Here are a few from OR, ER and PACU, anesthesia orders Vitamin V, to promote relaxation prior to entering the OR, patient remains conscious enough to follow most commands more or less, and develops general amnesia about the entire procedure for moving, posisitioning and prepping, and in merciful grace forgets most or all of anesthesias jokes during induction. Surgical team all lights a candle for the guy who came up with versed, every sunday Catholic or not.
What a great attitud that gives confidence to potential patients to undergo a surgery... The patients are healed and that's just what they need. Why would they complain because they won't know it if it happens when they're under or they won't remember it?? A professional attitud is way too much to ask from professionals they need to trust,I guess
What a great attitud that gives confidence to potential patients to undergo a surgery... The patients are healed and that's just what they need. Why would they complain because they won't know it if it happens when they're under or they won't remember it?? A professional attitud is way too much to ask from professionals they need to trust,I guess
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
What a great attitud that gives confidence to potential patients to undergo a surgery... The patients are healed and that's just what they need. Why would they complain because they won't know it if it happens when they're under or they won't remember it?? A professional attitud is way too much to ask from professionals they need to trust,I guess
What is posted on a nursing message board may be wishful thinking or just facetiousness as opposed true happenings in reality. You clearly have apprehensions regarding pre-op and the level of potential exposure while in an operating room based upon your few posts thus far. Perhaps if you are pending a procedure have a a discussion with your surgeon, anesthesia and nursing about your concerns real or perceived before proceeding.
There are obnoxious unprofessional individuals in every industry. Assuming what is posted on an anonymous message board is fact especially in a "humor" (albeit not traditional humor) thread is not going to allay your concerns. Especially if English is your second language. Medical English is barely understood by many native English speakers
What is posted on a nursing message board may be wishful thinking or just facetiousness as opposed true happenings in reality...
...Facetiousness & humor is often necessary when working in the all too serious world of nursing. Sometimes you have to laugh to be able to handle the tragedy and loss that is witnessed.
Cool that you were able to use this word, without sounding forced, on two seperate threads in two days. No sarcasim intended, in case it sounds iffy.
) , I engaged in my terrible terrible habit of getting on facebook immediately after shutting my alarm off on my phone. I am friends with a few nursing students and they are always posting funny little nursey articles. Well this morning, one of my nursing student friends left a link to a pretty funny article that discussed the different slang used by nurses at work.They had it set up in a dictionary format, where they would use the words in a sentence as an example. As a dorky, overly excited pre-nursing student, I found them hilarious!
Jensmom7, BSN, RN
1,907 Posts
Then you may want to avoid public forums from now on.
P.S. I checked your previous posts, too.