Nursing Lingo

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I am a new nursing student doing my very first assignment for Fundamentals- create a shift report. My instructor gave us a very informative page on shift reports, including a sample. I understand the concept and feel that I am making a good bit of progress, HOWEVER...

Although I know what I want to write, I am trying to write it in nursing shorthand, and not in normal language. But we haven't been taught that yet. I have been able to get a lot from the sample and my book, but I am stuck on a few...

How do I say that my patient is receiving a treatment of albuterol through a nebulizer every 2 hours? I don't even know how much albuterol to put, or how it is even measured. My "patient" is 19, if that matters.

I also put that "Mr. Johns has a peripheral IV intact in the left forearm, infusing 500 mg of erythromycin q 12 hrs. next dose due @1200." Does that make sense? I question whether this is worded correctly.

I have no problem looking information up for myself and I am not one of those students that expects for everything to be spoon fed, but I cannot find any basic information on nursing shorthand. Any help would be so very appreciated. I have never felt so stupid or lost. :banghead:

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Based on the information you gave this is the report I would give:

Room ___. xxx Johns. 19. Dr. So and So. Admitted for (medical diagnosis). Has an IV in his left forearm and is getting Erythromycin 500 mg IVPB q2h. Next dose is at 1200. Also gets Albuterol through a nebulizer q2h. Next dose is at ___.

FYI: Albuteral is usually given by the respiratory therapists. It comes in individual dose packets of 2.5 mg in 2.5 cc of saline to give you a total of 3 cc of solution which is poured into the nebulizer.
http://www.drugs.com/pro/albuterol-inhalation-solution.html

I get the idea that this patient has a respiratory problem? I would give my short assessment of his respirtory system: lung sounds, how his breathing has been during my shift and if there were any breathing problems during my shift.

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Thank you so much, DaytoNite! I already had all of the other information you listed, so I guess I am on the right track!

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