patient lingo...

Published

i find it hilarious to hear the things that patients say - believeing that they are using medical terminology correctly...

vomicking = vomiting

incubated = intubated

subdermal hematoma = subdural (that was pretty close though)

injection fraction = ejection fraction

lateration = laceration

mycardio infection = MI

the list goes on and on - what are some of your favorites??

Thank you SO MUCH for this post....I had a really tough shift this evening, and I needed a reminder to look past the tough parts of this profession for a minute and see the lighter side. THANK YOU ALL!!! (92 year old little lady needed another gown and a blanket to cover up her "pocketbook" before she got on the stretcher to go to x-ray!)

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I just love it when they tell you they've got the "sugar". :)

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What does the "sugar" mean?!

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Specializes in Clinical Risk Management.
Originally posted by Jaxrn02

What does the "sugar" mean?!

Diabetes

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how about when you are getting a pts family history...and they say..."You know...I think my Great Grandmother had prostrate cancer" :eek: Gee...maybe good old Granny should be in the record books!!! and some of them will say "I have a high hernia":chuckle Well now, what has it been smoking!:roll

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i love when i ask for kids and allergies - and the father/mother speaks up and goes - "no - not that i know of - but i am allergic to ......" --- i don't remember asking what they were allergic to?!?!

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

My dad had an endarterectomy a few years ago. My mother told everyone he was having surgery for his "corroded artery." Which makes sense, actually!

"Bound" or "Bound up" is a term I have heard for constipation all my life. Don't know what it is supposed to mean liteally.

I worked with an excellent CNA who sometimes got things a bit "off." If a patient felt nauseated, she'd tell you "that little pan isn't big enough, give him his wash basement!" I heard this many times and managed to never laugh in front of her.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

When my mom was diagnosed with cancer of the vulva my cousin came over and told her "Don't worry-my husband worked with a man that had that and he is fine" Umm-I don't think so....This is the same person that gave our 98yr old dying grandmother mouth care with a betadine swab...I walked in the room and grandmom was drooling red foam and I almost crapped...Then I saw what my cousin was up to.....hello? Can you read? Later on the hospital stopped stocking the lemon glycerin swabs because of this incident.....

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I once read in a chart that someone had administered "Persocid" for pain. We were trying to figure out if he meant Percoset or Pepcid!! :roll Of course, this is the guy who says that he wants to be there when they "spit out" the babies, meaning being there for a delivery. We always have a good laugh at least once a week about him...

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hahaha!!! percocet - we joke at work that we just need a dispenser out front and it would cut our visits by 80%!!

i really love when they come in complaining of pain and say "that medicine.... oh what is it called.....per.....perco......percocet - yeah that is the one that usually helps"

like they didn't know exactly what they came in wanting....:D :D

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I love this stuff, let's see, what can i add

Once had a lady say she had been using triple-antibiotic ornament on her sores

Lots of people vomic and need Phenegrin (which i hear nurses say it that way all the time and it drives me insane)

I answered the phone and the caller requested to speak to a bafessional nurse.....that's ME!

tubal litigation and hysternectomy twice. huh?

My favorite is to get a list of meds and they are all spelled wrong......and you know they aren't misspelled on the bottle

Lasic 20mg twict a day

Zanx as needed

Hydrocordones as needed

Allergic to Sulfur and Picticillin

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Originally posted by santhony44

I worked with an excellent CNA who sometimes got things a bit "off." If a patient felt nauseated, she'd tell you "that little pan isn't big enough, give him his wash basement!" I heard this many times and managed to never laugh in front of her.

Hey sometimes someone chucks so much that wash BASEMENT is the only thing big enough to hold it! LOL

Actually saw someone overflow a basin with vomit once, oh my!

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