Patients knowing medical lingo

alisunshine9 · Jun 20, 2005

I frequently forget patients don't know medical lingo. I've had a few odd/blank stares when I informed a patient I was going to empty their foley, no they can't eat because they're NPO, their pulse was low because of the beta-blocker they were on, etc. :confused:

However, I have yet to meet a patient who didn't know what I was talking about when I mentioned an enema!!! :no:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2005

I feel kind of bad for the patient that is so chronically ill that they know all the lingo and such. It means they've been in the hospital or dealing with the issue for a while. I don't think I could deal with chronic illness like that.

The internet has been both a blessing and a curse for the "informed consumer".

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Jun 20, 2005

I neither like nor dislike it. If a patient knows something about their illness or knows terminology (notice I didn't just say "uses" it), then so much the better--I find where they are in their understanding and their continued patient education goes from there.

I did have one experience that was interesting. We had a small child on our unit (I work kiddo and adolescent acute psych), whose mother came to visiting and asked to speak with the nurse. She used some terminology, then "let it slip" that she was in medical school and was considering taking a semester off to spend more time with her son.

Two things occured to me immediately: one really doesn't take a semester off from med school, one takes a year and, she didn't seem quite that bright. I asked her, conversationally, where she was going to medical school. "Just a little community college." OK, now I'm really wondering--and they have a medical school there?

Well, "medical assisting school." OK, now I get it.

So I slowed down a little, made sure she understood stuff, etc. She wasn't uneducated or anything, but clearly she was uncomfortable on some level. Maybe she was a little afraid of what we might think of her having a kiddo on our unit, and felt to need to say that, or maybe it slipped out wrong and then she felt embarassed--who knows?

For me, if they use it or not, it's just a part of my assessment of the whole person. (Can't imagine anyone "loving" it or "hating" it, though, as noted in earlier posts.)

sbic56, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2005

I frequently forget patients don't know medical lingo. I've had a few odd/blank stares when I informed a patient I was going to empty their foley, no they can't eat because they're NPO, their pulse was low because of the beta-blocker they were on, etc.
However, I have yet to meet a patient who didn't know what I was talking about when I mentioned an enema!!!

I was wondering if anyone else did this. The terms we use become so second nature, I forget that they aren't laymen's terms sometimes, too. And who hasn't written the abbreviation for "with" when writing a non nursing note? :chuckle

NurseforPreggers · Jun 20, 2005

I was wondering if anyone else did this. The terms we use become so second nature, I forget that they aren't laymen's terms sometimes, too. And who hasn't written the abbreviation for "with" when writing a non nursing note? :chuckle

Maybe its because I am a fairly new nurse, but this bothers me alot. I don't talk down to my patients, but I dont assume that they have any knowledge of medical lingo. I have heard way to many times patients say: "Do I get breakfast this morning?", responded with "No, you are NPO". The stranger thing is that most the patients just say "Ok", they don't ask what it means. Maybe its because they feel as if they SHOULD know. Stepping off my soapbox, for some reason this just hits a nerve with me.

NeoNurseChic · Jun 20, 2005

Having been someone who has worked as a volunteer host for an internet forum for some time, I have to say that I have worked like a crazy person, along with many other people, to get people as informed as possible. We actually do have a page on what medical abbreviations mean, and other health sites that I have spent time on often have this sort of thing as well.

I agree there can be a time and a place, but I'd much rather work with someone who is knowledgeable or at the very least interested in their own health situation. I've had patients who can't read, but they really want to know about their diagnosis. One patient in particular was diagnosed with something that even the doctors had not much knowledge of (Niemann Pick Disease). I found info on one of our online databases, and I sat down with another nurse and we highlighted the parts appropriate to explain on his level. He really appreciated it.

It's interesting, but part of why I did my honors project on the particular topic I chose was because that, as a patient, when I was in the hospital for a couple weeks at a time and then some, I got very tired of seeing someone come into my room every day and ask me about my condition...only for me to get the response of, "Oh? What is that exactly?" And then I have to explain from scratch about various aspects of migraine and cluster headache or some other oddball thing on my list...like being allergic to Benedryl. One great question to shoot down is the 'idea' that a lot of people (health care and not) have that migraine is caused by stress. Well....we don't know what migraine is caused by, but it certainly ain't stress. :) Stress isn't even a trigger. It's an exacerbating factor.

On our site for cluster headache sufferers, we have people who are far and beyond much more knowledgeable than many physicians they seek out to treat the disease. They do print out information on oxygen treatment for CH and the like. The research is out there to support the info that we know, but CH is little known in the medical world, as it is rather rare.

Ahh so...in a long winded kind of way, when I'm in the nursing role, I try to learn as much from my patients as I am teaching them...in whatever way possible. Everyone has something to bring to the table. No, I don't particularly like when someone is barraging me with information that isn't even close to being accurate, but generally I've found that it is good to be patient and calm with them, and I may have a chance at getting them to learn more. Of course, it hasn't been possible with all patients, but it is worth the effort. :)

All health care professionals can switch to the patient role in the blink of an eye. I'd worked in health care in some capacity for 8 years prior to nursing school. However, in the blink of an eye, I myself had to ask a million questions, and I spent a long time learning anything and everything I could about a disease I knew nothing about. Now I work to educate others. Something I find even more irritating than a patient who knows a lot of information are health care professionals who get this attitude about patients as if they will never be in that place. Anything can happen. People get sick out of the blue...and diseases do not generally discriminate between the health care worker and everyone else. I know that's not what anyone was implying here, but I have run into that time and time again, especially over the past year. It really sickened me that those attitudes were out there. Nothing to do but keep on going and educating, however!

carrie :)

sbic56, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2005

Maybe its because I am a fairly new nurse, but this bothers me alot. I don't talk down to my patients, but I dont assume that they have any knowledge of medical lingo. I have heard way to many times patients say: "Do I get breakfast this morning?", responded with "No, you are NPO". The stranger thing is that most the patients just say "Ok", they don't ask what it means. Maybe its because they feel as if they SHOULD know. Stepping off my soapbox, for some reason this just hits a nerve with me.

It's because you are a new nurse...when I catch myself, I correct it, but like I said....these words become your regular vocalbulary once you use them for say 15-20 years.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Jun 20, 2005

Maybe its because I am a fairly new nurse, but this bothers me alot. I don't talk down to my patients, but I dont assume that they have any knowledge of medical lingo. I have heard way to many times patients say: "Do I get breakfast this morning?", responded with "No, you are NPO". The stranger thing is that most the patients just say "Ok", they don't ask what it means. Maybe its because they feel as if they SHOULD know. Stepping off my soapbox, for some reason this just hits a nerve with me.

This may certainly be because you are a new nurse, but I hope you hang onto this.

As nurses, a lot of what we do is assess (where is the patient?) and teach (for which, you'd better have an answer to question #1).

We get in a hurry, we get pressured, we're no different from anyone else in that regard. But as long as we hold ourselves to a higher standard, we won't be critical of patients who "know something," we'll teach them a little more. And if a patient leaves the hospital having learned something, even if it is "what does NPO mean?" we have improved the life of that patient, even just a wee little bit.

And isn't that what we are about?

NeoNurseChic · Jun 20, 2005

And if a patient leaves the hospital having learned something, even if it is "what does NPO mean?" we have improved the life of that patient, even just a wee little bit.
And isn't that what we are about?

Great post! And surprisingly, a whole heck of a lot of patients actually really DO know what NPO means. However, the latin words that NPO stands for? Now THAT'S another story.

Hugz,

Carrie :)

bluiis923 · Jun 20, 2005

I know it can be very threatening when a patient/relative appears to know more than the health care professionals. When my husband had myelodysplasia which flipped very quickly into leukaemia a few years ago, although I work with solid tumour patients having chemo, I knew zippo... nada... zilch about leukaemia.
Pam,
So sorry to hear about your husband... how is he doing?
Prayers for you.
Deb

live4today, RN · Jun 20, 2005

Do you like it when patients know the basic medical lingo like sub-q, IM, the name of their disorder or diesease, and other such stuff?

Sure, as long as they know what they are talking about. It's a good thing if a patient understands his or her disease process, and the lingo that goes along with it. Even if they sound like they understand, and know the medical lingo...I remind them that I am not to assume anything, so please do not be offended -- and to bear with me -- as I go through the teaching process with them. I leave nothing to chance. No matter how much they relay to me about what they know, it is my nursing license on the line if I do not do my job to the fullest with each patient leaving nothing uncovered. :)

medsurgnurse, RN · Jun 20, 2005

I've been on the patient-side of this for the past 3 years. (Pretty long story, so I apologize in advance!)
I started having bizarre symptoms (too many to list here) before I started nursing school. I was tested for lymphoma, leukemia, sarcoidosis, RA, breast cancer- got bounced from specialist to specialist. I kept records of my symptoms, drugs, specialist consultations, labs- everything. Had lots of diagnostic imaging done, so I got copies of the scans whenever possible, or got the radiologist's report if not. I did this because (1) I'm a firm believer that *I* care more than anyone else about my well-being, and (2) I thought giving each doctor my actual medical records would be more helpful than just my oral history.
During this time period, I started nursing school. Went to a heme-onc doc to be checked for lymphoma, and he started our discussion with, "when I was in medical school, there were always a few students who felt they had every disease we studied...." :angryfire I know there are true hypochondriacs in the world, but this guy was incredibly dismissive because (a) i was a nursing student, (b) I kept good records, and © I wouldn't shut up and go home when someone said I was fine. (I was in constant, severe pain and had recurrent high fevers and night sweats, palpable abdominal masses, etc.)
At one point, I got referred to a breast cancer surgeon, who was the FIRST DOCTOR to ask details about my menstrual cycle- which was, in fact, really messed up-I was bleeding heavily for 18-21 days, then I'd stop for four or five, then bleed again for 3 weeks, all while on the pill. (Incidentally, this was documented in my symptom records, and I mentioned it with all the previous docs.) She referred me to a specialty gyn surgeon, who did an exploratory lap, and diagnosed me with widespread endometriosis.
My symptoms worsened, and eventually I got referred to another specialty gyn surgeon at a teaching hospital. I handed him my files, and he was *very* appreciative- he was technical in his discussions with me, and was happy to explain anything I didn't understand, but didn't blow me off when I used correct terminology or hypothesized about what could be going on.
Finally, this past march, he did another lap-my 2nd lap in eight months. None of my symptoms were typical for endo, and I asked the surgeon to look in my upper abdomen (which the first doc refused to do). Lo and behold, he found I had tons of adhesions in my upper abdomen- in fact, these adhesions were severe in the area of my intestines and liver, as well as my bladder and the upper section of my uterus. EXACTLY where I'd been having pain.
For the first time in three years, I'm able to function normally again, and my periods are starting to become regular again. My pain is finally starting to diminish. I'm approaching happiness, something I'd completely lost.
If I hadn't been diligent about my records and symptom history, I probably would never have gotten a correct diagnosis. At the same time, I faced a lot of resistance with many of the doctors (and nurses) who treated me when I presented my records or offered my opinions. I know it's easy to assume that a patient like me is an overreacting hypochondriac, but I think it's imperative to rule out medical 'zebras' before making this conclusion about a patient.
One good thing about this experience is that I'm passionate about encouraging patients to educate themselves and take responsibility for their own health.

yes. yes. yes. I know exactly where you are coming from. i've been through the same thing. Being an aggresive advocate for myself and my family has not always been fun. One doctor got angry when i took my child for a second opinion; in fact I told him I was going to do so, and took the medical record copies from his office when I went for the second opinion. When I am the patient, I am the patient. I try to not reveal what my profession is. If its not pertinent to the illness, it doesn't matter. When I am the patient I try to avoid using the lingo. As far as the patients, if they know their diagnosis and their medicine and why they are taking the medicine in simple terms; that's great. But some patients want you to do everything just like they did on ER last week.