Stupid question

I don't think your questions are stupid. Chances are if you are contemplating on asking a queston someone else here can benefit too if it is answered.

Also, I will let a nurse answer your question. :)

I am almost done with my CNA class and have learned so much. Are you thinking about taking any healthcare related training in the summer to get a head start? For my school it's a requirement.

I will be starting NS in the Fall and do not currently work in the healthcare industry so I am not sure what some of the lingo means in this forum. Can someone translate these words?

Med/surg unit - what kind of patients would you see in this unit?

Telemetry -

This would be a medical/surgery floor and on this floor there are pt's that have had general surgery done such as: appy's, hysterectomy, facial surgery and the list goes on. You may also have pt's on this unit who are diabetic and having a crisis, any medical problems with any of the systems. As far as telemetry these folks will be on the telemetry boxes/ heart monitor so they can be watched. Hope this helped a little.

I will be starting NS in the Fall and do not currently work in the healthcare industry so I am not sure what some of the lingo means in this forum. Can someone translate these words?

Med/surg unit - what kind of patients would you see in this unit?

Telemetry -

I know there was more but right now those are the only two I can think of. I see them so frequently on the boards but not real sure what they mean exactly. Most of the other units are self expanatory.

Thanks and sorry for such a stupid question!

Almost forgot, REMEMBER THERE IS NEVER A STUPID QUESTION!!!!!!!

Thank you very much for explaining that. Can anyone tell me what per diem shifts are?

Just to clarify the above post:

An appy is an appendectomy.

And Faerie and Infection are correct. Your questions are not stupid. None of us was born knowing this stuff.

When you come across something you hear and don't understand, write it down, make a list and feel free to post your questions.

Once you start school you'll start picking up some of it on your own as well.

Per diem is literally each day.

Some hospitals hire per diem staff to work day by day instead of scheduling a month or so in advance. So they'll ask per diem staff to fill holes in the schedule. You'll see PRN which is pretty much the same. PRN means "as needed."

That is not a stupid question at all- it's just that the medical community has their own lingo & the average layperson can't decipher it!! When I was a student on my first day of clinicals, (& I'd already been a CNA in a nursing home for 2 yrs) our instructor told us if we needed linens they could be found "on the floor." I said "on the FLOOR?!" thinking she meant literally ON THE FLOOR - (yeah, they pile linens on the floors....) she very patiently, --w/out making me feel like an IDIOT-- said, "when I say 'floor' I am referring to whatever 'unit' you're on." We all chuckled, and I still laugh about it everytime I think of it, 30 yrs later!! :trout:

Electrodes are attached to the patient's chests and attached to a trasmitting box about the size of a transitor radio which the patient must carry with them at all times.

Transistor radio? Do you realize that you just seriously dated yourself? I just know there are people right now thinking, "What's that?" Say "about the size of a PDA." It sounds more hip.

Oops. I feel the wrath of the off-topic gods about to rain down on me.

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Transistor radio? Do you realize that you just seriously dated yourself? I just know there are people right now thinking, "What's that?" Say "about the size of a PDA." It sounds more hip.

Oops. I feel the wrath of the off-topic gods about to rain down on me.

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I had to chuckle at your comment about seriously dating oneself about the transistor radio---but I don't know (and maybe others don't either)what a PDA is--can you elaborate? Thanks.

Personal digital assistant, aka Palm Pilot. It's an electronic pocket organizer. You've got a calendar on there, an address book for your contacts, games, and different programs are available for download. For example, I put my Neofax (NICU drug book) on mine so I don't have to worry about remembering to bring an extra book.

Personal digital assistant, aka Palm Pilot. It's an electronic pocket organizer. You've got a calendar on there, an address book for your contacts, games, and different programs are available for download. For example, I put my Neofax (NICU drug book) on mine so I don't have to worry about remembering to bring an extra book.

Thanks, Eric, for that explanation--I've heard of palm pilots but never knew what they were---I'm a little old-fashioned when it comes to these electronic gadgets!:)