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Top 40 Slang Terms Nurses Use
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Scrubs Magazine
October 13, 2010
32. Pothole Sign
Definition: A clinical sign of acute appendicitis, referring to the severe pain evoked by every bump (or pothole) in the road felt on the drive to the hospital.
Usage: Yeah, he was positive for the pothole sign—said the ride in was brutal.
33. Negative Wallet Biopsy
Definition: When a patient is transferred to a cheaper, less intensive hospital after discovering he has no health insurance.
Usage: Yeah, the negative wallet biopsy meant he was going to King-Harbor. Welcome to healthcare in America.
34. Black Vomit
Definition: Vomit from old black blood due to ulcers or yellow fever.
Usage: I saw the black vomit and I knew she was in trouble.
Synonyms: xekik
35. Silent Killer
Definition: A slang term for a condition that can progress to very advanced stages before manifesting itself clinically.
Usage: They say that obesity is the silent killer, but I’d say that it’s really all the heroin that he’s been doing for the past 10 years.
36. Fluid Overload
CRNAs Need a BSN
To be admitted to a CRNA program, you must first earn a BSN. Definition: Hypervolemia. It’s the medical condition where there is too much fluid in the blood. This fluid, primarily salt and water, builds up in various locations in the body and leads to an increase in weight, swelling in the legs and arms (peripheral edema), and/or fluid in the abdomen (ascites). Eventually, the fluid enters the air spaces in the lungs, reduces the amount of oxygen that can enter the blood and causes shortness of breath (dyspnea). Fluid can also collect in the lungs when lying down at night, possibly making nighttime breathing and sleeping difficult (paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea).
Usage: I’m a little worried that we may run the risk of fluid overload if we perform the surgery.
Synonyms: hypervolemia
nursepatti2010
over 2 years ago
2 comments
Some I haven't heard and some I have used...often. For those who think they are *offensive*...don't use them. For those that do...keep doing it. Those little things allow you to cope with the harsh realities of healthcare ... especially over the last 10 years...and keep doing what it is you do...WITHOUT becoming a cranky, old Nurse Ratchet. I've worked pediatrics for years...and if you don't think nurses... especially pediatric nurses...need some kind of valve release in the work place when we, as nurses, deal with SO much on a daily basis... well...you all must be saints then. Every profession has them. I'd love to hear the ones lawyers have...
neerukp
over 2 years ago
6948 comments
Review
neerukp
over 2 years ago
6948 comments
Made me to smile
neerukp
over 2 years ago
6948 comments
Good one!
neerukp
over 2 years ago
6948 comments
Good to learn
neerukp
over 2 years ago
6948 comments
Thats' nice
neerukp
over 2 years ago
6948 comments
Funny
firelyte42
over 2 years ago
16 comments
these always make me smile
NIATHENURSE
over 2 years ago
30 comments
SERIOUSLY? O WOW I NEVER KNEW THERE WAS SUCH A THING!
gemini52981
over 2 years ago
8 comments
I have to admit, just about all of these seem to be un-professional and a bit vulgar. Obviously these didn't come from a college or buisness that I would want to be schooled or treated in...sry...truth hurts...
kgarrison
over 2 years ago
20 comments
A few others I've heard -
Shart - Combination of S**t and a Fart. Usage: "Did the resident have a bowel movement?" "Not really, he just sharted."
FLK - Funny Looking Kid. Often comes from FLPs. (Funny Looking Parents). Usage: "Does he have a disability? No, he's just a FLK."
Skin Funk - any combination of skin conditions. Usage: "make sure to wear your gloves when tranferring the patient. She's got some skin funk going on."
ScotS
over 2 years ago
4 comments
World is way too serious.
Lighten up and smile.
sandspaws
over 2 years ago
2 comments
I have never heard any nurse use half this so called RN "slang" in 20 years...if I ever did I would think their days of having a humanitarian heart are over and so should their career...and working in the ICU and ER is no excuse for bad manners...your idea of having a sense of humor is just plain having a BAD ATTITUDE...believe me no sick or injured person needs a "burnt out" nurse in charge of them, you better rethink you career Tricia!
desertgypsy
over 2 years ago
2 comments
One saying that is popular in the south - FTD. Fixin' to die. Also DRT - died right there.
triciapatterson58
over 2 years ago
10 comments
Oh, lighten up a little! It's gallows humor, nothing more. I've worked ICU; you have to have some humor to survive. As long as a patient doesn't hear it, I think it's okay to let off steam.