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Top 40 Slang Terms Nurses Use
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Scrubs Magazine
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Scrubs Magazine
October 13, 2010
37. Medical Futility
Definition: Either a judgment that further medical treatment of a patient would have no useful result or a medical treatment whose success is possible although reasoning and experience suggest that it’s highly improbable.
Usage: What do I think? Medical futility.
38. The patient is high risk
Definition: The patient has HIV, Aids, or Hepatitis so be aware.
Usage: Be sure to wear eye protection, the patient is high risk.
Created by hollywood on slangrn.com, Apr 06, 2010
39. Questionable Doctor
Definition: A physician who has been sanctioned for serious state and federal offenses and placed on a list by the Public Citizen’s Health Research Group.
Usage: Umm, he’s a questionable doctor. He’s been sanctioned for handing out painkillers like Tic Tacs.
Synonyms: impaired physician
40. NPS
Definition: New parent syndrome. A propensity to bring your child to the hospital for every trivial thing. Used in charting.
Usage: Baby had hiccups, sent home. NPS.
Synonyms: parenthood
More humorous slang terms can be found at slangrn.com.
Thank you to all the nurses who have contributed to this article!
What are the slang terms you hear in your specialty? Share them below.
More on ScrubsMag.com:
• In Humor: Overheard From the Nurses Station III• In Humor: Overheard From the Nurses Station
• In Career Advice: Just the Facts Ma’am
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
7060 comments
Review
neerukp
over 2 years ago
7060 comments
Made me to smile
neerukp
over 2 years ago
7060 comments
Good one!
neerukp
over 2 years ago
7060 comments
Good to learn
neerukp
over 2 years ago
7060 comments
Thats' nice
neerukp
over 2 years ago
7060 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.