Essential Vocabulary for Nurses

Word
part of speech

Meaning

Example sentence

abnormal
adj

not normal for the human body

This amount of weight loss is abnormal for

women your age.

ache
noun/verb

pain that won't go away

I can't sleep because my knees ache in the

night.

acute
adj

quick to become severe/bad

We knew the baby was coming right away

because the woman's labour pains were
acute.

allergy noun
allergic adj

a body's abnormal reaction to certain foods or

environmental substances (eg causes a rash)

Your son is extremely allergic to peanuts.

ambulance
noun

emergency vehicle that rushes people to a hospital

We called the ambulance when Josh

stopped breathing.

amnesia
noun

a condition that causes people to lose their

memory

I can't remember the accident because I had

amnesia.

amputation noun
amputate verb

permanent removal of a limb

We had to amputate his leg because the

infection spread so quickly.

anaemia noun
anaemic adj

occurs when the body doesn't have enough red

blood cells

I have low energy because I am anaemic.

antibiotics
noun

medication that kills bacteria and cures infections

My throat infection went away after I

started the antibiotics.

anti-depressant
noun

medication that helps relieve anxiety and sadness

The anti-depressants helped me get on

with life after Lucy died.

appointment
noun

a scheduled meeting with a medical professional

I've made you an appointment with a

specialist in three week's time.

arthritis
noun

a disease that causes the joints to become swollen

and crippled

My grandmother can't knit anymore

because the arthritis in her hands is so bad.

asthma (attack)
noun

a condition that causes a blockage of the airway

and makes it difficult for a person to breathe

I carry an inhaler when I run because I have

asthma.

bacteria
noun

a disease-causing organism

To prevent the spread of bacteria it is

important that nurses wash their hands
often.

bedsore
noun

wounds that develop on a patient's body from

lying in one place for too long

If you don't get up and take a walk, you will

develop painful bedsores.

benign
adj

not harmful (not cancerous)

We're hoping that the tests will show that

the lump in your breast is benign.

biopsy
noun

removal of human tissue in order to conduct

certain medical tests

The biopsy ruled out a number of illnesses.

blood count
noun

the amount of red and white blood cells a person

has

You will be happy to know that your blood

count is almost back to normal.

blood donor
noun

a person who gives blood to a blood bank or other

person

Blood donors have to answer questions

about their medical history.

blood pressure

the rate at which blood flows through the body

High blood pressure puts you at risk of

noun

(high/low)

having a heart attack.

brace
noun

a device that holds injured body parts in place

You will probably always have to wear a

brace on your ankle when you jog.

breech
adj

position of an unborn baby in which the feet are

down and the head is up

We thought it was going to be a breech

birth, but the baby turned himself around.

broken
adj

a bone that is divided in two or more pieces as a

result of an injury

We thought it was just a sprain, but it turned

out his leg was broken.

bruise noun
bruised adj

injured body tissue that is visible underneath the

skin

The woman was badly bruised when she

came into the emergency room.

Caesarean section, Csection

noun

procedure that involves removing a baby from its

mother through an incision in the woman's lower
abdomen

The baby was so large that we had to

perform a Caesarean section.

cancer
noun

disease caused by the uncontrollable growth of

cells

There are many different options when it

comes to treating cancer.

cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR)
noun

restoring a person's breath and circulation

You saved your brother's life by performing

CPR.

cast
noun

a hard bandage that is wrapped around a broken

bone to keep it in place

My leg was in a cast for graduation.

chapel, chapeline
noun

a place where loved ones can go to pray for a

patient's recovery;
a priest who visits patients in the hospital

If you want a place to pray, the chapel is on

the third floor.

chemotherapy
noun

type of treatment used on cancer patients

My mother has already had three rounds of

chemotherapy.

chickenpox
noun

a virus commonly contracted by children,

characterized by itchy spots all over the body

It is best to get chickenpox as a child so

that you don't get it worse as an adult.

coroner
noun

a person who determines the cause of death after a

person dies

We only call the coroner if we think a

death is suspicious.

critical condition
noun

requiring immediate and constant medical

attention

You can't see her right now; she's in critical

condition.

crutches
noun

objects that people with injured legs or feet use to

help them walk

I'd rather hop on one foot than use

crutches.

cyst
noun

a sac in the body-tissue filled with fluid

(sometimes diseased)

We're going to remove the cysts just to be

on the safe side.

deaf
adj

unable to hear

The accident left the patient both deaf and

blind.

deficiency
noun

a lack of something necessary for one's health

The tests show that you have an iron

deficiency.

dehydrated
adj

in need of water

It is easy for the elderly to become

dehydrated in this heat.

dementia
noun

loss of mental capacity

It is hard to watch a loved one suffering

with dementia.

diabetes
noun

type of disease typically involving insulin

deficiency

People with diabetes have to constantly

check their blood sugar levels.

diagnosis
noun

medical explanation of an illness or condition

The doctor would prefer to share the

diagnosis with the patient himself.

discomfort
noun

experiencing pain

This pain medication should relieve some

of your discomfort.

disease
noun

a medical disorder that is harmful to a person's

health

I understand that this disease runs in your

family.

dislocated
adj

when a bone is temporarily separated from its

joint

You will have to wear a sling because of

your dislocated shoulder.

emergency
noun

a medical problem that needs immediate attention

It is important that children know which

number to dial in case of an emergency.

ER (emergency room)
noun

the hospital room used for treating patients with

immediate and life-threatening injuries

The child was rushed into the ER after he

had a severe allergic reaction to a bee sting.

external
adj

on the outside

This cream is for external use only. Do not

get it near your ears, eyes, or mouth.

false negative
noun
adj

a test that incorrectly comes back negative

We had two false negative pregnancy tests,

so we didn't know we were having a baby.

family history
noun

medical background of a person's family members

The doctor was concerned about my family

history of skin cancer.

fatal
adj

causing death

The doctor made a fatal error when he

wrote the wrong prescription.

fever noun
feverish adj

higher than normal body temperature

He is very feverish, and his temperature is

near danger point.

flu (influenza)
noun

many types of respiratory or intestinal infections

passed on through a virus

People who have the flu should not visit

hospital patients.

fracture noun
fractured adj

broken or cracked bone

Your wrist is fractured and needs a cast.

germ
noun

a micro-organism, especially one that causes

disease

Flowers are not allowed in the ward to

avoid the risk of germs being brought in.

genetic
adj

a medical condition or physical feature that is

passed on in the family

The disease is part genetic and part

environmental.

growth
noun

a ball of tissue that grows bigger than normal,

either on or under the skin

That growth on your shoulder is starting to

worry me.

heart attack
noun

instance in which blood stops pumping through

the heart

People who smoke are at greater risk of

having a heart attack.

HIV
noun

the virus that infects the human T-cells and leads

to AIDS

HIV can be passed down from the mother

to her fetus.

hives
noun

bumps that appear on the surface of the skin

during an allergic reaction

I broke out in hives after I ate that potato

casserole.

illness noun
ill adj

general term for any condition that makes a

person feel sick for a certain period of time

Her illness went away when she started

eating better.

immune system
noun

the parts of the body that fight diseases,

infections, and viruses

You can't have visitors because your

immune system is low.

immunization noun
immunize verb

an injection that protects against a specific disease

Babies are immunized three times in their

first year.

incision
noun

cut in the body made during surgery

I had to have stitches to close the incision.

inconclusive
adj

unclear

We have to do more x-rays because the first

ones were inconclusive.

infant
noun

young baby

The nurse will demonstrate how to bathe an

infant.

infection noun
infected adj

diseased area of the body (viral or bacterial)

The wound should be covered when you

swim to prevent it from becoming infected.

inflamed
adj

appearance (red and swollen) of an injured body

part

My right ankle was so inflamed it was

twice the size of my left one.

injury
noun

damage to the body

Her injuries were minor; just a few cuts

and bruises.

intensive care unit

(ICU)
noun

section of the hospital where patients get constant

attention and doctors rely on specialized
equipment

She will remain in the ICU until she can

breathe on her own.

internal
adj

under the skin, inside the organs

The doctors will be monitoring her for any

internal bleeding.

itchy
adj

feeling discomfort on the skin's surface

If you are allergic to this medication your

skin will get red and itchy.

IV
noun

a tube that pumps liquids and medication into a

patient's body

The toddler was so dehydrated that the

doctor decided to get him on an IV.

lab results
noun

tests that come back from a laboratory and help

doctors make a diagnosis

The lab results have come in and you are

free to go home.

lab (laboratory)
noun

place where samples of blood/urine etc. are taken

for testing

I'll take these samples down to the lab on

my way out.

life support
noun

a machine that keeps patients alive by helping

them breathe

The woman has severe brain damage and is

currently on life support.

life-threatening
adj

when injuries and conditions are extremely

serious

The victim was shot in two places but the

bullet wounds are not life-threatening.

light-headed
adj

feeling of dizziness and being off-balance, caused

by lack of oxygen in the brain

If you are feeling light-headed again, lie

down and call me.

malignant
adj

expected to grow and get much worse (especially

related to cancerous cells)

I'm afraid at least one of the tumours is

malignant.

medical school (med.

school)
noun

place where someone trains to be a doctor

After eight years of medical school I can

finally practice medicine.

newborn
noun

an infant that is less than three months old

You have to support her neck because she is

still a newborn.

numb
adj

no feeling in a certain body part

The needle will make your lower body feel

numb.

OR (operating room)
noun

the place where major surgeries and operations

take place

You must wear a face mask and gloves

while you are in the OR.

operation noun
operate on verb

a medical procedure that involves going inside a

person's body in an attempt to fix a problem

The operation lasted seven hours, but it

was successful.

pain
noun

strong discomfort in certain areas of the body

We gave your husband some medicine to

relieve some of the pain.

pain killer, pain reliever

noun

type of medicine that takes away some or all of

the discomfort of an illness or injury

You can take two pain killers every four

hours.

paralyzed
adj

unable to move certain areas of the body

We thought her legs were paralyzed for

life, but she is learning how to walk.

patient

a person staying in a hospital or medical facility

The patients in Room 4 are not getting

noun

along.

pharmacist
noun

a person who fills a doctor's prescription and

gives people advice about medication

Ask the pharmacist if there is a generic

brand of this medication.

pharmacy, drugstore
noun

a place where people go to buy medication and

other medical supplies

You should be able to buy a bandage at the

pharmacy.

physician
noun

doctor

Ask your family physician to refer you to a

specialist.

poison noun
poisonous adj

a substance that is very dangerous if it enters the

human body

The child was bitten by a poisonous snake.

prenatal
adj

of the time period leading up to giving birth

The woman was well prepared for labour

because she took the prenatal classes.

prescription noun
prescribe verb

the correct amount and type of medication needed

to cure an illness or relieve symptoms

You will need to visit your doctor to get

another prescription.

privacy noun
private adj

being alone; personal (eg test results)

You will have to pay for a private hospital

room if you don't want a room-mate.

radiation
noun

high energy X-rays that destroy cancer cells

If the radiation doesn't kill all of the

abnormal cells, the cancer will come back.

residency
resident
noun

part of a doctor's training that takes place in the

hospital;
a student working under a doctor

John is a resident under Dr Brown.

routine check-up
noun

a doctor's appointment to check a person's general

health

I'd like to see you a year from now for a

routine check-up.

scrubs
noun

plain uniform (usually green, white, or blue) worn

by medical professionals

I have some extra scrubs in my locker.

scrub up
verb

carefully wash hands before and after seeing a

patient

I have to scrub up and get ready for

surgery.

second opinion
noun

input from a second doctor about an illness or

symptom

I went to another doctor to get a second

opinion about these headaches.

seizure
noun

sudden violent movements or unconsciousness

caused by electrical signal malfunction in the
brain

People who suffer from epilepsy are prone

to seizures.

shock
noun

body not getting enough blood flow

The woman was in shock after being pulled

from the river.

side effects
noun

other symptoms that might occur as a result of a

certain medication or procedure

One of the side effects of antidepressants is

a loss of appetite.

sore
adj

painful

I have a sore throat and a runny nose.

spasm
noun

the uncontrollable tightening of a muscle

Ever since I injured my leg I've been having

muscle spasms in my upper thigh.

specialist
noun

a doctor that is an expert in a certain kind of

medicine

My family doctor is sending me to a

specialist.

sprain
noun/verb

an injury (less serious than a break) to a joint

(ankle, wrist, knee etc)

I sprained my knee playing soccer.

stable condition
noun

a patient is stable if their medical condition is no

longer changing rapidly

You can see your husband now; he is in a

stable condition.

sting

sharp, temporary pain

It may sting when I insert the needle.

noun/verb
stress noun
stressed adj

worry that causes muscles to tighten and blood

pressure to rise

You need to take some time off work and

relieve some of your stress.

swelling noun
swollen adj

ligaments (parts that hold the joints together)

growing bigger and rounder after an injury to a
joint

I knew my ankle was sprained because it

was so swollen.

symptoms
noun

pain or physical changes that occur because of an

illness or disease

You have all of the symptoms of a diabetic.

temperature
noun

amount of heat measured in a body; higher than

normal temperature

We brought Jesse to emergency because he

was running a (high) temperature.

tender adj

painful when touched or used

The incision was tender after the surgery.

test results
noun

medical information that helps doctors understand

a patient's condition or body

The test results came back negative. You

aren't pregnant.

therapy
noun

treatment aimed at improving a person's mental or

physical condition

I was able to go back to work a few weeks

after starting the therapy.

transplant
noun

moving of an organ from one human to another

The heart transplant saved your life.

ultrasound
noun

a test that examines the body's internal organs and

processes using sound waves (often used during
pregnancies)

The ultrasound shows that we are

expecting a baby boy.

umbilical cord
noun

the lifeline from the mother to the fetus (when cut

at birth this forms the belly button)

I had an emergency C-section because the

umbilical cord was wrapped around the
baby's neck.

unconscious
adj

alive, but appearing to be asleep and unaware of

the surroundings

I hit my head on the steering wheel and was

still unconscious when the ambulance
arrived.

urine sample
noun

a small amount of the body's liquid waste that is

tested for different medical reasons

The urine sample tells us how much

alcohol is in your blood.

vein
noun

the thin tubes that transport blood around the

body and back to the heart

I'm just looking for the best vein in which

to insert the needle.

virus
noun

a dangerous organism that causes the spread of

minor and major diseases

The virus is contractable through the

exchange of bodily fluids.

visiting hours
noun

time of day when friends and family are allowed

to visit patients in hospital

I'm afraid you'll have to come back during

visiting hours.

vomit
noun/verb

discharge of a person stomach contents through

the mouth

The pregnant woman can't stop vomiting.

ward
noun

a section of a hospital or health facility where

patients stay

I should warn you that we're entering the

mental health ward.

wheelchair
noun

a chair on wheels used for transporting patients

from place to place

If you get in the wheelchair I'll take you

down to see the garden.

wound noun
wounded adj

injury to body ("flesh wound" means not deep)

The wounded soldiers are being airlifted to

the hospital.

x-ray
noun/verb

a photograph of a person's bones and organs

The technician took x-rays of my shoulder

to make sure it wasn't broken.