Emergency Department - Vocab

Question 1

Subjective vs. Objective

Answer 1

Feeling vs. fact

Question 2

Chief complaint (CC)

Answer 2

The main reason for the patient’s ED visit

Question 3

Medical decision making

Answer 3

The physician’s thought process

Question 4

Pain vs. Tenderness

Answer 4

Patient’s feeling vs. physician’s assessment

Question 5

Benign

Answer 5

Normal, of no concern to health

Question 6

Distress

Answer 6

The doctor’s judgment of comfort

Question 7

Febrile

Answer 7

The state of having a fever, elevated body temperature; usually indicative of an infection

Question 8

Baseline

Answer 8

An individual’s normal state of being

Question 9

Auscultation

Answer 9

Listening with a stethoscope

Question 10

Palpation

Answer 10

The act of pressing on an area (by the doctor)

Question 11

Inpatient

Answer 11

Admitted to hospital overnight

Question 12

Outpatient

Answer 12

Seen and sent home the same day

Question 13

Charge Nurse

Answer 13

Manages the ED patient flow

Question 14

Mid-Level Provider

Answer 14

Nurse Practitioner (LNP) or Physician Assistant (PA) that works under the supervision of a physician to diagnose and treat patients

Question 15

ED Nurse

Answer 15

Records medical histories, symptoms, monitors the patient, starts IVs, administers medications, and assists with procedures

Question 16

Respiratory Therapist (RT)

Answer 16

Administers “breathing treatments” and assists with managing a patient’s airway

Question 17

ED Tech

Answer 17

Helps the nurse and assists with procedures

Question 18

Unit Secretary

Answer 18

Places physician’s orders, answers phone calls, pages other specialists/doctors and organizes the patient’s paperwork

Question 19

Medical Scribe

Answer 19

Documents the patient’s visit on behalf of the physician

Question 20

Five vital signs

Answer 20

1. HR
2. BP
3. RR
4. T
5. SaO2

Question 21

General documentation template

Answer 21

1. HPI
2. ROS
3. Past Hx
4. PE
5. ED Course
6. Disposition

Question 22

Emergency Department Patient Flow

Answer 22

1. Walk-in
2. Triage
3. Bed placement
4. Nurse assessment
5. H&P (physician assessment)
6. ED course
7. MDM
8. Dx
9. Disposition

Question 23

Allergic reaction

Answer 23

• Rash
• Itching
• Swelling
• SOB due to airway swelling

Question 24

Adverse reaction

Answer 24

• N/V
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness

Question 25

Adverse reaction

Answer 25

• N/V
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness

Question 26

Pertinent positives

Answer 26

Specific symptoms that raise the physician’s suspicion for a particular disease

Question 27

Pertinent negatives

Answer 27

Specific symptoms that are not present which cause the physician to doubt certain diagnoses

Question 28

ASA

Answer 28

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)

*324mg PO

Question 29

NTG

Answer 29

Nitroglycerin

Question 30

GI cocktail

Answer 30

Liquid antacid, viscous lidocaine, and anticholinergic (numbs/soothes esophagus and stomach)

Question 31

RUQ

Answer 31

Liver, right kidney, gallbladder, colon, pancreas

Question 32

LUQ

Answer 32

Stomach, left kidney, spleen, colon, pancreas

Question 33

RLQ

Answer 33

Appendix, colon, SI, ureter, major vein/artery to right leg

Question 34

LLQ

Answer 34

Colon, SI, ureter, major vein/artery to left leg

Question 35

Epigastric (associated diseases)

Answer 35

GERD, MI

Question 36

RUQ (associated diseases)

Answer 36

Cholecystitis, cholelithiasis

Question 37

LUQ (associated diseases)

Answer 37

Pancreatitis

Question 38

Periumbilical (associated diseases)

Answer 38

SBO

Question 39

RLQ (associated diseases)

Answer 39

Appendicitis

Question 40

LLQ (associated diseases)

Answer 40

Diverticulitis

Question 41

Suprapubic (associated diseases)

Answer 41

Ovarian torsion, ovarian cyst, UTI

Question 42

Flanks (associated diseases)

Answer 42

Pyelonephritis, renal calculi