Vocabulary Flashcards
ampoule / ampule
Small glass vial sealed to keep contents sterile; used for subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous medications
automatic stop date
Date on which specific categories of medications must be discontinued unless renewed by the physician
bolus / IV push (IVP)
Concentrated dose of medication or fluid, frequently given intravenously
capsule
Gelatinous, single-dose container in which a drug is enclosed to prevent the patient from tasting the drug
Central Line Catheter
or
Central Venous Catheter (CVC)
Large catheter that provides access to the veins and/or to the heart to measure pressures
flagging
A method used by the physician to notify the nursing staff that a new set of orders has been written
hypnotics
Drugs that reduce pain or induce sleep; can include sedatives, analgesics, and anesthetics
intramuscular (IM) injection
Injection of a medication into a muscle
IV push
Method of giving concentrated doses of medication directly into the vein
Kardex
A file used by the nursing staff to maintain a current patient profile
Medication Administration Record (MAR)
List of medications that each individual patient is currently taking; it is used by the nurse to administer the medications
narcotic
Controlled drug that relieves pain or produces sleep
parenteral routes
Methods other than oral for giving fluids or medications (i.e. injections or intravenously)
Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA)
Medications administered intravenously by means of a special infusion pump controlled by the patient within order ranges written by the physician
routine order
A doctor’s order that remains in effect and is executed as ordered until the doctor discontinues or changes it
subcutaneous injection
Injection of a small amount of medication under the skin into fatty or connective tissue
signing off
A process of recording data on the doctor’s order sheet to indicate the completion of transcription of a set of doctor’s orders
STAT order
A doctor’s order that is to be executed immediately, then automatically discontinued
suppository
Medicated substance mixed in a solid base that melts when placed in a body opening; suppositories are commonly used in the rectum, vagina, or urethra
suspension
Fine-particle drug suspended in liquid
symbols
Notations written in ink on the doctor’s sheet to indicate completion of a step of the transcription process
tablet
Solid dosage of a drug in a disk form
topical
Direct application of a medication to the skin, eye, ear, or other parts of the body
Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)
Method used to administer calories, proteins, vitamins, and other nutrients into the bloodstream of a patient who is unable to eat. Must be infused into the superior vena cava through a central line catheter - not given through a peripheral IV catheter
