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Nursing Vocabulary and Definitions (PDF)

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If you want to improve your communication skills in a healthcare environment, learning nursing vocabulary is essential. Nursing is considered to be a critical and invaluable service that requires the utmost attention and care in its delivery.

Knowledge of the language used in nursing is essential not only for the accurate communication of information, but also for the provision of quality patient care. To assist in this linguistic journey, here is a comprehensive collection of commonly used nursing terms and phrases, tailored for those whose second language is English:

Basic Medical Terminology:

Here you can find some basic medical terms for nursing and their definitions:

Term	Definition
Patient	Individual receiving care
Doctor	Medical professional
Nurse	Healthcare professional
Hospital	Healthcare facility
Clinic	Outpatient healthcare center
Emergency Room (ER)	Immediate medical care
Ambulance	Emergency medical transport
Medication	Prescribed drugs
Diagnosis	Identifying a medical condition
Treatment	Medical intervention

Body Parts:

Here you can learn some body parts words and their definitions:

Term	Definition
Head	Upper part of the body
Heart	Organ pumping blood
Lungs	Organs for breathing
Stomach	Digestive organ
Liver	Metabolic organ
Kidneys	Filtration organs
Bones	Structural components
Muscles	Tissue for movement
Nerves	Transmit signals
Blood vessels	Transport blood

Patient Care:

Here is a list of some of the terms that are used in patient care and their definitions:

Term	Definition
Admit	To enter a healthcare facility
Discharge	To leave a healthcare facility
Monitor	To observe and track
Assess	To evaluate and analyze
Administer	To give medication or treatment
Vital signs	Essential body measurements
Wound care	Treatment of injuries or wounds
Hygiene	Personal cleanliness
Rehabilitation	Restoration of health and abilities
Palliative care	Comfort-focused care for the ill

Check Also:
Fast Ways to Learn and Remember English Vocabulary
Body Parts Vocabulary for English Learners
50+ Confusing Words in English (PDF)

Medical Equipment:

Here you can learn the vocabulary of medical equipment for nursing care:

Term	Definition
Stethoscope	Instrument for listening to body sounds
Blood pressure cuff	Device for measuring blood pressure
Thermometer	Tool for measuring body temperature
IV (intravenous) line	Tube for administering fluids or medications
Syringe	Instrument for injecting or withdrawing fluids
Oxygen mask	Device for delivering oxygen to the patient
Ventilator	Machine supporting breathing
Catheter	Tube for drainage or administration
EKG/ECG (electrocardiogram)	Heart activity recording
X-ray	Imaging technique for internal structures

Common Conditions:

Become familiar with common medical conditions. This is an important part of the nursing vocabulary.

Term	Definition
Diabetes	Metabolic disorder
Hypertension	High blood pressure
Asthma	Respiratory condition
Allergies	Immune system reactions
Infection	Invasion of pathogens
Fever	Elevated body temperature
Stroke	Disruption of blood flow to the brain
Heart attack	Damage to the heart muscle
Fracture	Broken bone
Surgery	Medical procedure