Memoirs of an Emergency Nurse (11 page)

Amiodarone

Antiarrhythmic medication: used to control abnormal heart rhythms

Anaesthetist

A medical doctor specialised in administering anaesthetic and inducing unconsciousness in a patient

Analgesia

Pain relief medication

Antiemetic

A drug that inhibits vomiting

Antihistamines

A drug that inhibits the action of histamine in the body to reduce allergic responses

Arterial blood gas (ABG)

A test for measuring how much oxygen and carbon
dioxide is in
the  arterial blood

Atropine

A drug used in resuscitation to stimulate the heart to rectify an abnormally slow heart rate

Aspirate

I
nhaling in fluids into the airway

Asystole

The heart stops beating and no electrical activity occurs

Blood pressure

Measuring the internal pressure of blood against the main arteries throughout the body

BPM

Beats per minute, referring to the heart beating

Cannula

A hollow tube inserted into a vein, used for administering intravenous medication into a vein or taking blood samples

Cardiac monitor

Machine to record heart rhythms

Cardiologist

A medical doctor specialising in the heart

Carpal bone

The wrist and hand bones

Catheter

A hollow tube inserted
into cavities, such as the bladder

Catatonic

Person does not speak or respond to external stimuli or environment, but is not unconscious

Cervical spine (C-Spine)

Spinal bones at the top of the neck

Cricoid pressure

Colles Fracture

Fingertip
pressure exerted on the cricoid bone in the neck to depress oesophagus at the point of intubation

Breaking both radius and Ulna bones in the wrist

Compound fracture

A fracture of a bone in which the bone end pierces the skin

Convulsions

Involuntary contraction of the muscles of the body and limbs

CPR

Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation

CT scan

Computerised Tomography scanner: provides three dimensional images of the body

Defibrillate

Electric shock administered to restore normal heart rhythm

ECG

Electrocardiogram: a recording of the electrical activity of the heart

Endotracheal tube

A tube inserted into the trachea to maintain airway, usually done under anaesthetic

Entonox

A mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen in a gas cylinder, can be given for pain relief or anaesthesia

Expiratory

Breathing out air from the lungs: exhalation

Femoral artery kit

Kit with sterile equipment inside to insert a cannula into the femoral artery

Fibula

The long thin outer shin bone of the lower leg

Fluid resuscitation

The act of restoring life with fluid administration

Fractures

Broken bones

Frontal lobe

Relating to a part of the brain at the front of the head

Glasgow Coma Scale

Numerical scoring system to estimate conscious level after head injury

Haemorrhaging

Bleeding from internal or external damage to a blood vessel

Hartman's Solution

A fluid given to treat dehydration

Head blocks

Padded blocks placed at either ear to secure the head and cervical spine on a flat surface

H
umerus

The bone of the upper arm nearest the shoulder joint

Inspiratory

Breathing air into the lungs through the nose and mouth: inhalation

Intracranial pressure

Pressure within the skull

Intravenous line

Tubing usually attached to a cannula to administer medication into the vein

Joules

The unit of energy used in defibrillation

Logroll

Rolling a person keeping spine alignment with several people to assist

Lung auscultations

Listening to the lungs with a stethoscope

Mandible

Jaw bone

Maxillofacial surgeon

A doctor specialised in jaw and facial surgery

Metabolic

Biochemical changes occurring in the body

Morphine

Narcotic analgesic administered to relieve severe pain

Moses basket

A portable cradle for a baby

Myocardial infarction

Heart Attack: blood flow is interrupted to a part of the heart muscle

Narcan

Naloxone: morphine antidote

Nasal cannula

Tube resting in the nostrils administering oxygen

Nebulisers

Equipment to administer liquid medication in a fine spray to be inhaled

Neurosurgeon

A doctor specialising in brain  surgery

Neurological observations

Measuring and recording function of the patient’s brain, usually after a head injury

Oesophagus

The tube from the mouth ending in the stomach

Oxygen saturations

The amount of oxygen in the blood

Perforation

A hole in an organ or tissue

Poly Sling

A sling specifically for shoulder injuries, with a strap at the back to hold the arm against the body

Post mortem

After death

Pulse oximeter

A machine to record the amount of oxyhaemoglobin in the blood and pulse rate

Respiratory arrest

The act of breathing ceased

Resuscitation

Emergency procedure
initiated to preserve life

Salbutamol

Ventolin: a drug used to open airways

Sinus rhythm

Normal heart rhythm

Spinal board

A rigid board used to maintain spinal alignment when transporting a patient with suspected spinal injury