So, we're on the wards/ units/ out in the community. What can we do? Pretty much anything, as long as someone is aware of us doing it or watching us do it, depending on confidence levels. But how can we do it? Simple. Collar 'em. Be proactive. Use your initiative - - within the limits of your abilities, obviously. And, yes, you'll feel a nuisance, but the role of a student is to study, to learn, and utilising a way which works for you might mean either lots and lots of supervision and support or more self directed - this is what I want to learn today/concentrate on if possible.Don't be disheartened if they shoo you away. They are just as new to mentoring you as are to learning. A really simple idea way of working might be the three fold:
Tell Me: Ask the S/N what they're about to do and why and if its ok for you to be there.
Show Me: Watch the procedure being done; ask to be talked through it. This might mean once or twice.
Watch Me: Be seen to do it. Get your mentor to watch you once or twice until you feel confident about it so you can always do it yourself next time after telling them you want to/need to'
:))
Common Abbrev.
Ok, first things first; a lot of this is common sense, more than common abbreviations - - but it helps to understand the lingo. Handover sheets are funny things and vary from area to area; some are printed out for you, some you have to write yourself and some may not even have them 'traditionally' at all. Each will be strewn with abbrev. and although they may differ some are pretty constant. Here's a few which might crop up (oh, and for those that know more, please add 'em at the bottom for others in the comments section ;)
A:
AAA
(Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A medical condition which, if not caught early, can lead to sudden death at rupture. See BIOSCIENCES: pathophysiology: aneurysm)
Ab (Antibody)
ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation: may sometimes find, esp. in ICU areas that this is used to 'break down' care/ assessment of the pt.)
ABG (Arterial Blood Gases: Usually a small invasive procedure, where blood is drawn from the artery to examine the 'blood gases' within the bloodstream. See BIOSCIENCES: biochemistry)
ACE (Angiotensin-converting enzyme) / ACEI (Angiotensin-converting enyzyme inhibitor)
ACLS (Advanced cardiac life support)
ACS (Acute Coronary Syndrome: a canopy term which relates to symptoms arising from Myocardial Infarctions (MI) and/or Unstable Angina (UA). See: BIOSCIENCES: circulatory system AND pathophysiology: cardiac)
AD (Adrenaline)
ADH (Anti diuretic hormone: this, in common terms, stops you peeing, :))...its to do with salts and kidney function and cardiac. See: BIOSCIENCES: biochemistry)
AF (Atrial Fibrillation: an unstable irregular heart rhythm, characterised by the unusual 'firing' of the SA node - manifesting on an ECG as either absent or random P waves)
ALI (Acute lung injury)
ALL (Acute lymphoblastic leukemia)
ALP (Alkaline phosphatase)
ALT (Alanine transaminase)
(A)MI / STEMI/ NSTEMI (Acute myocardial infarction/ ST elevated myocardial infarction/ non-ST elevated myocardial infarction: varying forms a 'heart attack' can take. ST relates to what is seen on an ECG post attack, this is elevated and can remain so for some time)
APTT (Activated partial thromboplastin time: should be less than 40s. Is important within blood clotting)
AR (Aortic regurgitation: a cardiac condition)
ARDS (Adult respiratory distress syndrome)
ARF / CRF (Acute renal failure/ Chronic renal failure)
AS (Aortic stenosis: a cardiac condition)
ASD (Atrial septal defect: if you ever get to see this on an X-ray, its really odd, you'll think they've put it up backwards)
ATP (Aderosine triphosphate: the energy of life. Released in all biochemical reactions to some degree)
AV (Atrial ventricular: general directional cardiac term)
AVR (Aortic valve replacement: a surgical procedure to well, it explains itself)
AXR (Abdominal X ray)
B:
BBB (Bundle branch block: a cardiac arrhythmia. may be left or right BBB)
BNF (British national formulary: the bible of drugs)
BMT (Bone marrow transplant)
BOOP (Bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia)
BP (Blood pressure)
C:
Ca (Carcinoma/ cancer)
CABG (Coronary artery bypass graft: a cardiac operation. interesting to view)
CAVM (Continuous arterovenous haemofiltration)
CBD (common bile duct)
CCF (Congestive cardiac failure)
CCU (Coronary care unit)
CK/ CPK (Creatine phosphokinase: a cardiac enzyme, checked after a suspected MI)
CNS (Central nervous system)
COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder)
CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure)
CRP (C-reative protein)
CSF (Cerebrospinal fluid)
CT (Computerised tomography: a scan)
CTPA (CT pulmonary angiography)
CVA (Cerebrovascular accident : Stroke)
CVP (Central venous pressure)
CVS (Cardiavascular system)
CXR (Chest X ray)
D:
D&V (Diarrhea and vomiting)
DA (Dopamine)
(I)DDM/ (NI)DDM (Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus/ non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus)
DKA (Diabetic ketoacidosis)
DNA (Deoxyribose nucleuic acid: the foundation print of life)
DSH (Deliberate self harm)
DT (delirium tremens: a condition arising from prolonged alcohol consumption)
DU (Duodenal ulcer)
DVT (Deep vein thrombosis: a blood clot which can arise anywhere within the venous system)
E:
E (Ecstasy)
EBV (Ebstein Barr virus)
ECV (Extra cellular volume)
ECG (Electrocardiogram: A twelve lead tracing of a cardiac rhythm)
Echo (Echocardiogram)
EEG (Electro encephalogram)
EMD (Electromechanical dissociation: a cardiac disorder)
ENT (Ear nose throat)
ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde cholangopancreaticgraphy: an exploratory examination procedure)
ESR (Erthyrocyte sedimentation rate)
ET (Endo trachael)
F:
FBC (Full blood count)
FEV1 (forced expiratory volume - 1 min)
FFP (Fresh frozen plasma)
FH/ SFH (Family history/ Social family history)
FVC (Forced vital capacity)
G:
G&S (Group and save: the name given to blood group matching and 'saving' this info in case of transfusion)
GBS (Guillian Barre syndrome)
GCS (Glasgow coma scale: the neurological assessment aid of consciousness on a scale of 1-15, warning system for deterioration)
GH (Growth hormone)
GI (Gastriointestinal)
glc (Glucose)
GTN (Glycerin trinitrate: used sublingually to vasodilate. Given as a spray for UA or post MI in another form to stablise)
GU (Genitourinary)
H:
HAART (Highly active anti retroviral therapy)
HAPO (High altitude pulmonary odema)
HAV/ HBc/ HbS/ HBV (Hepatitis A virus/ Hepatitis B core/ Hepatitis B surface/ Hepatitis B virus)
HCG (Human choroinic ganadotrophin: an indicator used for pregnancy. Peaks then drops to normal levels after 12weeks post conception. Can be detected earlier then 4 weeks by blood test)
HDL (High density lipoprotein)
HDU (High dependency unit)
HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus)
HR (Heart rate)
HRT (Hormone replacement therapy)
HSV (Herpes simplex virus)
Hyper / Hypo / HT (Hypertensive / Hypotensive/ Hypotension: relating to blood pressure. Normal systolic/ diastolic range 115/75 (new BHF guidelines). If systolic drops below 100 recurrently, clinically hypotensive. Diastolic above 100, or systolic above 130, recurrently, clinically hypertensive. Both have physiological changes associated with them. See BIOSCIENCES: Circulation)
Hx (History)
I:
IABP (Intra aortic balloon pump)
IBD (Inflammatory bowel disease)
ICD (Implantable cardioverter defibrillator)
ICP (Intracranial pressure. Again, neurologically important indicator)
ID (Infectious disease)
IE (Infective endocarditis)
IgA /IgE /IgG/ IgM (Immunoglobin A/E/G/M)
IHD (Ischemic heart disease)
INR (International normalalsie ratio: prothrombin rate. Important clotting indicator. Esp if the pt is on an anticogulant (Blood thinning agent) such as Warfarin)
IPPV (Intermittent positive pressure ventilator)
IVC (Inferior vena cava)
IV/ IVI (Intravenous/ intravenous infusion)
J:
JVP (Jugular venous pressure)
L:
LA (Left atrium)
LAD (Left anterior descending coronary artery)
LDH (Lactate dehydrogenase)
LDL (Low density lipoprotein)
LFT (Liver function test)
LMN (Lower motor neurone)
LMS (Left main stem)
LMWH (Lower molecular weight heparin: heparin is a blood thinning agent, often given pre and post operatively)
LP (Lumbar puncture: an exploratory procedure, where a needle is inserted into the lumbar spaces of the spine)
LVF (Left ventricular failure)
LVH (Left ventricular hypertrophy: an enlargment of the lower left side of the cardiac muscle)
M:
MCE (Major cardiac event)
MAOI (Monoamine oxidase inhibitor)
MAP (Mean arterial pressure)
MAT (Multifocal atrial tachycardia)
MC&S (Microscopy, culture and sensitivity)
MCA (Middle cerebral artery)
MCV (Mean corpuscular value)
MDMA (Ecstasy)
MOF (Multiple organ failure)
MR (Magnetic resonance OR Mitral regurgitation)
MRCP (Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatiography)
MRI (Magnetic resonance imagery)
MRSA (Methacillin resistant staphylococcus aureus: the Superbug, so named because it fails to respond to antibiotic treatment.)
MS (Multiple sclerosis)
MSU (Mid stream urine)
MV (Mitral valve)
MVP (Mitral valve prolapse)
MVR (Mitral valve replacement)
N:
N&V (Nausea and vomiting)
NA (Noradrenaline)
NBM (Nil by mouth)
NCS (Nerve conduction systems)
NG (Nasogastric)
NIV (Non invasive ventilation)
NPV (Negative pressure ventilation)
NQMI (Non Q wave MI)
NSAID (Non steroidal anti inflammatory drug. Such as iburofen)
O:
OCP (Oral contraceptive pill)
OD (Overdose)
P:
PA (Pulmonary artery)
PACI (Partial anterior circulation infarction)
PaO2 (Partial pressure of oxygen within the blood stream)
PCA (Patient controlled analgesia)
PCI (Percutaneous coronary intervention)
PCV (Packed cell volume)
PE (Pulmonary embolism: a blood clot specific to the heart)
PEEP (Positive end expiratory pressure)
PEFR (Peak expiratory flow rate: measures lung capacity. used a lot for asthmatics)
PEG (Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostony: a way of 'feeding' via a line)
PEP (Post exposure prophylaxis)
PET (Positron emission tomography)
PMH (Past medical history)
PMR (Polymyalgia rheumatica)
PPI (Proton pump inhibitor)
PR (Per rectum)
PTH (Parathyroid hormone)
PUO (Pyrexia of unknown origin. Basically, a high temperature which has no identifiable cause)
PVE (Prosthetic valve endocarditis)
PVT (Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia)
Q:
QwMI (Q wave MI)
R:
RA (Right atrium)
RAS (Renin angiotensin system)
RBC (Red blood cell)
RCP (Royal college of physicians)
RF (Rheumatic fever)
RCA (Right coronary artery)
RNA (Ribose nucleic acid: formed from DNA)
RR (Respiratory rate)
RTA (Road traffic accident)
RUQ (Right upper quadrant)
RV / RVF (Right ventricular / Right ventricular failure)
S:
SAH (Sub arachnoid haemorrhage)
SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome)
SBE (Sub acute bacterial endocarditis)
Strep/ Sk (Streptokinase)
SL (Sublingual)
SOB (Short of breath)
SR (Slow release)
SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor)
SVC (Superior vena cava)
SVT (Supraventricular tachycardia)
T:
TB (Tuberculosis)
TBG (Thyroid binding)
TENS (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
TIA (Transient ischemic attack)
TnI / TnT (Troponin I / Troponin T)
tPA (tissue plasminogen activator)
TFT (Thyroid function test)
TPN (Total parental nutrition)
TPR (Temperature, pulse and respiration)
TR (Tricuspid regurgitation)
TRALI (Transfusion related acute lung injury)
TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone)
TURP (Transuretheral resection of prostate)
U:
U&E's (Ureas and electrolytes: See BIOSCIENCES: biochemistry)
UC (Ulcerative colitis)
UFH (Unfractionated heparin)
URTI (Upper respiratory tract infection)
UTI (Urinary tract infection)
USS (Ultrasound scan)
UMN (Upper motor neurone)
V:
VC (Vital capacity)
VF (Ventricular fibrillation: the most unstable of cardiac arrhythmias. Needs urgent attention. Otherwise you may be calling the crash team)
VPB (Ventricular premature beats)
VSD (Ventricular septal defect)
VT (Ventricular tachycardia)
W:
WBC (White blood cell)
WCC (White cell count)
Not exhaustive, and may be added to. But you catch my drift as to the length of abbrev possible.
:))
