Hi, my name is Marianne Ferland. I am 19 years old, and I am studying in the Nursing program for two years now. I would like to continue my studies at the university to become a future clinical nurse. This profession will allow me to provide a lot of care to my patients while being part of a large interdisciplinary team. Therefore, many complex medical words are important to know in order to communicate effectively with health care professionals. I created this glossary to make it easy for nursing students to learn common health care words.
ache
noun
A continuous or prolonged dull pain in a part of one's body.
Example: The pain is often associated with a vague deep ache in the limb, sometimes mild tingling, but rarely numbness or weakness.
en: mal, douleur
acute
adjective
An acute pain or illness is one that has a sudden onset, sharp rise, and short course.
Example: The patient died from acute cerebral hemorrhage.
en: aigu, vif, grave, intense
anemia
noun
A condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells or of hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness.
Example: Iron deficiency anemia, as evidenced by a high prevalence of low hemoglobin levels, was a widespread problem.
en: anémie
blood pressure
noun
The pressure of the blood in the circulatory system, often measured for diagnosis since it is closely related to the force and rate of the heartbeat and the diameter and elasticity of the arterial walls.
Example: The doctor says he has high blood pressure of 135/85. / His lifestyle predisposed him to high blood pressure.
en: Pression artérielle
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
noun
Emergency medical procedures for restoring normal heartbeat and breathing to victims of heart failure, drowning, etc.
Example: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation can save the life of someone whose heart has stopped.
en: Réanimation cardiorespiratoire (RCR)
cough
noun
Expel air from the lungs with a sudden sharp sound.
Example: Her hacking cough had become unproductive, and even breathing was a chore.
en: toux
cyanosis
noun
A bluish discoloration of the skin resulting from poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood.
Example: A slight cyanosis, or blueness, of the hands and feet of the neonate is considered normal.
en: cyanose
disease
noun
A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, esp. One that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.
Example: Cancer of the Stomach is a common disease.
en: maladie
faint, fainting
noun
Lose consciousness for a short time because of a temporarily insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain.
Example: Audrey leaving the room where Josephine is fainting on the floor.
en: Perte de conscience, perte de connaissance, évanouissement, syncope
headache
noun
A continuous pain in the head
Example: Shortly after this procedure, the patient reported worsening headaches.
en: Maux de tête, migraine
hemorrhage
noun
An escape of blood from a ruptured blood vessel, especially when profuse.
Example: A burst blood vessel in the brain followed by uncontrolled bleeding (intracerebral hemorrhage) can cause a fetal stroke, or a clot (embolism) can obstruct a cerebral blood vessel.
en: hémorragie
limb
noun
A part or member of an animal body distinct from the head and trunk, as a leg or arm.
Example: Someone who has lost a leg just below the hip will be 80% disabled, however well they manage with an artificial limb.
en: membre du corps (ex : bras ou jambe)
pain scale
noun
A scale measures a patient's pain intensity or other features.
Example: Doctors use the pain scale to better understand certain aspects of a person’s pain. Some of these aspects are pain duration, severity, and type.
en: Échelle de la douleur
paleness, pallor
noun
Unnatural lack of color in the skin (as from bruising or sickness or emotional distress).
Example: The boy's sickly pallor concerned his parents.
en: pâleur, teint blafard
pulse
noun
A rhythmical throbbing of the arteries as blood is propelled through them, typically as felt in the wrists or neck.
Example: The nurse listened to his breathing and checked his pulse.
en: pouls, battement cardiaque
sore throat
noun
A condition marked by pain in the throat, typically caused by inflammation due to a cold or other virus.
Example: Cold symptoms usually accompany a viral sore throat.
en: Maux de gorge
sprain
noun
Ligament injury caused by excessive mobilization of a hinge.
Example: A sprain usually takes longer to heal than a broken bone.
en: Entorse
stretcher
noun
A framework of two poles with a long piece of canvas slung between them, used for carrying sick, injured, or dead people.
Example: An ambulance officer brought a stretcher for the injured woman.
en: civière, brancard
stroke
noun
A sudden change in the blood supply to a part of the brain, sometimes causing a loss of the ability to move particular parts of the body.
Example: A stroke paralyzed half his face and rendered him incapable of speech.
en: Accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC)
vital signs
noun
They are measures of various physiological statistics in order to assess the most basic body functions.
Example: The emergency doctor checked the patient's vital signs such as body temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure.
en: signes vitaux
weight
noun
A body's relative mass or the quantity of matter contained by it, giving rise to a downward force; the heaviness of a person or thing.
Example: There was a slight decrease in his weight after a week of dieting.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ibs-and-the-vasovagal-reflex-1945272-v3-5c1abff946e0fb0001c6a121.png)
