Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 15

Name: OLVIDO, MARIA ALEXIS DUAN A.

Score: _________
Date Accomplished: February 7, 2022

ND 225
CHAPTER 1
LECTURE ASSESSMENT
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Make research and attached the contents of the following:

Healthcare Terminologies used by: Page #

Registered NDs 2

Registered Nurses 4

Registered Pharmacists 6

Registered Medical Technologists 8

Registered Radiologic Technologists 8

Registered Medical Doctors 10

Registered Midwives 11

Registered Social Workers 13

References 15
Registered NDs: The Dietary Guidelines for Indians by National Institute of Nutrition,
Hyderabad listed some NDs terminologies, these are the following.

 Allergic reaction: Immunologically induced tissue response to a foreign


substance (allergen).
 Alpha-linoleic acid: 18 carbon fatty acid with three double bonds; the first
double bond is on the third carbon atom from the methyl end and therefore it is
called n-3 fatty acid. It is abbreviated as 18: 3 n-3.
 Amino acid: The fundamental building block of proteins.
 Anabolism: Process by which complex materials in tissues and organs are built
up from simple substances.
 Antioxidants: A group of substances that prevent the damage caused by the
oxidation of fatty acids and proteins by oxygen free radicals.
 Balanced Diet: A diet containing all essential (macro and micro) nutrients in
optimum quantities and in appropriate proportions that meet the requirements.
 Beta-Carotene: A yellow - orange plant pigment which yields vitamin A by
oxidation in the body.
 Bifidus factor: A substance in human milk which stimulates the growth of a
micro-organism (Lactobacillus bifidus) in the infants' intestine.
 Body Mass Index: Body weight in relation to height. Body weight in kilograms
divided by 2 heights in meters.
 Calorie: Unit used to indicate the energy value of foods. Quantitative
requirements are expressed in terms of energy, i.e., kilocalories (Kcals). Newer
unit for energy is Kjoules.
 Catabolism: Process of breakdown of complex organic constituents in the body.
 Cholesterol: A lipid constituent of blood and tissues derived from diet as well as
from synthesis within the body.
 Colostrum: The milk produced by mammals during the first few days after
delivery.
 CU: Consumption Unit. - One unit represents Recommended Dietary
Allowance of energy for a sedentary man.
 Empty calories: Term used for foods that provide only energy without any other
nutrient, e.g. White sugar and alcohol.
 Enzymes: Biological catalysts which enhance the rate of chemical reactions in
the body.
 Essential fatty acids (EFA): Fatty acids like linoleic acid and alpha linolenic acid
which are not made in the human body and must be supplied through the diet.
 Fatty acids: Fundamental constituents of many lipids.
 Fibre: Collective term for the structural parts of plant tissues which are resistant
to the human digestive enzymes.
 Flavonoids: Pigments widely distributed in nature in flowers, fruits and
vegetables.
 Food Exchange: Foods are classified into different groups for exchange. Each
“exchange list” includes a number of measured foods of similar nutritive value
that can be substituted inter-changeably in meal plans.

2
 Free radicals: Highly reactive oxygen-derived species formed in the body during
normal metabolic processes. They have the capacity to damage cellular
components by oxidation.
 High-density lipoproteins (HDL): These transport cholesterol from the extra-
hepatic tissues to the liver. They are anti-atherogenic.
 Hormones: Substances produced by a gland (endocrine) which are secreted
directly into the blood stream to produce a specific effect on another organ.
 Hyperlipidemia: An increase in the concentration of blood lipids (triglycerides
and cholesterol).
 Invisible fats: Fat present as an integral component of plant and animal foods
such as in cereals, legumes and spices.
 Lactoferrin: Minor protein of milk containing iron. Lactose intolerance: Disorder
resulting from improper digestion of milk sugar called lactose, due to lack of an
enzyme, lactase, in the intestinal mucosa.
 Linoleic acid: Fatty acid containing 18 carbon atoms and two double bonds. The
first double bond is on the sixth carbon atom from the methyl end. Therefore it is
called n-6 fatty acid and is abbreviated as 18:2 n-6.
 Lipids: A technical term for fats. They are important dietary constituents. The
group includes triglycerides, steroids, cholesterol and other complex lipids.
 Lipoproteins: Lipids are not soluble in blood; they are therefore transported as
lipid and protein complexes.
 Low-density lipoproteins (LDL): These transport cholesterol from the liver to
tissues. High blood levels indicate that more cholesterol is being transported to
tissues.
 Macrocytic anaemia: Anaemia characterized by red blood cells which are larger
than normal.
 Macronutrients: Nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins and fats which are
required in large quantities.
 Metabolism: Includes catabolism and anabolism.
 Microcytic anaemia: Anaemia characterized by red blood cells which are
smaller than normal.
 Micronutrients: Nutrients which are required in small quantities, such as
vitamins and trace elements.
 Monounsaturated fatty acids: Unsaturated fatty acids with one double bond. n-
6 PUFA : Linoleic acid and its longer chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are
collectively called n-6 PUFA. n-3 PUFA : Alpha-linolenic acid and its longer-chain
polyunsaturated fatty acids are collectively called n-3 PUFA.
 Phytochemicals: General name for chemicals present in plants.
 Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA): Unsaturated fatty acids with two or more
double bonds.
 Processed foods: Foods that are produced by converting raw food materials
into a form suitable for eating.
 Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM): A marked dietary deficiency of both energy
and protein resulting in undernutrition.

3
 Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA): The amounts of dietary energy and
nutrients considered sufficient for maintaining good health by the people of a
country.
 Refined foods: Foods which have been processed to improve their appearance,
colour, taste, odour or keeping quality.
 Saturated fatty acids: Fatty acids containing maximum number of hydrogen
atoms that each carbon atom can carry. They do not have double bonds.
 Satiety: Feeling of satisfaction after food intake.
 Trans-fatty acids: Are mainly produced during hydrogenation of oils; a few also
occur naturally in very small quantities.
 Triglycerides (Neutral fat): The major type of dietary fat and the principal form
in which energy is stored in the body. A complex of fatty acids and glycerol.
 Unsaturated fatty acids: Fatty acids in which there is a shortage of hydrogen
atoms. The carbon atoms then become linked by double bonds. Unsaturated
fatty acids are less stable than saturated fatty acids.
 Visible fats: Fats and oils that can be used directly or in cooking.
 Weaning foods: Foods which are used during gradual transition of the infant
from breastfeeding to a normal diet.

Registered Nurses: According to the site nursing job finder


(https://www.nursingjobfinder.com/members/resources/nursing-terminology/) they listed
helpful terminology and acronyms used in the nursing industry.
 ACNM: The American Collage of Nurse-Midwives
 ADN: Associates Degree in Nursing – the most common first step of nursing
education. Takes two years to complete at a college
 ADON: Assistant Director of Nursing – is there to always assist and back up the
head director when not available or absent
 APN: Advanced Practice Nurse – a nurse who is educationally past the post-
graduate level
 BCEN: Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing
 BN: Bachelor in Nursing
 BSN: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
 CEN: Certified Emergency Nurse
 CCU: Critical care unit
 CDN: Certified dialysis nurse
 Change nurse: A change nurse looks after the immediate functions of a specific
unit
 CNL: Clinical nurse leader
 CNA: Certified nurse assistant
 CNM: Certified nurse-midwife
 CNP: Clinical nurse specialist
 CPM: Certified Professional Midwifes
 CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
 Continuous Medical Education: Is an all-encompassing term within a broad
spectrum of post-secondary learning activities and programs.

4
 Diploma in Nursing: Hospital based diploma program, takes about three years
to complete.
 DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice
 DON: Director of nursing is one who oversees that proper care is given to all
individuals at their health care facility and usually reports to the CEO or COO of
the company.
 EMT: Emergency medical technician
 ENP: Emergency Nurse Practitioner
 ER: Emergency room
 FDA: Food and drug administration
 Fight nurse: A flight nurse provides pre-hospital emergency assistance, to
patients aboard aircrafts and helicopters in life-threatening situations.
 Geriatric nurse: Focuses of this nurse is with elderly or older adult patients
 Graduate nurse: A nurse that has just graduated from college or a nursing
program
 Human Growth and Development: Involves areas related to child health
 ICU: Intensive care unit
 IV: Intravenous
 LPN: Licensed practical nurse – needs only complete an accredited nursing
program and pass a state board to practice, but must work under physicians.
 Mental health: Focuses on psychiatric and or child psychology nursing
 Midwifery: providing care to childbearing women during pregnancy
 MRI: Magnetic resonance angiography
 Neonatal nursing: – nurses that work with new-borns up to 28 days old
 Nephrology: Study of the kidneys
 NCLEX-RN exam: National licensing exam to become a registered nurse
 NCLEX-PN exam: National licensing exam to become a practical nurse
 NICU: Neonatal intensive care unit
 NNP: Neonatal nurse practitioner
 NP: Nurse Practitioner
 Nurse Manager: A nurse manager is a nurse that manages a unit on all levels
and will typically report back to a service director.
 Nursing agency: Is a type of business that helps nurses find hospitals and other
care facilities that are in need of health care professionals, like nurses.
 Nursing Board Certifications: These voluntary exams are offered by the board;
to those that would like to prove knowledge of a specific specialty and be
recognized for it.
 Oncology: – Study of cancer
 OR: Operating room
 Pediatric nurse: A nurse that focuses on working with children patients
 Per Diem nurse: Works on a day-to-day basis with no set schedule and under
no set contract.
 Permanent nurse: – a nurse who works under contract in one location
 PEN: Pediatric endocrinology nurse
 Physician assistants: Licensed professionals that practice medicine under the
supervision of a licensed

5
 Physician PICU: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
 PNP: Psychiatric nurse practitioner
 Post-op: After operation
 Practice setting: – a place where a nurse might work such as a hospital or clinic
 Pre-op: Before operation
 Psychiatric nurse: Also known as a mental health nurse is one that is specially
trained to care for individuals of all ages that suffer from mental illness or
distress.
 Public health nursing: Centered on theory, practice and specializations.
 RN: Registered nurse: – is one who has graduated from college and passed the
national license exam.
 Service director: A director will usually oversee an entire facility and have other
nurse mangers reporting to them regarding the larger organization as a whole.
 Scope of Practice: Terminology used by state licensing boards for professions
that define the procedures, actions, and processes that are permitted for the
licensed individual.
 SICU: Surgical Intensive Care Unit
 Travel nurse: – a nurse who works for short periods of time with different health
care facilities

Registered Pharmacists: Pharmacy have their own key terms and daily vocabulary,
here are some terminology according to Ross Pharmacy Technician program page.
 Compounding: Basically, compounding is when a licensed pharmacist, or
someone that is working under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist,
combines or alters the ingredients in a drug in order to be specific to the needs of
a particular patient.
 Batch Preparation: Related to the previous term, batch preparation is the
process of compounding many of the same item to have stock – not for
immediate use.
 Analgesics: An analgesic is a painkiller, as analgesia is the term for “relief from
pain.” Some of the drugs in this class include ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen,
morphine, and others.
 Anesthetic: An anesthetic is a drug that causes anesthesia. Anesthesia is a
short-term and reversible loss of consciousness. Anesthetics are used to perform
surgeries without patients having to suffer through the pain of them. There are
both general anesthetics and local anesthetics. General anesthetics cause
patients to experience a reversible loss of consciousness while local anesthetics
simply cause a reversible loss of sensation to a specific part of the body while the
patient remains conscious.
 Antibiotic/Antibacterial: Although not exactly the same, antibiotic and
antibacterial are sometimes used interchangeably because they are used for
similar purposes. An antibiotic destroys or inhibits the growth of a microorganism.
An antibacterial kills bacteria or suppresses its growth.

6
 Aseptic technique: Aseptic simply means free of microorganisms. So, aseptic
technique is the process of performing procedures within controlled conditions in
order to decrease the likelihood of contamination. Pharmacy staff can use sterile
preparations, sterile packaging, and sterile administration tools in order to avoid
the introduction of microorganisms.
 Abbreviations: As in nearly any healthcare position, as a pharmacy technician,
abbreviations and shorthand will likely become a large part of your
communication. In the pharmacy world, these are called “sig codes” and provide
quick and common prescription instructions. Some of those abbreviations may
seem confusing now, but as you study in your program and get into the field, you
can catch on quickly! Here are some common sig codes to help get you started!
 q – Every
 qH – Every hour
 qAM – Every morning
 qPM – Every evening
 qD – Every day
 qOD – Every other day
 qWK – Every week
 qMO – Every month
 q__H – Every __ hours
 BID – Twice a day
 TID – Three a day
 QID – Four a day
 C – With
 AC – Before a meal
 PC – After a meal
 PRN – As needed
 GTT – Drop
 TBSP – Tablespoon
 TSP – Teaspoon
 OZ – Ounce
 PO – By mouth/oral
 TAB – Tablet
 CAP – Capsule
 IM – Intramuscular
 SQ – Subcutaneous
 IV – Intravenous
 INJ – Injection
 STAT – Immediately

7
Registered Medical Technologies: Here are some lists of RMT terminologies
 ABG: arterial blood gas
 AD: right ear (auris dextra)
 AMA: against medical advice
 ARD: acute respiratory disease; adult respiratory distress
 BMR: basal metabolic rate
 ENT: ear, nose, throat
 HEENT: head, eye, ear, nose, throat
 FUO: fever of unknown substance
 MRI: magnetic resonance imaging
 AS: left ear (auris sinistra)
 Dialysis: separation of substances in solution by means of their unequal
diffusion through semipermeable membranes
 Adamantinoma: a tumor arising from enamel-forming cells
 AAA: abdominal aortic aneurysm
 AIDS: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
 AMI: acute myocardial infarction
 ASA: aspirin
 ASAP: as soon as possible
 Bx: biopsy
 CPR: cardiopulmonary resuscitation
 D & C: dilatation and curettage
 d/c: discontinue or discharge
 DIC: disseminated intravascular coagulation

Registered Radiologic Technologist: The RadAcademy give some terminologies being


used by the RRTs, here are the term used.
 ALARA: Acronym for “as low as reasonably achievable,” which means keeping
the radiation dose as low as possible when performing medical imaging
procedures.
 ARRT: The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) is the world‟s
largest credentialing organization that seeks to ensure high-quality patient care in
medical imaging, interventional procedures and radiation therapy. ARRT certifies
and registers radiologic technologists.
 ASRT: The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) is the premier
professional association of people working in medical imaging and radiation
therapy.
 Bone densitometry: The practice of bone densitometry is an enhanced form of
x-ray technology that is used to measure bone loss.
 Cardiovascular-interventional: This term describes sophisticated imaging
practices that allow cardiac procedures to be performed without invasive
surgery.
 Certification: The recognition of an individual who satisfies certain standards
within a profession. ARRT certifies radiologic technologists who have met

8
recognized national standards for medical imaging, interventional procedures
and radiation therapy. To be certified, individuals must meet basic educational,
ethical and examination requirements of eligibility.
 Continuing education: Radiologic technologists are required to earn 24
continuing education (CE) credits every other year to maintain their credentials.
They must take approved classes or participate in approved activities until they
have earned the necessary credits, and the courses or activities must be
approved by ARRT.
 Computed tomography: A kind of imaging procedure that produces cross-
sectional images or “slices” of structures in the human body including organs like
the brain, heart and lungs, as well as soft tissue in the abdomen and pelvis,
which can form a more complete picture than x-ray images.
 Discipline: An area of expertise. The five disciplines in radiologic technology are
radiography, radiation therapy, magnetic resonance imaging, sonography and
nuclear medicine.
 Disease: is a lesion, abnormality or illness.
 Ionizing vs. nonionizing radiation: Ionizing radiation has enough energy to
remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, thus creating ions. This is the type of
radiation that people usually think of as 'radiation.' We take advantage of its
properties to generate electric power, to kill cancer cells, and in many
manufacturing processes. Nonionizing radiation has enough energy to move
atoms in a molecule around or cause them to vibrate, but not enough to remove
electrons. Examples of this kind of radiation are sound waves, visible light and
microwaves.
 Magnetic resonance imaging: uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create
detailed images of the body‟s organs and tissues. The MRI machine is
essentially a large, tube-shaped magnet. When you lie inside the machine, the
magnetic field temporarily realigns hydrogen atoms in your body and radio waves
cause the aligned atoms to produce faint signals that are used to create several
“slices,” which are layered together to create a complete picture.
 Mammography: is a special kind of x-ray technique used to screen for breast
cancer. Mammograms can be used either for screening or diagnostic purposes.
 Medical dosimetry: refers to the measurement of absorbed dose from exposure
to ionizing radiation.
 Modality: refers to a type of technology (for example, magnetic resonance or
computed tomography).
 Nuclear medicine: is a branch of radiologic technology that uses small amounts
of radioactive material to diagnose, determine the severity of, and/or treat a
variety of diseases including many types of cancers, heart disease, neurological
disorders and more.
 Radiation therapy: uses high-energy (ionizing) radiation to shrink or kill tumors.
Because radiation damages cells and destroys their ability to divide, external
beam radiation therapy uses focused radiation beams produced by a machine
outside the body to target tumor cells inside the body.
 Radiography is the process of obtaining an image for diagnostic examination
using x-rays.

9
 Radiologic technologists: are the personnel working in any discipline or
specialty area of radiologic technology. People who practice in this profession
may also be known as medical imaging or radiation therapy professionals or as
medical imaging technologists and radiation therapists.
 Radiologists: are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating
diseases and injuries using medical imaging techniques. They are educated in
radiation safety and protection, the effects of radiation on the human body, and
performance and interpretation of medical imaging studies.
 Radiologist assistants: are experienced, registered radiographers who have
obtained additional education and certification that qualifies them to serve as
radiologist extenders. They work under the supervision of a radiologist to provide
patient care in the diagnostic imaging environment.
 Radiopharmaceutical: are small amounts of radioactive materials that are
attracted to specific bones, organs or tissues. They are taken by mouth, inhaled
or injected. A special type of camera then detects radioactive emissions that
travel through the body to the area being imaged and records the information on
a computer screen or film.
 Regulations: are the rules governed by ARRT and individual states that
radiologic technologists must follow. Regulations help ensure that patients are
treated consistently by R.T.s regardless of where they live or what procedure
they need to have done.
 Shielding: means having something that will absorb radiation between you and
the source of the radiation (but using another person to absorb the radiation
doesn't count as shielding). The amount of shielding required to protect against
different kinds of radiation depends on how much energy they have.
 Sonography: (or ultrasound) uses high-frequency sound waves to create
images of organs, tissues or blood flow.
 Specialties: in radiologic technology include mammography, magnetic
resonance imaging, cardiovascular-interventional radiography, computed
tomography and other specialty imaging areas.
 X-rays: are beams that pass through the body to produce images of anatomical
structures. The beams are absorbed in different amounts depending on the
density of the material they pass through. The resulting image analyzed by the
radiologist is called a radiograph.

Registered Medical Doctors: The following were the term used by the RMD‟s.
 Afib: Atrial fibrillation, irregular and rapid heartbeats
 Bagging: Helping a patient breathe using a squeeze bag attached to a face
mask
 C-section: Caesarian section, where a baby is delivered through an abdominal
and uterine incision
 Detox: Detoxification, the removal of toxins from the body, such as drugs or
alcohol
 Foley: A catheter inserted into the bladder to help with urinary drainage
 GSA: Gunshot wound
10
 Labs: Laboratory work or tests
 MVA: Motor vehicle accident
 Nitro: Nitroglycerin
 sign: A patient who is unconscious and open-mouthed
 OD'd: Overdosed
 Script: Prescription
 Stat: Immediately
 Thready: Shallow and weak, particularly in reference to a person's pulse
 Tox screen: A blood test to determine the type and quantity of drugs in the
system
 AC: Ante cibum, or "before meals," indicating when a patient should take
medication
 ADR: Adverse drug reaction
 ALOC: Acute loss of consciousness
 BMI: Body mass index, a measurement of body fat based on height and weight
 BP: Blood pressure, a measurement of the pressure exerted by the flow of blood
upon vessel walls. This measurement is expressed using two numbers, the
systolic, or highest pressure and the diastolic, or lowest pressure.
 CHF: Congestive heart failure
 DNR: Do not resuscitate, an indication that the patient does not want CPR or
other life-saving procedures performed on them
 ECG or EKG: Electrocardiogram, a device that records heartbeats
 EMS: Emergency medical services
 FX: Fracture
 HR: Heart rate, the number of times a person's heart beats, usually measured
per minute
 LFT: Liver function test
 MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging, diagnostic imaging that uses magnetism and
radio waves to produce images of internal organs
 PT: Physical therapy
 Rx: Prescription
 UTI: Urinary tract infection

11
Registered Midwives: Midwifery is the health science and the health profession that
deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period (including care of the new-
born), besides the sexual and reproductive health of women throughout their lives.
Here‟s a list of common words that are described in this article “Common Terminology
Used in Midwifery” by Maria Mona.

 Gravida:The term gravida comes from the Latin word. It is used to describe the
total number of confirmed pregnancies a woman has had, regardless of the
outcome of the pregnancy. Depends on conception, there are different types of
gravida. Those are in the below:
o Nulligravida: A „‟Nulligravida‟ ‟is a woman who has never been pregnant.
o Primigravida: A „‟Primigravida‟‟ is a woman who is pregnant for the first
time or has been pregnant one time.
o Multigravida: A „‟Multigravida‟‟ or „‟Secundigravida‟‟ is a woman who has
been pregnant more than one time.
 Para: Para refers to the total number of pregnancies that a woman has carried
past 20 weeks of pregnancy. This number includes both live births and
pregnancy losses after 20 weeks, such as stillbirths. Different types of para are
pointed out in the following:
o Primipara: A „‟Primiparous‟‟ is a woman who has been given birth once.
o Multipara:
o A „‟Multiparous‟‟ is a woman who has been given birth more than once.
o Nullipara:
o A „‟Nulliparous‟‟is a woman who has not given birth previously (regardless
of outcome).
o Grand Multipara:
o A Grand Multipara is a woman who has already delivered five or more
infants who have achieved a gestational age of 24 weeks or more.
o Great Grand Multipara:
o A great grand multipara has delivered seven or more infants 24 weeks of
gestation.

 Abortion: Termination of a pregnancy before the fetus is visible. Categories of


abortion.
o Miscarriage:Spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus without any
medical intervention when there is a physical problem with a pregnancy
during the first 12 weeks of gestation.
o Induced Abortion: An abortion that is the result of any procedure done by
a licensed physician or someone under the supervision of a licensed
physician to purposefully end a pregnancy is called an induced abortion.

12
 Stillbirth: Stillbirth as „a baby delivered with no signs of life known to have died
after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy‟.
 Intrauterine Fetal Death (IUD): Intrauterine death refers to babies with no signs
of life in utero.
 Preterm/Premature birth: Premature birth is the birth of a baby at less than 37
weeks of gestational age.
 Full Term Birth: Full term is the birth of a baby between 39 weeks through 40
weeks and 6 days.
 Late Term: Birth of a baby between 41 weeks through 41 weeks, 6 days.
 4. Post Term: Birth of a baby after 42 weeks and beyond.
 Trimester: Trimester means „‟3 months‟‟. A normal pregnancy lasts about 9
months and has 3 trimesters.

Registered Social Workers: The Walden University article were listed common term
used by the RSW‟s, here‟s the terms.
 Acute: is defined as any condition “characterized by sharpness or severity of
sudden onset” and “having a sudden onset, sharp rise, and short course”† such
as in an acute illness or an acute inflammation. An example of an acute disease
is acute lymphocytic leukemia (an acute cancer).
 Adverse event: is a medical term used clinical investigations or research. It has
two distinct differences when you speak of a non-serious adverse event and a
serious adverse event (SAE). The US Department of Health and Human
Services gives the following definition:
 “Any untoward or unfavorable medical occurrence in a human subject, including
any abnormal sign (for example, abnormal physical exam or laboratory finding),
symptom, or disease, temporally associated with the subject‟s participation in the
research, whether or not considered related to the subject‟s participation in the
research.”‡
 Comorbid or a comorbidity: has “several definitions…based on different
conceptualizations of a single core concept: the presence of more than 1 distinct
condition in an individual.Ӥ For instance, in mental health you might see the
phrase, “the comorbidity of anxiety and depression in Parkinson‟s disease.”
 Efficacy: is “the ability of an intervention to produce the desired beneficial effect
in expert hands and under ideal circumstances” or “the ability of a drug to
produce the desired therapeutic effect.”** You will most often hear this phrase
used when discussing the medications your patients take each day and their
effectiveness.
 Psychosocial: is a term that is central to social work practice and is a key
component of the online MSW and doctoral coursework at Walden. “The

13
psychosocial approach looks at individuals in the context of the combined
influence that psychological factors and the surrounding social environment have
on their physical and mental wellness and their ability to function. This approach
is used in a broad range of helping professions in health and social care settings
as well as by medical and social science researchers.”††
 Metastasis: is a term you will hear used when referring to cancer patients and
the state of their disease. The National Cancer Institute gives the following
definition. “The spread of cancer cells from the place where they first formed to
another part of the body. In metastasis, cancer cells break away from the
original (primary) tumor, travel through the blood or lymph system, and form a
new tumor in other organs or tissues of the body. The new, metastatic tumor is
the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if breast cancer
spreads to the lung, the cancer cells in the lung are breast cancer cells, not lung
cancer cells. The plural form of metastasis is metastases (meh-TAS-tuh-
SEEZ).”
 Myopathy: refers to a clinical disorder of the skeletal muscles, which help move
the limbs and other parts of the body. Myopathies occur as abnormalities of
muscle cell structure and metabolism leading to various patterns of weakness
and dysfunction. This sometimes includes the cardiac muscle. Many conditions
contribute to having a myopathy such as Lyme disease and muscular dystrophy.
 Pharmacokinetics: is more often a term used in drug interactions within a
patient and is defined as the study of the bodily absorption, distribution,
metabolism, or excretion of drugs.
 Remission: also refers to cancer-related illness. Cancer.gov defines it as “A
decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer. In partial
remission, some, but not all, signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared. In
complete remission, all signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared,
although cancer still may be in the body.”
 Triage: is “the sorting of patients (as in an emergency room) according to the
urgency of their need for care.Ӡ If you work in an emergency setting, you will
become very familiar with this term and what it means. Hospital social workers in
the emergency department help ensure communication with families during a
crisis situation. You can also utilize the skills you gained through your social
worker degree to provide services that patients need at home to avoid
unnecessary hospital admissions.

14
REFERENCES
 https://www.nds.org.au/images/stpvic/ndis_Glossary_Key_Terms_and_Acr
onyms.pdf
 https://www.nursingjobfinder.com/members/resources/nursing-
terminology/
 https://rosseducation.edu/blog/pharmacy-technician-terminology-you-
need-to-know/
 https://quizlet.com/10822518/intro-to-medical-technology-medical-
terminology-flash-cards/
 https://quizlet.com/11052155/medical-technology-abbreviations-1-10-flash-
cards/
 https://www.asrt.org/radcademy/glossary
 https://www.waldenu.edu/online-masters-programs/master-of-social-
work/resource/ten-medical-terms-every-msw-needs-to-know
 http://nursingexercise.com/midwifery-terminology-abbreviations/
 https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/basic-medical-
terminology-list

15

You might also like