Words You Might Hear

Anesthesia -

A medicine that helps a person go into a special sleep during an operation so they will not feel anything. This type of sleep is different from when they go to sleep at night or take a nap. As soon as the operation is over, the doctor will stop giving the medicine and the person will wake up.

Blood Pressure -

A measurement of how hard the heart is working to move blood through the body.

IV -

These letters stand for intravenous (or in the vein); an IV is a tiny straw that is placed in a vein to get medicine or liquid into the body to help the person feel better.

Leads -

Special stickers that are placed on a person's chest to watch their heart and breathing.

Medicine -

Something swallowed or given through an IV to help you feel better.

Nebs -

Special medicine that helps someone's breathing.

NPO -

These letters stand for "Nothing by Mouth" (in Latin); if you are NPO, you cannot eat or drink for a certain amount of time.

OR -

Operating room- a place where doctors can fix things

Stethoscope -

Doctors and nurses use this to listen to your heart, lungs, and stomach.

Stretcher -

Means bed with wheels.

Temperature -

How hot or cold a person's body is.

Vital Signs -

A person's temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure.