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.