CELBAN CELBAN Medical Terminology and Nursing Vocabulary 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient's chart notes 'dyspnea on exertion.' What does this mean?
- Chest pain during activity
- Shortness of breath during physical activity (Correct answer)
- Swelling of the lower limbs
- Dizziness when standing up
Correct answer: Shortness of breath during physical activity
Dyspnea refers to difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, and 'on exertion' means it occurs during physical activity.
Question 2: Which term correctly describes a patient who has not eaten or drunk anything since midnight before surgery?
- NPO (Correct answer)
- PRN
- STAT
- BID
Correct answer: NPO
NPO stands for 'nil per os,' a Latin phrase meaning 'nothing by mouth,' used when patients must fast before a procedure.
Question 3: A nurse documents 'the patient is febrile.' What should the nurse expect to find?
- Low blood pressure
- Elevated body temperature (Correct answer)
- Decreased urine output
- Irregular heart rhythm
Correct answer: Elevated body temperature
Febrile means having a fever, which is an elevated body temperature typically above 38°C (100.4°F).
Question 4: When a physician orders a medication 'PRN,' how should the nurse administer it?
- Every morning
- As needed by the patient (Correct answer)
- Before every meal
- At bedtime only
Correct answer: As needed by the patient
PRN is an abbreviation for 'pro re nata,' meaning 'as needed,' so the medication is given only when the patient requires it.
Question 5: A patient is described as 'diaphoretic.' Which assessment finding supports this?
- Dry, flaking skin
- Profuse sweating (Correct answer)
- Cyanotic fingernails
- Pupil dilation
Correct answer: Profuse sweating
Diaphoretic means the patient is experiencing excessive or profuse sweating, often associated with pain, fever, or cardiovascular events.
Question 6: Which abbreviation indicates a medication should be given twice daily?
- QID
- TID
- BID (Correct answer)
- QD
Correct answer: BID
BID stands for 'bis in die,' the Latin term meaning twice a day, so the medication is administered two times within a 24-hour period.
CELBAN CELBAN Medical Terminology and Nursing Vocabulary 1
A patient's chart notes 'dyspnea on exertion.' What does this mean?