I don't sleep at night... no biggie.

If we were to wake up some morning and find that everyone was the same race, creed and color, we would find some other cause for prejudice by noon. ~ George Aiken

Sad, but most likely true. People love to hate.

I'm Jess. I live in Charleston, WV. I am a nurse on a neurological floor. I mostly care for older people that have had strokes or have other problems with their noggins. Some seizures, head trauma and spinal surgery too. Lately it's also been the satellite psych ward. I work night shift, so it's even more fun since the real crazies come out at night.

Ask anyone in the medical field, we love acronyms and abbreviations. If anyone outside of the field saw my report sheet (the paper I use when I learn about my patients and to keep track of all the thinks I have to do during my shift) it would pretty much look like gibberish. Particularly when I am writing the patient’s history, if I had to write out all of their illnesses long-hand I’d have a hand cramp half-way through report. Here are some of the acronyms I use on a daily basis…

HTN = hypertension (aka high blood pressure)

DM = diabetes

OA = osteoarthritis

CABG = Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (pronounced “cabbage”, I don’t know why or how that started, don’t ask… it’s a surgery for when people have blockages in the arteries in their hearts)

CAD = coronary artery disease (people with CAD usually end up having CABGs done

COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CA = cancer

Fx = fracture

PIV = peripheral intravenous (an IV)

CL = central line (a large, long IV that is in a big vein)

PICC = peripherally inserted central catheter (a central line usually inserted into a bigger arm vein and opens in a big vein near the heart)

ABG = arterial blood gas (a blood test)

CXR = chest x-ray

Ok, that’s enough for now. I can go on and on. But I’m done for the night.

I don't sleep at night... no biggie.

Abbreviations and Acronyms