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Glossary

Definitions and language to support your academic & career exploration journey

A

  • Academic Advisor - A professional who helps students plan courses and meet program requirements.
  • Accredited - A hospital, school, or program, officially recognized by a national body or state agency, and approved by the Secretary of Education.
  • Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) - Basic self-care activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and moving around safely.
  • Acute - Something (e.g., condition, symptom) that comes on suddenly and lasts a short time.
  • Acute Care - Acute care is an active, short-term treatment for an episode of illness or severe injury. Symptoms of acute illnesses usually emerge suddenly, but the recovery period is also typically brief.
  • Adverse Event / Adverse Reaction - An unintended harmful outcome during care. Often, “adverse reaction” refers to a harmful response to a medication, while “adverse event” can include other types of harm (such as a fall or a complication).
  • Aesthetician - Licensed skin care professional who performs procedures such as deep cleansing, low-grade chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and postsurgical skin care.
  • Advance Care Directive (or advance medical directive) - A legal document that describes the kind of medical care a person want if an accident or illness leaves him or her unable to make or communicate decisions.
  • Allied Health - Healthcare professions that support diagnosis, treatment, and patient care but are not physicians or nurses (e.g., medical assistants, imaging techs, lab technicians).
  • Ambulation - Walking or moving around (with or without assistance). In healthcare, “ambulate” often means helping a patient get up and walk safely.
  • Ambulatory Care - Healthcare services provided without overnight hospitalization.
  • Ambulatory Surgery Center - Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), or outpatient surgery centers, are modern medical facilities specializing in outpatient surgical procedures. ASC services do not exceed 24 hours in duration. ASCs tend to focus on an area of care, such as colonoscopy or plastic surgery. State and federal agencies regulate ASCs to protect patients’ safety.
  • Anesthesiologist - An anesthesiologist is a doctor who practices within the field of anesthesia. These doctors specialize in perioperative care, creating anesthetic plans, and administrating anesthetics.
  • Anesthesiology - Anesthesiology is the study of anesthesia—how to safely reduce patients’ sensation or consciousness for surgery and other medical procedures. It’s a vital, life-saving specialty, and anesthesiologists are some of the most highly trained doctors in the world. Anesthesia can be divided into two general categories: general anesthesia, which puts the entire body to sleep, and regional anesthesia, which numbs a specific area.
  • Antibiotic - A substance that kills or slows the growth of bacteria.
  • Apprenticeship - A paid, structured program where students learn a job through on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
  • Attending Physician - An attending physician is a doctor responsible for providing care for a patient in a hospital or other clinical facility. Every attending physician is board-certified and has completed their residency training. As the highest level of physician, the attending physician has final responsibility for all patient care, even if someone under them provides the care. In addition to providing patient care, the attending physician may also be responsible for supervising and teaching residents, interns, or medical students who also play a role in providing patient care.
  • Average Length of Stay - Average length of stay (ALOS) is the number of days (on average) that a patient spends in the hospital.

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B

  • Bariatrics - Bariatrics is a field of medicine specializing in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions related to obesity. Obesity is a medical condition in which an individual has excess body fat and a body mass index (BMI) over 30.
  • Behavioral Health - Encompasses the promotion of emotional health; the prevention of mental illnesses and substance use disorders; and treatments and services for mental and/or substance use disorders.
  • Benign - Benign describes something that is unlikely to be harmful. In most cases, it is a term used in oncology to denote a tumor, condition, or growth that is not cancerous.
  • Biopsy - A biopsy is a medical procedure where a small amount of tissue is taken as a sample to be examined. A biopsy is generally performed as a second step after a healthcare professional notices something abnormal about a certain part of the body during a basic physical examination or imaging test.
  • Blood cells - Cells in the blood that include red blood cells that carry oxygen, white blood cells that fight infection and platelets that help blood clot.
  • Blood work - Laboratory tests done on a blood sample to evaluate health, diagnose conditions or guide treatment.
  • BLS (Basic Life Support) - A level of emergency care that includes CPR and other basic interventions to support breathing and circulation until advanced care arrives.
  • Board Certification - Board certification is awarded by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), which is the recognized leader in developing and setting the physician specialty certification gold standard in the United States. The ABMS consists of 24 Member Boards offering board certification in 40 specialties and 88 subspecialties. These Member Boards adhere to rigorous training and assessment standards.
  • Bone - Living hard tissue that supports the body, protects organs and works with muscles to enable movement.
  • Bone marrow - Soft, spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made. It helps produce red blood cells that carry oxygen, white blood cells that fight infection and platelets that help blood clot.

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C

  • Call Schedule - A rotation requiring staff to be available outside regular hours.
  • Capstone - A final project or experience that demonstrates a student’s knowledge and skills before graduation.
  • Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) - The cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) is a special hospital ward that focuses on the care of patients with severe cardiovascular disease. As such, the wards are staffed with medical personnel trained in cardiac care and have the equipment needed to treat heart conditions.
  • Cardiologist - A cardiologist is a physician who has received extra education and training in caring for the heart and blood vessels. A cardiologist will often use tests such as echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, and CT scans to diagnose medical issues affecting the heart and circulatory system.
  • Cardiology - Cardiology is an internal medicine specialty that focuses on the cardiovascular system. Cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, electrophysiologists, nurses, and other healthcare providers work in both inpatient and outpatient settings to deliver cardiovascular care.
  • Care Coordination - Care coordination is the collaboration of various healthcare professionals in the organization of patient care. Healthcare providers share patient information to ensure coordination with all members of the patient’s care team. Care coordination often starts at the primary care level but often involves additional providers, including specialists and nurses.
  • Care Plan - A written plan that outlines a patient’s needs, goals, and the care team’s interventions to support recovery or ongoing management.
  • Care Team - The group of professionals involved in a patient’s care, which can include doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, social workers, and others.
  • Career Pathway - A structured route that shows how someone can enter, advance, or transition within healthcare careers through education and experience.
  • Cartilage - Flexible tissue that cushions joints and shapes structures like the nose and ears.
  • Case Management - The process of identifying patients with specific health care needs and working with them and their physician(s) to provide the best treatments possible.
  • Case Manager - A nurse, doctor or social worker who works with patients, health care providers, physicians and insurers to determine and coordinate a health care plan. Also called a care coordinator.
  • Certification - A credential earned by passing an exam that shows a healthcare professional meets national competency standards (e.g., CMA, RMA, CNA).
  • Chain of Command - The step-by-step reporting structure used to escalate questions or safety concerns to the appropriate leader (for example, preceptor → charge nurse → manager).
  • Charge Nurse - A nurse who helps manage the unit during a shift by coordinating patient flow, staffing, and communication among the care team.
  • Charting / Documentation - Recording patient information, care provided, and observations in the medical record. Accurate documentation is a legal and clinical requirement.
  • Chief Complaint (CC) - The main reason a patient is seeking care, usually stated in the patient’s own words (for example, “chest pain” or “shortness of breath”).
  • Chronic - A long-lasting condition, often lifelong.
  • Clinical Hours - The required number of supervised hours spent working with patients during training.
  • Clinical Rotation - A supervised learning experience where a student works in a specific clinical setting (like a clinic, unit, or department) to practice skills and learn the role.
  • Clinical Training - The patient-care component of health professions education, including but not limited to clinical rotations, preceptorships, and clerkships. For purposes of reporting, this includes hands-on field training with patient encounters (not didactic or observations).
  • Clinical Trial - A clinical trial is a study conducted to determine the efficacy of behavioral, medical and surgical interventions. Scientists also use clinical trials to evaluate the safety of new drugs and medical devices and detect and prevent illnesses. Usually, scientists test animals first, and if the results are favorable, the FDA approves the treatment for human testing in clinical trials. In clinical trials, scientists compare the new treatment’s value to the standard treatment’s value. A new treatment is beneficial if it has less dangerous side effects or higher efficacy than the standard treatment.
  • CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) - A healthcare professional who provides basic patient care under the supervision of a nurse, such as helping with ADLs, taking vital signs, and assisting with mobility.
  • Cohort - A group of students who progress through a program together.
  • Communicable Disease - A communicable disease is a disease that spreads from one person to another, or from an animal, surface, or food to a person. They may also be referred to as transmissible or infectious diseases.
  • Community Health Center (CHC) - Community health centers are care facilities with the goal of increasing access to crucial primary and preventative care services. CHCs primarily serve patients from lower income areas who may be uninsured or underinsured, lack access to transportation, or face language barriers.
  • Community of Practice (CoP) - A group of people who share a common interest, and become more knowledgeable through interaction among themselves. A CoP requires a community, a shared interest, and shared experiences with the interest.
  • Competency - The ability to perform a specific skill or responsibility safely and correctly to an expected standard.
  • Computed Tomography (CT) Scan - A computed tomography (CT) scan is a form of imaging that combines a series of x-ray images taken from different angles around the body. Computer processing then creates cross-sectional images (slices) of the blood vessels, bones, and soft tissues inside the body, providing more information and visual detail than typical x-rays.
  • Connective tissue - Broad group of tissues that support, connect or separate other tissues. It includes specialized connective tissues such as bone and cartilage, dense regular connective tissue such as tendons and ligaments, and specialized types such as fat and blood.
  • Contact Hours - The number of hours that a person receives training in a specific setting.
  • Continuing Education Unit (CEU) - A standardized way to measure participation in continuing education; often used to track required learning for renewing licenses or certifications. Continuing Medical Education (CME) involves educational activities that develop, maintain, or increase the skills, knowledge, professional performance, and relationships a physician uses when providing services. Some states require a certain number of annual credits for healthcare providers to maintain medical licenses. Additionally, most hospitals require a certain number of credits for their physicians to still be able to see patients.
  • Credential - Any degree, license, or certification that shows qualification for a role.
  • Credentialing - The process of verifying a healthcare professional’s qualifications (such as education, training, license, and work history) so they can work in a specific role or facility.
  • Cultural Humility - An approach to working with others that emphasizes lifelong learning, self-reflection, and respect for each person’s lived experience, culture, and identity.

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D

  • De-escalation - Communication and safety strategies used to reduce tension and help prevent a situation from becoming unsafe (for example, staying calm, giving space, and using respectful language).
  • Deductible - The amount of eligible expense a covered person must pay each year out of pocket before the plan will pay.
  • Diagnosis - The identification of a disease or condition.
  • Didactic Training - The process of classroom instruction between a designated faculty and a person or group of people.
  • Direct Patient Care - Hands-on care that involves direct interaction with patients, such as taking vital signs, assisting with mobility, or performing procedures within scope.
  • Discharge - The process of leaving a hospital or clinic after care is complete, including instructions for medicines, follow-up appointments, and home care.

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E

  • Earn and Learn - Programs allowing participants to work and earn money while training.
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Services designed to assist employees, their family members, and employers in finding solutions for workplace and personal problems.
  • Expected Family Contribution (EFC) - A measure of the student’s expected family need. On the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, you’ll find the EFC. It’s used to determine which applicants have the greatest financial need.
  • Externship - A short term, supervised work experience—often required for certification—where students gain practical skills before entering the workforce. Common in MA, CMA, and allied health programs.

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F

  • Fall Risk - The likelihood that a patient could fall due to factors like weakness, dizziness, medications, or confusion. Care teams use fall precautions to help prevent falls.
  • Fellow - A doctor who has completed residency and is completing additional specialized training (a fellowship) in a focused area of medicine.
  • Floating - Working in different units or departments as needed.
  • Full Time Equivalent (FTE) - A measurement showing how many hours equal one full time position.

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G

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H

  • Handoff (Handover) - A structured transfer of patient information and responsibility from one caregiver or team to another (for example, during shift change).
  • Hand Hygiene - Cleaning hands (using soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer) to prevent the spread of germs.
  • Health Benefits Package - The services and coverage a health plan offers a group or individual.
  • Health Coverage - The payment of benefits for covered sickness or injury. This may include dental, medical and vision care, as well as other benefits.
  • HIPAA - A federal law (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) that protects patient health information and governs privacy and security rules.
  • History and Physical (H&P) - A clinical note that summarizes a patient’s medical history and the findings from a physical exam, often used to guide diagnosis and treatment.
  • Hospice - A facility or program that provides care for the terminally ill.
  • Hybrid Degree Program - A degree program that requires students to complete academic coursework both on campus and through distance learning.

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I

  • ICU (Intensive Care Unit) - A hospital unit that provides close monitoring and advanced treatment for patients who are critically ill or recovering from major surgery.
  • Incident Report (Safety Event Report) - A formal report used to document a safety concern, error, injury, or “near miss” so the organization can review what happened and prevent it from happening again.
  • Infection Control - Practices used to prevent the spread of germs in healthcare settings, such as hand hygiene, cleaning, PPE use, and isolation precautions.
  • Informed Consent - A patient’s understanding and agreement to receive care or treatment.
  • Informed Refusal - When a patient understands the risks and benefits of a recommended test or treatment but chooses not to proceed.
  • Inpatient - An individual who has been admitted to a hospital as a registered bed patient for at least 24 hours and is receiving services under the direction of a physician.
  • Instructional Hours - The duration of a training activity or training program in clock hours.
  • Intake and Output (I&O) - Tracking how much fluid a patient takes in (intake) and how much they put out (output), such as urine, stool, vomit, or drainage.
  • Integrated Care - A graduated spectrum of health services. A facility delivers primary care services and coordinates with behavioral health care, oral health care, and/or public health strategies and interventions.
  • Internship - A structured learning experience (paid or unpaid) in a healthcare setting, often longer than an externship and sometimes used in degree granting programs.
  • Interpreter Services - Language support (in person, by phone, or by video) to help patients and families communicate with the care team when they prefer a language other than English.
  • Isolation Precautions - Extra steps used to reduce the spread of certain infections (such as contact, droplet, or airborne precautions), often including specific PPE and room requirements.

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J

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K

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L

  • Labor and Delivery (L&D) - The hospital department that provides care during childbirth, including labor, delivery, and immediate recovery.
  • Licensing Exam (Board Exam) - A test required for some healthcare roles to earn a license or certification, showing the person meets minimum knowledge and safety standards.
  • Licensure - Legal permission issued by a state that allows a person to practice a profession. Some roles require licensure; others require certification.
  • LPN/LVN (Licensed Practical Nurse / Licensed Vocational Nurse) - A licensed nurse who provides basic nursing care under the direction of an RN or provider; the title varies by state (LPN or LVN).

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M

  • MAR (Medication Administration Record) - The record (often electronic) that lists a patient’s medications and documents when each dose is given.
  • Medicaid - A federal program administered and operated by state governments that provides medical benefits to eligible low-income people needing health care. The program's costs are shared by the federal and state governments.
  • Medicare - A nationwide, federally-administered health insurance program that covers the costs of hospitalization, medical care, and some related services for eligible people, usually individuals age 65 and older and disabled individuals under age 65.
  • Medication Reconciliation (Med Rec) - Comparing a patient’s current medication list with what they should be taking to prevent errors during transitions of care (like admission, discharge, or a clinic visit).
  • Med-Surg (Medical-Surgical Unit) - A hospital unit that cares for patients with a wide range of medical conditions or those recovering from surgery.
  • Medical Assistant (MA) - A healthcare professional who supports patient care in clinics and other outpatient settings by performing administrative and clinical tasks within scope (such as rooming patients, taking vitals, and scheduling).
  • Mental Health Provider - A psychiatrist, licensed consulting psychologist, social worker, hospital, or other facility duly licensed and qualified to provide mental health services under the law of the jurisdiction in which treatment is received.
  • MRI scan - Imaging that uses magnets and radio waves to create detailed pictures of tissues such as joints, nerves and muscles.

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N

  • Near Miss - A safety event that could have caused harm but did not—either by chance or because it was caught in time.
  • Nerve - Bundle of fibers that carries signals between the brain, spinal cord and body to control movement and sensation.
  • Network - A system of contracted physicians, hospitals and ancillary providers that provides health care to members.
  • Network Provider - A provider who has contracted with the health plan to deliver medical services to covered persons. The provider may be a physician, hospital, pharmacy, other facility or other health care provider. Also known as network or participating provider.
  • NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) - A specialized ICU for newborn babies who need advanced monitoring and care, such as those born early or with medical complications.
  • Non-Clinical Role - A healthcare job that does not involve patient care.
  • NPI (National Provider Identifier) - A unique identification number for healthcare providers in the U.S.
  • Nurse Practitioner (NP) - An advanced practice registered nurse who can assess patients, diagnose conditions, and prescribe medications (scope varies by state and setting).

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O

  • Observation Hours - Time spent watching healthcare professionals work to better understand a role.
  • Onboarding - The process of orienting and training a new employee.
  • OR (Operating Room) - A sterile hospital room where surgeries and other procedures are performed.
  • Outpatient - A person who receives health care services at a hospital or free-standing surgical center without being admitted to a hospital.
  • Over-The-Counter (OTC) Drug - A drug product that does not require a prescription under federal or state law.

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P

  • PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit) - A recovery area where patients are closely monitored as they wake up after anesthesia and surgery.
  • Patient - A person receiving medical care.
  • Patient Centered Care - Care that respects a patient’s needs, values, and preferences.
  • Patient Confidentiality - Keeping a patient’s personal and health information private and sharing it only with people who need it to provide care or for approved purposes.
  • Patient Safety - Practices that prevent harm to patients during care.
  • Patient Transport - Safely moving patients within a facility (e.g., from room to imaging) while maintaining comfort, dignity, and safety.
  • Periosteum - Thin, nerve-rich outer layer of bone that nourishes and protects it.
  • PHI (Protected Health Information) - Individually identifiable health information (like names, dates of birth, diagnoses, or medical record numbers) that is protected by privacy laws such as HIPAA.
  • Phlebotomy - Drawing blood from a patient for lab testing. A person trained to do this is often called a phlebotomist.
  • Physician - Any doctor of medicine (M.D.) or doctor of osteopathy (D.O.) who is licensed and qualified under the law.
  • Physician Assistant (PA) - A licensed clinician who practices medicine on a healthcare team under an agreement with a physician, including evaluating patients and prescribing treatments.
  • Pipeline Program - A program designed to guide learners into healthcare careers.
  • Plan of Care - The overall plan for what care will be provided, why it’s needed, and what goals the care team is working toward.
  • Platelets - Blood cell fragments that help stop bleeding by forming clots.
  • Postpartum - The period after childbirth when a person’s body recovers and they receive care and support related to delivery and newborn care.
  • Practicum - A type of experiential training activity. (See "Experiential training").
  • Pre-Existing Condition - Any medical condition that has been diagnosed or treated within a specified period. Pre-existing conditions may not be covered for some specified amount of time (usually six to 12 months).
  • Preceptor - A nurse practitioner or nurse-midwife or other health professional responsible for specific aspects of the clinical learning experience. The preceptor is responsible for the daily teaching and assignment of individuals to be cared for, supervision, and participation in the evaluation of the nurse practitioner or nurse-midwifery student. The preceptor provides the student with an environment that permits observation, active participation, and management of primary health care. Any doctor of medicine (M.D.) or doctor of osteopathy (D.O.) who is licensed and qualified under the law. The preceptorship provides the student with practice experiences conducive to meeting the defined goals and objectives of the particular clinical course. Before and during this preceptorship, the program faculty visit and assess the clinical learning sites and prepare the clinical faculty/preceptors for teaching their students.
  • Preceptorship - A clinical learning experience in which the student is assigned to a faculty member or with oversight by program faculty to a designated preceptor.
  • Prerequisites - Required courses or experiences that must be completed before entering a program.
  • Prescription Medication - A drug that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and which can, under federal or state law, be given only from a licensed physician or other practitioner with authority.
  • Preventive Care - Health care emphasizing priorities for prevention, early detection and early treatment of conditions, generally including routine physical examination, immunization and well-person care.
  • Primary Care - Basic or general health care, traditionally provided by family practice, pediatrics and internal medicine practitioners.
  • Prognosis - The expected outcome of a disease.
  • Progress Note - A note in the medical record that documents a patient’s status, what care was provided, and any changes in the plan.
  • Progressive Care Unit (PCU) / Step-Down Unit - A hospital unit for patients who need closer monitoring than a general unit (Med-Surg) but do not require full ICU-level care.
  • Provider - A physician, hospital, group practice, nursing home, pharmacy or any individual or group of individuals that provides a health care service.
  • Provider Order - An instruction entered by a provider (such as a physician, NP, or PA) for care to be given—like medications, labs, imaging, or therapies.
  • PRN - A common abbreviation meaning “as needed” (for example, a medication given for pain only when the patient needs it).
  • PT/OT/SLP (Physical Therapy / Occupational Therapy / Speech-Language Pathology) - Therapy professions that help patients improve movement and strength (PT), daily living skills (OT), and communication/swallowing (SLP).
  • PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) - Protective items such as gloves, masks, gowns, or face shields used to reduce exposure to infectious materials.
  • PHI (Protected Health Information) - Individually identifiable health information (like names, dates of birth, diagnoses, or medical record numbers) that is protected by privacy laws such as HIPAA.

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Q

  • Quality of life - Overall well-being, including comfort, ability to do daily activities and satisfaction with life. In clinical research the related term health-related quality of life focuses on the parts tied to health and medical care.

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R

  • Radiology - The department that performs imaging tests (such as X-ray, CT, MRI, and ultrasound) to help diagnose or monitor medical conditions.
  • Recertification - The process of renewing a certification by meeting requirements such as continuing education, skills verification, or an exam.
  • Red blood cells - Cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. In mammals, mature red blood cells lack a nucleus and most organelles, which makes more room for hemoglobin.
  • Referral - The recommendation by a physician and/or health plan for a covered person to receive care from a different physician or facility. Sometimes required for treatment by specialists and for out-of-network treatment.
  • Renewal Cycle - The schedule for renewing a license or certification.
  • Resident - A doctor who has graduated from medical school and is completing supervised training (residency) in a specialty.
  • Residency Program (Clinical) - A supervised training program completed after graduation for advanced roles.
  • RN (Registered Nurse) - A licensed nurse who provides and coordinates patient care, administers medications, and teaches patients and families.
  • Rounds - A routine time when clinicians visit patients to check progress, discuss the care plan, and make decisions about next steps.
  • RT (Respiratory Therapist) - A licensed healthcare professional who helps patients breathe by managing oxygen therapy, ventilators, breathing treatments, and airway care.

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S

  • SBAR - A communication tool used in healthcare to share important information clearly: Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation.
  • Secondary Care - Services provided by medical specialists, such as cardiologists, urologists and dermatologists, who generally do not have first contact with patients.
  • Scope of Practice - The tasks and responsibilities a healthcare professional is legally allowed to perform, which vary by role, education, certification, and state law.
  • Shift Differential - Additional pay for working evenings, nights, or weekends.
  • Simulation Lab - A controlled learning environment using mannequins or technology to practice clinical skills safely.
  • Skills Checkoff - A formal evaluation where students demonstrate specific skills to an instructor.
  • Social Determinants of Health - The circumstances in which people are born, grow up, live, work, and age, as well as the systems put in place to deal with illness. In turn, a wider set of forces—economics, social policies, and politics—shape these circumstances.
  • Specialty Care - Healthcare focused on a specific area or condition.
  • Standard Precautions - Basic infection-prevention practices used with all patients (such as hand hygiene and appropriate PPE) because any person could carry germs.
  • State Board - The government agency that regulates healthcare professions in a state.
  • Stem cells - Also known as hematopoietic stem cells, special cells found in bone marrow that can make copies of themselves and develop into many different types of blood and immune cells. They help repair and replace damaged or worn-out tissues.
  • Sterile Processing Department (SPD) / Central Sterile - The department that cleans, disinfects, sterilizes, and prepares surgical instruments and medical equipment for safe use.
  • Symptom - A patient’s experience of illness (e.g., pain, fatigue)

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T

  • Teaching Hospital - A hospital that trains students and residents.
  • Telehealth - The use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support and promote long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration.
  • Trainee - Someone who participates in a training program or training activity.
  • Trauma-Informed Care - An approach to care that recognizes many people have experienced trauma and aims to promote safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.
  • Treatment - The course of action to cure or manage an illness
  • Triage - The process of quickly assessing patients to prioritize care based on how urgent their condition is.

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U

  • Ultrasound - Imaging that uses sound waves to create pictures of soft tissues and is sometimes used to evaluate joints and tendons.
  • Union Position - A role represented by a labor union.
  • Urgent Care - An alternative to hospital emergency department care for use in non-emergencies. Used when health conditions are urgent, but are not health- or life-threatening.

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V

  • Vital Signs (Vitals) - Basic measurements of how the body is functioning, typically including temperature, pulse (heart rate), respirations (breathing rate), blood pressure, and oxygen saturation.

W

  • Workforce Development - Training and education efforts to prepare people for healthcare jobs.

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X

  • X-ray - Imaging test that uses a small amount of radiation to create pictures of structures inside the body, most often bones. X-rays can help detect fractures, infections and some diseases.

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Y

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Z

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