Root Words
Prefixes
Suffixes
Abbreviations
Physician’s
Orders
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Root Words
Question
Glosso or linguo refer to…
Answer
The tongue
Question
Entero refers to..
Answer
The intestines.
Question
Nephro or rene/renal refer to…
Answer
The kidneys.
Question
Hepato refers to…
Answer
The liver
Question
Myelo refers to…
Answer
The spinal cord OR bone marrow
Prefixes
Question
What does the prefix hypo- mean?
Answer
Low, deficient, or decreased.
-e.g. hypotension
Question
What does the prefix tachy- mean?
Answer
Fast, rapid
e.g. tachycardia
Question
What does the prefix ante- mean?
Answer
Before, towards
e.g. antenatal, anteroom
Question
What does the prefix a- mean?
Answer
Without, away from, negative, not
e.g. asymptomatic, afebrile
Question
What does the prefix olig- mean?
Answer
Scant, few
e.g. oliguria
Suffixes
Question
What does the suffix -itis mean?
Answer
Inflammation
e.g. appendicitis
Question
What does the suffix -plasty mean?
Answer
Surgical repair or formation
e.g. arthroplasty
Question
What does the suffix -scope mean?
Answer
Instrument for visual examination
e.g. otoscope
Question
What does the suffix -esthesia mean?
Answer
Sensation, feeling
e.g. anesthesia
Question
What does the suffix -rrhage mean?
Answer
Bleeding, abnormally excessive fluid discharge
e.g. hemorrhage
Abbreviations
Question
Your pre-op patient is NPO. What does this mean?
Answer
• Pre-op = pre-operative
• NPO = nothing by mouth (nothing per os)
Question
Things you may learn about your patient include
their DOB and PMHx. What does this mean?
Answer
• DOB = date of birth
• PMHx = past medical history
Question
Your diabetic patient needs BGM done ac. What
does this mean?
Answer
• BGM = blood glucose monitoring
• ac = before meals
Question
After surgery, you note that your patient’s drsg is
D&I. What do these abbreviations mean?
Answer
• Drsg = dressing
• D&I = dry and intact
Question
Your patient on the cardiac unit has HTN, HF, and is
HOH. What does these abbreviations mean?
Answer
• HTN = hypertension (high blood pressure)
• HF = heart failure
• HOH = hard of hearing
Physician’s Orders
Question
The physician orders Tylenol q4h prn for pain
control. What does this mean?
Answer
They want you to give your patient Tylenol every 4
hours (q4h) as necessary (prn).
Question
You are concerned because your patient suddenly
has SOB. You call the physician, and she order a CXR.
What do these abbreviations mean?
Answer
SOB = shortness of breath
CXR = chest x-ray
Question
Your patient is recovering from an ankle fracture.
The physician orders them to be NWB for 6/52.
What does this mean?
Answer
Non-weight bearing for 6 weeks.
Question
The patient’s post-op nutrition orders say “CF to
DAT”. What does this mean?
Answer
Post-operatively, the patient should start out eating
a clear fluid (CF) diet, and work their way up to a
DAT (diet as tolerated) diet.
Question
The nurse needs to get a urine sample from the
patient for C&S and U/A tests. What does this
mean?
Answer
C&S = culture and sensitivity test
U/A = urinalysis test