Glossary
Accelerated BSN - If you have a college degree in a different major, you don't have to take another four years of college to get a nursing degree. You build on the general college subjects you've already taken by adding nursing courses and get your degree much faster. This is called an accelerated BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program.
Accredited - A nursing program that has been examined and approved to teach nursing by an organization that certifies the quality of nursing education. The two main accrediting organizations are the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). Some schools are accredited by a state board. Any program you enroll in must be accredited by a recognized nurse education accrediting agency.
Ambulatory Nursing - Nursing in a setting where patients are ambulatory, that is, they don't need assistance to get around, unlike most hospital patients. Ambulatory nursing is done in doctors' offices and medical clinics, and focuses on disease prevention and maintenance of health.
Associate Degree - A college degree that normally takes between two and three years to complete, as opposed to a bachelor degree, which is awarded after a four-year program. Many registered nurses (RNs) are awarded associate degrees in nursing. Usually found at community or technical colleges.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) - This is the degree granted by four-year nursing programs. A BSN takes longer to earn than an associate degree, but there are advantages to getting one. Many jobs, especially administrative positions, require a BSN degree. In addition, anyone wanting to earn a master or doctoral degree in nursing will have to possess a BSN.
Case Management - When patients need long-term care, they may deal with several different doctors, nurses, and even hospitals, and generate lots of different paperwork. The person assigned to help them navigate their way through their long-term care, and handle much of the paperwork, is called a case manager. Case managers are often nurses and may work for the hospital, an HMO, or even an insurance company.
Certified Nursing Assistant - A person who works in a healthcare setting doing such things as lifting patients, transporting them, feeding them, changing their bed linen, and so on. Certification usually involves completing a one- or two-week course that may be offered by a hospital or nursing home.
Critical Care - When a hospital patient is in critical condition, whether due to disease or injury, it means that one or more of their vital organs has suffered such damage that they may not live. Critical care nurses minister to these hospital patients' needs.
Dermatology - Treatment of a person's skin.
Emergency Care Nursing - Nursing that takes place in an emergency room setting, involving caring for people who are victims of sudden serious illnesses, heart attacks, auto accidents, broken bones, and so on.
Gastroenterology - Medical care of a person's stomach and intestines.
Geriatrics - Care of the health of the elderly.
Gerontology - The study of old age and associated conditions and problems.
Gynecology - Medical care of the female reproductive system.
Home Healthcare Nursing - Nursing that takes place in patients' homes, as opposed to caring for the patient at a hospital or clinic.
Hospice Care - Specialized medical care for patients who are terminally ill and close to death, as well as care for their families. Hospice care can take place in a home, a hospital, or a separate hospice facility.
Hospital Diploma - A few hospitals in America still train nurses directly, or in conjunction with a local college. Nursing degrees earned this way are called hospital diplomas.
Infusion Therapy - A way of getting medicine, nutrients, or other substances directly into the bloodstream by way of an intravenous device.
Medical / Surgical Nursing - Med-Surg nurses assist patients who are scheduled for surgery or who have recently come out of surgery (but not during surgery), and patients who are taking drugs as part of their treatment regimen.
MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) - With an MSN, a nurse can go on to higher levels of the nursing field, such as Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Anesthetist.
NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination-Practical Nurse) - The test that all nursing candidates must take and pass before being certified as a Licensed Practical Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse in the U.S.
NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse) - The test that all nursing candidates must take and pass before being certified as a Registered Nurse in the U.S.
Neonatal - Medical care of newborn babies.
Nephrology - Diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the kidney.
Nurse Practitioner - A registered nurse who has taken additional coursework to get a master's degree and is now certified to perform many of the same functions as a physician, such as diagnosing illness and prescribing drugs.
Occupational Health Nursing - More and more medium and large companies are hiring nurses to work directly for them and help raise awareness of health, lifestyle, and safety issues among their employees, as well as providing them with basic healthcare. Nurses who practice their skills directly in the workplace are called occupational health nurses.
Oncology - Diagnosis and treatment related to cancer.
Operating Room Nursing - OR nurses assist in the operating room during surgery, doing different tasks to either directly or indirectly assist in performing the actual operation.
Orthopedics - Medical care of the body's musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, tendons, nerves, and so on.
Pediatrics - Treatment of children from birth to adulthood.
Perianesthesia - The managing of anesthesia before and after surgery.
Psychiatric Nursing - Nurses who assist with the medical treatment of mental illness.
Radiology Nursing - Nurses who work with X-rays, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging.
RN to BSN - An accelerated program that many nursing colleges offer, where a person who has qualified to be a registered nurse, but who doesn't have a BSN degree, can earn his or her BSN in only a year or two.
Urology - Medical care of the urinary system (bladder and kidneys) in men and women, and the reproductive system, including the prostate, in men.