20 Nursing Slang and Code Words

Every profession has its own slang, and nursing is no exception. Some of these terms are regional, so you may hear them on one unit and never on another. Here are 20 of the most common.

1. "Princess/Prince/Diva": A patient who is on the call bell constantly for minor things and never satisfied. The pillow has to be fluffed just so, the blanket count is exact, the cup has to be Styrofoam instead of plastic.

2. Celestial discharge: Not as pretty as it sounds. The patient has died.

3. "Code brown": Large bowel movement. Call for backup.

4. "Frequent flyer": A patient who comes into the ER often.

5. "Sundowner/sundowning": Patients with dementia who grow confused and combative as the sun goes down. An alert, oriented patient at noon can be in 2-point restraints by 7 pm.

6. "Vampire": A phlebotomist.

7. "Trainwreck": A patient who is doing badly, with multiple acute problems at once. For example:

81 y/o confused female, non-ambulatory, incontinent, 2pt nonviolent restraints. Dx: CHF exac, COPD, Afib, 4L NC Vitals: BP 190/100, HR 100, RR 24, O2 92%, Temp 99.2 Labs: hgb 6.2, WBC 12, trop 0.12

8. "Happy juice": IV pain medication.

9. "DT-ing": On the DT (delirium tremens) protocol.

10. "Fluid overload": Hypervolemia, usually in CHF patients.

11. "PITA": Pain in the a$$.

12. "About to kick the bucket": Patient is declining and about to code.

13. "Nurslings": Student nurses.

14. "Vitamin H": Haldol.

15. "Vitamin P": Lasix.

16. "Milk of amnesia": Propofol.

17. "Walkie talkie": The patient every nurse dreams of: ambulatory, conversant, low maintenance.

18. "Drug seeker": A patient with a substance addiction who comes to the ER chasing a fix.

19. "Breathing treatment": Stepping out for a cigarette.

20. "Penile intubation": Placing a Foley in a male patient.