Dictionary: Words You Hear in Hospital

Anaesthesia:
Anaesthesia is medicine.
It stops pain during surgery.
It can make your child sleep.
Or it can numb part of the body.
Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP):
An ANP is a highly trained nurse.
They can check your child.
They can find out what is wrong.
They can give treatment.
Allergy Clinic:
An allergy clinic helps children with allergies.
Staff check what your child is allergic to.
They help manage the allergy.

Assessment
An assessment is a check of your child’s health or needs.
It helps staff decide how to help your child.

Biopsy:
A biopsy is a test.
A small piece of tissue is taken from the body.
It is checked for disease.
Blood Test:
A blood test takes a small amount of blood.
It helps check your child’s health.
Bronchoscopy:
This is a test.
A tiny camera looks inside the lungs.

Care Plan
A care plan explains your child’s treatment and support.
It shows what care your child needs and what will happen next

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS):
This is a nurse with extra training.
They work in one area, like asthma or diabetes.
Consultant:
A consultant is a senior doctor.
They are in charge of your child’s care.

Consent:
Consent means giving permission.
Parents or carers may be asked to give consent before a test or treatment.
CT Scan:
A CT scan is a detailed type of X-ray.
It shows pictures inside the body.

Day Case:
A day case means your child comes to hospital.
They get treatment.
They go home the same day.
Dermatology:
Dermatology is care for skin problems.
Discharge:
Discharge means your child can go home.
The doctor says they are well enough to leave hospital.

Electrocardiogram (ECG):
An ECG is a test for the heart.
It checks heart signals.
Endocrinology:
This is care for hormone problems.
For example, growth problems.
Emergency Department (ED):
This is where urgent care happens.
You go there if your child is very sick or injured.

Feeding Tube:
A feeding tube gives food, fluids or medicine.
It is used when a child cannot safely take food or medicine by mouth.
Fracture:
A fracture means a broken bone.
Family Room:
A family room is a place to rest.
Parents can stay close to their child.
Follow-up Appointment
A follow-up appointment happens after a hospital visit.
It helps staff check how your child is doing.

Gastroenterology:
This is care for the stomach and digestion.
General Anaesthetic:
This medicine makes your child sleep.
It is used during surgery.
Genetics:
Genetics is about inherited conditions.
These conditions can run in families.

Haematology:
This is care for blood problems.
Heart Monitor:
This is a machine.
It checks your child’s heart.
Hydration:
Hydration means drinking enough fluids.
This helps keep the body healthy.

ICU (Intensive Care Unit):
This is a hospital ward.
Children here need very close care.
Inpatient:
A child who stays in the hospital overnight for care.
Immunology:
This is care for the immune system.
It helps the body fight illness.

Junior Doctor:
A junior doctor is still training.
They work with senior doctors.

Kidney Function Test:
This test checks how well the kidneys work.
Ketones:
Ketones are chemicals in the body.
They are checked in diabetes.

Lumbar Puncture:
This is a test of fluid from the spine.
It checks for infection.
Lymph Nodes:
Lymph nodes are small glands.
They help fight infection.

MRI Scan:
An MRI scan takes detailed pictures of the body.
It uses a large machine.
Medication:
Medication is medicine.
It helps treat or prevent illness.
Malnutrition:
Malnutrition means not getting enough nutrients.

Needle
A needle is a small, sharp tool. It can be used to take blood or give medicine.

NG Tube (Nasogastric Tube):
This is a tube through the nose.
It goes to the stomach.
It gives food or medicine.
Neurology:
This is care for the brain and nerves.
Nurse:
A nurse cares for your child.
They help with treatment and support.

Occupational Therapist (OT):
This therapist helps children with daily activities.
Outpatient:
An outpatient comes to hospital for a visit.
They go home the same day.
Orthopaedics:
This is care for bones and muscles.

Paediatrics:
Paediatrics is children’s medicine.
Phlebotomy:
Phlebotomy means taking blood.
It is done for testing.
Physiotherapist (PT):
This therapist helps movement and strength.
Procedure
A procedure is a medical test or treatment.
It is done to help understand or improve your child’s health.

Radiology:
Radiology takes images of the body.
For example, X-rays or scans.
Receptionist:
This person helps with appointments.
They answer questions.
Resuscitation:
This is emergency care.
It helps with breathing or the heart.

Staff Nurse:
A staff nurse works on a hospital ward.
Surgical Team:
This is a group of doctors and nurses.
They carry out operations.
Syringe
A syringe holds medicine or liquid. It can be used with or without a needle.

Thermometer
A thermometer measures body temperature. It checks if someone has a fever.
Triage:
Triage decides how quickly a child is seen.
It happens in the Emergency Department.
Treatment Plan:
A treatment plan explains care.
It shows what will happen next.

Ultrasound:
An ultrasound uses sound waves.
It makes pictures inside the body.
Urology:
This is care for bladder and kidney problems.

Vaccination:
A vaccination helps prevent illness.
Ventilator:
A ventilator is a machine.
It helps with breathing.

Ward:
A ward is a hospital area.
Children stay there for treatment.
Wheelchair:
A wheelchair helps a child move.
It is a chair with wheels.

X-ray:

An X-ray takes pictures inside the body.
It is often used to look at bones