• Oral / nasal gastric tubes( OGT / NGT) – used to remove fluid and gas from the stomach to prevent vomiting. These tubes may also be used for tube feedings and giving medications.
• Oxygen saturation( O2 Sat) – the amount of oxygen in the patient’ s blood. Normal is greater than 90 %.
• Palliative Medicine – part of the health care team that helps in the prevention and relief of suffering during serious or life-threatening conditions.
• Pan Cultures – blood, urine, and sputum tests that check for infection.
• Paralytics – drugs that prevent the patient from being able to move.
• Patient Controlled Analgesia( PCA or pain pump) – a pump that gives pain medicine through an IV either continuously or at the patient’ s demand.
• Peripheral Intravenous Line( PIV or IV) – a small tube placed in a vein by a nurse, usually in the arm, that allows fluids, medications, and blood to be given.
• Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy( PEG) – a feeding tube surgically placed into the stomach.
• Pulmonary Artery( PA) Catheter / Swan Ganz Catheter – a tube that sits in the heart and provides the health care team with information on how well the heart is working.
• Restraints – soft wrist or ankle bands that are used for patient safety.
• Sedation – drugs that relieve stress and help the patient relax.
• Sequential Compression Device( SCD)/ Anti-embolism hose( TED) – SCDs and TEDs aide in prevention of blood clots.
• Tracheotomy( Trach) – a procedure where a tube is passed through a surgical incision on the neck that goes into the windpipe( trachea). It is usually used when the patient is expected to be on the ventilator for a long time. It also helps to wean the ventilator.
• Tube feedings – liquid food given to the patient by a feeding tube.
• Ventilator( vent) – a machine used to help the patient breathe. uabmedicine. org 29