CNA Common Medical Terms and Abbreviations 2 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What does the abbreviation 'NPO' mean in a medical chart?

Nothing by mouth (Nil Per Os) — the patient must not eat or drink (Correct answer)
No physical orders — the patient has no active physician orders
Normal physical output — the patient's fluid output is normal
No pain observed — the patient is currently comfortable

Correct answer: Nothing by mouth (Nil Per Os) — the patient must not eat or drink

NPO stands for 'Nil Per Os,' a Latin phrase meaning nothing by mouth. A resident or patient on NPO status must not receive food, fluids, or oral medications unless specifically ordered.

NPO orders are placed before surgical procedures (to prevent aspiration under anesthesia), during diagnostic tests requiring an empty stomach, when a patient has swallowing difficulties, or during certain gastrointestinal conditions. Violating an NPO order by giving a patient food or drink can have serious or even life-threatening consequences, particularly if the patient is scheduled for surgery. CNAs who see an NPO sign or notation on a resident's chart must: withhold all food and beverages including water; not leave a meal tray at the bedside; inform the resident why they cannot eat or drink; and notify the nurse if the resident is distressed, asking for food, or does not understand the restriction. Some NPO orders specify exceptions — for example, 'NPO except medications' (the patient may take pills with a sip of water) or 'clear liquids only.' Always follow the specific order and ask the nurse if unclear. Performing oral care (mouth swabs) may be permitted for comfort even when a patient is NPO — check with the nurse. After a procedure or as the patient's condition improves, the diet may be advanced: clear liquids → full liquids → soft diet → regular diet. The CNA should follow the current diet order and verify before offering any food.

Question 2: The prefix 'brady-' in medical terminology means:

Slow (Correct answer)
Fast
Painful
Without

Correct answer: Slow

The prefix 'brady-' means slow. Bradycardia means a slow heart rate; bradypnea means a slow respiratory rate.

Learning medical prefixes, suffixes, and root words allows CNAs to interpret unfamiliar terms and communicate accurately with the healthcare team. Key prefixes related to speed and rate: - Brady-: slow (bradycardia = slow heart rate, bradypnea = slow breathing) - Tachy-: fast (tachycardia = fast heart rate, tachypnea = fast breathing) Other common prefixes CNAs should know: - Hyper-: above normal, excessive (hypertension, hyperglycemia) - Hypo-: below normal, deficient (hypotension, hypoglycemia) - Peri-: around, surrounding (perineal, perioperative) - Pre-: before (preoperative) - Post-: after (postoperative) - Bi-: two (bilateral = both sides) - Uni-: one (unilateral = one side) - Dys-: difficult, painful, abnormal (dysphagia = difficulty swallowing, dysuria = painful urination) - A-/An-: without (apnea = without breathing, anemia = without sufficient blood cells) Knowing these prefixes allows CNAs to decode many medical terms they encounter in charts, care plans, and nursing communications. When unsure of a term, asking the nurse for clarification is always appropriate.

Question 3: What does 'c/o' mean in nursing documentation?

Complains of (Correct answer)
Care of
Charge order
Change of condition

Correct answer: Complains of

'c/o' stands for 'complains of' — it is used in documentation when recording a symptom or concern the resident reports, such as 'c/o chest pain' or 'c/o nausea.'

Medical abbreviations make documentation more efficient but must be used correctly to prevent miscommunication. 'c/o' (complains of) is among the most common documentation abbreviations CNAs encounter. It precedes a symptom the patient subjectively reports: Example: 'Resident c/o headache. BP 158/92. Nurse notified at 1430. Per nurse's instruction, resident placed in semi-Fowler's position and encouraged to rest. BP recheck ordered for 1530.' Other common documentation abbreviations CNAs should know: - c̄ (c with a bar over it): with - s̄ (s with a bar): without - PRN: as needed - BID: twice daily - TID: three times daily - QID: four times daily - QD or QH: every day / every hour - SOB: shortness of breath - DOB: date of birth - Dx: diagnosis - Hx: history - Rx: prescription/treatment - Tx: treatment - Sx: symptoms - I&O: intake and output - ADL: activities of daily living - ROM: range of motion Accurate documentation using correct abbreviations is a legal requirement and an important CNA responsibility. Facilities may have approved abbreviation lists — CNAs should use only facility-approved abbreviations.

Question 4: What does 'SpO2' measure?

Oxygen saturation in the blood, measured by pulse oximetry (Correct answer)
Systolic blood pressure
Serum potassium level
Spinal pressure reading

Correct answer: Oxygen saturation in the blood, measured by pulse oximetry

SpO2 (peripheral oxygen saturation) measures the percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is saturated with oxygen, typically measured with a pulse oximeter clipped to the finger.

SpO2 (the 'S' stands for saturation, 'p' for peripheral, and 'O2' for oxygen) is measured non-invasively using a pulse oximeter — a clip-on device placed on the finger, earlobe, or toe. It uses light to estimate how much of the blood's hemoglobin is carrying oxygen. Normal SpO2 in a healthy adult is 95-100%. Readings below 95% may indicate respiratory or cardiac problems requiring nursing assessment. Readings below 90% are generally considered a medical emergency. Some residents with chronic lung conditions (like COPD) may have baseline SpO2 values of 88-92% — their care plan will specify their acceptable range and target. Factors that can affect SpO2 accuracy include: nail polish (can interfere with light transmission), poor peripheral circulation (cold fingers, poor perfusion), carbon monoxide poisoning (falsely high reading), and patient movement. CNAs may be responsible for measuring and recording SpO2 as part of vital sign monitoring. Changes in SpO2 should be reported to the nurse, particularly if the resident also has increased work of breathing, cyanosis (bluish skin), confusion, or chest pain.

Question 5: The suffix '-itis' in a medical term means:

Inflammation (Correct answer)
Surgical removal
Disease of
Excessive bleeding

Correct answer: Inflammation

The suffix '-itis' means inflammation. Arthritis is inflammation of the joints; appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix; gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining.

Medical suffixes are word endings that indicate a condition, procedure, or characteristic. Key suffixes CNAs should recognize: - -itis: inflammation (gastritis, bronchitis, cellulitis, otitis, cystitis = bladder infection) - -ectomy: surgical removal (appendectomy, colostomy adjacent) - -ostomy: surgically created opening (colostomy, ileostomy, tracheostomy, gastrostomy) - -plasty: surgical repair/reconstruction (rhinoplasty, arthroplasty) - -scopy: visual examination with a scope (colonoscopy, bronchoscopy) - -pathy: disease of (neuropathy, cardiomyopathy) - -algia: pain (myalgia = muscle pain, neuralgia = nerve pain) - -plegia: paralysis (hemiplegia = one side, paraplegia = lower body) - -paresis: weakness (hemiparesis = one-sided weakness) - -uria: relating to urine (hematuria = blood in urine, dysuria = painful urination, polyuria = excessive urination) - -pnea: breathing (apnea, bradypnea, dyspnea = difficulty breathing, tachypnea) - -emia: relating to blood (anemia, hypoglycemia, septicemia) Recognizing these suffixes helps CNAs understand medical conditions described in care plans and communicate accurately with the nursing team.

Question 6: What does the abbreviation 'ADL' refer to in nursing care?

Activities of Daily Living — basic self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, and eating (Correct answer)
Acute Disease Level — a classification of illness severity
Assisted Dietary Limitations — the resident's diet restrictions
Administration of Daily Liquids — fluid intake protocol

Correct answer: Activities of Daily Living — basic self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, and eating

ADL stands for Activities of Daily Living — the fundamental self-care tasks people perform daily, including bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, transferring, ambulating, and eating.

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are the basic tasks of everyday life. Assisting residents with ADLs is the core of CNA work. Standard ADLs include: - Bathing: cleaning the body (bed bath, shower, tub bath) - Dressing: putting on and removing clothing - Grooming: hair care, shaving, nail care, makeup - Oral hygiene: brushing teeth, denture care - Toileting: using the toilet, bedpan, or urinal; managing incontinence - Transferring: moving between surfaces (bed to chair, chair to toilet) - Ambulating: walking, using assistive devices - Eating: feeding oneself or receiving feeding assistance Some lists also include Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) — more complex tasks like cooking, managing medications, using the phone, handling finances — which are relevant in home health and assisted living settings. A resident's ability to perform ADLs independently is a key measure of functional status and quality of life. The care plan documents what assistance each resident needs for each ADL. CNAs should encourage residents to do as much as they can independently (restorative approach) while providing needed support, rather than doing everything for them. Documenting ADL performance accurately is required for care planning and reimbursement purposes.

CNA Common Medical Terms and Abbreviations 2

What does the abbreviation 'NPO' mean in a medical chart?