Working as a nurse comes with its own language, born from the chaotic, high-stakes reality of healthcare. These terms? They’re shorthand for survival. If you know, you know. If you don’t… well, grab a coffee (PRN) and prepare to get schooled in nursing jargon.
Here are 10 insider phrases that only nurses can truly appreciate and the stories they tell:
Charting
AKA writing a novel at the end of every shift.
You’ve been running on adrenaline for twelve straight hours, responding to call lights and juggling patient care. Now? It’s time to sit down and chart every detail. Unfortunately, documenting treatments, meds, and vital signs feels less like a task and more like co-authoring “War and Peace.”
Bonus points if you’re the kind of nurse who does it before leaving on time. You beautiful unicorn, you.
Related CE course for nurses: A Center of Care: The Critical Access Hospital Model
Frequent flyer
A patient who’s always here. Always.
Every hospital has them. These are the patients whose names you know by heart and whose favorite snacks you can recite. Whether it’s a chronic condition or something else bringing them in, they earn their unofficial title. And yes, you’re smiling while prepping their room for the zillionth time.
Walkie-talkie
The blessing of mobile and alert patients.
A walkie-talkie patient is the holy grail of assignments. They’re mobile. They’re alert. They might even crack jokes with you. After working with total assist patients all day, these gems restore your faith (if only for a moment).
Sundowning
The nightly chaos some dementia patients bring.
Afternoons? Calm. Evenings? A completely different vibe. Patients with dementia seem to hit a “mystery button” as the sun sets. Restlessness, confusion, and wandering amplify, making you wish you could time the shift change before things get wild.
Related CE course for nurses: Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementias: Insights for Early Detection and Care Planning
“The joint commission is coming.”
Cue panic, stat.
Nothing sparks hospital-wide hysteria like hearing these five words. Kitchens get bleached, charting is double-checked, and supply closets are reorganized overnight. After all, no one wants to hear, “Well, we noticed some deficiencies . . .”
NPO
From the Latin nil per os, this means “nothing by mouth.” Which patients never seem to remember.
“Good morning! You’re NPO until your procedure.” Cue the request for a full breakfast tray or, at the very least, a cup of coffee. Is there a more consistent test of patience than explaining this 23 times in one shift?
PRN
Pro re nata, also from Latin. When “as needed” becomes essential.
Yes, this applies to meds and treatments. But more importantly, it’s a running joke among nurses everywhere. Coffee? PRN. Chocolate? PRN. Bathroom breaks? Rare, but also PRN. Somehow, this flexible term has become the unofficial mantra of overworked nurses.
STAT
Yesterday, please.
STAT means immediate. No debating, no waiting, no “in a minute.” When you hear it on the unit, it’s your cue to run. But if you’re honest, isn’t it a little satisfying to see how fast the team mobilizes? Adrenaline is practically your middle name.
Code Brown
Not a drill. Never welcome.
We don’t like to talk about it. It shall not be named unless absolutely necessary. But every nurse knows this is not the kind of “code” anyone wants to respond to. Especially not before lunch.
Code Blue
The ultimate test under pressure. This is the moment the training kicks in. Cardiac or respiratory arrest demands immediate action. Code blues are intense, but they remind you why you chose nursing in the first place. Lives hang in the balance, and you’re part of the team making a difference.
Nurses, we see you
Nursing isn’t just a job; it’s an identity. You juggle life-or-death moments, marathon charting sessions, and the kind of stories that make the strongest people laugh and cry in equal measure.
We hope these inside terms brought a smile to your face, along with a knowing nod. Keep speaking your nursing jargon loud and proud. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to take care of you, PRN.
