Purpose

This glossary lists acronyms that simulation staff meet in scenario plans, course schedules, equipment manuals and conversations with clinical faculty. It is intended for staff who came to simulation from technical, audiovisual or other non-clinical backgrounds.

Scope

The list covers two groups: terms from the simulation community itself, and common healthcare acronyms used in scenarios. Simulation terms follow the Healthcare Simulation Dictionary [1]. Usage varies between facilities and regions, so confirm unfamiliar terms with program educators.

Simulation organizations and credentials

Acronym Meaning
SSH Society for Simulation in Healthcare, which runs the CHSE and CHSOS certifications and accredits simulation programs
INACSL International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning, which publishes the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice
ASPE Association of Standardized Patient Educators
SESAM Society for Simulation in Europe
ASPiH Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare, based in the United Kingdom
CHSE Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator
CHSE-A Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator, Advanced
CHSOS Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist
CHSOS-A Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist, Advanced

Simulation practice

Acronym Meaning
SBE Simulation-based education
SP Standardized patient: a person trained to portray a patient consistently
ISS In-situ simulation: simulation held in a real clinical area
IPE Interprofessional education: learners from more than one profession training together
CRM Crisis resource management: teamwork and communication skills for emergencies
RCDP Rapid cycle deliberate practice: short repeated attempts with coaching between them
OSCE Objective structured clinical examination: a timed series of assessed stations
SME Subject matter expert
PEARLS Promoting Excellence and Reflective Learning in Simulation, a debriefing framework
DASH Debriefing Assessment for Simulation in Healthcare, a tool for rating debriefings
VR Virtual reality
AR Augmented reality
XR Extended reality, covering virtual, augmented and mixed reality
AV Audiovisual: the cameras, microphones and recording system
LMS Learning management system

Clinical roles

Acronym Meaning
RN Registered nurse
LPN or LVN Licensed practical nurse, or licensed vocational nurse
CNA Certified nursing assistant
NP Nurse practitioner
CRNA Certified registered nurse anesthetist
MD Doctor of medicine
DO Doctor of osteopathic medicine
PA Physician assistant
RT Respiratory therapist
EMT Emergency medical technician

Clinical areas

Acronym Meaning
ED Emergency department
ICU Intensive care unit
NICU Neonatal intensive care unit
PICU Pediatric intensive care unit
OR Operating room
PACU Post-anesthesia care unit, where patients recover after surgery
L&D Labor and delivery
Med-surg Medical-surgical unit, a general adult ward

Vital signs and assessment

Acronym Meaning
HR Heart rate
BP Blood pressure
NIBP Non-invasive blood pressure, measured with a cuff
MAP Mean arterial pressure
RR Respiratory rate, in breaths per minute
SpO2 Oxygen saturation, measured with a pulse oximeter
EtCO2 End-tidal carbon dioxide, measured in exhaled breath
ECG or EKG Electrocardiogram: a recording of the heart's electrical activity
GCS Glasgow Coma Scale, a score for level of consciousness
LOC Level of consciousness, or loss of consciousness, depending on context

Medications and orders

Acronym Meaning
PO By mouth
IV Intravenous: into a vein
IM Intramuscular: into a muscle
IO Intraosseous: into the bone marrow, used when a vein cannot be reached
SL Sublingual: under the tongue
PRN As needed
NPO Nothing by mouth
STAT Immediately
MAR Medication administration record

Equipment and procedures

Acronym Meaning
AED Automated external defibrillator
BVM Bag-valve-mask, used to give breaths by hand
NC Nasal cannula
NRB Non-rebreather mask
CPAP Continuous positive airway pressure
BiPAP Bilevel positive airway pressure
ETT Endotracheal tube
NG tube Nasogastric tube
PICC Peripherally inserted central catheter
CVC Central venous catheter
ABG Arterial blood gas, a blood test of oxygen, carbon dioxide and acidity
CPR Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Conditions and events

Acronym Meaning
MI Myocardial infarction, or heart attack
CVA Cerebrovascular accident, or stroke
CHF Congestive heart failure
COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
DKA Diabetic ketoacidosis
VF or VFib Ventricular fibrillation
VT or VTach Ventricular tachycardia
AFib Atrial fibrillation
PEA Pulseless electrical activity
ROSC Return of spontaneous circulation

Communication and documentation

Acronym Meaning
SBAR Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation: a structured handover format
EHR or EMR Electronic health record, or electronic medical record
DNR Do not resuscitate
HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the United States law on patient privacy
PPE Personal protective equipment

Life support courses

Acronym Meaning
BLS Basic Life Support
ACLS Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
PALS Pediatric Advanced Life Support
NRP Neonatal Resuscitation Program
ATLS Advanced Trauma Life Support