Dictionary

Signs and symptoms

What a client reports and what a nurse observes, named the way charts and handoffs name them.

water-hammer pulseA strong, bounding pulse that rises very quickly and then falls away suddenly.

weaknessA loss of muscle strength, so that moving a part of the body takes more effort or cannot be done.

weight lossA drop in body weight, whether planned or not.

weltA raised, red or pale, often itchy area on the skin; also called a wheal.

wheezingA high-pitched, whistling sound made as air moves through narrowed airways.

Whipple triadThree findings together: symptoms of low blood sugar, a low blood glucose measured at that time, and relief when the glucose is raised.

withdrawalThe physical and mental symptoms that occur when a person stops or cuts down a substance the body has come to depend on.