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Nursing vocabulary · Medication Administration

Side effect

Meaning in nursing, with examples

/ˈsaɪd ɪˌfɛkt/nounCore term

In nursing, side effect means: An effect of a medicine or treatment that is not the main reason it was given, often unwanted, such as nausea or drowsiness.

In Turkish: yan etki

How it is used

Nurses explain possible side effects to patients and watch for them after giving a drug. 'Adverse reaction' or 'adverse drug reaction' is the more formal term for a harmful effect, used in incident and drug safety reports. Patients often ask: 'Does this have any side effects?'

Example sentences

  1. Constipation is a common side effect of morphine, so you'll have a laxative as well.

  2. He stopped taking his tablets at home because of the side effects.

Common collocations

  • common side effect
  • serious side effect
  • cause side effects
  • report a side effect
  • possible side effects
  • allergyA harmful reaction of the body's immune system to a substance, such as a medicine, food or latex, that is harmless for most people.
  • doseThe amount of a medicine given at one time, such as 500 mg, or the total amount given over a period.
  • administerTo give a medicine or treatment to a patient, by any route, according to a prescription or protocol.
  • medication roundThe set times of the day when a nurse takes the medicines trolley around the ward and gives patients their prescribed medicines.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Medication Administration

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.