ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) Version 7

An involuntary, rapid, and repetitive oscillation or movement of the eyes.

• Can be horizontal, vertical, or rotatory
• Often a sign of neurological dysfunction or inner ear problems
• Can be congenital or acquired

Words that sound the same but have different meanings and often different spellings.

• Can lead to confusion if not used correctly in writing.
• Common in English, e.g., 'to/too/two,' 'there/their/they're.'
• Context is crucial for understanding and correct usage.

The principle that the verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject.

• Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
• Phrases between the subject and verb do not affect agreement.
• In clauses, the verb must agree with its antecedent.

A common Latin-derived medical abbreviation indicating that medication should be taken three times a day.

• Stands for 'ter in die' (Latin)
• Means 'three times a day'
• Crucial for correct medication dosage and timing

Commonly confused words: 'affect' is primarily a verb meaning to influence; 'effect' is primarily a noun meaning result or outcome.

• Affect (verb): to influence, to change. (e.g., 'The medicine affected him.')
• Effect (noun): a result, an outcome. (e.g., 'The medicine had a positive effect.')
• Less common uses: 'affect' as a noun (emotion, psychological term); 'effect' as a verb (to bring about).

A common English spelling guideline: 'i' usually comes before 'e,' except when it follows 'c,' or when sounded as 'ay' as in 'neighbor' or 'weigh.'

• Applies to many English words.
• Has exceptions, especially with 'c' or 'ay' sound.
• Helps remember spellings like 'receive,' 'believe,' 'achieve.'

PO is a medical abbreviation derived from the Latin 'per os,' meaning 'by mouth' or 'orally.'

• Used in prescriptions and medical orders to indicate oral administration of medication.
• Essential for clear and unambiguous communication in healthcare.
• Misinterpretation can lead to medication errors.

Words that sound alike but have different meanings and often different spellings.

• Common source of errors in writing.
• Context is essential to determine the correct homophone.
• Examples include 'to/too/two', 'their/there/they're', 'affect/effect'.

A word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language.

• Synonyms can often be substituted for each other in context.
• Understanding synonyms enhances vocabulary and comprehension.
• Context is crucial when choosing the best synonym.

Pain arising from damage or dysfunction of the somatosensory nervous system.

• Often described as burning, shooting, tingling, or electric-shock like
• Can be chronic and persistent
• May occur spontaneously without stimulus

Pronouns must agree in number (singular/plural) and gender (masculine/feminine/neuter) with the noun or pronoun they refer to (their antecedent).

• Singular antecedents require singular pronouns (e.g., 'The patient received his/her medication.').
• Plural antecedents require plural pronouns (e.g., 'The patients received their medication.').
• Using 'they/their' as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun is becoming widely accepted, but formal contexts often prefer strict agreement or rephrasing.

Commonly confused words: 'accept' is a verb meaning to receive or agree; 'except' is usually a preposition or conjunction meaning excluding or other than.

• 'Accept' = to take, to agree to, to receive (e.g., 'I accept your apology').
• 'Except' = not including, other than (e.g., 'Everyone went except me').
• Both are pronounced similarly but have distinct meanings and grammatical roles.

Ensuring the verb in a sentence correctly matches its subject in number (singular or plural). For 'data,' historically plural, modern usage often accepts it as singular in some contexts, but academically, plural is preferred.

• 'Data' is technically the plural of 'datum'.
• In formal and academic writing, 'data' typically takes a plural verb (e.g., 'data are').
• In informal or common usage, 'data' is sometimes treated as a singular mass noun (e.g., 'data is').

PRN stands for 'pro re nata,' a Latin phrase meaning 'as needed.' It indicates that a medication or treatment should be given only when necessary, based on the patient's condition or symptoms.

• Commonly used for pain medication, anti-nausea drugs, or sleep aids.
• Requires clinical judgment from the nurse to assess patient need.
• Ensures medication is not given on a fixed schedule if not required.

Active voice means the subject performs the action. Passive voice means the subject receives the action.

• Active: Subject-Verb-Object (e.g., 'The nurse administered the medication.').
• Passive: Object-Verb (to be + past participle)-Subject (e.g., 'The medication was administered by the nurse.').
• Active voice is generally preferred for clarity, directness, and conciseness, especially in scientific writing.

A common medical abbreviation derived from Latin, instructing that a patient should not consume anything orally.

• Stands for 'nil per os' (Latin)
• Means 'nothing by mouth'
• Used before surgery, certain tests, or specific medical conditions

An abnormal sensation, typically tingling or prickling, often described as 'pins and needles', caused by nerve irritation or damage.

• Sensory symptom, not motor
• Can be temporary (e.g., limb 'falling asleep') or chronic
• Indicates nerve involvement

A conjunctive adverb connects two independent clauses and shows the relationship between them.

• They modify the verb, adjective, or other adverb in the independent clause.
• They are typically preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma.
• They express relationships such as cause/effect, contrast, sequence, or addition.

'Thereby' is an adverb meaning 'by that means' or 'as a result of that'. 'Therefore' is a conjunctive adverb meaning 'for that reason' or 'consequently'.

• Thereby: usually followed by a participle (-ing form), forming a participial phrase that modifies the preceding clause.
• Therefore: connects two independent clauses, often preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma.
• Both indicate consequence or result but are used in different grammatical structures.

Correctly writing words according to standard orthography, critical for clear communication in healthcare documentation.

• Ensures clarity and avoids misinterpretation.
• Essential for patient safety and legal documentation.
• Common errors include transposing letters, phonetic misspellings, or confusion of homophones.

A medical term referring to the likely course and outcome of a disease or condition.

• Forecasts future health
• Based on diagnosis, patient factors, and medical knowledge
• Can be good, poor, or uncertain

Three common homophones: 'there' (adverb of place or expletive), 'their' (possessive pronoun), 'they're' (contraction of 'they are').

• 'There' indicates a location (e.g., 'over there') or introduces a sentence (e.g., 'there is').
• 'Their' shows possession (e.g., 'their car').
• 'They're' is a contraction for 'they are' (e.g., 'they're happy').

Expressing ideas clearly and effectively in the fewest possible words, avoiding redundancy and unnecessary complexity.

• Improves clarity and readability.
• Saves time for the reader (especially important in healthcare).
• Achieved by eliminating wordy phrases, passive voice, and redundant information.

Formal language is characterized by a serious, objective, and precise tone, typically used in academic, professional, and official contexts. Informal language is more relaxed, conversational, and often includes slang or colloquialisms, suitable for casual communication.

• Formal language avoids contractions, slang, and personal opinions.
• It uses complete sentences and precise vocabulary.
• Informal language is common in personal emails, texts, and casual conversations.