Medical Abbreviations

COMMONLY USED ABBREVIATIONS VIRGINIA O. PO, R.N. Clinical Instructor NDMU

Medication Schedules ac = before meals QD = every day Q AM = every morning QOD = every other day

Medication Schedules PRN = as needed/whenever necessary HS = hour of sleep/at bedtime MR x 1 = may repeat x 1 Stat = at once

Medication Schedules qh,q1° = every hour q2h,q2° = every two hours q4h,q4° = every four hours BID =twice a day

Medication Schedules TID = three times a day QID = four times a day ASAP = as soon as possible q hs = every night at bedtime

Patient Activity Terms ad lib = as tolerated Up ad lib = up as tolerated BRP = bathroom privileges BR = bedrest

Patient Activity Terms CBR = complete bedrest Adm =admitted/admission DC or d/c = discontinue/discharge I&D =Incision & drainage

Patient Activity Terms OOB = out of bed CC =chief complaint TCDB = turn, cough, deep breath BR c BRP = bedrest c bathroom privilege

Patient Activity Terms ADL = activities of daily living Amb = ambulatory S/S = signs & symptoms n/v = nausea & vomiting

Routes of Medication Administration IV = intravenous IM = intramuscular SQ = subcutaneous IVPB = intravenous piggyback

Routes of Medication Administration p.o. =by mouth Supp =suppository SL = sublingual SD = side drip

Common Diagnostic Tests EKG,ECG = Electrocardiogram EEG = Electroencephalogram CXR = Chest X-ray UGI = Upper Gastrointestinal X-rayLGI = Lower Gastrointestinal X-ray

Common Diagnostic Tests MRI = Magnetic Resonance Imaging IVP = Intravenous Pyelogram Hct = Hematocrit BUN = Blood Urea Nitrogen

Common Diagnostic Tests CT = Clotting Time GTT = Glucose Tolerance Test EMG = Electromyography LP = Lumbar Puncture GB = Gallbladder

Common Diagnostic Tests CAT Scan = Computerized Axial Tomography Scan USD = Ultrasound KUB = Kidney, Ureter, Bladder HBT = Hepato Biliary Tract

Common Diagnostic Tests CBC = Complete Blood Count Hgb = Hemoglobin FBS = Fasting Blood Sugar Bt = Bleeding Time PPD = Purified Protein Derivative

Miscellaneous Patient/Hospital Related Terms E.R. = Emergency Room O.R. = Operating Room PACU = Post Anesthesia Care Unit R.R. = Recovery Room Ca = Cancer

Miscellaneous Patient/Hospital Related Terms CHF = Congestive heart failure FUO = fever of unknown origin MI = Myocardial infarction OBS = Organic Brain Syndrome URI = Upper Respiratory Infection

Miscellaneous Patient/Hospital Related Terms UTI = Urinary Tract Infection HEENT = head,ears, eyes, nose, throat GI = Gastrointestinal GU = Genito-urinary GYN = Gynecology

Miscellaneous Patient/Hospital Related Terms OB = Obstetrics COC =,continuity of care ABO = The main blood group Meds = medication LMP = last menstrual period

Miscellaneous Patient/Hospital Related Terms ARDS = Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome AKA = above knee amputation A/SGA = Average/Small Gestational Age ASHD = Arteriosclerotic Heart Dis.

Miscellaneous Patient/Hospital Related Terms IVF = Intravenous fluid C/S = Cesarean Section CAPD = Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis CPR = Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation

Miscellaneous Patient/Hospital Related Terms CVA = Cerebro Vascular Accident FHR = fetal heart rate ICP = intracranial pressure NSVD = Normal Spontaneous Vagina Delivery

Miscellaneous Patient/Hospital Related Terms PROM = premature rupture of membrane PID = Pelvic Inflammatory Disease PMI = point of maximum impulse VBAC = Vaginal birth after cesarean section

Miscellaneous Patient/Hospital Related Terms T&A = Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy TIA = Transient Ischemic Attack C.N.M. = Clinical Nurse Manager P.C.C. = Patient Care Coordinator ICU = Intensive Care Unit

Miscellaneous Patient/Hospital Related Terms

SOB = shortness of breath N.P. = Nurse Practitioner AMNP = Advanced Medical Nurse Practitioner HOH = hard of hearing Ectomy = removal

Miscellaneous Patient/Hospital Related Terms itis = inflammation Otomy = incision into PE = pulmonary embolism PMH = past medical history PTA = prior to admission

Miscellaneous Patient/Hospital Related Terms Lap = laparotomy ABG’s = Arterial blood gases C&S = culture & sensitivity U/A, UA = urinalysis CVMS = clean voided urine midstream

Miscellaneous Patient/Hospital Related Terms BM = bowel movement ACLS = Advanced Cardiac Life Support AIDS = Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome anes. = anesthesia

Miscellaneous Patient/Hospital Related Terms A/CRF = Acute/Chronic Renal Failure BPH = Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy CPD = Cephalo Pelvic Disproportion CAD = Coronary Artery Disease

Miscellaneous Patient/Hospital Related Terms CNS = Central Nervous System TPN = total parenteral nutrition CVP = Central Venous Pressure GCS = Glasgow Coma Scale IOP = intraocular pressure

Miscellaneous Patient/Hospital Related Terms ORIF = Open Reduction Internal Fixation PEEP = Positive End Expiratory Pressure PUD = Peptic Ulcer Disease SVC = superior vena cava

Miscellaneous Patient/Hospital Related Terms TOF = Tetralogy of Fallot TAHBSO = Total Abdominal Hysterectomy w/ Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy TURP = transurethral resection of the prostate

General Terms c = with s = without a = before p = after

General Terms ac = before meals R = right OD = right eye (oculus dexter) F = Fahrenheit

General Terms C = Celsius, centigrade Dx = Diagnosis Rx = Treatment Sx = Service

General Terms Tx = traction, therapy Bx = biopsy Fx = fracture c/c = complaint of

General Terms w/c = wheelchair DAT = diet as tolerated amt. = amount drsg. = dressing

General Terms Os = mouth or opening post-op = post operatively prep = preparation VO = verbal order

General Terms KVO = keep vein open Tbsp = tablespoon Ss = half Cc = cubic centimeter

General Terms VS = Vital signs BP = Blood Pressure TPR = Temperature, Pulse, Respiration NPO = nothing by mouth (non per os)

General Terms pc = after meals L = left, liter OS = left eye (oculus sinester) OU = both eyes

General Terms H20 = water R/O = Rule Out O2 = oxygen Pt = patient

General Terms PT = Physical Therapy AP&L = anterior posterior & lateral noc = night gen = general

General Terms Approx = approximately Mod = moderate Gtt = drop Neg = negative

General Terms per = by or through preop = preoperatively WNL = within normal limits TO = telephone order

General Terms Wt = weight Tsp = teaspoon Cath. = catheter Ml = millimeter

…end of presentation… THANK YOU!