ABBREVIATION

a before
ARF acute renal failure
AROM artificial rupture of membranes

AAA abdominal aortic aneurysm

Ab abortions
abd. abdominal/ abdomen
ABG arterial blood gas
ABO three basic blood groups
ABO-Rh ABO and Rh blood factors
ac before meals
ACE angiotensin converting enzyme

ACLS advanced cardiac life support

ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone
ad lib as desired

ADD attention deficit disorder

ADH antidiuretic hormone
ADL activities of daily living
Adm admission
AF atrial fibrillation
AFB acid-fast bacillus

AFP alpha-fetoprotein
AGA appropriate for gestational age

AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

AK above the knee
AKA above the knee amputation
ALP alkaline phosphatase
ALS advanced life support, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

alt.h alternate hours

AM morning
AMA against medical advice
amb ambulatory
AMI acute myocardial infarcation
AML acute myelogenous leukemia
amp ampule
amt amount
AOB alcohol on breath

aq water

AP apical pulse
A-P, AP, A/P anterior-posterior
approx approximately
ASAP as soon as possible
ASCVD arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease
ASD atrial septal defect
ASHD arteriosclerotic heart disease
AST aspartate aminotransferase
A-V, AV, A/V arteriovenous, antrioventricular
AVB atrio-ventricular block
A-VO2 arteriovenous oxygen
Ax axillary
Ba barium
BBB blood-brain barrier; bundle-branch block
BBS bilateral breath sounds
bid, BID twice per day
bilat bilateral
BK below the knee
BKA below the knee amputation
BM bowel movement
BMI body mass index
BMR basal metabolic rate
BOWI bag of waters intact
BP blood pressure,
bpm beats per minute
BR bed rest
BRP bathroom privileges
BS bowel sounds
BSA body surface area
BSE breast self-examination
BT bowel tones
BTL bilateral tubal ligation
BUN blood urea nitrogen
Bx biopsy
C Celsius (centigrade)
c with
C&S culture and sensitivity
c/o complains of
Ca calcium
ca cancer
CABG coronary artery bypass graft
CAD coronary artery disease
caps capsule
CAT computerized (axial) tomography
CBC, cbc complete blood cell
CBD common bile duct
CC chief complaint
cc* cubic centimeter
CCU coronary care unit, critical care unit
CF cystic fibrosis
CHD congenital heart disease, coronary heart disease
CHF congestive heart failure
CHO carbohydrate
cm centimeter
CMV cytomegalovirus
CNS central nervous system
CO carbon monoxide; cardiac output; castor oil
CO2 carbon dioxide
COLD chronic obstructive lung disease
COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CP cerebral palsy, cleft palate
CPK creatine phosphokinase
CPP cerebral perfusion pressure
CPPD chest percussion and post drainage
CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CRF chronic renal failure
CRRT continuous renal replacement therapy
CRT capillary refill time
CSF cerebrospinal fluid; colony-stimulating factor
CT computed tomography; chest tube
CVA cerebrovascular accident, costovertebral angle
CVP central venous pressure
Cx cervix
CXR chest x-ray
d day
D&C dilatation and curettage
D5W dextrose 5% in water
DAT diet as tolerated
dc, DC,D/C discontinue or discharge
DDx differential diagnosis
DEX (DXT) blood sugar
DI diabetes insipidus
DIC disseminated intravascular coagulation
diff differential blood count
dil dilute, dissolve
disch; DC discharge
DKA diabetic ketoacidosis
dl, dL deciliter
DM diabetes mellitus
DNA deoxyribonucleic acid
DNR do not resuscitate
DOA dead on arrival
DOB date of birth
DOE dyspneic on exertion
DPT diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus
drsg dressing
DTR deep tendon reflex
DVT deep vein thrombosis
Dx diagnosis
EBL estimated blood loss
ECF extended care facility, extracellular fluid
ECG electrocardiogram, electrocardiograph
ECHO echocardiography
ECT electroconvulsive therapy
ED emergency department
EDB estimated date of birth
EDC expected date of confinement
EDD estimated date of delivery
EEG electroencephalogram
EENT eye, ear, nose, throat
eff effacement
EFM electronic fetal monitoring
ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
elix elixir
EMG electromyogram
EMS emergency medical service
EMT emergency medical service
epid epidural
epis episiotomy
ER emergency room
ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate
ESRD end-stage renal disease
ET endotracheal tube
ETOH ethanol
ext extract
F Fahrenheit
FA fatty acids
FBS fasting blood sugar
FD fatal dose; focal distance
Fe iron
FFP fresh frozen plasma
FH, Fhx family history
FHR fetal heart tone
Fld,Fl fluid
FOU fever of unknown origin
FTT failure to thrive
FUO fever of unknown origin
FVD fluid volume deficit
fx fracture
g, GM, gm gram
G, Gr, Grav gravida
gal gallon
GB gallbladder
GC gonococcus or gonorrheal
GDM gestational diabetes mellitus
GERD gastroesophageal efflux disease
gest gestation
GFR glomerular filtration rate
GI gastrointestinal
gl gastrointestinal
gm gram
gr grain
GSW gunshot wound
gtt drops
GU genitourinary
Gyn gynecology
H hypodermic
H&P history and physical
h, hr hour
h/o history of
H2O water
H2O2 hydrogen peroxide
HA headache
HAA hepatitis B surface antigen
HAV hepatitis A virus
HBP high blood pressure
HCG human chrorionic gonadotropin
HCO3 bicarbonate
HCT hematocrit
HDL high-density lipoprotein
HEENT head, eye, ear, nose, and throat
Hg mercury
Hgb hemoglobin
HIV human immunodeficiency (AIDS) virus
HO history of
HOB head of bed
HPF high power field
HPI history of present illness
HR heart rate
HRT hormone replacement therapy
hs* bedtime
HSV herpes simplex virus
HT, HTN hypertension
hx, Hx history
hypo hypodermic
I&O intake and output
IBC iron binding capacity
IBD inflammatory bowel disease
IBS irritable bowel syndrome
IBW ideal body weight
ICP intracranial pressure
ICS intercostals space
ICU intensive care unit
ID intradermal
IDDM insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
IDM infant of a diabetic mother
Ig immunoglobulin
IHD ischemic heart disease
IM intramuscular
in inch
IN intranasal
INR international normalization ratio
IRDM insulin resistant diabetes mellitus
ITP idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
iu*, IU*international unit
IUD intrauterine device
IUPC intrauterine pressure catherer
IV intravenous
IVF in vitro fertilization
IVP intravenous pyelogram, intravenous push
IVPB intravenous piggyback
JODM juvenile onset diabetes mellitus
JVD jugular vein distention
JVP jugular vein pressure
K* potassium
KCI potassium chloride
kg kilogram
KOR keep open rate
KUB….kidney/ureter/bladder
KVO keep vein open
L&D labor and delivery
L&W living and well
lab laboratory
lat lateral
LB large bowel
lb pound
LBBB left bundle branch block
LDH lactate dehydrogenase
LDL low-density lipoprotein
LE lower extremity, lupus erythematosus
LFTs liver function tests
LGA large for gestational age
LIH left inguinal hernia
LIJ left internal jugular
liq liquid
LLE left lower extremity
LLL left lower lobe
LLQ left lower quadrant
LMP last menstrual period
LNMP last normal menstrual period
LOC level/loss of consciousness
LP lumbar pucture
LPN licensed practical nurse
LR lactated Ringer’s
LSC left subclavian
LUE left upper extremity
LUL left upper lobe
LUQ left upper quadrant
LV left ventricle
LVEDP left ventricular end diastolic pressure
LVH left ventricular hypertrophy
MAE moves all extremities
MAP mean arterial pressure
MAR medication administration record
MBT maternal blood type
mcg microgram
MCH mean corpuscular hemoglobin
MCHC mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
MD muscular dystrophy
MDI multiple daily vitamin
meds medications
mEq milliequivalent
MFM Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Mg magnesium sulfate
mg milligram
MI myocardial infection
ml, mL.milliliter
MM mucus membrane
mmHg millimeters of mercury
MMR maternal mortality rate; measles-mumps-rubella
mod moderate
monitoring
MRI magnetic resonance imaging
MS multiple sclerosis
MSF meconium-stained fluid
Multip multipara
MVA motor vehicle accident
N&V, N/V nausea and vomiting
N/A not applicable
Na+ sodium
NaCl sodium chloride
neg negative
NG nasogastric
NIBP noninvasive blood pressure
NICU neonatal intensive care unit
NIDDM non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
NIL not in labor
NKA no known allergies
NKDA no known drug allergies
NKMA no known medication allergies
no number
noc night
npo, NPO nothing by mouth
NS normal saline
NSAID non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
NSD normal spontaneous delivery
NSR normal sinus rhythm
NST nonstress test
NT nasotracheal
NV nausea and vomiting
O2 oxygen
OB obstetrics
OD optical density, overdose, right eye
OGTT oral glucose tolerance test
OM otitis media
OOB out of bed
OPV oral polio vaccine
OR operating room
ORIF open reduction internal fixation
OS left eye
os mouth
OT occupational therapy
OTC over-the-counter
OU each eye
oz ounce
p after
P para or pulse
P&PD percussion and postural drainage
P-A, PA, P/A posterior-anterior
PABA para-aminobenzoic acid
PAC premature atrial contraction
PALS pediatric advance life support
PAP pulmonary artery pressure
Para I, II, etc unipara, bipara, tripara, etc
pc after meal
PCA patient-controlled analgesia
PCN penicillin; primary care nurse
PCWP pulmonary capillary wedge pressure
PD peritoneal dialysis
PDA patent ductus arteriosus
PDR physicians desk reference
PE physical examination; pulmonary embolus; pleural effusion
PEEP positive end expiratory pressure
PEG percutaneous endoscopic gastrotomy
per through or by
Peri care perineal care
PERRLA pupils equal, regular react to light, accommodation
PI pulmonic insufficiency disease; present illness
PICC peripherally inserted central venous catheter
PID pelvic inflammatory disease
PIH pregnancy-induced hypertension
Pit Pitocin
PKU phenylketonuria
PM evening
PMH past medical history
PMN polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes (polys)
PMS premenstrual syndrome
PND paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
PO, poorally
POD post-op day
Postop postoperatively
PP postpartum
PPD purified protein derivative (TB test)
PR by rectum
PRBC packed red blood cells
Preop preoperatively
prep preaparation
pres presentation
primip primipara
PRN, prn as required/when necessary
pro time prothrombin time
PSA prostate-specific antigen
Pt patient
pt pint
PT prothrombin time, physical therapy
PTH parathyroid hormone
PTL preterm labor
PTT partial thromboplastin time
PUD peptic ulver disease
PUFT Pelvic Uterine Full Term
PVC premature ventricular contraction
PVD peripheral vascular disease
Px pneumothorax
q every
q2h every 2 hrs
q3h every 3 hrs
q4h every 4 hrs
qd* every day
qh every hr
qid, QID 4x a day
QNS quantity not sufficient
qod* every other day
qs as sufficient
qt quart
Qt total cardiac output
R respiration, right, Rickettsia, roentgen
R/ take
R/O rule out
R/T related to
RA rheumatoid arthritis
RAD right atrial axis deviation
RAE right atrial enlargement
RAI radioactive iodine
RAIU radioactive iodine uptake
RAP right atrial pressure
RBBB right bundle branch block
RBC, rbc red blood cell
RDA recommended daily/dietary allowance
RDS respiratory distress
Rh symbol of rhesus factor, symbol for rhodium
RLE right lower extremity
RLL right lower lobe
RLQ right lower quadrant
RML right middle lobe of lung
RNA ribonucleic acid
ROM range of motion, rupture of membrane
ROS review of systems
RR recovery room, respiratory rate
RT radiation therapy; reading test; respiratory therapy
RUE right upper extremity
RUL right upper lobe
RUQ right upper quadrant
Rx take, prescription
s without
s/p status post
s/s signs and symptoms
S-A, SA, S/A sinoatrial
sc*, SC*, SQ*, Sub-Q subcutaneous
SCN special care nursery
Sed rate sedimentation rate
SGA small for gestational age
SGOT serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase
SGPT serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase
SI Systeme International
SIDS sudden infant death syndrome
SL sublingual
SLE systematic lupus erythematosus
SNF skilled nursing facility
SOB shortness of breath
sol solution
sp.gr. specific gravity
spec specimen
SROM spontaneous rupture of membrane
ss one half
SSE soapsuds enema
sta station
Staph staphylococcus
stat immediately
STD sexually transmitted disease; skin test dose
Strep streptococcus
supp suppository
susp suspension
SVE sterile vaginal examination
Sx symptoms
syr syrup
tab tablet
TB tuberculin, tuberculosis, tubercle bacillus
TIA transient ischemic attack
tid, TID .three times a day
TKO to keep open
TL tubal ligation
TM tympanic membrane
TMJ temporomandibular joint
TNTC too numerous to count
TO telephone order
TPN total parenteral nutrition
TPR temperature, pulse and respiration
TSE testicular self-examination
TSH thyroid stimulating hormone
tsp teaspoon
Tx treatment
U* unit, umbilicus
UA urinalysis
UAO upper airway obstruction
VF/Vfib ventricular fibrillation
WBC, wbc white blood cells