Abbreviations Flashcards
½ NS
0.45% NaCl (1/2 normal saline)
a
Before (often has a line over it)
Abd
abdomen
ac
Before meals
Ad lib
As desired
ADL
Activities of Daily Living
AMA
Against medical advice
AMB
ambulate
ASAP
As soon as possible
Bid
Twice a day
BM
Bowel movement
BPH
Benign prostatic hypertrophy
BRP
Bathroom privileges
c
With (often has a line over it)
C
Celsius
C&S
Culture and Sensitivity
c/o
Complains of
CA
cancer
CABG
Coronary artery bypass graft
CAD
Coronary artery disease
CBC
Complete Blood Count
CBR
Complete bedrest
CHF
Congestive Heart Failure
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPR
Cardio pulmonary resuscitation
CR
Controlled release
CTA
Clear to auscultation
CVA
Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
CXR
Chest Xray
D5 or D^5
5% Dextrose (type of IV fluid)
DM
Diabetes mellitus
DNR
Do not Resuscitate
dsg
dressing
dx
diagnosis
DX
diagnosis
EC
Enteric coated
EKG (ECG)
Electrocardiogram
ER
Extended Release
F
Fahrenheit
FOB
Foot of bed
FUO
Fever of unknown origin
fx
fracture
g
gram
GI
gastrointestinal
gr
grain
gtt
drop
GU
genitourinary
H/A
headache
h/o
History of
HOB
Head of Bed
HPI
History of Present Illness
HTN
hypertension
Hx
history
I&O
Intake and output
IM
intramuscular
Imp
Impression
IV
intravenous
IVP
IV push
IVPB
IV Piggy back
kg
Kilogram
KVO
Keep vein open
L
Liter
LA
Long acting
LR
Lactated ringers
lt
left
lytes
electrolytes
MAE
Moves all extremities
mcg
microgram
MDI
Metered dose inhaler
mg
milligram
MI
Myocardial infarction (Heart Attack)
mL or ml
milliliter
N/V
Nausea and vomiting
NAD
No apparent distress
No acute distress
NG/NGT
Nasogastric tube
NKA
No known allergies
NKDA
No known drug allergies
NPO
Nothing by mouth
NS
0.9% Na Cl (Normal Saline)
O2
oxygen
OOB
Out of bed
OT
Occupational therapy
Oz
ounce
p
After (often has a line over it)
pc
after meals
PE
Pulmonary Embolis
PMH
Past medical history
PO
By mouth
PR
Per rectum
Prn/PRN
As needed
Pt, pt
Pint or patient depending on the context
PT
Physical Therapy
PVD
Peripheral vascular disease
Qh
Every hour
Qid
Four times a day
Qt
quart
R/O
Rule out
RBC
Red blood cells
ROM
Range of motion
ROS
Review of systems
rt
right
s
without(often has a line over it)
S/P
Status post
SA
Sustained action
SL
sublingual
SOB
Shortness of Breath
SR
Sustained release
Stat
immediately
STD
Sexually transmitted disease
Sup/supp
suppository
Susp
suspension
Sx
symptoms
tab
tablet
Tbsp
tablespoon
TF
Tube feeding
Tid
Three times a day
TPR
Temperature pulse and respirations
tsp
teaspoon
tx
treatment
UA
urinalysis
Up ad lib
Up as needed
URI
Upper Respiratory infection
V
Five (roman numeral)
VS
Vital signs
W
water
WA
While awake
WBAT
Weight bearing as tolerated
WBC
White Blood Count
X
Ten (Roman Numeral)
DO NOT USE U, u
Mistaken for 0 or 4 or cc
Write “unit”
DO NOT USE IU
Mistaken for IV (intravenous or the number 10)
Write “international unit”
DO NOT USE QD Q.D.
qd q.d. QOD, qod Q.O.D. q.o.d.
These can be mistaken for each other, the period can mistaken for the I and the O can be mistaken for an I
Use “daily”
Use “every other day”
DO NOT USE Trailing 0 (X.0 mg)
Decimal point can be missed and too high of dose can be given
DO NOT USE Lack of leading zero (.X mg)
Decimal point can be missed and too high of dose can be given
Write X mg
DO NOT USE Lack of leading zero (.X mg)
Decimal point can be missed and too high of dose can be given
Write 0.X mg
DO NOT USE MS, MSO4
Can be mistaken for MgSO4
Write “Morphine Sulfate”
DO NOT USE MgSO4
Can be mistaken for MSO4
Write “Magnesium Sulfate”
