ALL Abbreviations - Front and Back Flashcards
Learn/Review Common Medical Abbreviations (Front and Back Sides)
RA
rheumatoid arthritis; right atrium
Bx; bx
biopsy
headache
HA
bowel movement
BM
NPO
nothing by mouth (nil per os)
CV
cardiovascular
O.U.
both eyes
HS; hs
hour of sleep (at bedtime) or half strength - Do Not Use-Write it Out
basic metabolic panel
BMP
gastrointestinal
GI; G.I.
patient controlled analgesia
PCA
estimated blood loss
EBL
after meals
pc; p.c.
normal saline (0.9% NaCl)
NS
electrolytes
lytes
0.5 mg - ALWAYS use a zero BEFORE a decimal point (Not .5 mg)
Rule for Leading Zero
HHN
hand held nebulizer
right eye
OD
H/H; Hgb/Hct
hemoglobin and hematocrit (Hemoglobin is always first)
year old
y/o; YO
TID; T.I.D.; tid; t.i.d.
three times a day
nothing by mouth (nil per os)
NPO
no known drug allergies
NKDA
by (per Dr. T) or through (per PEG)
per
suppository route (per rectum)
pr
Medical Intensive Care Unit
MICU
R/O
rule out
preoperatively; before surgery
pre-op; preop
GYN; gyn
gynecology
IMMEDIATELY; Now
STAT; Stat
MS; MSO4; MgSO4
morphine sulfate - Do Not Use; Write it out
y/o; YO
year old
dyspnea on exertion
DOE
turn; cough; and deep breathe
TCDB
pre-op; preop
preoperatively; before surgery
fvery shift
qs
H & P
history and physical
EENT
eyes; ears; nose; and throat
TKO
to keep open (IV rate approx. 20-30 mL/hr)
sublingual
SL
N/V/D
nausea; vomiting; and diarrhea
PCA
patient controlled analgesia
Tbsp; tbsp
tablespoon (15 ml)
GI; G.I.
gastrointestinal
tsp
teaspoon (5 ml)
kilograms
Kg
continuous positive airway pressure
CPAP
mg
milligram
L&D
labor and delivery
hour of sleep (at bedtime) or half strength - Do Not Use-Write it Out
HS; hs
subcutaneous
sub-Q
rheumatoid arthritis; right atrium
RA
every (q 1 hr = every hour; q 4 hrs = every 4 hours)
q
complete blood count
CBC
MI; M.I.
myocardial infarction
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
DM
diabetes mellitus
SL
sublingual
JP; J-P
Jackson-Pratt drain
calcium
Ca
physical therapy
P.T.
QOD; Q.O.D.; qod; q.o.d.
Write every other day (on Do Not Use list)
left eye
OS
Write every day or qday (on Do Not Use list)
q.d.
central nervous system
CNS
Rule for Trailing Zero
1 mg - NEVER use a zero AFTER a decimal point (Not 1.0 mg)
CT scan; CAT scan
computed tomography scan; computed axial tomography scan
TCDB
turn; cough; and deep breathe
IM; I.M.
intramuscular
left lower extremity
LLE; L.L.E.
SIRS
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome
F°
degrees Fahrenheit
cerebrospinal fluid
CSF
nausea; vomiting; and diarrhea
N/V/D
Ca
calcium
drop/drops (guttae)
gtt(s)
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
NICU
blood urea nitrogen
BUN
IS
incentive spirometer
left upper quadrant
LUQ; L.U.Q
anteroposterior - (AP chest X-ray)
AP
C & S
culture and sensitivity
K+
potassium
before (ante)
ā
signs and symptoms
S/S; Sx
coronary artery bypass graft(s)
CABG
tachy
tachycardia
RLQ
right lower quadrant
Surgical Intensive Care Unit
SICU
potassium chloride
KCl
status post
S/P
nasal cannula
NC
vital signs
VS
liter
L
CC or C.C.
chief complaint
transient ischemic attack
TIA
Rx
prescription
follow-up
F/U; f/u
HPI
history of present illness
L
liter
prescription
Rx
bathroom privileges
BRP
Intensive Care Unit
ICU
NKA
no known allergies
BRP
bathroom privileges
NICU
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
treatment
tx
1 mg - NEVER use a zero AFTER a decimal point (Not 1.0 mg)
Rule for Trailing Zero
room air
R/A
RUQ
right upper quadrant
type and crossmatch
T & C
activities of daily living
ADL
ABG
arterial blood gas
p¯
after
amb.; amb
ambulate or ambulatory
LOC
loss of consciousness; level of consciousness
right lower extremity
RLE
over the counter
OTC
to keep open (IV rate approx. 20-30 mL/hr)
TKO
gastroesophageal reflux disease
GERD
without (sine)
s¯
R/A
room air
MN
midnight
as evidenced by
AEB
chronic renal failure
CRF
and others (et alii)
et al.
Write every other day (on Do Not Use list)
QOD; Q.O.D.; qod; q.o.d.
LTAC
long term acute care
as desired
ad lib.
mcg
microgram (Do Not Use ㎍)
Total Patient Care Nurse
TPCN
cardiovascular
CV
PRN; P.R.N.; prn; p.r.n.
as needed; as necessary (pro re nata)
NS
normal saline (0.9% NaCl)
OOB
out of bed
upper respiratory infection
URI
tuberculosis
TB. Tb
SARS
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
head of bed
HOB
LLQ; L.L.Q
left lower quadrant
right
R ; RT; Rt
peri care
perineal care (“possible” care)
microgram (Do Not Use ㎍)
mcg
BMP
basic metabolic panel
C°
degrees Celsius or Centigrade
weight bearing as tolerated
WBAT
LUQ; L.U.Q
left upper quadrant
as needed; as necessary (pro re nata)
PRN; P.R.N.; prn; p.r.n.
ad lib.
as desired
s¯
without (sine)
cc
cubic centimeter; same as mL (Do Not Use cc - use mL instead)
loss of consciousness; level of consciousness
LOC
PACU
Post Anesthesia Care Unit
NC
nasal cannula
four times a day
QID; Q.I.D.; qid; q.i.d.
Dx; dx
diagnosis
non-weight bearing
NWB
comprehensive metabolic panel
CMP
abd
Abdomen
KVO
keep vein open (IV rate approx. 20-30 mL/hr)
AKA
above the knee amputation
with
c¯
history
Hx; hx
SN; S.N.
student nurse
biopsy
Bx; bx
per
by (per Dr. T) or through (per PEG)
UA
urinalysis
birth control pills
BCP
bpm
beats per minute
CPR
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
hand held nebulizer
HHN
milliequivalent
mEq
teaspoon (5 ml)
tsp
KCl
potassium chloride
discontinue; discharge
D/C; or d/c
incision and drainage
I & D
computed tomography scan; computed axial tomography scan
CT scan; CAT scan
end stage renal disease
ESRD
thromboembolic disease support hose
TEDs
AAA
abdominal aortic aneurysm - (will hear “Triple A”)
Jackson-Pratt drain
JP; J-P
white blood cell count
WBC
skilled nursing facility
SNF
by mouth (per os)
p.o.
Post Anesthesia Care Unit
PACU
tablespoon (15 ml)
Tbsp; tbsp
diagnosis
Dx; dx
STAT; Stat
IMMEDIATELY; Now
abdominal aortic aneurysm - (will hear “Triple A”)
AAA
Fx.; fx
fracture
J-tube
feeding tube in the jejunum
three times a day
TID; T.I.D.; tid; t.i.d.
myocardial infarction
MI; M.I.
sodium chloride
NaCl
cath
catheter; catheterize
intravenous
IV
c/o; C/O
complains of
fracture
Fx.; fx
evaluation
eval
milligram
mg
L ; Lt; lt
left
pr
suppository route (per rectum)
culture and sensitivity
C & S
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (of 1996)
HIPAA
WBC
white blood cell count
PRBC
packed red blood cells
CRF
chronic renal failure
left lower quadrant
LLQ; L.L.Q
ambulate or ambulatory
amb.; amb
coronary artery disease
CAD
a.c.
before meals (ante cibum)
tx
treatment
eyes; ears; nose; and throat
EENT
VS
vital signs
tachycardia
tachy
gynecology
GYN; gyn
TIA
transient ischemic attack
pc; p.c.
after meals
CTA
clear to auscultation
SNF
skilled nursing facility
AMA
against medical advice
MICU
Medical Intensive Care Unit
ā
before (ante)
potassium
K+
OD
right eye
after
p¯
IV
intravenous
blood pressure
BP; B/P
FFP
fresh frozen plasma
SICU
Surgical Intensive Care Unit
TB. Tb
tuberculosis
related to
r/t
hemoglobin and hematocrit (Hemoglobin is always first)
H/H; Hgb/Hct
BUN
blood urea nitrogen
sequential compression devices
SCD
RLE
right lower extremity
out of bed
OOB
F/U; f/u
follow-up
PEG
percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube
ECG; EKG
electrocardiogram; electrokardiogram in Britain
as soon as possible
ASAP
primary care physician
PCP
d
day
do not resuscitate
DNR
CHF
congestive heart failure
diabetes mellitus
DM
clear to auscultation
CTA
AEB
as evidenced by
EBL
estimated blood loss
right lower quadrant
RLQ
HTN
hypertension
tolerated
tol; tol.
medication administration record
MAR
Rule for Leading Zero
0.5 mg - ALWAYS use a zero BEFORE a decimal point (Not .5 mg)
acute myocardial infarction
AMI
keep vein open (IV rate approx. 20-30 mL/hr)
KVO
nausea and vomiting
N/V
sliding scale insulin
S.S.I.
magnetic resonance imaging
MRI
et al.
and others (et alii)
day
d
RUE
right upper extremity
oxygen
O2
NG; NGT
nasogastric tube
COPD
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
milliliter
mL
eval
evaluation
history of present illness
HPI
QID; Q.I.D.; qid; q.i.d.
four times a day
tol; tol.
tolerated
CAD
coronary artery disease
TPCN
Total Patient Care Nurse
percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube
PEG
multiple organ dysfunction syndrome
MODS
V- Meaning
V- Abbreviations
BS; bs
bowel sounds; blood sugar; breath sounds
DOE
dyspnea on exertion
below the knee amputation
BKA
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
COPD
last menstrual period
LMP
cerebrovascular accident
CVA
URI
upper respiratory infection
intramuscular
IM; I.M.
MAR
medication administration record
q.d.
Write every day or qday (on Do Not Use list)
O2
oxygen
before meals (ante cibum)
a.c.
OS
left eye
CVA
cerebrovascular accident
packed red blood cells
PRBC
CXR
chest x-ray
S/S; Sx
signs and symptoms
DNR
do not resuscitate
r/t
related to
AMI
acute myocardial infarction
BCP
birth control pills
mEq
milliequivalent
Fe
iron
long term acute care
LTAC
ICU
Intensive Care Unit
TPR
temperature; pulse; and respiration
CNS
central nervous system
ETOH; EtOH
ethanol; alcohol
chest x-ray
CXR
degrees Fahrenheit
F°
TEDs
thromboembolic disease support hose
history and physical
H & P
q
every (q 1 hr = every hour; q 4 hrs = every 4 hours)
sub-Q
subcutaneous
ESRD
end stage renal disease
congestive heart failure
CHF
capsule
cap
above the knee amputation
AKA
morphine sulfate - Do Not Use; Write it out
MS; MSO4; MgSO4
I & O
intake and output
Abdomen
abd
BKA
below the knee amputation
CA
cancer
ER; ED
Emergency Room; Emergency Department
student nurse
SN; S.N.
HA
headache
LMP
last menstrual period
right upper quadrant
RUQ
S.S.I.
sliding scale insulin
nasogastric tube
NG; NGT
incentive spirometer
IS
(x-ray of) kidneys; ureter; bladder
KUB; K.U.B.
S/P
status post
PCP
primary care physician
patient
Pt.; pt.
degrees Celsius or Centigrade
C°
feeding tube in the jejunum
J-tube
V- Abbreviations
V- Meaning
twice a day (bis in die)
b.i.d.; bid; BID
D/C; or d/c
discontinue; discharge
BP; B/P
blood pressure
BM
bowel movement
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome
SIRS
NSAID
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
cap
capsule
mL
milliliter
shortness of breath
SOB
NWB
non-weight bearing
hypertension
HTN
T
temperature
ADL
activities of daily living
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid
HOB
head of bed
DVT
deep vein thrombosis
cancer
CA
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
SARS
fresh frozen plasma
FFP
UTI
urinary tract infection
lytes
electrolytes
right upper extremity
RUE
WBAT
weight bearing as tolerated
NaCl
sodium chloride
electrocardiogram; electrokardiogram in Britain
ECG; EKG
R ; RT; Rt
right
N/V
nausea and vomiting
temperature
T
non-rebreather mask (for oxygen delivery)
NRBM
Hx; hx
history
KUB; K.U.B.
(x-ray of) kidneys; ureter; bladder
MODS
multiple organ dysfunction syndrome
left upper extremity
LUE; L.U.E.
BLS
basic life support
subarachnoid hemorrhage
SAH
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CPR
bilateral lower extremities
BLE
iron
Fe
c¯
with
Kg
kilograms
CPAP
continuous positive airway pressure
deep vein thrombosis
DVT
SCD
sequential compression devices
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
NSAID
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (of 1996)
qs
fvery shift
BLE
bilateral lower extremities
rule out
R/O
BhCG
Beta hCG- serum pregnancy test
LLE; L.L.E.
left lower extremity
gtt(s)
drop/drops (guttae)
urinary tract infection
UTI
CABG
coronary artery bypass graft(s)
NRBM
non-rebreather mask (for oxygen delivery)
LUE; L.U.E.
left upper extremity
SOB
shortness of breath
arterial blood gas
ABG
temperature; pulse; and respiration
TPR
basic life support
BLS
Pt.; pt.
patient
complains of
c/o; C/O
p.o.
by mouth (per os)
Unit; International Unit (on Do Not Use list) - write out unit
U; IU
chief complaint
CC or C.C.
catheter; catheterize
cath
ethanol; alcohol
ETOH; EtOH
Emergency Room; Emergency Department
ER; ED
ASAP
as soon as possible
NKDA
no known drug allergies
I & D
incision and drainage
cubic centimeter; same as mL (Do Not Use cc - use mL instead)
cc
U; IU
Unit; International Unit (on Do Not Use list) - write out unit
dsg; drsg
dressing
P.T.
physical therapy
AP
anteroposterior - (AP chest X-ray)
dressing
dsg; drsg
left
L ; Lt; lt
OTC
over the counter
SAH
subarachnoid hemorrhage
CBC
complete blood count
both eyes
O.U.
midnight
MN
b.i.d.; bid; BID
twice a day (bis in die)
intake and output
I & O
GERD
gastroesophageal reflux disease
labor and delivery
L&D
bowel sounds; blood sugar; breath sounds
BS; bs
beats per minute
bpm
perineal care (“possible” care)
peri care
Beta hCG- serum pregnancy test
BhCG
no known allergies
NKA
CMP
comprehensive metabolic panel
T & C
type and crossmatch
against medical advice
AMA
urinalysis
UA
