Common Nursing Abbreviations Flashcards
a (with line on top of a).
Before
AAO
Awake, alert, and oriented
Abd
Abdomen
ac
Before meals
ADL
Activities of daily living
ad lib
As much as needed: as desired
AKA
Above knee amputation
AMA
Against medical advice
AMB
ambulate
bid
Two times per day
BKA
Below knee amputation
BM
Bowel movement
BP
Blood pressure
BRP
Bathroom privileges
BSD
Bedside drainage
c (with a short line on top)
With
BR
Bed rest
cap
capsule
c/o
complains of
CBR
Complete bed rest
CPR
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CR
Controlled release
DNR
Do not resuscitate
Dsg
Dressing
Dx
Diagnosis
ECG/EKG
Electrocardiogram
EX
Extended release
FBS
Fasting Blood Sugar
Fr
French
Fx
Fracture
GI
Gastrointestinal
GU
Genitourinary
gtt
Drop
h or hr
Hours
H/A
headache
HOB
Head of Bed
hx
History
I & O
Intake and Output
ID
Intradermal
IM
Intramuscular
IV
Intravenous
IVPB
Intravenous piggyback
kg
kilogram
IVP
Intravenous push medicine
KVO
Keep vein open
L
Left
LA
Long acting
lb
Pound
LLE
Left Lower extremity
LLQ
Left Lower quadrant
LUE
Left upper extremity
MAR
Medication administration record
mcg
Microgram
N/A
not applicable
N/V
nausea and vomiting
NAD
no apparent distress
NC
Nasal cannula
NG
Nasogastric
NKA
No known allergies
NPO
Nothing By Mouth
OOB
Out of Bed
p (short line over the top of the p)
After
pc
after meals
PO
By mouth
PRN
As needed, whenever necessary
Pt or pt
Patient
Q
Every
q1 hr or qh
Every hour
QID
4 times a day
R
Right
RLE
Right lower extremity
RLQ
Right lower quadrant
RUE
Right upper extremity
RUQ
right upper quandrant
ROM
Range of Motion
s (with short line on top)
Without
subcut
Subcutaneous
SL
Sublingual
SOB
Shortness of breath
SR
Sustained release
Stat
At once, immediately
Sx
symptoms
TID
3 times per day
TPR
Temperature, pulse, respiration
UA
Urinalysis
Tx
treatment
UO
Urinary output
VS
Vital signs
WNL or WDL
Within normal limits or within defined limits
XL
Long acting
XR
Extended release
Supp
Suppository
EC
Enteric coated
b.i.w
Twice a week
Syr
Syrup
May be repeated once if necessary
s.o.s or sos
Ointment
ung or oint
By rectum
p.r. or pr