Health Care Facility Abbreviations Ch.2

Question 1

CCU

Answer 1

coronary care unit

Question 2

ECU

Answer 2

emergency care unit

Question 3

ER

Answer 3

emergency room

Question 4

ED

Answer 4

emergency department

Question 5

ICU

Answer 5

intensive care unit

Question 6

PICU

Answer 6

pediatric intensive care unit

Question 7

NICU

Answer 7

neonatal intensive care unit

Question 8

SICU

Answer 8

surgical intensive care unit

Question 9

PACU

Answer 9

post-anesthesia care unit

Question 10

L&D

Answer 10

labor and delivery

Question 11

OR

Answer 11

operating room

Question 12

Post-op

Answer 12

after surgery

Question 13

Pre-op

Answer 13

before surgery

Question 14

VS

Answer 14

vital signs

Question 15

T

Answer 15

temperature

Question 16

BP

Answer 16

blood pressure

Question 17

HR

Answer 17

heart rate

Question 18

RR

Answer 18

respiratory rate

Question 19

Ht

Answer 19

height

Question 20

Wt

Answer 20

weight

Question 21

BMI

Answer 21

body mass index (measurement of body fat based on height and weight)

Question 22

I/O

Answer 22

intake/output: the amount of fluids a patient has taken in (by IV or mouth) and produced (usually just urine output)

Question 23

Dx

Answer 23

diagnosis

Question 24

DDx

Answer 24

differential diagnosis

Question 25

Tx

Answer 25

treatment

Question 26

Rx

Answer 26

prescription

Question 27

H&P

Answer 27

history and physical

Question 28

Hx

Answer 28

history

Question 29

CC

Answer 29

chief complaint (the main reason for the visit)

Question 30

HPI

Answer 30

history of present illness (the story of the symptoms)

Question 31

ROS

Answer 31

review of systems (anything else not directly related to the chief complaint)

Question 32

PMHx

Answer 32

past medical history

Question 33

FHx

Answer 33

family history

Question 34

NKDA

Answer 34

no known drug allergies

Question 35

PE

Answer 35

physical exam

Question 36

Pt

Answer 36

patient

Question 37

y/o

Answer 37

years old

Question 38

h/o

Answer 38

history of

Question 39

PCP

Answer 39

primary care provider

Question 40

f/u

Answer 40

follow up

Question 41

SOB

Answer 41

shortness of breath

Question 42

HEENT

Answer 42

head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat

Question 43

PERRLA

Answer 43

pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation

Question 44

NAD

Answer 44

no acute distress (the patient does not display any intense symptoms)

Question 45

CV

Answer 45

cardiovascular

Question 46

RRR

Answer 46

regular rate and rhythm (normal heart on exam)

Question 47

CTA

Answer 47

clear to auscultation (normal-sounding lungs)

Question 48

WDWM

Answer 48

well developed, well nourished

Question 49

A&O

Answer 49

alert and oriented

Question 50

WNL

Answer 50

within normal limits

Question 51

NOS

Answer 51

not otherwise specified

Question 52

NEC

Answer 52

not elsewhere classified

Question 53

PO

Answer 53

per os (by mouth)

Question 54

NPO

Answer 54

nil per os (nothing by mouth)

Question 55

PR

Answer 55

per rectum (anal)

Question 56

IM

Answer 56

intramuscular

Question 57

SC

Answer 57

subcutaneous (under the skin)

Question 58

IV

Answer 58

intravenous

Question 59

CVL

Answer 59

central venous line

Question 60

PICC

Answer 60

peripherally inserted central catheter

Question 61

Sig

Answer 61

instructions short for signa, latin for “label”

Question 62

BID

Answer 62

twice daily

Question 63

TID

Answer 63

three times daily

Question 64

Q

Answer 64

every x

ex: Q4hr would mean every 4 hours, or Q3days would be every three days

Question 65

QD

Answer 65

daily, each day

Question 66

QID

Answer 66

four times daily

Question 67

QHS

Answer 67

at night

Question 68

AC

Answer 68

before meals

Question 69

PC

Answer 69

after meals

Question 70

prn

Answer 70

as needed

Question 71

ad lib

Answer 71

as desired