Medical Abbreviations Flashcards
A.A.R.O.M.
Active assistive range of motion
A.B.G.
Arterial blood gas
a.c.
before meals
A/C
Assist Control
add
Adduction
ADA Diet
American Diabetes Association Diet
A.D.L.
activities of daily living
A.Fib.
arterial fibrillation
AKA
Above Knee Amputation or above the knee amputation
ALS
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
AMA
against medical advice
A&O
alert and oriented
A/P
anterior-posterior
A.R.O.M.
active range of motion
ASAP
as soon as possible
b.i.d.
twice a day
BKA
Below Knee Amputation
B.L.BS
bilateral breath sounds
bm
bowel movement
BM
bone marrow
BMR
basal metabolism rate
BP
blood pressure
BR
bed rest
bs
bowel sounds
BS
breath Sounds
B/S
bedside
bx
biopsy
C (c with bar above it)
with
C
Celsius, centigrade
C1, C2, etc.
first cervical vertebrae, second etc.
CA
cardiac arrest
CA, ca
carcinoma
CABG
coronary artery bypass graft
CAD
coronary artery disease
cal
calorie
cath
catheter
CBC
complete blood count
cc
cubic centimeter
CC
chief complaint
CHF
congestive heart failure, chronic heart failure
CCU
coronary care unit
CHI
closed head injury
cm
centimeter
CMT
continuing medication and treatment
CN
cranial nerve
CNA
certified nursing assistant
CNS
central nervous system
c/o
complains of
COTA
certified occupational therapy assistant
cont
continue(d)
COPD
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPAP
continuous positive airway pressure
CPR
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CRF
chronic renal failure
CRNP
certified registered nurse practitioner
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid
CT
computerized tomography
CV
cardiovascular
CVA
cerebral vascular accident
CXR
chest X-ray
d
day
d/c
discontinue
DC
discharge
DNK
do not know
DNKA
did not keep appointment
DNR
do not resuscitate
DNT
did not test
DOA
dead on arrival
DOB
date of birth
DOE
dyspnea on exertion
d/t
due to
Dx
diagnosis
ECC, EKG
electrocardiogram
ED
emergency department
EEG
electroencephalogram
EENT
eye, ear nose, throat
EMG
electromyogram
ENT
ear, nose, throat
ER
emergency room
ETOH
ethanol (alcohol)
exam
examination
ext
external, exterior
F
Fahrenheit
FH
family history
fib
fibrillation
fl, fld
fluid
FOB
foot of bed
f/u
follow-up
FWB
full weight bearing
Fx
fracture
GB
gall bladder
GCS
Glasgow Coma Scale
GE
Gastroenterology
GERD
gastroesophageal reflux disease
G/E
gastroenteritis
gen
general
gest.
gestation
G.I.
gastrointestinal
GNA
geriatric nursing assistant
gluc
glucose
GP
general practitioner, general paralysis
GSW
gun shot wound
GTT
glucose tolerance test
Gt. tr.
gait training
GYN
gynecology
h
hour
H/A
headache
HAV
Hepatitis A Virus
Hb.
hemoglobin
HB
heart block
HBP
high blood pressure
h.d.
at bedtime
HEENT
head, eyes, ear, nose, throat
H20
water
h/o
history of
HOB
head of bed
H & P
history and physical
HR
heart rate
HTN
hypertension
HVD
hypertensive vascular disease
Hx
history
Hz
Hertz (cycles/second)
ICCU
intensive coronary care unit
ICP
intracranial pressure
ICU
intensive care unit
imp.
impression
incr.
increased(ing)
inf
infusion, inferior
inspire
inspiration, inspiratory
I&O
intake and output
IPPB
intermittent positive pressure breathing
irreg.
irregular
IV
intravenous(ly)
int.
internal
J
joint
jt.
joint
K
potassium, kidney
L
left, liver, liter, lower, light, lumbar
L2, L3
second, third lumbar vertebrae
lab
laboratory
lac.
laceration
lat.
lateral
LBW
low birth rate
L.E.
lower extremities
liq.
liquid
L.O.C.
loss of consciousness,
level of consciousness,
laxative of choice
LOS
length of stay
LP
lumbar puncture
LPN
licensed practical nurse
LUE
left upper extremity
Lx
larynx
L&W
living and well
m ,M
married, male, mother, murmur, meter, mass,
molar
max.
maximum, maxillary
MBC
maximum breathing capacity
MBSS
modified barium swallow study
MCA
middle cerebral artery
MD
muscular dystrophy
mdnt.
midnight
med.
medicine
mets.
metastasis
MG
myasthenia gravis
MI
myocardial infarction
min
minute
MICU
medical intensive care unit
mod
moderate
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
MRSA
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
mss
massage
MVA
motor vehicle accident
n.
nerve
Na
sodium
NaCl
sodium chloride
NAD
no abnormality detected
NAD
no apparent distress
neg.
negative
neur.
neurology
NG
nasogastric
NIC
neonatal intensive care
NICU
neonatal intensive care unit
NKA
no known allergies
no.
number
NOS
not otherwise specified
NPO
nothing by mouth
NSA
no specific abnormality
NST
non-stress test
N&V
nausea and vomiting
NVD
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
N&W
normal and well
NWB
non-weight bearing
NYD
not yet diagnosed
o
none, without
O
oral
O2
oxygen
O2 cap.
oxygen capacity
O2 sat.
oxygen saturation
OA
osteoarthritis
OB, OBG
Obstetrics
OB/GYN
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Obs
observation
OBS
organic brain syndrome
O/E
on examination
OH
occupational history
OHD
organic heart disease
oint.
ointment
O.M.
otitis media
O.M.E.
otitis media with effusion
OOB, oob
out of bed
Op.
operation
ot.
ear
Oto
Otolaryngology
OTC
over-the-counter (pharmaceuticals)
O.T.
occupational therapy, old tuberculin
OR
operating room
PA
physician’s assistant
p & a
percussion and auscultation
PACU
post anesthesia care unit
PAF
paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
palp.
palpate, palpated, palpable
Path
Pathology
PA
view posterior-anterior view on x-ray
p/c., p.c.
after meals
pdr.
powder
PDN
private duty nurse
PE
physical exam, pulmonary embolism
Ped.
Pediatrics
PEEP
positive end expiratory pressure
PEG
percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
PET
positron emission tomography
PH
past history
pharm
pharmacy
PHYS.
physical, physiology
PI
present illness, pulmonary insufficiency
PICU
pulmonary intensive care unit
PID
pelvic inflammatory disease
plts.
platelets
P.M.
afternoon, post-mortem
PMH
past medical history
PMN
physical medicine and rehabilitation
PN
poorly nourished, practical nurse
P&N
Psychiatry and Neurology
pneu.
pneumo, pneumonia
PNI
peripheral nerve injury
PNX
pneuomothorax
p.o.
by mouth
p.o.d.
postoperative day
pos.
positive
post.
posterior
POSTOP.
postoperative
pot. or potass.
potassium
PR
proctology
pre-op
preoperative
prep.
prepare for
p.r.m.
according to circumstances
p.r.n., PRN
as often as necessary, as needed
prod.
productive
Prog.
prognosis
PROM
passive range of motion
pron.
pronator, pronation
prosth.
prosthesis
PSH
past surgical history
Psych.
Psychiatry
pt., Pt.
patient
PT
physical therapy
P.T.
physical therapy, posterior tibial artery pulse
PTA
prior to admission
PUD
peptic ulcer disease
PVD
peripheral vascular disease
PVT
previous trouble
PWB%
partial weight bearing with percent
Px, PX
physical examination
q
every
q.h.
every hour
q.i.d.
four times a day
qt.
quart
quad.
quadriplegic
R, r
right
R.
rub, rectal temperature
RA
rheumatoid arthritis, right atrium
rad.
radial
r.a.m.
rapid alternating movements
R.A.S.
right arm sitting
RAtx
radiation therapy
rbc/RBC
red blood cell, red blood count
RCA
right coronary artery
RCU
respiratory care unit
RD
respiratory distress
RDS
respiratory distress syndrome
RE
reconditioning exercise
reg.
regular
rehab.
rehabilitation
resp.
respiratory, respirations
RF
rheumatic fever
RLA
Rancho Los Amigo Scale
R to L&A
react to light and accommodation
RLE
right lower extremity
RN
registered nurse
RO, R/O
rule out
ROM
range of motion, rupture of membranes, right otitis media
ROS
review of symptoms
Rt.
right
RT
radiation therapy, respiratory therapy
RUE
right upper extremity
RV
residual volume
Rx
therapy, prescription
s
without
S
sensation, sensitive, serum
Sa.
saline
s.c.
subcutaneous(ly)
SCD
sudden cardiac death
SCI
spinal cord injury
schiz
schizophrenia
SCU
special care unit
sec
second
Sens.
sensory, sensation
sep.
separated
SGA
small for gestational age
s.gl.
without correction (without glasses)
SH
social history
SI
stroke index
sib.
sibling
SICU
surgical intensive care unit
SIDS
sudden infant death syndrome
skel.
skeletal
Sl.
slightly
SL
under the tongue
SLP
speech-language pathology
sm
small
S.O.A.P.
subjective, objective, assessment plan
SOB
shortness of breath
S/P, s/p
status post (previous condition)
sp. cd.
spinal cord
spec.
specimen
sp. fl.
spinal fluid
sp&H
speech and hearing
spin.
spine, spinal
spont.
spontaneous
s/s
signs and symptoms
SS
social service
ST
speech therapy
stat., STAT
immediately
STD
sexually transmitted disease
subcut.
subcutaneous
subling.
sublingual
sup.
superior
supin.
supination
surg.
surgery, surgical
Sx
symptoms
sys.
system
Syst.
systolic
T
temperature
T&A
tonsils and adenoids, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
tab.
tablet
TAH
total abdominal hysterectomy
TB
tuberculosis
TBI
traumatic brain injury
tbsp.
tablespoon
temp
temperature
THERAP.
therapy, therapeutic
THR
total hip replacement
TIA
transient ischemic attack
TKR
total knee replacement
TNM
tumor, nodes, and metastases
TO
telephone order
TPN
total parenteral nutrition
TPR
temperature, pulse, respiration
tr
trace
trach
tracheostomy
tsp.
teaspoon
Tx
treatment, traction
U/A
urinalysis
UCD
usual childhood diseases
UCHD
usual childhood diseases
UG
upward gaze
Unilat.
unilateral
u/o
under observation
Ur.
urine
URD
upper respiratory disease
URI
upper respiratory infection
Urol.
urology
u/s, US
ultrasound
UTI
urinary tract infection
V
vein
VA
visual acuity
vag
vagina, vaginal
VC, (vit.cap)
vital capacity
VD
venereal disease
vent.
ventilator
vert.
vertical
VF
visual fields, ventricular fibrillation
Via
by way of
vit.
vitamin
VN
visiting nurse
VO
verbal order
VS, V.S.
vital signs
W
white
w, wk
week
W/C, wh.ch.
wheelchair
WBT
weight bearing tolerance
WF
white female
WFL
within functional limits
WM
white male
w/n
within
WNL
within normal limits
WP
whirpool
wt.
weight
w/u
workup
x
times
y.o.
years old
yrs.
years
