Section 1: Nursing Abbreviations Flashcards
ABC
airway, breathing, circulation
abd.
abdomen
ABG
arterial blood gas
ABO
system of classifying blood groups
ac
before meals
ACE
angiotensin-converting enzyme
ACS
acute compartment syndrome
ACTH
adrenocorticotrophic hormone
ADL
activities of daily living
ADH
antidiuretic hormone
ad lib
freely, as desired
AFP
alpha-fetoprotein
AIDS
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
AKA
above-knee amputation
ALL
acute lymphocytic leukemia
ALP
alkaline phosphatase (formerly SGPT)
ALS
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
ALT
alanine aminotransferase
AMI
antibody-mediated immunity
AML
acute myelogenous leukemia
amt.
amount
ANA
antinuclear antibody
ANS
autonomic nervous system
AP
anteroposterior
A and P
anterior and posterior
APC
atrial premature contraction
aq.
water
ARDS
adult respiratory distress syndrome
ASD
atrial septal defect
ASHD
atherosclerotic heart disease
AST
aspartate aminotransferase (formerly SGOT)
ATP
adenosine triphosphate
AV
atrioventricular
BCG
Bacille Calmette-Guerin
bid
two times a day
BMR
basal metabolic rate
BKA
below-knee amputation
BLS
basic life support
BP
blood pressure
BPH
benign prostatic hyperplasia
bpm
beats per minute
BPR
bathroom privileges
BSA
body surface area
BUN
blood, urea, nitrogen
C and S
culture and sensitivity
C
centigrade, Celsius
c̅
with
C̅a
calcium
CA
cancer
cal
calorie(s)
CABG
coronary artery bypass graft
CAD
coronary artery disease
caps
capsules
CAPD
continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
CBC
complete blood count
CBI
continuous bladder irrigation
CC
chief complaint
CCU
coronary care unit, critical care unit
CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CHF
congestive heart failure
CK
creatine kinase
Cl
chloride
CLL
chronic lymphocytic leukemia
cm
centimeter
CMV
cytomegalovirus infection
CNS
central nervous system
CO
carbon monoxide, cardiac output
CO2
carbon dioxide
comp
compound
cont
continuous
COPD
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CP
cerebral palsy
CPAP
continuous positive airway pressure
CPK
creatine phosphokinase
CPR
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CRP
C-reactive protein
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid
CT
computerized tomography
CTD
connective tissue disease
CTS
carpal tunnel syndrome
cu
cubic
CVA
costovertebral angle
CVC
central venous catheter
CVP
central venous pressure
D and C
dilation and curettage (dilation of cervix)
DIC
disseminated intravascular coagulation
dil.
dilute
DIFF
differential blood count
DJD
degenerative joint disease
DKA
diabetic ketoacidosis
dL
deciliter (100 mL)
DM
diabetes mellitus
DNA
deoxyribonucleic acid
DNR
do not resuscitate
DO
doctor of osteopathy
DOE
dyspnea on exertion
DTaP or Tdap
vaccine for diphtheria, pertussis(whooping cough), tetanus
D/W
dextrose in water
Dx
diagnosis
ECF
extracellular fluid
ECG or EKG
electrocardiogram
ECT
electroconvulsive therapy
ED
emergency department
EDD
estimated date of delivery
EEG
electroencephalogram
EMD
electromechanical dissociation
EMG
electromyography
ENT
ear, nose, and throat
ESR
erythrocyte sedimentation rate
ESRD
end-stage renal disease
ET
endotracheal tube
F
Fahrenheit
4× 4
piece of gauze 4′′ by 4′′ used for dressings
FBD
fibrocystic breast disease
FDA
Food and Drug Administration
FFP
fresh frozen plasma
FBS
fasting blood sugar
fl
fluid
FHR
fetal heart rate
FM
fetal movement
FSH
follicle-stimulating hormone
FUO
fever of undetermined origin
g, gm
gram
GB
gall bladder
GFR
glomerular filtration rate
GH
growth hormone
GI
gastrointestinal
gr
grain
GSC
Glasgow coma scale
gtts
drops
GU
genitourinary
GYN
gynecological
(H)
hypodermically
Hb or Hgb
hemoglobin
h or hr
hour(s)
hCG
human chorionic gonadotropin
HCO3
bicarbonate
Hct
hematocrit
HD
hemodialysis
HDL
high-density lipoproteins
Hg
mercury
Hgb
hemoglobin
HGH
human growth hormone
HHNC
hyperglycemia hyperosmolar nonketotic coma
HIV
human immunodeficiency virus
HLA
human leukocyte antigen
hPL
human placental lactogen
HR
heart rate
HSV
herpes simplex virus
HTN
hypertension
Hx
history
Hz
hertz (cycles/second)
I and O
intake and output
IAPB
intra-aortic balloon pump
IBS
irritable bowel syndrome
ICF
intracellular fluid
ICP
increased intracranial pressure
ICS
intercostal space
ICU
intensive care unit
ID
intradermal
IDDM
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
IgA
immunoglobulin A
IM
intramuscular
IOP
increased intraocular pressure
IPG
impedance plethysmogram
IPPB
intermittent positive-pressure breathing
IU
international unit
IUD
intrauterine device
IV
intravenous
IVC
intraventricular catheter
IVP
intravenous pyelogram
JRA
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
K+
potassium
KO, KVO
keep vein open
KS
Kaposi’s sarcoma
KUB
kidneys, ureters, bladder
lab
laboratory
LBBB
left bundle branch block
LDH
lactate dehydrogenase
LDL
low-density lipoproteins
LE
lupus erythematosus
LH
luteinizing hormone
liq
liquid
LLQ
left lower quadrant
LOC
level of consciousness
LP
lumbar puncture
LPN, LVN
licensed practical or vocational nurse
Lt
left
LTC
long-term care
LUQ
left upper quadrant
LV
left ventricle
m
meter, micron
MAO
monoamine oxidase inhibitors
mcg
microgram
MCH
mean corpuscular hemoglobin
MCV
mean corpuscular volume
MD
muscular dystrophy
MDI
metered dose inhaler
mEq
milliequivalent
Mg
magnesium
MG
myasthenia gravis
MI
myocardial infarction
MMR
vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella
mo
month(s)
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
MS
multiple sclerosis
MRSA
methicillin-resistant S. aureus
N
nitrogen, normal (strength of solution)
NIDDM
non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
NANDA
North American Nursing Diagnosis Association
NG
nasogastric
NGT
nasogastric tube
NLN
National League for Nursing
noc
at night
NPO
nothing by mouth
NS
normal saline
NSAIDS
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
NSNA
National Student Nurses’ Association
NST
non-stress test
OB-GYN
obstetrics and gynecology
OCT
oxytocin challenge test
OD
right eye
OOB
out of bed
OPC
outpatient clinic
o̅ s̅
by mouth
OS
left eye
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OT
occupational therapy
OTC
over the counter (drug that can be obtained without a prescription)
OU
both eyes
p̅
after
P
pulse, pressure, phosphorus
PA Chest
posterior-anterior chest x-ray
PAC
premature atrial complexes
PaCO2
partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood
PaO2
partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood
PAD
peripheral artery disease
Pap
Papanicolaou smear
PAT
paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
pc
after meals
PCA
patient-controlled analgesia
PCO2
partial pressure of carbon dioxide
PCP
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia or primary care physician
PD
peritoneal dialysis
PDA
patent ductus arteriosis
PE
pulmonary embolism
PEEP
positive end-expiratory pressure
PERRLA
pupils equal, round, react to light and accommodation
PET
postural emission tomography
PFT
pulmonary function tests
pH
hydrogen ion concentration
PICC
peripherally inserted central catheter
PID
pelvic inflammatory disease
PIH
pregnancy-induced hypertension
PKD
polycystic disease
PKU
phenylketonuria
PMI
point of maximal impulse
PMS
premenstrual syndrome
PN
parenteral nutrition
PND
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
PO
by mouth
PO2
partial pressure of oxygen
PPD
positive purified protein derivative (of tuberculin)
PPN
partial parenteral nutrition
PRN, prn
as needed, whenever necessary
pro time
prothrombin time
PSA
prostate-specific antigen
psi
pounds per square inch
PT
physical therapy, prothrombin time
PTCA
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
PTH
parathyroid hormone
PTT
partial thromboplastin time
PUDpeptic ulcer disease
peptic ulcer disease
PVC
premature ventricular contraction
p̅ c̅
after meals
PSP
phenol-sulfonphthalein
q
every
QA
quality assurance
q 2 hours
every two hours
q 4 hours
every four hours
qid
four times a day
qs
quantity sufficient
R
rectal temperature, respirations, roentgen
RA
rheumatoid arthritis
RAI
radioactive iodine
RAIU
radioactive iodine uptake
RAS
reticular activating system
RBBB
right bundle branch block
RBC
red blood cell or count
RCA
right coronary artery
RDA
recommended dietary allowance
resp
respirations
RF
rheumatic fever, rheumatoid factor
Rh
antigen on blood cell indicated by + or –
RIND
reversible ischemic neurologic deficit
RLQ
right lower quadrant
RNA
ribonucleic acid
R/O
rule out, to exclude
ROM
range of motion (of joint) or rupture of membranes
RUQ
right upper quadrant
Rx
prescription
s̅
without
S. or Sig.
(Signa) to write on label
SA
sinoatrial node
SaO2
systemic arterial oxygen saturation (%)
sat sol
saturated solution
SBE
subacute bacterial endocarditis
SDA
same-day admission
SDS
same-day surgery
sed rate
sedimentation rate
SI
International System of Units
SIADH
syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
SIDS
sudden infant death syndrome
SL
sublingual
SLE
systemic lupus erythematosus
SOB
short of breath
sol
solution
SMBG
self-monitoring blood glucose
SMR
submucous resection
spec.
specimen
sp gr
specific gravity
SS
soap suds
SSKI
saturated solution of potassium iodide
stat
immediately
STI
sexually transmitted infection
Syr.
syrup
T
temperature, thoracic (to be followed by the number designating specific thoracic vertebra)
T and A
tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
tabs
tablets
TB
tuberculosis
T and C
type and cross-match
TED
antiembolitic stockings
temp
temperature
TENS
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
TIA
transient ischemic attack
TIBC
total iron-binding capacity
tid
three times a day
tinct
tincture
TMJ
temporomandibular joint
t-PA
tissue plasminogen activator
TPR
temperature, pulse, respiration
TQM
total quality management
TSE
testicular self-examination
TSH
thyroid-stimulating hormone
TSS
toxic shock syndrome
TURP
transuretheral prostatectomy
UA
urinalysis
ung
ointment
URI
upper respiratory tract infection
UTI
urinary tract infection
VAD
venous access device
VDRL
Veneral Disease Research Laboratory (test for syphilis)
VF, Vfib
ventricular fibrillation
VPC
ventricular premature complexes
VS
vital signs
VSD
ventricular septal defect
VTE
venous thromboembolism
WBC
white blood cell or count
WHO
World Health Organization
wk
week(s)
wt
weight
y
years(s)