Medical Abbreviations

@

at

ac

before meals

ADL

activities of daily living

ad lib

as desired

AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

am

morning

amb

ambulate

amt

amount

ASA

aspirin

ASAP

as soon as possible

av

atrioventricular

ax

axillary

bid

twice a day

BM

bowel movement

BP

blood pressure

BS

blood sugar

BS

bowel sounds

BS

breath sounds

Bx

biopsy

C

Celsius

CA

cancer

CBC

complete blood count

cc

cubic centimeter

cm

centimeter

CNS

central nervous system

c/o

complains of

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CSF

cerebrospinal fluid

CT

computer axial tomography

CVA

cerebrovascular accident

CXR

chest x-ray film

dc

discontinue

DNR

do not resuscitate

DOA

dead on arrival

DOB

date of birth

dr

dram

DRG

diagnosis-related group

DVT

deep vein thrombosis

Dx

diagnosis

ECG

electrocardiogram

EKG

electrocardiogram

ENT

ear

ENT

nose

ENT

throat

ER

emergency room

ETA

estimated time of arrival

F

fahrenheit

FBS

fasting blood sugar

FUO

fever or undertermined

Fx

fracture

g

gram

gm

gram

GI

gastrointestinal

gr

grain

gtt

drops

GTT

glucose tolerance test

GU

geniutourinary

Gyn

gynecology

gyn

gynecology

h

hour

HA

headache

HBV

hepatitis B virus

Hct.

hematocrit

Hg

mercury

hgb

hemoglobin

H2O

water

H2O2

hydrogen peroxide

HIB

haemophilus influenzae type B

HIV

human immunodeficiency virus

H&P

history and physical

HR

hear rate

hs

hour of sleep

ht

height

Hx

history

HxPx

history and physical examination

ICU

intensive care unit

I&D

incision and drainage

IM

intramuscular

I&O

intake and output

IV

invtravenous

K

potassium

K+

potassium

kg

kilogram

kg.

kilogram

L

left

L

liter

lb.

pound

L&D

labor and delivery

LMP

last menstrual period

LOC

level of consciousness

mg

milligram

mgm

milligram

MI

myocardial infarction

ml

milliliter

mm

millimeter

Na

sodium

Na+

sodium

N/A

not applicable

NCR

no cardiac resuscitation

neg

negative

NK

no known allergies

NKDA

no known drug allergies

noct

night

NPO

nothing by mouth

NS

normal saline

N&V

nausea and vomiting

O2

oxygen

O.D.

overdose

O.D.

right eye

OD

overdose

OD

right eye

oint

ointment

OR

operating room

O.S.

left eye

OTC

over-the-counter

O.U.

both eyes

OV

office visit

oz

ounce

p

after

P

pulse

PDR

physician's desk reference

PE

pulmonary embolus

Peds

pediatrics

per

by

PK

pain killer

pm

night

PM

night

PMS

pre-menstrual syndrome

PO

orally

PRN

as needed

pt

patient

pt.

patient

q

every

qam

every morning

qd

every day

qday

every day

q#h

every (#) hours

qid

four times a day

R

rectal

R

respiratiosn

R

right

RBC

red blood cell

RBC

red blood count

reg

regular

RICE

rest, ice, compression, and elevation

r/o

rule out

R/O

rule out

Rx

persribe

s

without

SA

sino-atrial

SIDS

sudden infant death syndrome

sig

instructions

sig

directions

sm.

small

SO

standing order

SO

significant other

SOAP

subjective, objective, assessment, plan

SOB

shortness of breath

sq

subcutaneous

S&S

signs and symptoms

stat

immediately

STD

sexually transmitted disease

T

temperature

tab

tablet

tabs

tablets

TB

tuberculosis

tbsp.

tablespoon

TCDB

turn, cough, deep breath

temp

temperature

tid

three times a day

TPR

temperature, pulse, and respiration

tsp.

teaspoon

Tx

therapy

Tx

treatment

U

unit

UA

urinalysis

Unk

unknown

UNK

unknown

UTI

urinary tract infection

UV

ultra-violet

VS

vital signs

VSS

vital signs stable

w/a

when awake

WBC

white blood cell

WBC

white blood count

w/c

wheelchair

wk.

week

WNL

within normal limits

wt

weight

YOB

year of birth

yr.

year

>

greater than

<

less than

+

positive

-

negative

~

approximately

%

percent