A
Before
AC
Before meals
NPO
nothing by mouth
F CATH
Foley catheter
I&O
input and output
SOB
shortness of breath
ad lib
as desired
ADLs
activities of daily living
AED
automated external defibrillator
AAIR
Airborne infection isolation room
AKA
above-knee amputation, also known as
AMA
American Medical Association, against medical advice
AMB
ambulate
AP
apical pulse (under left breast)
AROM
active range of motion
AX
axillary
BID
two times a day
BKA
below knee amputation
BLS
basic life support
BPM
beats per minute
C
With
CCMS
Clean catch midstream specimen
CDC
Center for Disease Control
C. diff
Clostridium difficile
CHF
congestive heart failure
cl liq
clear liquids only
CK
check
CNA
certified nursing assistant
C/o
complains of
COPD
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Cp
cerebral palsy
CPR
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CVA
cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
DKA
diabetic ketoacidosis
DM
diabetes mellitus
DNR
do not resuscitate
DVT
deep vein thrombosis (embolism, traveling clot)
ESRD
end-stage renal disease
FF
force fluids
Fe
iron
FS
fingerstick
FSBS
finger stick blood sugar
FUO
fever of unknown origin
FWB
full weight bearing
h, hr
hour
HAV, HBV, HCV
hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus
HIPPA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
HOB
head of bed
HOH
hard of hearing
LLE
left lower extremity
LLQ
left lower quadrant
LUQ
left upper quadrant
MDRO
multiple drug resistant organism
MI
myocardial infarction
mmHg
millimeters of mercury
MRSA
methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus
MS
multiple sclerosis
NAS
no added salt
NCS
no concentrated sweets
NKA
no known allergies
NDKA
no known drug allergies
NPO
nothing by mouth
NVD
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
NWB
non weight bearing
OBRA
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
OD
right eye
ORIF
open reduction internal fixation
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OU
both eyes
OS
left eye
P
after
PC
after meals
PO
by mouth
PPD
purified protein derivative (TB test)
PPE
personal protective equipment
prn
when necessary
PROM
passive range of motion
PWB
partial weight bearing
Q
every
q2h
every 2 hours
QD
every day
QH
every hour
QHS
every night at bedtime
qod
every other day
quad
quadrant, quadriplegic (neck down paralyzed)
RLE
right lower extremity
RLQ
right lower quadrant
RNA
restorative nursing assistant
ROM
range of motion
rue
right upper extremity
RUQ
right upper quadrant
S/S
signs and symptoms
SCD
sequential compression device
SDS
Safety Data Sheet
SIDS
sudden infant death syndrome
SNF
skilled nursing facility
SOB
shortness of breath
std. prec.
standard precautions
Stat
immediately
T, C, DB
turn, cough, deep breathe (check prostate)
TIA
transient ischemic attack (small heart attack)
tid
three times a day
U/A
urinalysis
URI
upper respiratory infection
UTI
urinary tract infection
VRE
vancomycin resistant enterococcus
w/c
wheelchair