Nursing Abbreviations Quiz 1

a

before

A&P

Anterior & Posterior

aa

of each

abd

Abdomen

ABGs

Arterial blood gases

ac

before meals

ADA

American Diabetes Association
OR
American Dietetic Association

ad lib

as desired
OR
as freely as desired

ADH

antidiuretic hormone

ADL

activities of daily living

AF

arterial fibrillation

AFB

acid-fast bacillus

Ag

Silver
OR Antigen

AHA

American Hospital Association
OR
American Heart Association

AHCD

advanced health care directive

AIDS

acquired immune deficiency syndrome

AKA

above the knee amputation

ALL

acute lymphocytic leukemia
OR
acute lymphoblastic leukemia

ALOC

altered level of consciousness

ALS

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

a.m.a.

against medical advice

A.M.A.

American Medical Association

AMB or amb

ambulatory

AMI

acute myocardial infarction
OR
anterior myocardial infarction

amp

ampule

ANA

antinuclear antibody test
OR
American Nurses Association

AP

apical pulse
OR
anterior and posterior

ARDS

acute respiratory distress syndrome
OR
adult respiratory distress syndrome

AS

aortic stenosis

ASA

aspirin
OR
acetyl salicylic acid

ASD

atrial septal defect

ASHD

arteriosclerotic heart disease

AST

aspartate aminotransferase

AV

atrio-ventricular
OR
aterio-venous

AX

axillary

Ba

barium

BE

barium enema

bid

two times a day

BKA

below the knee amputation

BM

bowel movement

BMR

basal metabolic rate

BP

blood pressure

BPH

benign prostatic hypertrophy

BR

bedrest

BRP

bathroom privileges

BSA

body surface area

BSC

bedside commode

BSE

breast self-examination

BSI

body substance isolation

BSO

bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

BUN

blood urea nitrogen

bx

biopsy

c

with

C

Centigrade

C&S

culture & sensitivity

Ca++

calcium

CA

cancer
OR
carcinoma

CABG

coronary artery bypass graft

CAD

coronary artery disease

cap

capsule

CAPD

continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

CAT

computed axial tomography

cath

catheter
OR
catheterize

CBC

complete blood count

CBI

continuous bladder irrigation

CBR

complete bedrest

cc

cubic centimeter

CCU

Coronary Care Unit
OR
Critical Care Unit

CC

chief complaint

CDC

Centers for Disease Control

CDE

Certified Diabetes Educator

CEA

carcinoembryonic antigen

cg

centigram

CHF

congestive heart failure

CHO

carbohydrate

CKD

chronic kidney disease

Cl-

chloride
OR
chlorine

cm

centimeter

CMS

circulation, movement, sensation
OR
color, movement, sensation

CN

cranial nerve

CNS

central nervous system

c/o

complains of
OR
complaints of

CO

cardiac output
OR
carbon monoxide

CO2

carbon dioxide

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPK

creatinine phosphokinase

CPM

continuous passive motion

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation