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