abd.
Abdomen
ABR
Absolute bedrest
ac
Before Meals
ad lib
As desired
adm.
Admission
ADL
Activities of Daily Living
AFB
Acid-fast bacillus (TB)
AIDS
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
AKA
Above-knee amputation
AL
Assisted Living
am, AM
Morning
amb
Ambulatory
amt
Amount
ap
Apical
approx.
Approximately
AROM
Active Range of Motion
ASAP
as soon as possible
as tol
As tolerated
ax
Axillary (Armpit)
BID, b.i.d.
Two Times a Day
BKA
Below-knee amputation
bld
blood
BM
Bowel Movement
BP. B/P
Blood Pressure
BR
Bedrest
BRP
Bathroom Privileges
BS
Blood Sugar
BSC
Bedside Commode
c (with line on top)
with
C
Centigrade
CA
cath
CBC
Complete Blood Count
CBR
Complete Bed Rest
cc
Cubic Centimeter
CCU
Coronary Care Unit
CDC
Centers for Disease Control
CHF
Congestive Heart Failure
cl liq
Clear Liquid
CMS
Circulation, Motion, Sensation
CNA
Certified Nursing Assistant
CNS
Central Nervous System
c/o
Complains of, in care of
COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder
CPR
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
CVA
Cerebrovascular Accident, stroke
DAT
Diet as tolerated
DM
Diabetes Mellitus
DNR
Do not resuscitate
DOA
Dead on arrival
DOB
Date of birth
DON
Director of Nursing
Dr.
Doctor
drsg
Dressing
DVT
Deep Vein Thrombosis
dx
Diagnosis
ECG, EKG
Electrocardiogram
EEG
Electroencephalogram
ER
Emergency Room
ETOH
Alcohol
exam
examination
F
fahrenheit
FBS
Fasting Blood Sugar
FF
Force Fluids
fl, fld
Fluid
FSBS
Fingerstick Blood Sugar
ft
Foot
FWB
Full weight-bearing
FYI
For you information
F/U, f/u
Follow-up
fx
Fracture
gal
Gallon
geri chair
Geriatric Chair
GI
Gastrointestinal
h, hr
Hour
H2O
Water
H/A
Headache
HBV
Hepatitis B Virus
HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HOB
Head of Bed
HOH
hard of hearing
ht
Height
HTN
hypertension (high blood pressure)
hyper
above normal, too fast, rapid
hypo
low, less than normal
I&O
Intake and Output
ICU
Intensive Care Unit
inc
Incontinent
irr., irrig
Irrigation
isol
Isolation
IV
Intravenous
kg
Kilogram
l
liter
L, lt.
Left
lab
Laboratory
lb
Pound
LLE
Lower Left Extremity
lg
Large
liq
Liquid
LLQ
Left Lower Quadrant
LOC
Level Of Consciousness
LPN
Licensed Practical Nurse
LTC
Long-Term Care
LUQ
Left Upper Quadrant
LVN
Licensed Vocational Nurse
M.D.
Medical Doctor
meds
Medications
MI
Myocardial Infarction
min
Minute
ml
Milliliter
mmHg
millimeters of mercury
mod
Moderate
MRSA
methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus
N/A
Not applicable
NA
Nursing Assistant
N/C
No call
neg
Negative
NF
Nursing Facility
NKA
no known allergies
NPO
nothing by mouth (nil per os)
NWB
non-weight-bearing
O2
Oxygen
OBRA
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
occ
Occasonally
OOB
Out of Bed
OPD
Outpatient Department
OR
Operating Room
os
Mouth
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OT
occupational therapy
oz
Ounce
p
after
pc, p.c.
After meals
PCA
patient-controlled anesthesia
PEG
Percuteneous Enteral Gastrostomy
per os
By Mouth
peri care
Perineal Care
pm, PM
Afternoon
PNS
peripheral nervous system
p.o.
by mouth
post op
After surgery
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment
pos.
Positive
pre op
Before Surgery
prep
Preparation
p.r.n., prn
when necessary
PROM
passive range of motion
Pt.
Patient
PT
Physical Therapy
PVD
Peripheral Vascular Disease
PWB
partial weight bearing
q (with line on top)
Every
qh, qhr
Every hour
qhs
Every night at bedtime
q2h, q3h, q4h
Every two hours, every three hours, every four hours
q.i.d., qid
Four times a day
Q.S.
Every shift, once a shift
quad
Four, quadriplegic
R
Respirations, right
R/A
rheumatoid arthritis
RBC
Red Blood Cell Count
reg.
Regular
rehab
Rehabilitation
req.
Requisition
res.
Resident
resp.
Respiration
R.I.C.E.
rest, ice, compression, elevation
RLE
Right Lower Extremity
RLQ
Right Lower Quadrant
RN
Registered Nurse
R/O
rule out
ROM
range of motion
RR
Respiratory Rate
rt.
Right
RUE
Right Upper Extremity
RUQ
Right upper quadrant
s (with line on top)
without
ss
one-half
sm.
small
SNAFU
situation normal, all fouled up (slang)
SNF
Skilled Nursing Facility
spec.
specimen
SOB
Shortness of Breath
S&S, S/S
Signs and symptoms
SSE
Soapsuds enema
staph
Staphylococcus
stat
Immediately
STD
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
std. prec.
Standard precautions
Strep
Strepococcus
T.
Temperature
TB
Tuberculosis
T, C, DB
Turn, cough and deep breathe
temp
temperature
TIA
Transient ischemic attack
t.i.d., tid
Three times a day
TLC
Tender loving care
TPN
total parenteral nutrition
TPR
Temperature, pulse and respirations
TWE
Tap water enema
Tx
Traction, treatment
U/A, u/a
Urinalysis
UGI
Upper Gastrointestinal
unk
Unknown
URI
Upper Respiratory Infection
UTI
Urinary Tract Infection
vag.
Vaginal
VRE
Vacomycin resistant enterococcus
vs, VS
Vital signs
WBC
White blood cell/count
w/c
Wheelchair
WNL
Within normal limits
wt.
Weight