MEDICAL ABBREVIATIONS:

• A & P             anatomy and physiology

• ad lib             freely, at will

• ac                    before meals

• adm               admission

• AED                automated external defibrillator

• amb               ambulate

 

 

• ASAP             as soon as possible

• ax                   axillary

• bid                  twice a day

• BM                 bowel movement

• BMI                body mass index

• BMR              basal metabolic rate

 

 

• BP                   blood pressure

• BRP                                bathroom privileges

• c                      with

• CBC                                complete blood count

• CC                   chief complaint

• CHO               carbohydrate

 

 

• cl liq               clear liquids

• c/o                 complains of

• CPR                                cardiopulmonary resuscitation

• CT                   computerized tomography

• D/C                discontinue

• DNR               do not resuscitate

 

• Dx                   diagnosis

• EEG                                electroencephalogram

• EKG, ECG     electrocardiogram

• FBAO             foreign body airway obstruction

• FBS                 fasting blood sugar

• FF                   force fluids

 

• GB                  gallbladder

• Hgb                                hemoglobin

• Hct                 hematocrit

• HOB               head of bed

• hs                   hour of sleep, bedtime

• ht                    height

• hx                   history

• IM                  intramuscular

• IV                    intravenous

• LOC                                level of consciousness

• LPN, LVN     licensed practical (vocational)                                     nurse

• LTC                 long term care

 

 

• L                      left

• MRI                magnetic resonance imaging

• N/A                                not applicable

• neg                negative

• NG                 nasogastric

• noct               night

 

 

• NKA               no known allergies

• NPO               nothing by mouth

• O2                   oxygen

• OOB               out of bed

• OR                  operating room

• OTC                over the counter

 

 

• p                     after

• pc                   after meals

• po                   by mouth

• PPE                personal protective equipment

• prn                 as necessary

• pt                    patient

 

 

• q2h                every 2 hours

• qhs                 every night at bedtime

• qs                   quantity sufficient

• qid                  four times a day

• R                     respiration

• R                     right

 

 

• RBC                                red blood cell

• RN                  registered nurse

• R/O                                rule out

• ROM              range of motion

• Rx                   prescription, take, treatment

• s                      without

• ss                    one half

• STAT              immediately

• STD                sexually transmitted disease

• T                      temperature

• tab                 tablet

• tid                   three times a day

 

 

• TPR                temperature, pulse, respiration

• UA                  urinalysis

• VS                   vital signs

• WBC              white blood cells

• w/c                wheelchair

• wt                   weight

• WNL              within normal limits