Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning

A&P anatomy and ACLS advanced cardiac life support AK above the knee
physiology
a– before ad lib as much as desired AKA above the knee amputation

a– a– of each (used ADL activity of daily living A-line arterial line

in writing
prescriptions)
abd abdomen AED automated external defibrillator AMA against medical advice
ABG arterial blood gas AF atrial fibrillation amb ambulatory
ac before meals AIDS acquired immunodeficiency AMI acute myocardial infarction
syndrome
Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning
lic acid) as soon as O2
altered CAB
CA
AMS mental possible G
status
arteriosclerotic or
ant atherosclerotic heart C COLD
anterior disease
AO  A
alert atrioventricular,
4 and D COPD CP
arteriovenous bundle
oriented
to branch block
AP
person, C CPR CRNA CRT
place,
time, twice daily B
and self CSF CSM
APC C
anteropo below the knee
sterior, amputation cc CVA
front-to-
Aq back,
ARDS action
potential, bowel movement
angina CC
ASA pectoris, or
ASAP anterior blood pressure C/C
pituitary,
ASHD arterial
blood sugar, breath
pressure C
sounds, bowel sounds,
AV, A-V atrial bachelor of science C
BBB prema (degree)
ture U
body surface
compl
ex,
bid activa C
area biopsy
ted H
BKA protei
with F
n C,
aspiri
n- degrees Celsius C
BM
phena l
(centigrade) calcium
cetin- —

caffei
BP ne c
cancer, cardiac m
water
arrest, chronologic
BS adult age, coronary c
respi artery, cold m
rator agglutinin CNS
BSA y c/o
distr
ess
bx
synd
rom C
e
c–
aspiri O
n
C
(acety
Ca
lsalicy C
corona ntimeter cubic esti
CVP central venous
ry mat
centimeter pressure
artery ed
bypass CXR date
graft central nervous system chest x-ray of
D&C D/C con
corona complaining of dilation and curettage fine
ry men
discontinue t
artery cardiac output, carbon diff
monoxide
diseas elect
carbon dioxide roen
e differential cep
dig DM
halo
compl gra
chronic obstructive lung DOA DOE
ete m
disease digoxin
DON
blood diabetes mellitus
chronic obstructive pulmonary
count disease DOS DPT
dead on arrival
chest pain, chemically pure,
cubic cerebral palsy dyspnea on
centim DSD
exertion director
eter
cardiopulmonary resuscitation of nursing
DtaP
certified registered nurse
anesthetist dead on scene
chief capillary refill time, DTP diphtheria,
compl cathode-ray tube pertussis, and
aint
cerebrospinal fluid tetanus toxoids
vaccine
carotid sinus massage, DTs DVT
cerebrospinal meningitis dry sterile dressing
coron
ary cerebrovascular
accident D5W diphtheria, tetanus
care toxoids, and
unit acellular pertussis
Dx ECG vaccine
conge
diphtheria, tetanus
stive ED EDC toxoids, and
heart pertussis vaccine

failure delirium tremens

EEG

c deep venous
thrombosis
h
l
o dextrose 5% in water

r
diagnosis
i
d electrocardiogram
e
emergency

c
department
e
 Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning
dache hemoglobin
h (H) h
eg for example gyn hematocrit
H o
gyne
EKG electrocardiogram colo u
H&H H&P mercury hemoglobin
gy
ENT ears, nose, and throat r
ER emergency room H/A Hb Hct hiatal hernia
h human immunodeficiency virus
ET endotracheal tube, Hg Hgb
y water
endotracheal
HH HIV p hydrogen peroxide
ETA estimated time of
arrival o history of present illness
ETOH ethyl alcohol d hour
ETT endotracheal tube H2O H2O2 HPI e at bedtime hypertension
r history
 F degrees Fahrenheit hr hs HTN m
Hx i hertz
FIO2 fraction of inspired
oxygen c intake and output
FBS fasting blood sugar Hz I&O
hypod
intracardiac, inspiratory
Fe iron ermic
IC capacity, irritable colon
h
intracranial pressure intensive
e
FHR fetal heart rate m care unit
ICP ICU IDDM o
FHT fetal heart tones insulin-dependent diabetes
g mellitus
FHx family history IM IO IPPB l
o intramuscular intraosseous
fL femtoliter b intermittent positive pressure
IUD
i breathing
fl fluid n
IV intrauterine (contraceptive)
fld fluid
a device
FSH follicle-stimulating n intravenous
hormone d
fx fracture
h
g gram e
m
GB gallbladder a
t
o
c
GI gastrointestinal r
gm gram i
t
gr grain
histor
y and
GSW gunshot wound physic
gtt drop(s) al
GTT glucose tolerance test
h
GU genitourinary e
a
JVD K+ ium chloride m microgram
j
kilogram o midclavicular line, modified
KCl kg u
chest lead
v
g
kidneys, ureters, and milliequivalent
KUB e
u bladder
s
l milligram (mgm is a former
KVO L LAC keep a symbol)
a
vein ll
lb LE r
open e
liter x
LLL LLQ v
laceration, tr
e
laparoscopic- e
n assisted
L/M LMP LOC
colectomy m
o
pound it
LPM LPN LR LSD u
lower extremity, left i
s
LUL LUQ eye, lupus e
erythematosus
s
d left lower lobe of the
LVN w
i lung
left lower e
s
quadrant of the ll
m MAE MAEW t abdomen
e
MAP m
n liters per minute
mcg MCL e
t last menstrual period
a
i level of
mEq n
consciousness, loss
o of consciousness
mg n liters per a
minute r
p licensed t
o practical e
t nurse lactated r
a Ringer’s i
s lysergic acid a
s diethylamide
l
i
left upper lobe of the
u lung p
m left upper quadrant r
p of the abdomen
e
o licensed vocational
nurse s
t s
a u
s meter
r
s moves all
e
extremities
Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning
NKA
NKDA NPA NPO NS no known drug allergies
no
MI myocardial infarction know
n NSR NTG nasopharyngeal airway
MICU mobile intensive care allergi
unit; medical intensive es
N/V N/V/D NVD nil per os (nothing by mouth)
care unit
normal saline normal sinus rhythm
min minute
O2
nitroglycerin
mL milliliter OB OBS OD
nausea and vomiting
mm millimeter

nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

mm Hg millimeters of mercury OP OPA OR
neck vein distention oxygen

MRI magnetic resonance

imaging OS OU obstetrics

MS morphine sulfate, multiple oz organic brain syndrome

sclerosis overdose, right eye, optical density, outside
MSO4 morphine sulfate diameter, doctor of optometry
p– pc outpatient oropharyngeal airway operating
MVA motor vehicle accident room

MVC motor vehicle crash PCO2

MVP mitral valve prolapse left eye
PDR
N normal
both eyes ounce

Na sodium after

NA, N/A not applicable

after meals
NaCl sodium chloride

partial pressure of carbon dioxide

NAD no apparent distress,
no appreciable disease Physicians' Desk Reference

NaHCO3 sodium bicarbonate

NC nasal cannula

NG nasogastric

NICU neonatal intensive care unit

NIDDM non–insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus
PE pulmonary n disease PSVT paroxysmal
embolism, physical supraventricular
paroxysmal
examination tachycardia
nocturnal
PEA pulseless electrical p dyspnea pt patient
activity e
po per
l os (by mouth) PT physical therapy
v
PEARL pupils equal and
i PO PTA prior to admission,
reactive to light
c plasma
ped(s) pediatric postoperative, “post thromboplastin
i op” antecedent
PEEP positive end- n PO 2 partial PTT partial
expiratory pressure fl pressure of oxygen thromboplastin time
a
PERL pupils equal and m PVC premature ventricular
reactive to light m complex, polyvinyl
a chloride
PERRL pupils equal, round,
t PRN pro re
and reactive to light nata (as needed) PVD peripheral vascular disease
o
pH hydrogen r psi
ion y q every
concentratio pounds per square inch
RUQ M other day subcutaneous, Abbreviation
Abbreviation secretory
e component stat STD
qd Rx s– rheumatoid arthritis,
a right atrium surgical
qh SC SICU SIDS Sub Q SVT
intensive care
ni reactive airway
unit
disease, right axis
qid SL SOB SQ n Sx
deviation sudden
qod ss infant
g red blood cell
death sym
S/S e Rhesus blood syndrome
RA
factor, rhodium
v sublingual tab TB
rheumatic heart
RAD er shortness
disease
y of breath TBA
RBC d Ringer’s lactate subcutane
Rh tbsp tech
a right lower lobe of the ous
y lung
half TIA
RHD right lower quadrant
e signs and
of the abdomen
v symptoms tid TKO TPR
RL registered
er
RLL nurse rule out
y tsp Tx
h range of motion,
RLQ rupture of membranes U UA UE
o
right upper lobe of the
RN ur lung URI USP
R/O right upper quadrant
ROM four of the abdomen UTI VD
times a prescription vol VS
RUL day without w/
every
Meaning urinalysis Abbreviation Meaning th
immediately upper extremity WBC white blood cell
a
sexually WNL within normal
transmitted upper respiratory
infection limits n
disease
w/o
subcutaneous United States
Pharmacopeia wt without le
supraventricul
urinary tract infection weight
ar tachycardia
yo ss
symptoms venereal disease volume
year old
vital signs
x– th
symptoms with except
a
tablet 1
first, first degree,
tuber 2
primary secondary, n
culosi
 second degree
s questionable,
increase(d) possible

to be change
admitted, to Ø
decrease negative
be
announced ® (d) no, f
tablespoon not, none e
technician, L
m
technologist ! right
a
transient "
ischemic lef l
attack t e
#
three times a mi
day to keep  cr m
open o a
temperature, $2 l
al
pulse, / e
respiration ph
%
tea a

&
spo beta

'
on approximatel

? y
trea
(
tme ) times
! two per
nt " not equal

unit greater