COMMON MEDICAL ABBREVIATIONS

CHEAT SHEET
A
AC antecubital (L/R) CVAT costovertebral angle tenderness
a.c. before meals A befo e C o CXR chest x-ray
before meals
ADL activities of daily living basic D
activities we perform every day to live d/c discharge/discontinue
independently DM diabetes mellitus NIDDM non-
aeb as evidenced by used in writing insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (Type 2)
nursing diagnosis & IDDM insulin dependent diabetes
AFIB atrial fibrillation heart rhythm mellitus (Type 1)
AMA against medical advice DNR do not resuscitate
AMS altered mental status DOB date of birth
DVT deep vein thrombosis blood clot
B Dx diagnosis
b.i.d. twice a day Bi means two so I
think twice E
BM bowel movement EC enteric coated
BP blood pressure EEG electroencephalogram evaluate
BPH benign prostatic hyperplasia electrical activity in the brain
BPM beats per minutes EKG/ECG electrocardiogram evaluate
electrical activity in the heart
C
CABG coronary artery bypass graft F
p ono nced cabbage FA forearm
CBC complete blood count Fx fracture like c o ing o a bone
CC chief complain or breaking it
CHF congestive heart failure
CKD chronic kidney disease G
CNS central nervous system GFR glomerular filtration rate
CO cardiac output GI gastrointestinal
c/o complains of GSW gunshot wound
COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary GT gastrostomy tube
disorder gtt drops (liquid measurement)
CP chest pain GTT glucose tolerance test (oral)
CSF cerebrospinal fluid GU genitourinary
c/s cesarean section
CTA clear to auscultation
CVA cerebrovascular accident stroke
H
HA headache
Hb hemoglobin
HLD hyperlipidemia
HPI history of present illness
HR heartrate
HS bedtime ho of leep
HTN hypertension
Hx history
I comes second)
IBD irritable bowel disease
IBS irritable bowel syndrome
ICP intracranial pressure
I&D incision and drainage
ID intradermal
IM intramuscular
I&O intake and output (urine)
IUP intrauterine pregnancy
IV intravenous
IVP intravenous push
J PE pulmonary embolism
JVD jugular vein distention
L PMHx past medical history
LBW low birth weight
LE lower extremity
LLL left lower lobe
LLQ left lower quadrant
LUL left upper lobe
LV left ventricle
M
MD muscular dystrophy
MDD maximum daily dose
MS multiple sclerosis
MVA motor vehicle accident
N qh once every hour
NKDA no known drug allergies
NPO nothing per os (by mouth)
NTG nitroglycerine
N/V/D nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
O no/none
O
OCD obsessive compulsive disorder
OCP oral contraceptive
OD right eye e look igh FIRST ( D
comes first)
OS left eye e look lef SECOND ( S
OSA obstructive sleep apnea
OTC over the counter
OT occupational therapy
OU both eyes then we look both ways
( U come la )
P
p.c. after meals we play our PC video
games after we eat our food
PCN penicillin
PCP primary care physician
PEEP positive-end-expiratory pressure
PID pelvic inflammatory disease
PMS premenstrual syndrome
therapy
PNS peripheral nervous system
PO per os (by mouth)
PRN as needed
PSHx past surgical history
Pt patient
PT physical
Q
q every
q2h every two hours
q3h every three hours
qd once a day
qhs at bedtime
q.i.d 4x/day Q fo ad
R W
RA rheumatoid arthritis WBC white blood cell
RA right atrium WNL within normal limits
RBBB right bundle branch block Wt weight
RBC red blood cell
RF risk factor
RLL right lower lobe
RRR regular rate and rhythm
r/t related to used in writing nursing
diagnosis
RUL right upper lobe
RV right ventricle
Rx prescription
RXN reaction

S
SBO small bowel obstruction
SOB shortness of breath
s/s signs and symptoms
STD sexually transmitted disease
s/t secondary to beca e of
Sx symptoms

T
Tb tuberculosis
TBI traumatic brain injury
t.i.d 3x/day T fo i
Tx treatment

U
UC ulcerative colitis
UE upper extremity
UO urine output
URI upper respiratory infection
UTI urinary tract infection

V
VS vital signs
VSS vital signs stable