Health care abbreviations

CCU

Coronary care unit

ECU

Emergency care unit

ER

Emergency room

ED

Emergency department

ICU

Intensive care unit

PICU

Pediatric intensive care unit

NICU

Neonatal intensive care unit

SICU

Surgical intensive care unit

PACU

Post-anesthesia care unit

L&D

Labor and delivery

OR

Operating room

VS

Vital signs

T

Temp

BP

blood pressure

HR

heart rate

RR

respiratory rate

I/O

intake/output, the amount of fluids a patient has taken in and produced

Dx

diagnosis

DDx

differential diagnosis

Tx

treatment

Rx

prescription

H&P

history and physical

Hx

history

CC

chief complaint

HPI

history of present illness

ROS

review of systems

PMHx

past medical history

FHx

family history

NKDA

no known drug allergies

PE

physical exam

Pt

patient

y/o

years old

h/o

history of

PCP

primary care provider

f/u

follow up

SOB

shortness of breath

HEENT

head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat

PERRLA

pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation

NAD

no acute distress

CV

cardiovascular

RRR

regular rate and rhythm

CTA

clear to auscultation

WDWN

well developed, well nourished

A&O

alert and oriented

WNL

within normal limits

NOS

not otherwise specified

NEC

not elsewhere specified

PO

per os (by mouth)

NPO

nil per os (nothing by mouth)

PR

per rectum (anal)

IM

intramuscular

SC

subcutaneous (under the skin)

IV

intravenous

CVL

central venous line

PICC

peripherally inserted central catheter

Sig

instructions short for signa (label)

BID

twice daily

TID

three times a day

Q

every x (Q4hr evert 4 hrs)

QD

daily

QID

four times daily

QHS

at night

AC

before meals

PC

after meals

prn

as needed

ad lib

as desired