Precision Exams - Medical Terminology - Abbreviations from Exam Description

ABG

arterial blood gas

ac

before meals

ad lib

as desired

ADL

activities of daily living

am, AM

in the morning

amt

amount

bid

twice a day

Bx

biopsy

CBC

complete blood count

CC

cardiac catheterization, chief complaint

cc

cubic centimeter

cm

centimeter

c/o

complains of

CT

computed tomography

CVA

cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

dc, DC, D/

discharge, discontinue

DNR

do not resuscitate

DOB

date of birth

Dx

diagnosis

ENT

ear, nose, throat

ER/ED

Emergency Room/Emergency Department

ETA

estimated time of arrival

FUO

fever of unknown origin

GI

gastrointestinal

g, gm

gram

gtt, gtts

drop, drops

GYN

gynecology

GU

genitourinary

H2O

water

H2O2

hydrogen peroxide

Hg

Mercury ex. mm HG (in blood pressure)

Hgb

hemoglobin

Ht

hypertension

Hx

history of

ICU

intensive care unit

I & D

incision and drainage

I & O

intake and output

IP

inpatient

IV

intravenous

K

Potassium

Kg

kilogram

L or l

liter

lb or #

pound

L & D

labor and delivery

LLQ

left lower quadrant

LMP

last menstrual period

LOC

loss of consciousness

LUQ

left upper quadrant

MI

myocardial infarction (heart attack)

mg

milligram

mm

millimeter

ml

milliliter

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

N/A

not applicable

Na

Sodium

neg

negative

NKA

no known allergies

NKDA

no known drug allergies

NPO

nothing by mouth

noct

night

OB, ob

obstetrics

OD

overdose

OP

outpatient; operative procedure

OR

operating room

OTC

over the counter

OV

office visit

oz

ounce

Peds

pediatrics

PE

physical exam

PET

positron emission tomography

PK

pain killer

pm, PM

in the afternoon

PRN

as needed

PT

physical therapy

pt

patient

q

every

qd

every day

qid

four times a day

RLQ

right lower quadrant

R/O

rule out

RUQ

right upper quadrant

ROS

review of symptoms

Rx

prescription

sig

give the following directions

SOAP

subjective, objective, assessment, plan

S & S

signs and symptoms

stat

immediately

T

tablet

tab(s)

tablets

tbsp

tablespoon

temp

temperature

tid

three times a day

TPR

temperature, pulse, respiration

tsp

teaspoon

Tx

treatment

UNK

unknown

VS

vital signs

w/a

while awake

wk

week

WNL

within normal limits