Medical Abbreviations for Healthcare

ADL

activities of daily living

am, AM

in the morning

amb

ambulatory; able to walk

BM

bowel movement

BP

blood pressure

cal

calorie

cm

centimeter

D/C

discontinue or discharge

Dx

diagnosis

ea

each

ft

foot

GI

gastrointestinal

H2O

water

Hx

history

I&O

intake and output

in

inch

(L)

liter

min

minute

NPO

nothing by mouth

O2

oxygen

stat

immediately

T

temperature

temp

temperature

vol

volume

W/C

wheelchair

pm, PM

afternoon

d

day

amt

amount

a (with a line above it)

before

p (with a line above it)

after

c (with a line above it)

with

s (with a line above it)

without

R (with a circle around it)

right

L (with a circle around it)

left

ac

before meals

pc

after meals

ADM

admission

ad lib

as desired

BSC

bedside commode

cath

catheter

drsg

dressing

DNR

do not resuscitate

Dr

doctor

RN

registered nurse

MA

medical assistant

CNA

certified nursing assistant

HHA

home health aide

ED

emergency department

ER

emergency room

OR

operating room

Fx

fracture

hs

hour of sleep

ht

height

wt

weight

H&P

history and physical

H/O or h/o

History of

kg

kilogram

mg

milligram

mL

milliliter

mm

millimeter

OOB

out of bed

Pt

patient

PT

physical therapy

q

every

R/O

rule out

ROM

range of motion

SOB

short of breath

S/P

status post

P

pulse

R

respirations

SpO2

pulse oximeter reading

VS

vital signs

VSS

vital signs stable

(A triangle shape)

change

prn

as needed

NKA

No known allergies

NKDA

No known drug allergies

c/o

complained of

CC

chief complaint

cc

cubic centimeter