Health Science Theory and Practice: Abbreviations

ABX

antibiotic

ac

before meals

ad lib

as desired

AM, am

morning, before noon

BID

twice a day

Bx

biopsy

c̄

with

cc

cubic centimeter (1 mL)

CC

chief complaint

cm

centimeter

c/o

complains of

CBC

complete blood count

consult

consultation

CT

computerized tomography

CXR

chest x-ray

d

day

dc, DC, or D/C

discharge or discontinue

DOB

date of birth

Dx

diagnosis

ECG, EKG

electrocardiogram

ER

emergency room

ETA

estimated time of arrival,endotracheal aspiration

F

Fahrenheit or female

FUO

fever of unknown origin

g or gm

gram

gtt or gtts

drop(s)

h

hour

Hg

mercury

H 2 O

water

H 2 O 2

hydrogen peroxide

H&P or HxPx

history and physical exam

h/o or H/O

history of

hs

bedtime

ht

height

Hx

history

ICU

intensive care unit

I & D

incision and drainage

IP

inpatient

IU

international unit

IV

intravenous

K+

potassium

kg

kilogram

L or l

liter

lb or #

pound

mg

milligram

min

minutes

mL

milliliter

mm

millimeter

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

N/A

not applicable

Na

sodium

NKA

no known allergies

NKDA

no known drug allergies

noct

at night

NPO

nothing by mouth (from Latin nilper os)

OB/GYN

obstetrician/gynecologist

OD

overdose

oint

ointment

OP

outpatient or operation

OR

operating room

OTC

over-the-counter

OV

office visit

oz

ounce

p̄

after

PE

physical exam

PET

positron emission tomography

per

by, through

PK

pharmacokinetics

PM, pm

after noon

PMH

past medical history

postop

after surgery, postoperative

pre-op

before surgery, preoperative

PRN or prn

as needed

Pro. Time

prothrombin time (blood-clotting test)

Pt, pt

patient

PTT

partial thromboplastin time (blood-clotting test)

q

every

qd

every day

QOD

every other day

QID

four times a day

ROS

review of systems

R/O

rule out

Rx

prescription

s̄

without

S&S

signs and symptoms

sig

write or label, patient directions on an Rx

SO

significant other, standing orders, second opinion (requires context)

SOAP

subjective, objective, assessment, plan

SOB

shortness of breath

stat, STAT

immediately

SubQ;SQ

subcutaneous

Sx

symptoms

T

temperature

tab(s)

tablet(s)

Tbsp

tablespoon

T&C

type and crossmatch

temp

temperature

TID

three times a day

TPR

temperature, pulse, respiration

tsp

teaspoon