Important Medical Abbreviations and Parts of Speech

tachy-

fast, rapid

hyper-

high, excessive

brady-

slow

anti-

against, opposite

a-

absent

diplo-

double

cranio-

cranium (skull)

encephalo

brain

hepato

liver

lipo

fat

leuko

white

nephro

kidney

poly-

many

oste/o

bone

vaso

vessel

cardio

heart

supra-

above

thoracic

chest

PO

by mouth

NPO

nothing by mouth

OT

occupational therapy

BM

bowel movement

Dx

diagnosis

FBS

fasting blood sugar

HS

hour of sleep; bedtime

IV

intravenous

AC

before meals

PC

after meals

OOB

out of bed

PRN

as needed

WC

wheelchair

WBC

white blood cell

ROM

range of motion

STAT

immediately

DC

discharge; discontinue

Q

means every (as in every number of hours)

S̄

without

SOB

short of breath

Tx

treatment

O2

oxygen

AA&O x4

awake, alert, and oriented to person, place, time, and situation

Ad lib

activity as tolerated

AMS

altered mental status

LOC

level of consciousness

dsg

dressing

PERRLA

pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation

SpO2

hemoglobin oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry

BRP

bathroom privileges

Sx

symptoms

Rx

prescription (given to pharmacist)

SQ

subcutaneous

TPR

temperature, pulse, respiration

w/o

without

BP

blood pressure

BID

twice a day

TID

three times a day

QID

four times a day

H&P

history and physical

UA

urinalysis

Pt

patient

C̄

with

C/O

complains of

QHS

every night at bedtime

VS

vital signs

ED

emergency department

IM

intramuscular

HOB

head of bed

FUO

fever of unknown origin

PMH

past medical history

DTV

due to void

I & O

intake and output

CXR

chest x-ray

DOE

dyspnea on exertion

AMA

against medical advice

TEDS

thromboembolic deterrent stockings

MAE

moves all extremities

Hx

history of

L

Liter

q4h

Every 4 hours

Itis

Inflammation

Pathy

Disease of

Oma

Tumor

Megaly

Enlargement

Paresis

Weakness

Centesis

Puncture to remove fluid

Ectomy

Surgical removal

Plasty

Repair

Emia

Blood

Emesis

Vomiting

Constriction

Squeezing or narrowing

Necrosis

Death of tissue

Dilation

Widening

Edema

Swelling

WNL

Within normal limits

HR WNL

60-100

RR WNL

12-20

Temperature WNL

97.8°F (36.5°C) - 99.1°F (37.3°C)

BP WNL

120/80

SpO2 WNL

95-100