medical terminology: abbreviations

abd

abdomen

AC; a.c.

before meals

ADL

activities of daily living

ad lib

as desired

AIDS

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

AM

morning

AMB; amb

ambulate; ambulatory

amt

amount

ap; AP

apical

BM; bm

bowel movement

BP

blood pressure

BRP

bathroom privileges

c̄

with

C

centigrade; Celsius

cal

calories

cath

catheter

CBR

complete bed rest

C/O; c/o

complains of

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CS

central service; central supply

drsg

dressing

Dx

diagnosis

ECG; EKG

electrocardiogram

ER; ED

emergency room; emergency department

F

Fahrenheit

fl; fld

fluid

Fx

fracture

GI

gastro-intestinal

h; hr

hour

H2O

water

HIV

human immunodeficiency virus

ht

height

hx

history

ICU

intensive care unit

I&O

intake and output

IV

intravenous

L

liter

lab

laboratory

lb

pound

LOC

level of consciousness

lt; L

left

meds

medications

mid noc

midnight

min

minute

mL

milliliter

neg

negative

noc

night

NPO; npo

nothing by mouth

O2

oxygen

OOB

out of bed

OR

operating room

os

mouth

OT

occupational therapy

oz; OZ

ounce

PC; p.c.

after meals

per

by, through

PM

afternoon

PO; po

by mouth; orally

prep

preparation

prn

when necessary

Pt; pt

patient

PT

physical therapy

q

every

qh

every hour

R

rectal temperature, respiration

R/O

rule out

ROM

range of motion

rt; R

right

S̄

without

Spec; spec

specimen

stat

at once, immediately

tbsp

tablespoon

TPR

temperature, pulse, and respirations

tsp

teaspoon

U/a; U/A; u/a

urinalysis

UTI

urinary tract infection

VS; vs

vital signs

w/c

wheelchair

Wt; wt

weight