Medical Abbreviations and Terms for Healthcare Students

PO

per mouth

WNL

within normal limits

PRN

as needed

q

every

NGT/OGT

nasogastric tube/orogastric tube

H20

water

IM

intramuscular

IV

intravenous

MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Meq

milliequivalents

ml

milliliters

ADL

activities of daily living

VS or v/s

vital signs

DNR/DNI

do not Resuscitate/Do not Intubate

SOB

shortness of breath

HOB

head of bed

f/u

follow up

I&O

Intake and Output

ADA

American Diabetes Association (usually seen as "ADA diet")

NKA or NKDA

No Known Allergies/No Known Drug Allergies

OTC

Over the Counter

PMH

Past Medical History

ROM or PROM

Range of Motion or Passive Range of Motion

s/p

status post

s/s

signs and symptoms

T

temperature

BKA

below the knee amputation

BLE/BUE

bilateral lower extremities/bilateral upper extremities

AAA

abdominal aortic aneurysm

LUQ/RUQ/LLQ/RLQ

Left/right/upper/lower quadrants

PERRLA

Pupils equal round reactive to light and accommodation

HOH

hard of hearing

H/A

headache

PICC

peripherally inserted central catheter

OOB

out of bed

up ad lib

up as desired

BRP

bathroom privileges

C

Celsius

F

Fahrenheit

dx

diagnosis

h/o, or hx

history of

MAE

moves all extremities

ROS

review of systems

CA

cancer

CAD

coronary artery disease

HF

heart failure

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

DM

diabetes mellitus

MI

myocardial infarction

HTN

hypertension

PVD

peripheral vascular disease

URI

upper respiratory infection

C&S

culture and sensitivity

BM

bowel movement

CABG

coronary artery bypass graft

fx

fracture

OT

occupational therapy

PT

physical therapy

pt

patient

tx

treatment

WA

while awake

BID

twice a day

TID

three times a day

w/c or wc

wheelchair

IS

incentive spirometry

FOB

foot of the bed

UA

urinalysis