Med Term Abbreviations (giving medicine, symptoms or findings, commonly used)

VS

Vital Signs

R/O

Rule out

BID

Twice daily

TID

Three in a day

Q

Every…

QD

Each day (don’t use this in healthcare settings)

QID

4 in day (don’t use in healthcare settings)

QHS

At night

AC

Before meals (ante cibum)

PC

After meals (post cibum)

prn

as needed (per re nata)

ad lib

As desired

T

Temperature

BP

Blood pressure

HR

Heart rate

RR

Respiratory rate

Ht

Height

Wt

Weight

BMI

Body mass index (measurement of body fat based on Ht and Wt)

I/O

Intake/Output (amount of fluids patient takes in and then produces)

Dx

Diagnosis

DDx

Differential diagnosis

Tx

Treatment

Rx

Prescription

H&P

History and physical

Hx

History

CC

Chief complaint (reason for visit)

HPI

History of present illness (story of present symptoms)

ROS

Review of systems (anything else not directly related to CC)

PMHx

Past medical history

FHx

Family history

NKDA

No known drug allergies

PE

Physical exam

Pt

Patient

Y/o

Years old

h/o

History of

PCP

primary care provider

F/u

Follow up

SOB/SOA

Shortness of breath/shortness of air

HEENT

Head, ears, eyes, nose, throat

PERRLA

Pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation

NAD

No acute distress

CV

Cardiovascular

RRR

Regular rate and rhythm (pertaining to normal heart function)

CTA

Clear to auscultation (normal sounding lungs)

WDWN

Well developed, well nourished

A&O

Alert and Oriented (can answer questions and is aware of what’s going on)

WNL

Within normal limits

NOS/NEC

Not otherwise specified/not elsewhere classified (used for diagnoses that don’t quite fit any specific cause)

PO

Per os (by mouth)

NPO

Nil per os (nothing by mouth)

PR

Per rectum (anal)

IM

intramuscular

SC

Subcutaneous (under the skin)

IV

Intravenous

CVL

Central venous line

PICC

Peripherally inserted central catheter

SIG

Short for signa, Latin for label.