Common Medical Abbreviations

a (with a line on top)

before

abd

abdomen/abdominal

ac

before meals

AD

right ear

Ad lib

as desired

ADL

activities of daily living

AEB

as evidenced by

amb

ambulate

AS

left ear

AU

both ears

Ax

axillary

bid, BID

twice a day

BM

bowel movement

BP

blood pressure

BR

bed rest

BRP

bathroom priviledges

BS

blood sugar

BSC

bedside commode

bx, BX

biopsy

c (with a line on top)

with

Cap

capsule

CBR

complete bed rest

CC

chief complaint

cl liq

clear liquids

c/o

complains of

d/c or disc

discontinue, discharge

DNR

do not resuscitate

DOA

dead on arrival

DOB

date of birth

drg or dsg

dressing

Dx, dx

diagnosis

FF

force fluids

Fx, fx

fracture

gt, gtt

drop, drops

HA

hearing aid or headache

HOB

head of bed

HOH

hard of hearing

H&P

history and physical

h

hour

hs, HS

hour of sleep (bedtime)

Hx, hx

history

I&O

intake and output

inj

injection

L&W

living and well

L (in a circle)

left

Lg

large

liq

liquid

Min

minute

MN

midnight

ml

milliliter

NKA

no known allergies

NKDA

no known drug allergies

N&V

nausea and vomiting

NVD

nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

OD

right eye

OJ

orange juice

OOB

out of bed

OS

left eye

OU

both eyes

OTC

over the counter

p (with a line on top)

after

P

pulse

pc

after meals

per

by, through

NPO

nothing by mouth

PO/po

by mouth

post-op

after an operation

pre-op

before an operation

prn

as needed

pt

patient

PT

physical therapy

q

every

qh

every hour

q2h

every two hours

qid

four times a day

R

respirations or rectal

R (in a circle)

right

r/o

rule out

ROM

range of motion

r/t

related to

Rx

prescription or treatment

s (with a line of top)

without

sm

small

SOB

shortness of breath

stat, STAT

immediately

Sx

sign or symtpom

T

temperature

tab

tablet

tbsp

tablespoon

TCDB

turn, cough, deep breath

TID, tid

three times a day

TO

telephone order

TPR

temperature, pulse, respiration

tsp

teaspoon

tx

traction, transplant

VO

verbal order

VS

vital signs

w/c

wheelchair

WNL

within normal limits

X

times