Common Healthcare Abbreviations

q

every

qh

every hour

q2h

every 2 hours

qd

every day

qod

every other day

bid

two times a day

tid

three times a day

qid

four times a day

p

after

noc

night

ac

before meals

hs

bedtime

Mn, mid noc

midnight

ad lib

as desired

prn

whenever necessary

OU

both eyes

OD

right eye

OS

left eye

gtt

drops

IM

intramuscular

SC, SQ, subq

subcutaneous

PO

by mouth

NS

normal saline

SL

sublingual

mcg

micrograms

abd

abdomen

BM

bowel movement

B/P

blood pressure

c/o

complains of

GI

gastrointestinal

GU

genitourinary

LLQ, RLQ

left/right lower quadrant

LUQ, RUQ

left/right upper quadrant

SOB

shortness of breath

TPR

temperature, pulse, respiration

V/S, VS

vital signs

ADL

activities of daily living

BRP

bathroom privileges

CBR

complete bed rest

D/C, DC, d/c

discontinue

drsg

dressing

g-tube

gastric tube

HOB

head of bed

I&O

intake and output

N/G, NG

nasogastric tube

NPO

nothing by mouth

OOB

out of bed

PROM

passive range of motion

ROM

range of motion

w/c

wheelchair

c

with

s

without

pt

patient

stat

immediately, at once

Dx

diagnosis

Hx

history

Rx

treatment

Fx

fracture

CA

cancer

CAD

Coronary Artery Disease

CHF

Congestive Heart Failure

COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

CVA

Cerebrovascular Accident

DOA

dead on arrival

HTN

Hypertension

MI

Myocardial Infarction

ORIF

Open Reduction Internal Fixation

ABG

arterial blood gas

CBC

complete blood count

cx

culture

CXR

chest x-ray

EKG

electrocardiogram

FBS

fasting blood sugar

UA, U/A

urinalysis

do not use which common abbreviations (not approved by joint commission)

QD (write daily instead); QOD (write every other day instead)