common medical abbreviations SOB-Wt

SOB

Shortness of breath.

difficulty breathing. also referred to as dyspnea

stat

Immediately.

from the latin word “statum,” meaning immediately. A common medical abbreviation for urgent or rush

TC & DB

Turn cough and Deep breath.

abbreviation often used after surgery to help breathing, clear lungs and prevent pneumonia

t.i.d

Three times a day.

seen on a prescription, t.i.d. means three times a day. it is an abbreviation for “ter in die” which in latin means three times a day

TPR

Temperature, pulse & respiration.

record temperature, pulse, and respirations as TPR: T 98.6, P 80, R 20.

Tx

Treatment.

Medical care given to a resident for an illness or injury

V.S

Vital signs.

the measure of the functions of the vital organs of the body. includes temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure. the 5th vital sign is level of pain.

W/C

Wheelchair.

wheelchairs are used to transport patients who cannot walk or who have difficulty walking

Wt

Weight.

weight is not a vital sign. medications may be changed depending on the resident’s weight

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Less than / Greater than.

abbreviation used to show one number is either less (smaller) or greater (larger) than the other number.