Medical Abbreviations

abd

abdomen/abdominal

ABG

Arterial Blood Gas

a.c.

before meals

ACLS

advanced cardiac life support

ADL

activities of daily living

ad lib

as desired

afeb

afebrile (no fever)

AKA

above knee amputation

AMA

against medical advice

amb

ambulate/walk OR ambulance

AOx3 or AOx4

alert and oriented x 1) self, 2) place, 3) time, 4) situation

approx.

approximate

ASA

aspirin

as tol

as tolerated

bid

2x daily

BKA

below knee amputation

BLS

basic life support

BM

bowel movement

B/P

blood pressure

bpm

beats per minute

BUN

blood urea nitrogen

c (with a line on top)

with

c-spine

cervical spine

CAD

coronary artery disease

cath

catheter

CBC

complete blood count

cc

unit of measurement (= 1mL)

CHF

congestive heart failure

CNS

central nervous system

c/o

complains of

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CT

computed tomography (CAT scan)

CVA

cerebrovascular accident

CXR

chest x-ray

d/c or DC

discontinued or discharge

DNR

do not resuscitate

DOA

doa on arrival

DOB

date of birth

dx

diagnosis

ECG or EKG

electrocardiogram

ED or ER

emergency department or emergency room

EENT

ear, eye, nose, throat

ET

essential thrombocythemia

ETA

estimated time of arrival

ETOH

ethyl alcohol

exam

examination

FHS

fetal heart sounds

FHT

fetal heart tones

fx

fracture

GI

gastrointestinal

GU

genitourinary

Gtt(s)

drops

H&H

hemoglobin and hematocrit

HOB

head of bed

Hr (h)

hour

H&P

history and physical

HR

heart rate

Ht

height

hx

history

I&O

intake and output

IM

intramuscular

IV

intravenous

K+

potassium

KCL

potassium chloride

L&D

labor and delivery

lac

laceration

lab

laboratory

LKN

last known normal

LLQ, LLL

left lower quadrant/lobe

LMP

last menstrual period

LOC

loss of conciousness

LUQ, LUL

left upper quadrant/lobe

meds

medications

MI

myocardial infarction

min

minute

MVA

motor vehicle accident

NVD, N/V/D

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Na+

sodium

Na Cl

sodium chloride

N/C or NC

no complaints/change

neg

negative

neuro

neurology

NG

nasogastric

nitro

nitrogen

NKA

no known allergies

NKDA

no known drug allergies

noc (t)

night

NPO

nothing by mouth

NS

normal saline

Nsg or Nrsg

nursing

NSR

normal sinus rhythm

O2

oxygen

OOB

out of bed

Oz

ounces

p (with line over it)

after

palp

palpable

pc

after meals

PEDS

pediatrics

PERRLA

pupils equal, round, reactive to light, accommodation