Medical Abbreviations and Symbols: Nursing and Healthcare Notes

C

degrees Centigrade

F

degrees Fahrenheit

>

greater than

<

less than

ABG

arterial blood gas

AC

before meals

ab lib

freely as desired

ADL

activities of daily living

AMA

against medical advice

bid

two times a day

BP

blood pressure

BRP

bathroom privileges

BUN

blood urea nitrogen

c/o

complains of

CBC

complete blood count

cc

cubic centimeter

CDC

Centers for Disease Control

cm

centimeter

CO

carbon monoxide

CO2

carbon dioxide

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CT

computed tomography

DNR

do not resuscitate

dx / Dx

diagnosis

dl

deciliter

ECG / EKG

electrocardiogram

EEG

electroencephalogram

ER

emergency room

ESR

erythrocyte sedimentation rate

ETOH

ethyl alcohol

FUO

fever of unknown origin

Fx / fx

fracture

g / gm / GM

gram

GI

gastrointestinal

gr

grain

h / hr

hour

H&P

history and physical exam

Hct / HCT

hematocrit

Hgb

hemoglobin

HIV

human immunodeficiency virus

I&O

intake and output

K

potassium

kg

kilogram

KUB

kidney, ureters, and bladder

KVO

keep vein open

L

liter

m

meter

mcg

microgram

mg

milligram

ml

milliliter

mm

millimeter

mm Hg

millimeters of mercury

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

O2

oxygen

OZ

ounce

pc

after meals

PERRLA

pupils equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation

pH

hydrogen ion concentration

PO

per oral route

prn

when required / as often as necessary

q

every

qh

every hour

qid

four times a day

ROM

range of motion

Rx

take / treatment

stat

immediately

tid

three times a day

TPR

temperature, pulse, and respirations

WBC

white blood count