Abbreviations, Roots, Prefixes, & Suffixes

ac

Before meals

ACLS

Advanced Cardiac Life Support

ad lib

As desired

ADLs

Activities of daily living

Afib

Atrial fibrillation

AIDS

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

ALS

Advanced life support; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

AM, a.m.

Morning

AMI

Acute myocardial infarction

ASD

Atrial septal defect

AST

Aspartate aminotransferase

AV

Arteriovenous; atrioventricular

BCLS

Basic cardiac life support

BE

Barium enema

BID, bid, b.i.d.

Twice a day (bis in die)

BM

Bowl movement

BMI

Body mass index

BMR

Basic metabolic rate

BP

Blood pressure

BPH

Benign prostatic hypertrophy

bpm

Beats per minute

BPM

Breaths per minute

BR

Bed rest

BRP

Bathroom privileges

BS

Bowel sounds

BSA

Body surface area

BSC

Bedside commode

BUN

Blood urea nitrogen

Bx

Biopsy

c̄

With

C

Centigrade, celsius

CABG

Coronary artery bypass graft

CAD

Coronary artery disease

CAT

Computerized (axial) tomography scan

CBC, cbc

Complete blood count

CCU

Coronary (cardiac) care unit; critical care unit

CF

Cystic fibrosis

CHD

Congenital heart disease; coronary heart disease

CK

Creatine kinase

CMV

Cytomegalovirus

CNS

Central nervous system; clinical nurse specialist

c/o

Complaints of

CO

Carbon monoxide; cardiac output

CO2

Carbon dioxide

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

COVID - 19

Coronavirus disease 2019 caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2

CT

Computed tomography

CVA

Cerebrovascular accident; costovertebral angle

DM

Diabetes mellitus; diastolic murmur

DNR

Do not resuscitate

DOA

Dead on arrival

DOB

Date of birth

DVT

Deep vein thrombosis

Dx

Diagnosis

ECG, EKG

Electrocardiogram; electrocardiograph

ECHO

Echocardiography, echocardiogram

ECT

Electroconvulsive therapy

ED

Emergency department

ET

Endotracheal tube

ETOH

Ethyl Alcohol

F

Fahrenheit

fx

Fracture

GB

Gallbladder

Hb, Hgb

Hemoglobin

Hct

Hematocrit

HF

Heart failure

HOB

Head of bed

h/o

History of

HOH

Hard of hearing

H2O

Water

HTN

Hypertension

hx, Hx

History

I&O

Intake and output

ICU

Intensive care unit

IV

Intravenous

IVP

Intravenous pyelogram; intravenous push

KUB

Kidney, ureter, and bladder

LMP

Last menstrual period

LOC

Level of consciousness

LP

Lumbar puncture

mcg

Microgram

mg

Milligram

MI

Myocardial infarction

mL

Milliliter

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging

MVA

Motor vehicle accident

N/A

Not applicable

NaC1

Sodium chloride

NG, ng

Nasogastric

NKA

No known allergies

NKDA

No known drug allergies

NPO, npo

Nothing by mouth

O2

Oxygen

OOB

Out of bed

OR

Operating room

OTC

Over-the-counter

P̄

After

PACU

Post-anesthesia care unit

PET

Position emission tomography