NHA CCMA — 60 Must-Know Abbreviations

A complete list of 60 essential medical abbreviations and meanings for NHA CCMA exam preparation.

BP

Blood pressure

BPM

Beats per minute

CBC

Complete blood count

CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CT

Computed tomography

CVA

Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

CXR

Chest x-ray

DM

Diabetes mellitus

DNR

Do not resuscitate

DOB

Date of birth

Dx

Diagnosis

ECG/EKG

Electrocardiogram

ED

Emergency department

FBS/FBG

Fasting blood sugar / fasting blood glucose

Fx

Fracture

GI

Gastrointestinal

Hgb

Hemoglobin

HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

HTN

Hypertension

Hx

History

I&O

Intake and output

ICU

Intensive care unit

LMP

Last menstrual period

MI

Myocardial infarction (heart attack)

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging

N/V

Nausea and vomiting

NKA/NKDA

No known allergies / no known drug allergies

NPO

Nothing by mouth

NS

Normal saline

NSAID

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug

OTC

Over-the-counter

PE

Physical examination / pulmonary embolism (context matters)

PO

By mouth

PRN

As needed

pt

Patient

R/O

Rule out

ROM

Range of motion

Rx

Prescription

SOB

Shortness of breath

Stat

Immediately

Sx

Symptoms

Tx

Treatment

UA

Urinalysis

URI

Upper respiratory infection

UTI

Urinary tract infection

VS

Vital signs

WBC

White blood cell

WNL

Within normal limits

c/o

Complains of

a.c.

Before meals

BMI

Body mass index

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CAD

Coronary artery disease

HF

Heart failure

Hct

Hematocrit

I&D

Incision and drainage

OT

Occupational therapy / occupational therapist

PT

Physical therapy / physical therapist

RBC

Red blood cell

TB

Tuberculosis