Abbreviations

-

negative

%

percent

@

at

˚

degrees

˜

about

+

positive

>

greater than

<

less than

∆

change

↑

higher; elevate; up

→

to the right

↓

lower or down

←

to the left

♀

female

♂

male

ā

before

AAF

African-American female

abd

abdomen; abdominal

ABX

antibiotic

ad lib

as desired

AM; am

morning; before noon

b.i.d.

twice a day

c

with

c/o

complains of; complaining of

CBC

complete blood (cell) count

consult

consultation

CT

computerized tomography; computed tomography

CXR

chest X-ray

DOB

date of birth

ECG, EKG

Electrocardiogram

ER

emergency room

H2O

water

hs

half strength; bedtime

ht

height

IV

intravenous

lb; #

pound

min

minute(s)

NKDA

no known drug allergies

NPO

nothing by mouth (from the Latin nil per os)

OB/GYN

obstetrician/gynecologist

OR

operating room

OTC

over-the-counter

OV

office visit

oz

ounce

p

after

PM, pm

After noon

postop

after surgery; postoperative

pre-op

before surgery; preoperative

Pro. Time

prothrombin time (blood-clotting test)

Pt; pt.

patient

PTT

partial thromboplastin time (blood-clotting test)

q

every

Rx

Rhx

s

without

SOB

shortness of breath

stat; STAT

immediately (from the Latin statim)

Sx

symptoms

T&C

type and crossmatch

t.i.d.

three times a day

TPR

temperature; pulse; respiration

UA

urinalysis

ung

ointment

VS; V/S

vital signs

WNL

within normal limits

wt

weight

y/o

year(s) old; year-old (as in 19-year-old)