Commonly Used Health-Care Abbreviations

1⁄2NS

Half

1⁄4NS

Quarter

1⁄3NS

One

3%NS

3% normal saline (hypertonic saline solution)

a–

Before (ante)

AAO×4

Alert and oriented to person, place, time, and situation

abd

Abdomen / Abdominal

ac

Before meals (ante cibum)

ADL

Activities of daily living

ad lib

As desired / As much as desired (ad libitum)

AEB

As evidenced by

AKA

Above

amb

Ambulate / Ambulatory

amp

Ampule or Ampere

amt

Amount

ASAP

As soon as possible

ax

Axillary (armpit)

BE

Barium enema

bid

Twice a day (bis in die)

BKA

Below

BM

Bowel movement

BMR

Basal metabolic rate

BP

Blood pressure

bpm

Beats per minute

BR

Bedrest

BRP

Bathroom privileges

BSC

Bedside commode

c–

With (cum)

ca

Cancer

cal

Calorie

cath

Catheter / Catheterization

CBC

Complete blood count

CCU

Coronary care unit / Critical care unit

chem.

Chemistry / Chemical

CHF

Congestive heart failure

cm

Centimeter

C/O, c/o

Complains of

CO2

Carbon dioxide

CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CVA

Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

CXR

Chest X

D5 1⁄2NS

5% Dextrose in half

D5RL

5% Dextrose in Ringer's Lactate

D5W

5% Dextrose in water

D&C

Dilation and curettage

DM

Diabetes mellitus

Dp Br

Deep breathing

dsg or drsg

Dressing

Dx

Diagnosis

ECG or EKG

Electrocardiogram

EEG

Electroencephalogram

EENT

Eyes, ears, nose, throat

ER

Emergency room

ETOH

Alcohol (ethyl alcohol)

F

Fahrenheit

Fr

French (unit of catheter size)

FSB

Finger stick blood (for glucose)

FSBS

Finger stick blood sugar

Ft

Foot / Feet

Fx

Fracture

g

Gram

GI

Gastrointestinal

gr

Grain (a unit of weight)

gtt(s)

Drop(s) (gutta)

GU

Genitourinary

GYN

Gynecology / Gynecological

HA

Headache

Hct

Hematocrit

Hgb

Hemoglobin

h/o

History of

HOB

Head of bed

HOH

Hard of hearing

H&P

History and physical

hr

Hour

ht

Height

HTN

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Hyper

Hyper

Hypo

Hypo

ICU

Intensive care unit

ID

Intradermal / Infectious disease

IDDM

Insulin

IM

Intramuscular

Inj

Injection

I&O

Intake and output

IV

Intravenous

IVP

Intravenous push

L

Liter

lb

Pound

liq

Liquid

LLE

Left lower extremity

LLL

Left lower lobe (of lung)

LLQ

Left lower quadrant (of abdomen)

LMP

Last menstrual period

LOC

Level of consciousness / Loss of consciousness

LUE

Left upper extremity

LUL

Left upper lobe (of lung)

LUQ

Left upper quadrant (of abdomen)

med

Medication

mg

Milligram

mL

Milliliter