Medical Abbreviations Study Cards

A comprehensive vocabulary flashcard set covering standard medical abbreviations, terms, and acronyms across Parts 1, 2, and 3.

ā

Before

ac

Before meals

ADL

Activities of daily living

Ad lib

As desired

Amb./amb.

Ambulate

ASAP

As soon as possible

ax.

Axillary (armpit)

BID/bid

2 times a day

BM/bm

Bowel movement

BP or B/P

Blood pressure

BR

Bed rest / Bathroom

BRP

Bathroom privileges

c̄

With

CA

Cancer

CCU/ICU

Critical care unit

c/o

Complains of

CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CVA

Cerebrovascular accident

d/c or dc

Discontinue / Discharge

DO

Doctor of osteopathic medicine

Dr.

Doctor

D/T, d/t

Due to

dx

Diagnosis

ECG/EKG

Electrocardiogram (graph)

ER/ED

Emergency room / department

Fx

Fracture

GI

Gastrointestinal

hr

Hour

hs

Hour of sleep (bedtime)

H2O

Water

Ht./ht.

Height

Hx/hx

History

I&O

Input & output

IM

Intramuscular (into the muscle)

IV

Intravenous (into vein)

LPN

Licensed practical nurse

MD

Medical doctor

NA/CNA

Nursing assistant / Certified NA

noc

Night

NPO

Nothing by mouth

NT/PCT

Nurse tech / Patient care tech

O2

Oxygen

O2 Sat

Oxygen saturation

OR

Operating room

OT

Occupational therapy / therapist

Pulse Ox/P02

Pulse oximeter / oximetry

R/T, r/t

Related to

C & DB

Cough & deep breathe

DOB

Date of birth

HAI

Healthcare associate infection

HOB

Head of bed

L

Left

IS

Incentive spirometer

p̄

After

pc

After meals

PEDS

Pediatrics

per

Through or by

po

By mouth

Preop

Before surgery

Postop

After surgery

PRN

As needed

Pt./pt.

Patient

PT

Physical therapy / therapist

q

Every

qh

Every hour

qd

Every day

q2h

Every 2 hours

q3h

Every 3 hours

q4h

Every 4 hours

qhs

Every hour of sleep

QID, qid

4x a day

QOD, qod

Every other day

R

Right

RN

Registered nurse

R/O, r/o

Rule out

ROM

Range of motion

RR/PACU

Post anesthesia care unit

Rx

Prescription

s̄

Without

SCD's

Sequential compression device

SOB

Shortness of breath

S/Sx

Signs & Symptoms

STAT

Immediately

TID/tid

3x a day

TPR

Temp, pulse, respirations

U/A or u/a

Urinary analysis

VS

Vital signs

w/c

Wheelchair

WNL

Within normal limits

Wt./wt.

Weight

Abd.

Abdominal

ABG

Arterial blood gas

AD

Alzheimer's disease

AIDS

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

AMA

Against medical advice

BMI

Body mass index

BPM

Beats per minute

BS

Blood sugar

Bx or bx

Biopsy

CABG

Coronary artery bypass graft