Medical terms + Abbreviations

AAO

awake, alert, oriented

AKA

Above knee amputation

AMS

altered mental status

BKA

below knee amputation

BM

bowel movement

BP

blood pressure

BPM

beats per minute

BS

bowel sounds

CVC

central venous catheter

I&O

intake and output

JVD

jugular venous distention

LBW

low birth weight

LMP

last menstrual period

LOC

level of consciousness

MAP

mean arterial pressure

NKDA

no known drug allergies

NPO

nothing by mouth

NVD

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

OOB

out of bed

SOB

shortness of breath

VSS

vital signs stable

WNL

within normal limits

CAP

capsule

DR

delayed release

EC

enteric coated

SR

sustained release

ELIX

elixir

SUPP

suppository

SUSP

suspension

TAB

tablet

GT

gastrostomy tube

ID

intradermal

MI

intramuscular

IV

intravenous

IVP

intravenous push

IVPB

Intravenous piggy back

NG

nasogastric

OD

right eye

OG

orogastric

OS

Left eye

OU

bath eyes

PO

by mouth

PR

per rectum

SL

sublingual

SUBQ

subcutaneous

ABD

abdomen

ETT

endotracheal tube

FA

forearm

LE

lower extremity

LLE

lower left extremity

LLL

left lower lobe

LLQ

left lower quantrant

LUE

left upper extremity

LUL

Left upper lobe

LUQ

left upper quadrant

RLE

right lower extremity

RLL

right lower lobe

RLQ

right lower quadrant

RUL

right upper lobe

RUQ

right upper quadrant

UE

upper extremity

BX

biopsy

CT

computer tomography scan

CXR

chest x-ray

DRE

digital rectal exam

ECHO

echocardiogram

EEG

Electroencephalogram

EKG/ECG

electrocardiogram

KUB

x-ray of kidneys, ureturs, bladder

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

PET

positron emission tomography

PFT

pulmonary function test

US

ultrasound

VQ scan

ventilation-perfusion scan

AC

before meals

AD LIB

as desired

BID

two times a day

Daily

once a day

HS

at bedtime

PC

after meals

PRN

as needed

QID

four times daily

TID

three times a day

ADL

activities of daily living

AMA

against medical advice

C/O

complaint of

CC

chief complaint

D/C

discontinue/discharge

DNR

do not resuscitate

DOB

Date of birth

DX

diagnosis

ETOH

ethanol

Fx

fracture

HCP

health care provider

HOB

head of bed

HPI

history of present illness

Hx

history

I&D

incision and drainage

MVA

motor vehicle accident

OTC

over the counter