Medical Abbreviations

ad lib

as desired

ac

before meals

ADLs

activities of daily living

amb

ambulate

amt

amount

AROM

active range of motion

ASAP

as soon as possible

as tol

as tolerated

All

assist of one

Ax2

assist of two

bid

twice a day

BM

bowel movement

BP, B/P

blood pressure

BPM

beats per minute

BR

bed rest

BSC

bedside chair

cl. liq

clear liquids

CHF

congestive heart failure

CNA

certified nurse aide

CBR

complete bed rest

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

DOB

date of birth

DX, do

diagnosis

/c

with

CVA

cerebrovascular accident

DM

diabetes mellitus

DNR

do not resuscitate

DON

director of nursing

ECG, EKG

electrocardiogram

F

fahrenheit

FF

force fluids

FBS

fasting blood sugar

FWB

full weight bearing

H2O

water

HIPPA

health insurance portability and accountability act

HOB

head of bead

Hr, hr

hour

Hs, hs

hour of sleep

HTN

hypertension

hypo

low

hyper

high

inc

incontinent

I + O

intake and output

IV/I.V.

intravenous

lb

pound

L, lt

liter

lg

large

MD

doctor

ml

milliliter

NKA

no know allergies

mod

moderate

NPO

nothing by mouth

NWB

non-weight beaning

O2

oxygen

OOB

out of bed

OT

occupational therapy

OZ

ounce

PC

after meals

PO

by mouth

PRN, p.r.n

as necessary

PROM

passive range of motion

PT

physical therapy

PWB

partial weight bearing

q

every

Q2h, q2h

every 2 hours

Qh, qh

every hour

R

respirations, rectal

/s

without

ROM

range of motion

SOB

shortness of breath

S + S, S/S

signs + symptoms

STAT, stat

right away

tid

three times a day

u/a

urinalysis

VS

vital signs

w/c

wheelchair

wt

weight

ht

height

TPR

temperature, pulse, respiration