Medical Abbreviations

A & P

anatomy and physiology

ad lib

freely, at will

ac

before meals

adm

admission

AED

automated external defibrillator

amb

ambulate

ASAP

as soon as possible

ax

axillary

bid

twice a day

BM

bowel movement

BMI

body mass index

BMR

basal metabolic rate

BP

blood pressure

BRP

bathroom privileges

overlined c

with

CBC

complete blood count

CC

chief complaint

CHO

carbohydrate

cl liq

clear liquids

c/o

complains of

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CT

computerized tomography

D/C

discontinue

DNR

do not resuscitate

Dx

diagnosis

EEG

electroencephalogram

EKG, ECG

electrocardiogram

FBAO

foreign body airway obstruction

FBS

fasting blood sugar

FF

force fluids

GB

gallbladder

Hgb

hemoglobin

Hct

hematocrit

HOB

head of bed

hs

hour of sleep, bedtime

ht

height

hx

history

IM

intramuscular

IV

intravenous

LOC

level of conciousness

LPN, LVN

licensed practical (vocational) nurse

LTC

long term care

circled L

left

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

N/A

not applicable

neg

negative

NG

nasogastric

noct

night

NKA

no known allergies

NKDA

no known drug allergies

NPO

nothing by mouth

O2

oxygen

OOB

out of bed

OR

operating room

OTC

over the counter

overlined p

after

pc

after meals

po

by mouth

PPE

personal protective equipment

prn

as necessary

pt

patient

q2h

every 2 hours

qhs

every night at bedtime

qs

quantity sufficient

qid

four times a day

R

respiration

circled R

right

RBC

red blood cell

RN

registered nurse

R/O

rule out

ROM

range of motion

Rx

prescription, take, treatment

overlined s

without

overlined ss

one half

STAT

immediately

STD

sexually transmitted disease

T

temperature

tab

tablet

tid

three times a day

TPR

temperature, pulse, respiration

UA

urinanalysis

VS

vital signs

WBC

white blood cells

w/c

wheelchair

wt

weight

WNL

within normal limits

Abd

abdomen

qd

once a day

HA

headache