Table 16-1: Abbreviations Commonly Used in Healthcare

Flashcards covering common medical and healthcare abbreviations and their clinical meanings.

ADLs

Activities of daily living

ad lib

As desired, if the patient desires

AKA

Above-knee amputation

Amb

Ambulation, ambulatory

Amt

Amount

ASAP

As soon as possible

Bid

Twice a day

BM

Bowel movement

BR

Bedrest

BRP

Bathroom privileges

BSC

Bedside commode

c¯

With

Cal

Calories

Cath

Catheter

CBC

Complete blood count

CCU

Critical care unit or coronary care unit

c/o

Complaint of

$$CO_2$$

Carbon dioxide

CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CVA

Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

D&C

Dilation and curettage

DM

Diabetes mellitus

dsg or drsg

Dressing

DX or Dx

Diagnosis

EBL

Estimated blood loss

EKG/ECG

Electrocardiogram

ED/ER

Emergency department, emergency room

EEG

Electroencephalogram

EENT

Eyes, ears, nose, throat

ETOH

Alcohol

F

Female

FBS

Fasting blood sugar

Fx

Fracture

GI

Gastrointestinal

gtt(s)

Drop(s)

GU

Genitourinary

GYN

Gynecology

HA

Headache

HMO

Health maintenance organization

h/o

History of

hob or HOB

Head of bed

HOH

Hard of hearing

H&P

History and physical

Hr

Hour

Ht

Height

HTN

Hypertension

Hyper

Above or high

Hypo

Below or low

ICU

Intensive care unit

I&O

Intake and output

Isol

Isolation

IV

Intravenous

IVP

Intravenous push (caution: do not use to mean "IV piggyback")

L

Liter

lb

Pound

LPN

Licensed practical nurse

LMP

Last menstrual period

LVN

Licensed vocational nurse

Mcg

Microgram

MD

Medical doctor

Med

Medication

Mg

Milligram

mL

Milliliter

MN

Midnight

NAS

No added salt

N/V/D

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

NKA or NKDA

No known allergies or no known drug allergies

NG

Nasogastric

NGT

Nasogastric tube

Noc

At night

NPO

Nothing by mouth

$$O_2$$

Oxygen

OB

Obstetrics

OOB

Out of bed

OPD

Outpatient department

Ortho

Orthopedics

OR

Operating room

Os

Mouth, opening

OT

Occupational therapy

Oz

Ounce

Pc

After meals

PCA

Patient-controlled analgesia

PO

By mouth

P, p¯

After

PPBS

Postprandial blood sugar

prn

As needed

Pt

Patient

PT

Physical therapy

Q

Every

Qam

Every morning

Qh

Every hour

Qid

Four times a day

RN

Registered nurse

R/O

Rule out

RX or Rx

Treatment or prescription

s¯

Without

SCD

Sequential compression device

SOB

Short of breath

ss¯

One-half

SSE

Soapsuds enema