Medical Abbreviations

Jul 2, 2026

ā

before

abd.

abdomen

ac or a.c.

before meals

ad lib

as desired

ADL

activities of daily living

adm.

admission

amb.

ambulate

amt.

amount

ap.

apical

AROM

active range of motion

ASAP

as soon as possible

as tol.

as tolerated

ax.

axillary

BID or b.i.d.

two times a day

BM

bowel movement

BP or B/P

blood pressure

BR

bedrest

BRP

bathroom privileges

C^—

with

C

centrigrade or Celsius

cc

cubic centimeter

cath

catheter

CBC

complete blood count

CMS

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

C.N.A

certified nurse assistant

c/o

complains of

CXR

chest x-ray

DAT

diet as tolerated

DNR

do not resuscitate

DOA

dead on arrival

DON

director of nursing

Dr. or DR

doctor

drsg.

dressing

DSD

director of staff development

Dx

diagnosis

ECG or EKG

electrocardiogram

EMS

emergency medical services

ER

emergency room

F

Fahrenheit

FBS

fasting blood sugar

F.C or F/C

foley catheter

FF

force fluids

ft.

foot

f/u or F/U

follow up

FWB

full weight bearing

FWW

front wheel walker

GI

gastrointestinal

GU

genitourinary

H²O

water

HA or H/A

headache

HOB

head of bed

h/hr/hr.

hour

HS or hs

hour of sleep

ht.

height

I&O

intake and output

IV or I.V

intravenous

LE

lower extremity

l or L

liter

L or lt

left

lab

laboratory

lb

pound

LOC

leve of consciousness

LVN

licensed vocational nurse

LPN

licensed practical nurse

LTC

long term care

MD or M.D.

medical doctor

MDS

minimum data set

meds

medication

ml./ml

milliliter

mmHg

millimeter of mercury

mod.

moderate

NA

nursing assistant

N/A

not applicable

NG or ng

nasogastric

NKA

no known allergies

NKDA

no known drug allergies

NPO

nothing by mouth

NVD

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

NWB

non-weight bearing

pc or p.c.

after meals

OOB

out of bed

O.T or OT

occupational therapy

oz.

ounce

P

pulse

p

after

pc or p.c.

after meals

PEG

percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

peri-care

perineal care

po/P.O/PO

per os/by mouth

PR

per rectum

PROM

passive range of motion

prn/p.r.n.

as needed or when necessary

PT/P.T

physical therapy

PWB

partial weight bearing

q/Q

every

q2h/Q2H

every two hours

qh/QH/QHR

every hour

QID or Q.I.D

four times a day

rehab

rehabilitation

R

rectal