Medical Abbreviations

BM- bowel movement

B/P/BP- blood pressure

BR, br- bed rest

BRP- bathroom privileges

BS- blood sugar

bx- biopsy

°C- Celsius degree, centigrade

c- with

CA- cancer

Ca- calcium

CAT- Computerized Axial Tomography

cath. - catheter

CBC- complete blood count

CC - chief complaint

cc - cubic centimeters

CCU- coronary care unit

CHF- Congestive Heart Failure

Cl - chloride

cl liq - clear liquids

cm - centimeters

c/o - complains of

CO2 - carbon dioxide

COPD -Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

CPR - cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CS- central supply

CVA- cerebrovascular accident/stroke

D&C- dilatation and curettage

dc, d/c- discontinue

Del. Rm. -delivery room

Diff -differential white count

DNR- do not resuscitate

DOA -dead on arrival

DOB -date of birth

DON -director of nursing

Dr. - Doctor

dsg - dressing

dx - diagnosis

D/W - dextrose in water

ECG/EKG -electrocardiogram

EEG -electroencephalogram

EENT - eye, ear, nose, and throat

ER -emergency room

Exc -excision

Exp -exploratory

°F- Fahrenheit degree

FBS- fasting blood sugar

Fe- iron

FF- force fluid

Fl or fl -fluid

ft -foot

FUO- fever of unknown origin

fx -fracture

GB- gallbladder

Gm- gram

g- gram

GI- gastrointestinal

gr -grain

gtt -drop

GU- genitourinary

Gyn- gynecology

H- Hydrogen

H2O- water, aqua

HA- headache

HBV- hepatitis B virus

Hct -hematocrit

Hg -mercury

Hgb -hemoglobin

HOB- head of bed

hr- hour

hs - bedtime, hour of sleep

ht - height

hyper- above, high

hypo -below, low

ICU -intensive care unit

I & D -incision and drainage

I & O -intake and output

IM -intramuscular

inj -injection

int -internal, interior

irrig -irrigation

IV- intravenous

IVP- intravenous pyelogram

K- potassium

KCL- potassium chloride

Kg or kg -kilogram

KUB- kidney, ureter and bladder x-ray

L & D -labor and delivery

L- left

lab- laboratory

Lap- laparotomy

lb- pound

liq.- Liquid

LLQ -left lower quadrant

LP- lumbar puncture

LPN -licensed practical nurse

LUQ- left upper quadrant

LVN -licensed vocational nurse

M -minim

M.D. -medical doctor

med. -Medicine

mEq -millequivalent

mg- milligram

MI -Myocardial Infarction

ML -milliliter

mm -millimeter

MRI -magnetic resonance Imaging

min. -minute

Na -sodium

NA -nurse aide/nursing assistant

NaCl -sodium chloride

ng -nasogastric tube

noct, noc. -night

NPO -nothing by mouth

N/S -normal saline

N&V -nausea and vomiting

O2- oxygen

O&P -ova and parasites

Ob -obstetrics

Od -overdose

OD -right eye

OOB/oob -out of bed

OPD- outpatient department

OR -operating room

OS- left eye

ord. -orderly

ORTH -orthopedics

O.T. -occupational therapy

OU -both eyes

oz -ounce

PAP -Papanicolaou smear

Path -pathology

pc -after meals

PDR -Physician’s Desk Reference

PEDS- pediatrics

per by,- through

pH -measure of acidity/alkalinity

PID -pelvic inflammatory disease

pm/PM -afternoon (noon to midnight)

po -by mouth

post -after

postop, PostOp -postoperative

pre- before

preop, PreOp- before surgery

prn -whenever necessary, when required

Pt, pt -patient

P.T. -physical therapy

q -every

qd -every day

qh -every hour

q2h -every 2 hours

q3h -every 3 hours

q4h -every 4 hours

qhs -every night at bedtime

qid, QID -four times a day

qod/QOD -every other day

qs -quantity sufficient

qt -quart

R- respiration or rectal

r -rectal

R -right

RBC -red blood cell

RLQ -right lower quadrant

RN -registered nurse

R/O -rule out

ROM -range of motion

R.R.- recovery room

RT -respiratory therapy

RUQ -right upper quadrant

Rx -prescription or treatment ordered by a physician

s -without

SIDS -sudden infant death syndrome

sob -short of breath

spec. -specimen

sp gr -specific gravity

ss -one half

SSE -soap solution enema

stat -at once, immediately

surg. -surgery

T&A -tonsils and adenoids

TB- tuberculosis

tbsp- tablespoon

TIA- transient ischemic attack

TID/tid -three times a day

TLC -tender loving care

TPR- temperature, pulse, and respiration

tsp- teaspoon

tx- traction

UA or U/A -urinalysis

URI- upper respiratory infection

UTI -urinary tract infection

VS- vital signs

WBC- white blood count

w/c- wheelchair

wt -weight

x times- (2x is 2 times)

x-match- cross match

> - greater than

< - less than

# - number or pound sign

I -one

V -five

X -ten

L -fifty

C -one hundred

D -five hundred

@ -at

abd. vAbdomen

ABG -Arterial Blood Gas

a.c. -before meals

ADL -activities of daily living

ad lib -as desired

adm -admission

am/AM -morning (midnight to noon)

amb- ambulate/walk

amt.- amount

approx.- approximately

AIDS -acquired immune deficiency syndrome

ASA -aspirin

ASAP- as soon as possible

ASHD- Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease

AU -both ears

ax -axillary, armpit

BE- barium enema

bid/BID- twice a day