Abbreviations

CCU - Coronary care unit

ECU - emergency care unit

ER - emergency room

ED - emergency department

ICU - intensive care unit

PICU - pediatric intensive care unit

NICU - neonatal intensive care unit

SICU - surgical intensive care unit

PACU - post-anesthesia care unit

L&D - labor & delivery

OR - operating room

Post-op - after surgery

Pre-op - before surgery

VS - vital signs

T - temperature

BP - blood pressure

HR - heart rate

RR - respiratory rate

Ht - height

Wt - weight

BMI - body mass index

I/O - intake/output (the amount of fluids a patient has taken in by IV or mouth and produced (usually just urine output)

Dx - diagnosis

DDx - differential diagnosis

Tx - treatment

Rx - prescription

H&P - history and physical

Hx - history

CC - chief complaint (main reason for visit)

HPI - history of present illness

ROS - review of systems

PMHx - past medical history

FHx - family history

NKDA - no known drug allergies

PE - physical exam

Pt - patient 

y/o - years old

h/o - history of

PCP - primary care provider

f/u - follow up

SOB - shortness of breath

HEENT - head yes ears nose throat

PERRLA - pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation

NAD - no acute distress (patient does not display any intense symptoms)

CV - cardiovascular

RRR - regular rate and rhythm

CTA - clear to auscultation (normal sounding lungs)

WDWN - well developed, well nourished

A&O - alert and oriented

WNL - within normal limits

NOS - not otherwise specified

NEC - not elsewhere classified

PO - per os (by mouth)

NPO - nil per os (nothing by mouth)

PR - per rectum (anal)

IM - intramuscular

SC - subcutaneous (under the skin)

IV - intravenous

SVL - central venous line

PICC - peripherally inserted central catheter

Sig - instructions short for signa

BID - twice daily

TID - three times daily

Q - every x

QD* - daily

QID* - 4 times daily

QHS - at night

AC - before meals

PC - after meals

prn - as needed

ad lib - as desired