Common Nursing Abbreviations

Vital Sign Abbreviations

  • VS: Vital Signs
  • VSS: Vital Signs Stable
  • BP: Blood Pressure
  • HR: Heart Rate
  • P: Pulse
  • RR: Respiratory Rate
  • T: Temperature
  • SpO2/SaO2: Oxygen Saturation
  • Ht/Wt: Height/Weight
  • BMI: Body Mass Index

Charting Abbreviations

  • RF: Risk Factors
  • Sx: Symptoms
  • Dx: Diagnosis
  • Tx: Treatment
  • NAD: No Acute Distress
  • UOP: Urine output
  • I&O: Intake and Output
  • C/O: Complaint Of
  • CC: Chief Complaint
  • ROS: Review of Systems
  • AMA: Against Medical Advice
  • D/C: Discharge or Discontinue
  • DNR: Do not Resuscitate
  • H&P: History & Physical
  • HPI: History of Present Illness
  • H/O: History of
  • NKDA: No Known Drug Allergies
  • PCP: Primary Care Physician
  • A&O: Alert & Oriented
  • WNL: Within Normal Limits
  • CP: Chest Pain
  • SOB: Shortness of Breath
  • DOE: Dyspnea on Exertion
  • STAT: Immediately
  • CV: Cardiovascular
  • GI: Gastrointestinal
  • ID: Infectious Disease
  • S/P: Status Post
  • FB: Foreign Body
  • ALS/BLS: Advanced/Basic Life Support

Lab Abbreviations

  • CBC: Complete Blood Count
  • WBC: White Blood Cells
  • RBC: Red Blood Cells
  • PIT: Platelets
  • BMP: Basic Metabolic Panel
  • CMP: Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
  • LFT: Liver Function Test
  • H&H: Hemoglobin & Hematocrit
  • Hb or HGB: Hemoglobin
  • HCT: Hematocrit
  • Na: Sodium
  • K: Potassium
  • Ca: Calcium
  • UA: Urinalysis
  • ABG: Arterial Blood Gas
  • PT: Prothrombin Time
  • PTT: Partial Thromboplastin Time
  • INR: International Normalized Ratio
  • T&S: Type & Screen
  • T&C: Type & Cross

Imaging/Test Abbreviations

  • CXR: Chest X-Ray
  • ABX: Abdominal X-Ray
  • US: Ultrasound
  • MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • CT: Computed Tomography
  • EKG or ECG: Electrocardiogram
  • EEG: Electroencephalogram
  • KUB: Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder X-Ray
  • PFT: Pulmonary Function Test

Medical Abbreviations

  • BB: Beta Blocker
  • CCB: Calcium Channel Blocker
  • ARB: Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker
  • ACEi: ACE Inhibitor
  • NTG: Nitroglycerin
  • ASA: Aspirin
  • ABX: Antibiotics
  • PCN: Penicillin
  • TPA: Tissue Plasminogen Activator
  • APAP: Acetaminophen
  • NS: Normal Saline
  • D5W: Dextrose 5% in Water
  • LR: Lactated Ringer’s
  • ETOH: Alcohol
  • HCTZ: Hydrochlorothiazide
  • MTX: Methotrexate
  • OCP: Oral Contraceptive Pill
  • TMP/SMX: Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole
  • MOM: Milk of Magnesia
  • PPI: Proton Pump Inhibitor

Diagnosis/Condition Abbreviations

  • CAD: Coronary Artery Disease
  • HTN: Hypertension
  • DM: Diabetes Mellitus
  • CHF: Congestive Heart Failure
  • COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  • MI: Myocardial Infarction
  • PE: Pulmonary Embolism
  • PNA: Pneumonia
  • TIA: Transient Ischemic Attack
  • CVA: Cerebrovascular Accident
  • ARDS: Acute Respiratory Distress
  • CKD: Chronic Kidney Disease
  • AKI: Acute Kidney Injury
  • ARF: Acute Renal Failure
  • ESRD: End Stage Renal Disease
  • CF: Cystic Fibrosis
  • CP: Cerebral Palsy
  • IBD: Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • UC: Ulcerative Colitis
  • PUD: Peptic Ulcer Disease
  • GERD: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
  • ICP: Intracranial Pressure
  • TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury
  • UTI: Urinary Tract Infection
  • URI: Upper Respiratory Infection
  • RAD: Respiratory Syncytial Virus
  • SBO: Small Bowel Obstruction
  • DVT: Deep Venous Thrombosis
  • RSV: Respiratory Syncytial Virus
  • VF: Ventricular Fibrillation
  • Afib or AF: Atrial Fibrillation
  • PVC: Premature Ventricular Contraction
  • MS: Multiple Sclerosis
  • PD: Parkinson’s Disease
  • BPH: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
  • RA: Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • OSA: Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Anatomy Abbreviations

  • RUQ: Right Upper Quadrant
  • LUQ: Left Upper Quadrant
  • RLQ: Right Lower Quadrant
  • LLQ: Left Lower Quadrant
  • RA: Right Atrium
  • LA: Left Atrium
  • RV: Right Ventricle
  • LV: Left Ventricle
  • RUE: Right Upper Extremity
  • LUE: Left Upper Extremity
  • RLE: Right Lower Extremity
  • LLE: Left Lower Extremity
  • ABD: Abdomen
  • LUL/LLL: Left Upper/Lower Lobe
  • RUL/RML/RLL: Right/Middle/Lower Lobe
  • CBD: Common Bile Duct
  • OD: Right Eye
  • OS: Left Eye
  • OU: Both Eyes
  • HC: Head Circumference

Pharmacy Abbreviations

  • AC: Before meals
  • PC: After meals
  • QD: Once Daily
  • BID: Twice Daily
  • TID: Three times daily
  • QID: Four times daily
  • QHS: At bedtime
  • QAM: Every morning
  • QPM: Every evening
  • QOD: Every other day
  • QH: Once every hour
  • Q2H: Every 2 hours
  • Q3H: Every 3 hours
  • PRN: As needed
  • PO: By mouth
  • NPO: Nothing by mouth
  • DC/SQ: Subcutaneous
  • IM: Intramuscular
  • IV: Intravenous
  • OTC: Over the Counter