1. Medical Abbreviations
Putting the pieces together

2. Medical Abbreviations
Abbreviations are shortened forms of words, usually just letters.
Ex: BR c BRP, FFl qh, VS qid
Translates into: bed rest with bathroom privileges, force fluids every hour, vital signs four times a day

3. Medical Abbreviations
Don’t use these:
IU: international unit but can be mistaken for IV or 10
qd, qod, qid: every day, every other day, four times a day but can be mistaken for each other if written poorly
Lack of a leading 0: (.5) can be mistaken as 5 (big deal when dealing with medicine)
@ symbol: can be mistaken as 2 if written poorly
< or >: can be mistaken as an L or 7

4. Medical Abbreviations
A&D : admission and discharge
A&P: Anterior and Posterior or Anatomy and Physiology
abd: abdomen
ac: before meals
ACLS: Advanced Cardiac Life Support
AD: right ear
ADH: antidiuretic hormore
ad lib: as desired
ADL: activities of daily living
adm: admission
AED: automated external defibrillation
AHA: American Heart Association
AIDS: acquired immune deficiency disorder
am: in the morning
----- Meeting Notes (8/12/13 09:35) -----
go into discussion more on the terms

5. Medical Abbreviations
AMA: American Medical Association, against medical advice
amb: ambulate, walk
amt: amount
ANA: American Nurses’ Association
ANS: autonomic nervous system
ant: anterior
AP: apical pulse
approx: approximately
aq, aqua: aqueous (water base)
AS: left ear
as tol: as tolerated
ASA: aspirin

6. Medical Abbreviations
ASAP: as soon as possible
AU: both ears
av: average
AV: arteriovenous, arterioventricular
A&W: alive and well
Ax: axilla, axillary, armpit

7. Medical Abbreviations
bid: twice a day
bil: bilateral
BM: bowel movement
BMI: body mass index
BMR: basal metabolic rate
BP: blood pressure
BR: bed rest
BS: blood sugar

8. Medical Abbreviations
Ca: calcium
cal: calorie
Cap: capsule
Cath: catheter, catheterize
CBC: complete blood count
CBR: complete bed rest
cc: cubic centimeter
CC: chief complaint
CEO: chief executive officer
CHD: coronary heart disease
CHF: congestive heart failure
CHO: carbohydrate
chol: cholesterol
CICU: Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

9. Medical Abbreviations
Cl: chloride, chlorine
cl liq: clear liquid
cm: centimeter
CMA: certified medical assistant
CNP: certified nurse practitioner
CNS: central nervous system
co, c/o: complains of
CO: carbon monoxide
CO2: carbon dioxide
Comp: complete, compound
cont: continue
COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
COTA: certified occupational therapy assistant
CP: cerebral palsy

10. Medical Abbreviations
CPR: cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CPT: current procedural terminology
CRTT: certified respiratory therapy technician
CSF: cerebrospinal fluid
CST: certified surgical technologist
CT: computed tomography
CVA: cerebral vascular accident (stroke)
CVD: cardiovascular disease

11. Medical Abbreviations
d: day
DA: dental assistant
DAT: diet as tolerated
DOC: doctor or chiropractic
D/C: discontinued
DDS: doctor of dental surgery
DEA: Drug Enforcement Agency
Dept: department
DH: dental hygienist
DHHS: Department of Health and Human Services
DM: diabetes mellitus
DMD: doctor of dental medicine
DMS: diagnostic medical sonography
DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid

12. Medical Abbreviations
DO: doctor of osteopathic medicine
DOA: dead on arrival
DOB: date of birth
DOD: date of death
DON: director of nursing
DPT: diptheria, pertussis, tetanus
Dr: doctor
DVM: doctor of veterinary medicine
Dx/dx: diagnosis

13. Medical Abbreviations
ea: each
ECG/EKG: electrocardiogram
ED: emergency department
EEG: electroencephalogram
EENT: eyes, ears, nose throat
EMG: electromyogram
EMS: emergency medical system
EMT: emergency medical technician
ENT: ears, nose, throat
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency
ER: emergency room
et/etiol: etiology (cause of disease)
Ex/exam: examination

14. Medical Abbreviations
FAS: fetal alcohol syndrome
FDA: Food and Drug Administration
Fe: Iron
FF/FFl: force fluids
FH: family history
Fl/fl: fluid
ft: foot
Fx/fr: fracture

15. Medical Terminology gal: gallon GH: growth hormone
GI: Gastrointestinal
Gm/g: gram
Gyn: gynecology

16. Medical Abbreviations
H: hydrogen
H2O: water
H2O2: hydrogen peroxide
HBP: high blood pressure
HBV: hepatitis B virus
HCl: hydrochloric acid
HCV: hepatitis C virus
HDL: high-density lipoproteins
Hg: mercury
HHA: home health assistant/aide
HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
HIV: human immunodeficiency virus

17. Medical Abbreviations
HMO: health maintenance organization
H&P: history and physical
Hr/hr/H/h: hour
Ht: height
Hx/hx: history
Hyst: hysterectomy

18. Medical Abbreviations
ICD: international classification of disease
ICU: intensive care unit
IDDM: insulin-dependant diabetes mellitus
IM: intramuscular
in: inch
inf: inferior
ing: inguinal
inj: injection
int: interior, internal
IUD: intrauterine device
IV: intravenous

19. Medical Abbreviations
jt: joint

20. Medical Terminology K: potassium KCl: potassium chloride
Kg/kg: kilogram

21. Medical Terminology L: lumbar L&W: living and well (L)/lt/lft: left
L: liter
Lab: laboratory
lat: lateral
lb: pound
LDL: low-density lipoprotein
lg: large
liq: liquid
LLQ: lower left quadrant
LPN: licensed nurse practitioner
LS: lumbar sacral
LUQ: left upper quadrant

22. Medical Abbreviations
MA: medical assistant
MD: medical doctor, muscular dystrophy, myocardial disease
mg: milligram
Mg: magnesium
MI: myocardial infarction (heart attack)
MICU: medical intensive care unit
min: minute
mL/ml: milliliter
mm: millimeter
mod: moderate
MOM: milk of magnesia
MRI: magnetic resonance imaging
MS: multiple sclerosis, mitral stenosis, muscular-skeletal

23. Medical Abbreviations
N: nitrogen
N/A: not applicable
Na: sodium
NaCl: sodium chloride
NB: newborn
N/C: no complaints
neg: negative
NICU: neurological intensive care unit
NIDDM: non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
NIH: National Institutes of Health
no: number
NO: nursing office
NP: Nurse practitioner
N/V, N&V: nausea and vomiting

24. Medical Abbreviations
NVD: nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
NVS: neurological vital signs

25. Medical Abbreviations
O2: oxygen
OBRA: Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
od: overdose
OD: right eye, or Doctor or Optometry
oint: ointment
OJ: orange juice
OP: outpatient
OPD/OPC: outpatient department/clinic
opp: opposite
OR: operating room
Orth: Orthopedics
OS: left eye
OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OT: occupational therapist/ therapy

26. Medical Abbreviations
OTC: over the counter
OU: each eye
OV: office visit
oz: ounce

27. Medical Abbreviations
P: pulse, phosphorus
PA: physician’s assistant
Path: pathology
Pb: lead
PCC: poison control center
PCP: patient care plan
PCT: patient/ personal care technician
PDR: Physician’s Desk Reference
PE: physical examination, pulmonary edema
PET: positron emission tomography
pH: measure of acidity/ alkalinity
Pharm: pharmacy
PID: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PM/pm: after noon

28. Medical Abbreviations
PMS: premenstrual syndrome
PNS: peripheral nervous system
post: posterior, after
post-op: after an operation
PPE: personal protective equipment
PPO: preferred provider organization
pre-op: before an operation
prep: prepare
PRN: as needed
pt: patient
PT: physical therapy/ therapist
Px: prognosis

29. Medical Abbreviations
qol: quality of life
qt: quart

30. Medical Terminology R: respiration Rt: right Ra: radium
RBC: red blood cell
RDA: recommended daily allowance
REM: rapid eye movement
RHD: rheumatic heart disease
RLQ: right lower quadrant
RN: registered nurse
RNA: ribonucleic acid
R/O rule out
ROM: range of motion
RRT: registered respiratory therapist, registered radiologic technologist

31. Medical Abbreviations
RT: respiratory therapy/ therapist
RUQ: right upper quadrant
Rx: prescription, take, treatment

32. Medical Abbreviations
S: sacral
S&A: sugar and acetone
w/o: without
SA: sinoatrial
SICU: surgical intensive care unit
SIDS: sudden infant death syndrome
sm: small
SOB: shortness of breath
SPN: student practical nurse
S/S, S&S: signs and symptoms
Staph: staphylococcus infection
Stat: immediately, at once
STD: sexually transmitted disease
Strep: streptococcus infection

33. Medical Abbreviations
T/Temp: temperature
TB: tuberculosis
tbsp: tablespoon
TLC: tender loving care
tsp: teaspoon
tx: traction, treatment

34. Medical Abbreviations
UA, U/A: urinalysis
URI: upper respiratory infection
UTI: urinary tract infection
UV: ultraviolet

35. Medical Abbreviations
VDM: Veterinarian Degree of Medicine
vol: volume
VS: vital signs

36. Medical Abbreviations
WBC: white blood cell
WHO: World Health Organization
WNL: within normal limits
w/o, wo: without
W/P: whirlpool
wt: weight

37. Medical Abbreviations
x: times (2x means 2 times)
XR: x-ray

38. Medical Abbreviations
y/o: years old
YOB: year of birth
yr: year

39. Medical Abbreviations
Zn: zinc