Appendix C

Common Medical Abbreviations

• ABC – airway, breathing, circulation
• abd. – abdomen
• ABG – arterial blood gas
• ABO – system of classifying blood groups
• ac – before meals
• ACE – angiotensin-converting enzyme
• ACS – acute compartment syndrome
• ACTH – adrenocorticotrophic hormone
• ad lib – freely, as desired
• ADH – antidiuretic hormone
• ADL – activities of daily living
• AFP – alpha-fetoprotein
• AIDS – acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
• AKA – above-the-knee amputation
• ALL – acute lymphocytic leukemia
• ALP – alkaline phosphatase
• ALS – amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• ALT – alkaline phosphatase (formerly SGPT)
• AMI – antibody-mediated immunity
• AML – acute myelogenous leukemia
• amt. – amount
• ANA – antinuclear antibody
• ANS – autonomic nervous system
• AP – anteroposterior
• A&P – anterior and posterior
• APC – atrial premature contraction
• aq. – water
• ARDS – adult respiratory distress syndrome
• ASD – atrial septal defect
• ASHD – atherosclerotic heart disease
• AST – aspartate aminotransferase (formerly SGOT)
• ATP – adenosine triphosphate
• AV – atrioventricular
• BCG – Bacille Calmette-Guerin
• bid – two times a day
• BKA – below-the-knee amputation
• BLS – basic life support
• BMR – basal metabolic rate
• BP – blood pressure
• BPH – benign prostatic hypertrophy
• bpm – beats per minute
• BPR – bathroom privileges
• BSA – body surface area
• BUN – blood urea nitrogen
• C – centigrade, Celsius
• – with
• Ca – calcium
• CA – cancer
• CABG – coronary artery bypass graft
• CAD – coronary artery disease
• CAL – chronic airflow limitations
• CAPD – continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
• caps – capsules
• CBC – complete blood count
• CC – chief complaint
• cc – cubic centimeter
• CCU – coronary care unit, critical care unit
• CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• CHF – congestive heart failure
• CK – creatine kinase
• Cl – chloride
• CLL – chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• cm – centimeter
• CMV – cytomegalovirus
• CNS – central nervous system
• CO – carbon monoxide, cardiac output
• CO₂ – carbon dioxide
• comp – compound
• cont – continuous
• COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• CP – cerebral palsy
• CPAP – continuous positive airway pressure
• CPK – creatine phosphokinase
• CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• CRP – C-reactive protein
• C&S – culture and sensitivity
• CSF – cerebrospinal fluid
• CT – computerized tomography
• CTD – connective tissue disease
• CTS – carpal tunnel syndrome
• cu – cubic
• CVA – cerebrovascular accident or costovertebral angle
• CVC – central venous catheter
• CVP – central venous pressure
• D&C – dilation and curettage
• DC – discontinue
• DCBE – double-contrast barium enema
• DIC – disseminated intravascular coagulation
• DIFF – differential blood count
• dil. – dilute
• DJD – degenerative joint disease
• DKA – diabetic ketoacidosis
• dL, dl – deciliter (100 mL)
• DM – diabetes mellitus
• DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid
• DNR – do not resuscitate
• DO – doctor of osteopathy
• DOE – dyspnea on exertion
• DPT – vaccine for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus
• Dr. – doctor
• DRE – digital rectal exam
• DVT – deep vein thrombosis
• D/W – dextrose in water
• Dx – diagnosis
• ECF – extracellular fluid
• ECG, EKG – electrocardiogram
• ECT – electroconvulsive therapy
• ED – emergency department
• EEG – electroencephalogram
• EMD – electromechanical dissociation
• EMG – electromyography
• ENT – ear, nose, and throat
• ERCP – endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
• ESR – erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• ESRD – end-stage renal disease
• ET – endotracheal tube
• F – Fahrenheit
• FBD – fibrocystic breast disease
• FBS – fasting blood sugar
• FDA – U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• FFP – fresh frozen plasma
• FHR – fetal heart rate
• FHT – fetal heart tone
• fl – fluid
• FOBT – fecal occult blood test
• 4 × 4 – piece of gauze 4 inches by 4 inches; used for dressings
• FSH – follicle-stimulating hormone
• ft. – foot, feet (unit of measure)
• FUO – fever of undetermined origin
• g – gram
• GB – gallbladder
• GCS – Glasgow coma scale
• GFR – glomerular filtration rate
• GH – growth hormone
• GI – gastrointestinal
• gr – grain
• gtt – drops
• GU – genitourinary
• GYN – gynecological
• h, hrs – hour, hours
• (H) – hypodermically
• Hb, Hgb – hemoglobin
• HCG – human chorionic gonadotropin
• HCO₃ – bicarbonate
• Hct – hematocrit
• HD – hemodialysis
• HDL – high-density lipoprotein
• Hg – mercury
• HGH – human growth hormone
• HHNK – hyperglycemia hyperosmolar nonketotic coma
• HIV – human immunodeficiency virus
• HLA – human leukocyte antigen
• H₂O – water
• HR – heart rate
• HSV – herpes simplex virus
• HTN – hypertension
• Hx – history
• Hz – hertz (cycles/second)
• IAPB – intra-aortic balloon pump
• IBBP – intermittent positive pressure breathing
• IBS – irritable bowel syndrome
• ICF – intracellular fluid
• ICP – intracranial pressure
• ICS – intercostal space
• ICU – intensive care unit
• I&D – incision and drainage
• IDDM – insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 1)
• IgA – immunoglobulin A
• IM – intramuscular
• I&O – intake and output
• IOP – increased intraocular pressure
• IPG – impedance plethysmogram
• IPPB – intermittent positive-pressure breathing
• IUD – intrauterine device
• IV – intravenous
• IVC – intraventricular catheter
• IVP – intravenous pyelogram or intravenous pyelography
• JRA – juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
• K⁺ – potassium
• kcal – kilocalorie (food calorie)
• kg – kilogram
• KO, KVO – keep vein open
• KS – Kaposi’s sarcoma
• KUB – kidneys, ureters, bladder
• L, l – liter
• lab – laboratory
• lb – pound
• LBBB – left bundle branch block
• LDH – lactate dehydrogenase
• LDL – low-density lipoprotein
• LE – lupus erythematosus
• LH – luteinizing hormone
• liq – liquid
• LLQ – left lower quadrant
• LOC – level of consciousness
• LP – lumbar puncture
• LPN – licensed practical nurse
• Lt, lt – left
• LTC – long-term care
• LUQ – left upper quadrant
• LV – left ventricle
• LVN – licensed vocational nurse
• m – minum, meter, micron
• MAO – monoamine oxidase inhibitor
• MAST – military antishock trousers
• mcg – microgram
• MCH – mean corpuscular hemoglobin
• MCV – mean corpuscular volume
• MD – muscular dystrophy, medical doctor
• MDI – metered dose inhaler
• mEq – milliequivalent
• mg – milligram
• Mg – magnesium
• MG – myasthenia gravis
• MI – myocardial infarction
• mL, ml – milliliter
• mm – millimeter
• MMR – vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella
• MRI – magnetic resonance imaging
• MS – multiple sclerosis
• N – nitrogen, normal (strength of solution)
• NIDDM – non–insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (type 2)
• Na⁺ – sodium
• NaCl – sodium chloride
• NANDA – North American Nursing Diagnosis Association
• NG – nasogastric
• NGT – nasogastric tube
• NLN – National League for Nursing
• noc – at night
• NPO – nothing by mouth (nil per os)
• NS – normal saline
• NSAID – nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
• NSNA – National Student Nurses’ Association
• NST – non-stress test
• O₂ – oxygen
• OB-GYN – obstetrics and gynecology
• OCT – oxytocin challenge test
• OOB – out of bed
• OPC – outpatient clinic
• OR – operating room
• – by mouth
• OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• OTC – over-the-counter (drug that can be obtained without a prescription)
• oz – ounce
• – with
• P – pulse, pressure, phosphorus
• PA Chest – posterior-anterior chest x-ray
• PAC – premature atrial complexes
• PaCO₂ – partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood
• PaO₂ – partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood
• PAD – peripheral artery disease
• Pap – Papanicolaou smear
• pc – after meals
• PCA – patient-controlled analgesia
• pCO₂ – partial pressure of carbon dioxide
• PCP – Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (formerly Pneumocystitis carinii pneumonia)
• PD – peritoneal dialysis
• PE – pulmonary embolism
• PEEP – positive end-expiratory pressure
• PERRLA – pupils equal, round, react to light and accommodation
• PET – postural emission tomography
• PFT – pulmonary function test
• pH – hydrogen ion concentration
• PICC – peripherally inserted central catheter
• PID – pelvic inflammatory disease
• PKD – polycystic disease
• PKU – phenylketonuria
• PMS – premenstrual syndrome
• PND – paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
• PO, po – by mouth
• pO₂ – partial pressure of oxygen
• PPD – positive purified protein derivative (of tuberculin)
• PPE – personal protective equipment
• PPN – partial parenteral nutrition
• PRN, prn – as needed, whenever necessary
• pro time – prothrombin time
• PSA – prostate-specific antigen
• psi – pounds per square inch
• PSP – phenolsulfonphthalein
• PT – physical therapy, prothrombin time
• PTCA – percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
• PTH – parathyroid hormone
• PTSD – post-traumatic stress disorder
• PTT – partial thromboplastin time
• PUD – peptic ulcer disease
• PVC – premature ventricular contraction
• q – every
• QA – quality assurance
• qh – every hour
• q 2 h – every two hours
• q 4 h – every four hours
• qid – four times a day
• qs – quantity sufficient
• R – rectal temperature, respirations, roentgen
• RA – rheumatoid arthritis
• RAI – radioactive iodine
• RAIU – radioactive iodine uptake
• RAS – reticular activating system
• RBBB – right bundle branch block
• RBC – red blood cell or red blood count
• RCA – right coronary artery
• RDA – recommended dietary allowance
• resp – respirations
• RF – rheumatic fever, rheumatoid factor
• Rh – antigen on blood cell indicated by + or –
• RIND – reversible ischemic neurologic deficit
• RLQ – right lower quadrant
• RN – registered nurse
• RNA – ribonucleic acid
• R/O, r/o – rule out, to exclude
• ROM – range of motion (of joint)
• Rt, rt – right
• RUQ – right upper quadrant
• Rx – prescription
• – without
• S., Sig. – (Signa) to write on label
• SA – sinoatrial node
• SaO₂ – systemic arterial oxygen saturation (%)
• sat sol – saturated solution
• SBE – subacute bacterial endocarditis
• SDA – same-day admission
• SDS – same-day surgery
• S/E – side effects
• sed rate – sedimentation rate
• SGOT – serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (see AST)
• SGPT – serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (see ALT)
• SI – International System of Units
• SIADH – syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
• SIDS – sudden infant death syndrome
• SL – sublingual
• SLE – systemic lupus erythematosus
• SMBG – self-monitoring blood glucose
• SMR – submucous resection
• SOB – shortness of breath
• sol – solution
• sp gr – specific gravity
• spec. – specimen
• – one half
• SS – soapsuds
• S/S, s/s – signs and symptoms
• SSKI – saturated solution of potassium iodide
• stat – immediately
• STD – sexually transmitted disease
• subcut, SubQ – subcutaneous
• sx – symptoms
• Syr. – syrup
• T – temperature, thoracic (followed by the number designating specific thoracic vertebra)
• T&A – tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
• tabs – tablets
• TB – tuberculosis
• T&C – type and crossmatch
• TED – antiembolitic stockings
• temp – temperature
• TENS – transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
• TIA – transient ischemic attack
• TIBC – total iron binding capacity
• tid – three times a day
• tinct, tr. – tincture
• TLC – total lymphocyte count
• TMJ – temporomandibular joint
• TPA, t-pa – tissue plasminogen activator
• TPN – total parenteral nutrition
• TPR – temperature, pulse, respiration
• TQM – total quality management
• TSE – testicular self-examination
• TSH – thyroid-stimulating hormone
• tsp. – teaspoon
• TSS – toxic shock syndrome
• TURP – transurethral prostatectomy
• UA – urinalysis
• um – unit of measurement
• ung – ointment
• URI – upper respiratory tract infection
• UTI – urinary tract infection
• VAD – venous access device
• VDRL – Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (test for syphilis)
• VF, Vfib – ventricular fibrillation
• VPC – ventricular premature complexes
• VS, vs – vital signs
• VSD – ventricular septal defect
• VT – ventricular tachycardia
• WBC – white blood cell or white blood count
• WHO – World Health Organization
• WNL – within normal limits
• wt – weight
• X PO – 10 grains per orem