Medical Abbreviations
Medical Terminology
Mrs. Opland
Abbreviations “A”
@
– at
 aa
– of each
a
– Before
 abd
– abdominal
 ABG
– arterial blood gases
 ac
– before meals
 ADL
– activities of daily living
 ad lib
– as desired
 adm
– admit, admission
 AED
– automated external defibrillation (defibrillator)
 AIDS
– acquired immune deficiency syndrome
 AM (am)
– morning, before noon
 amb
– ambulate
 amt
– amount
A& P
– anterior and posterior
 ap (A)
– apical pulse
 ASA
– Asprin
 ASAP
– As soon as possible
 as tol
– as tolerated
 ax
– axillary
Abbreviations “B”
 B/B, BB
– bed bath, bowel & bladder
 BE
– barium enema
 bid
– twice a day
 bil
– bilateral
 bld
– blood
 BM (bm)
– bowel movement
 BMR
– basal metabolic rate
 BP, b/p
– blood pressure
 BRP
– bathroom privileges
 BR
– bed rest
 BS
– blood sugar; bowel sounds; breath sounds
 Bx, bx
– biopsy
Abbreviations “C”
_
c
– with
 CA (ca)
– cancer
 CAB
– coronary artery bypass
 cal
– calorie
 cap, caps
– capsule, capsules
 cath
– catheter
 CBC
– complete blood count
 CBR
– complete bed rest
 CDC
– center for disease control
 Cl liq
– clear liquids
 CC
– chief complaint
 cc
– cubic centimeter
 CCU
– coronary or critical care unit
 CF
– cystic fibrosis
 CHF
– congestive heart failure
 chol
– cholesterol
 circ
– circulation
 cl liq
– clear liquids
 c/o
– complains of
 CO2
– carbon dioxide
 COD
– cause of death
 COPD
– chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
 CPR
– cardiopulmonary resuscitation
C & S
– culture and sensitivity
 CVA
– cerebrovascular accident
Abbreviations “D”
d
– day
 DAT
– diet as tolerated
D & C
– dilation and curettage
 dc (d/c)
– discontinue
 DNR
– do not resuscitate
 DOA
– dead on arrival
 DOB
– date of birth
 DR
– doctor
 drsg
– dressing
 dx
– diagnosis
Abbreviations “E”
E
– enema
 ECHO
– echocardiogram; echocardiography
 EDC
– estimated date of confinement
 EEG
– electroencephalogram
 EENT
– eye, ear, nose & throat
 EKG (ECG)
– electrocardiogram
 EMT
– emergency medical technician
 ER
– emergency room
Abbreviations: “F”
F
– fahrenheit
 FBS
– fasting blood sugar
 FBW
– fasting blood work
 FC
– foley catheter
 Fe
– iron
 FH or FHB
– fetal heart beat
 Fl or fl
– fluid
 fx
– fracture
 FF (ff)
– force fluids
 ft
– foot or feet
Abbreviations: “G”
 GB
– gallbladder
 GC
– gonorrhea
 GI
– gastrointestinal
 gm
– gram
 gr
– grain
 gtt, gtts
– drop, drops
 GU
– genitourinary
 gyn
– gynecology, gynecologist
Abbreviations: “H”
 hct
– hematocrit
 hgb
– hemoglobin
 H2O
– water
 HOB
– head of bed
 h (hr)
– hour
 HS (hs)
– hour of sleep
 ht
– height
Abbreviation: “I”
 ICU
– intensive care unit
I & D
– incision and drainage
 IM
– intramuscular
 in
– inch
 in
– inch
 inf
– inferior
 inj
– injection
 int
– internal, interior
I & O
– intake and output
 IV
– intravenous
Abbreviations: “K”
+
K
– potassium
 kg
– kilogram
Abbreviations: “L”
 L or l
– Liter
 lab
– laboratory
 lat
– lateral
 lb.
– pound
L& D
– labor and delivery
 liq
– liquid
 lg
– large
 LLQ
– left lower quadrant
 LOC
– laxative of choice
 LPN
– licensed practical nurse
 l, lt, lft
– left
 LUQ
– left upper quadrant
Abbreviations: “M”
 MD
– medical doctor
 med
– medicine
 meq
– milliequivalent
 mid noc (MN)
– midnight
 min
– minute
 ml
– milliliter
 mm
– millimeter
 MOM
– milk of magnesia
 MT
– medical technician
Abbreviations: “N”
 NA
– nurse aide
CNA
- certified nurse assistant
 Na
– sodium
 NaCl
– sodium chloride (salt)
 No. (no.)
– number
 noct
– night
 NPO
– nothing by mouth
 n/v
– nausea & vomiting
 neg
– negative
 noc
– night
 neg
– negative
 noc
– night
Abbreviations: “O”
 O2
– oxygen
 OD (o.d.)
– right eye
 OS (o.s.)
– left eye
 OT
– occupational therapy, occupational therapist
 OU
– both eyes
 oz
– Ounce
Abbreviations “P”
_
p
– after
P
– pulse
 path
– Pathology
 pc
– after meals
 PDR
– physicians desk reference
 peds
– pediatrics
 per
– by, through
 pharm
– pharmacy
 PM, pm
– after noon
 po
– by mouth
 post
– after
 post-op
– after surgery
 pre-op
– before surgery
 prn
– as necessary, as needed
 psy
– psychiatry, psychology
 PT
– physical therapy
 pt
– patient, pint
Abbreviations “Q”
q
– every
 qd
– every day
 qh
– every hour
 qhs
– every hour of sleep (bedtime)
 q2h
– every two hours
 q3h
– every three hours
 q4h
– every four hours
 qid
– four times a day
 qod
– every other day
 qns
– quantity nonsufficient
 qs
– quantity sufficient
 qt
– quart
Abbreviations “R”
R
– rectal
 RBC
– red blood cells
 RLQ
– right lower quadrant
 RN
– registered nurse
 R/O, r/o
– rule out
 ROM
– range of motion
 RR
– recovery room
 R, rt
– right
 RUQ
– right upper quadrant
 Rx
– prescription
Abbreviations “S”
_
s
– without
 SC
– subcutaneous
 sig
– give according to the following directions
 SOB
– shortness of breath
 sol
– solution
 SOS
– if necessary
 spec
– specimen
 spt
– spirits, liquor
_
 ss
– one half, ½
 SSE
– soap solution enema
 stat
– immediately
 STD / STI
– sexually transmitted disease
– sexually transmitted infection
 surg
– surgery
 syp
– syrup
Abbreviations “T”
 T or temp
– temperature
T &A
– tonsillectomy and adnoidectomy
 tab
– tablet
 tbsp
– tablespoon
 tid
– three times a day
 TLC
– tender loving care
 TPR
– temperature, pulse, respiration
 tsp
– teaspoon
 tx
– treatment, traction
Abbreviations “U”
 ung
– ointment
 UA
– urine analysis
 ur
– urine
Abbreviations “V”
 vag
– vagina, vaginal
 VD
– venereal disease
 VO
– verbal order
 vol
– volume
 VS
– vital signs
Abbreviations “W”
 WBC
– White
 WC
– wardclerk, secretary
 w/c
– wheelchair
 wt
– weight
Abbreviations “symbols”
>
– greater than
<
– less than
X
– Times
.
– male
.
– female