Medical Abbreviations and Acronyms
AC – Assist control: Respirator setting-controls breaths per minute the patient receives.
a.c. – ante cebum, before meals
ADL’s – Activities of Daily Living
ALT – Alanine Aminotransferase levels; liver studies
AROM- Active Range of Motion
BAL – Bronchial alveolar lavage
Babinski + – neurological sign of brain injury. Great toe points up and others fan out
b.i.d. - Twice per day
BS – bowel sounds
BBS – bilateral breath sounds
CHT/ CHI – closed head trauma, closed head injury
Crepitus – Popping or clicking sound at joint or under skin
C & S – culture and sensitivity
CTA – clear to auscultation (Lungs /breath sounds)
CV – cardiovascular
CVC – Central Venous Catheter
CVA - Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
CVF – central visual fields
CWON - Certified Wound and Ostomy Nurse
Dx – diagnosis
DIB – Difficulty in Breathing
DTR – Deep tendon reflexes
Eosinophilia – elevation of a specific type of white blood cell
ETOH – Alcohol or Ethyl Alcohol
Elevation of / or increase of some measure
Decrease of / or depression of some measure
FSBS - finger stick blood sugar
F/u - Follow up
Fr. – French Measurement of catheters (i.e. Foley urinary catheter)
GI – Gastrointestinal/Gastroenterologist. stomach/intestines. MD who treats stomach/intestines.
GETA- general endotracheal anesthesia
Gram + cocci – A bacteria or organism that causes grave infections
Guaiac – test for blood in stools
Hematuria – Blood in urine
Hbg – hemoglobin, oxygen carrying capacity of blood
Hct – hematocrit, red blood cell count
Hyperkalemia – elevated potassium level
HBP/HTN – High Blood Pressure, hypertension
H & P: history and physical
ICP – Intra-cranial Pressure
IDDM - Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus – requiring insulin to treat diabetes
ID – Infectious Disease: Physician who specializes in the treatment of infectious diseases
IJ - Internal Jugular
IMV – Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation: respirator setting: patient breathes with the respirator.
IVF - Intravenous fluids
Intubated – Plastic tube placed via trachea to lungs to open airway and support breathing
K+ - potassium, electrolyte
Lt. - Left
LFT - Liver Function test -LDH, SGOT, SGPT – laboratory study of liver enzymes
Leukopenia – Low White Blood Cell count
Macrocytosis – Enlarged red blood cell (erythrocyte)
MVA/MVC – motor vehicle accident/crash
MRSA- Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus –bacterial infection
Na+ - sodium, electrolyte
NCS - Nerve Conduction Studies
NIDDM – Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus- not requiring insulin therapy to treat diabetes
NSR – normal sinus rhythm. Heart rhythm
NTND – non-tender, non-distended
N/V- nausea and vomiting
NWB – non weight bearing
OOB – Out of bed
OT - Occupational Therapy
PAC’s – Premature Atrial contractions-irregular heart beat
p.c. – post cebum, after meals
PEG Tube – Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube (feeding tube)
PERLA - Pupil Equal and Reactive to Light and Accommodation
p - After
PEEP – Positive End Expiratory Pressure: A method of hyper inflating the alveolar sacs in the lungs
Pressor Drugs –IV drugs utilized to elevate and maintain blood pressure. Dopamine/Levophed
Platelets – clotting cells in blood
PROM- Passive range of motion
Pulse ox – Pulse oximetry: blood oxygen content measured by laser on patient’s index finger.
PRBC – Packed Red Blood Cells: transfusion of red blood cells to raise hemoglobin and hematocrit
p.r.n.- as needed or whenever necessary
PT - Physical Therapy
Pt. - patient
q.– Every
q.d. – every day or daily
q.h.s. – every night
q.i.d. – four times per day
q.o.d. – every other day
R/O- Rule out - to eliminate as a diagnosis
RAP - resident assessment protocol
Sepsis –massive bacterial infection which affects major organ systems
SBO – Small Bowel Obstruction
SLP- Speech and Language Pathologist
SOB – Shortness of Breath
S/P – status post
Stenosis-narrowing or stricture of opening
STM – short-term memory
STSG – Split thickness skin graft
TEE – Trans-esophageal Echocardiogram
t.i.d. – three times per day
TED – Thromboembolic hose-Special elastic stockings to prevent clot formation in legs. DVT
Thrombocytopenia – Decreased Platelet count or “clotting cells”
TLC – triple lumen catheter - IV catheter w/ three ports for drug administration & cardiac monitoring
T & P - Turn and Position
TPN – Total Parenteral Nutrition: High Calorie feedings via intravenous method
Tracheostomy –external opening in the trachea -airway for ventilation of the lungs
TX - treatment
UBG – Urobilinogen – lab value- liver function
UTI - Urinary Tract Infection
VAP – Ventilator acquired pneumonia
WOC- Wound and Ostomy care
WBC – White blood cell count, indication of infection