Medical Acronyms, Abbreviations and Symbols Each facility will have a list of approved acronyms, abbreviations, and symbols. Please ask to review this list at each facility. An acronym or abbreviation may have more than one meaning. Evaluate the acronym or abbreviation in context. Some acronyms, abbreviations, and symbols have become unacceptable to use due to their high propensity for error. Some are included in this list, followed by (unacceptable abbreviation). At the end of this file is a table of unacceptable abbreviations that the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Facilities requires for all healthcare institutions. Each facility is also supposed to add additional “do not use” acronyms, etc. Do NOT use these acronyms, abbreviations, or symbols. You will still see them in charts (old habits die hard) so you need to know them. In addition, drug names are not to be abbreviated with the exception of ASA, HCTZ, and vitamins.
In addition to the abbreviation, you should know the definition of the word or have an idea of the condition described by the acronym or abbreviation. You should also know metric abbreviations (L, mg, ml, etc) and abbreviations of common minerals along with valence. A ā āc AAA AAAAA ACE ACLS AD ADH ADL ad lib AH AHD AIDS AK AKA AMA AMI ANP ARC ARF ARI ARDS art before (ante) before meals abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute anxiety attack aphasia, agnosia, apraxia, agraphia, alexia angiotensin­converting enzyme advanced cardiac life support admitting diagnosis antidiuretic hormone activities of daily living as desired abdominal hysterectomy arteriosclerotic heart disease acquired immune deficiency syndrome above the knee above the knee amputation against medical advice; American Medical Association acute myocardial infarction advanced nurse practitioner AIDS­related complex acute renal failure acute respiratory infection adult respiratory distress syndrome; acute respiratory distress syndrome. arterial
1 ATN ASA ASCVD ATN Aus© A&W acute tubular necrosis aspirin arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease acute tubular necrosis auscultation alive and well B BG bid Bil(at) BK BKA BLE BM B/O bol BP BPH bronch BS BSA BSN blood glucose twice daily bilateral below knee below the knee amputation both lower extremities bowel movement; bone marrow because of bolus blood pressure; bathroom privileges; bedpan benign prostatic hypertrophy bronchoscopy; bronchoscope blood sugar body surface area Bachelor of Science in Nursing C CA CAB CABG CAD CAT cath CC CCRN CCU CEU CICU CHF CAPD CKD CN CNM CNSN COPD CP cancer, carcinoma coronary artery bypass coronary artery bypass graft coronary artery disease computerized axial tomography catheter, catheterize chief complaint; complications and co­morbidities Certified Critical Care Registered Nurse cardiac care unit, coronary care unit continuing education unit cardiac (coronary) intensive care unit congestive heart failure continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis chronic kidney disease charge nurse certified nurse ­midwife; clinical nurse manager Certified Nutrition Support Nurse chronic obstructive pulmonary disease chest pain
2 CPAP CRF CSF CVA CVD CXR continuous (constant) positive airway pressure chronic renal failure cerebrospinal fluid cerebrovascular accident cardiovascular disease chest x­ray D DAT DC, dc D/C DD decub DM DNR DOB DOA DOE DON Decub DRG DSM DT DVT DW Dx diet as tolerated discontinue discharge (unacceptable abbreviation) differential diagnosis lying down (decubitus) diabetes mellitus do not resuscitate date of birth date of admission dyspnea on exertion director of nurses decubitus ulcer Diagnosis Related Group Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders delirium tremens deep vein thrombosis distilled water; dry weight diagnosis E EBL EC ECF Echo E coli ECMO ECV ECW ED EDC edent EEG EENT estimated blood loss enteric coated extended care facility echocardiogram Escherichia coli extracorporeal membrane oxygenation extracellular volume extracellular water emergency department estimated date of confinement edentulous electroencephalogram eye, ear, nose, throat
3 EEP EF EFA EGA EKG ELISA EN EOMB EPAP EPI EPO EPS ESLD ESRD ET ETD Etiol ETOH Exp end expiratory pressure ejection fraction essential fatty acids estimated gestational age electrocardiogram enzyme­linked immunosorbent assay (immunological testing) enteral nutrition explanation of medical benefits expiratory positive airway pressure epinephrine erythropoietin extrapyramidal symptoms end­stage liver disease end­stage renal disease endotracheal tube estimated time of death etiology ethyl alcohol expired F F FBG FAS FBS FOB FTN FTP FTT F/O FUO Fx female fasting blood glucose fetal alcohol syndrome fasting blood sugar foot of bed full­term nursery failure to progress failure to thrive follow­up fever of undetermined origin fracture G GALT GB GBD GBS GC GERD GFR GI G GSW gut­associated lymphoid tissue gallbladder gallbladder disease gallbladder series gonococcus gastroesophageal reflux disease glomerular filatration rate gastrointestinal gravida gunshot wound
4 GU gastric ulcer, genitourinary H HA HCO3 HCTZ HDN HD HEENT hemi HH HHNKS HI HIV HL HLHS H&N H&P H/O; h/o HOB HOH HR hs Htn Hx headache bicarbonate hydrochlorothiazide hemolytic disease of the newborn hemodialysis head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat hemiplegia, hemiplegic hiatal hernia hyperglycemic, hyperosomolar nonketotic syndrome head injury hum immunodeficiency virus hearing loss hypoplastic left heart syndrome head and neck history and physical history of head of bed hard of hearing heart rate bedtime hypertension history I IBD IBS ICW IGT IHD INH I & O IUGR IVP IVPB ISVD inflammatory bowel disease irritable bowel syndrome intracellular water impaired glucose tolerance ischemic heart disease isoniazid intake and output intrauterine growth retardation intravenous pyelography; intravenous push Intravenous piggyback interventricular septal defect J
5 JCAHO Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations K K KCl KDC KLS KVO KUB potassium potassium chloride infant warming bed kidney, liver, spleen keep vein open (IV rate of usually 25 cc/hr with NS or D5W) kidney, ureter, bladder L lap LBW LCSW LES LFT LGA LLQ LMP LOC LOS LP LR LRQ LTC LVH lytes laporotomy low birth weight licensed clinical social worker lower esopohageal spinchter liver function tests large for gestational age lower left quadrant last menstrual period laxative of choice (unacceptable abbreviation); level of consciousness length of stay lumbar puncture lactated ringers lower right quadrant long term care left ventricular hypertrophy electrolytes M M MAOI MDD mec med­surg mEq mEq/L met(s) MI MICU mM M&M mmHg Male, married monamine oxidase inhibitor major depressive disorder meconium medical­surgical milliequivalents milliequivalents per liter metastasis, metastasize, metastasizing myocardial infarction medical intensive care unit millimole morbidity & mortality millimeters of mercury (BP unit)
6 MO MOM Mono Mosm MR MRSA MRI MS MSW MT MVA MVP mineral oil; months old milk of magnesia monocyte; mononucleosis milliosmol magnetic resonance; medical records; mental retardation methicillin resistant staph aureus magnetic resonance imaging mitral stenosis; multiple sclerosis Master of Social Work medical technologist motor vehicle accident mitral valve prolapse N N/A NAD NAS NEC NG(T) NH(P) NKA Nl NIDDM NOS NPO NS NSAID N & V NVD not available no acute distress no added salt necrotizing enterocolitis nasogastric (tube) nursing home (placement) no known allergies normal non­insulin dependant diabetes mellitus (not to be used anymore) not otherwise specified; no organisms seen nil per os (nothing by mouth) normal saline; neurosurgery nonsteroidal anti­inflammatory drug nausea and vomiting nausea, vomiting, diarrhea O OB OBS OC OOB OR Ortho O2 sat OT OTC obstetrics organic brain syndrome oral contraceptive out of bed operating room orthopedics oxygen saturation occupational therapy over­the­counter
7 P p P PA P&A PACU Para Path p.c. PCA PVN PCOD PDA PE PEEP PEG PERRLA PFT PH PT PTA PICC PIP PKU PMH PN PO; po POD# Post­op PP PPBS PR; pr Pre­op PRN Prog PSA PTA PUD Pulm PVC P/Y; PY post; after para; phosphorus; pulse pernicious anemia; Physician’s Assistant percussion and auscultation postanaesthesia care unit para (nullipara, primiparia, Para !, Para II, etc) pathology after meals patient­controlled analgesia penicillin polycystic ovarian disease patent ductus arteriosus pelvic exam; physical exam positive end­expiratory pressure percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation pulmonary function test past history physical therapy prior to admission/arrival peripherally inserted central catheter positive inspiratory pressure phenylketonuria past medical history parenteral nutrition per os (by mouth); phone order postoperative day# postoperative postpartum; post­prandial post­prandial blood sugar per rectum pre­operative pro re nata (as necessary) prognosis; progress prostate specific antigen prior to admission peptic ulcer disease pulmonary premature ventricular contraction pack year (cigarettes)
8 Q q QD; qd QH; qh QOD; qod every every day (unacceptable abbreviation) every hour every other day (unacceptable abbreviation) R R RA Resp RDS Re Rh RIA RLE RLL RLQ RN R/O ROM ROS RQ RR RRR RT RUE RUQ Rx rectal; respiration; right rheumatoid arthritis; right atrium; room air respiratory; respiration respiratory distress syndrome concerning rhesus factor (will be + or ­) radioimmunoassay right lower extremity right lower lobe right lower quadrant registered nurse rule out range of motion; rupture of membranes review of symptoms respiratory quotient respiratory rate; recovery room regular rate and rhythm respiratory therapist; radiation therapy right upper extremity right upper quadrant prescription, take, therapy, treatment S s SAH SB SBE SBO SC SCN SGA SIADH SIDS without subarachnoid hemorrhage small bowel; short bowel shortness of breath on exertion, subacute bacterial endocarditis small bowel obstruction sickle cell special care nursery small for gestational age syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone sudden infant death syndrome
9 SLE SNF SO S/O SOAP SOB Sol S/P; s/p SQ S&S, S/S ss; SS;SSE s s ST Staph STD stat Strep Subq supp susp Sz systemic lupus erythematosus skilled nursing facility significant other signed out subjective, objective, assessment, plan shortness of breath solution status post subcutaneous signs and symptoms soapsuds (enema) one­half (not acceptable) speech therapist staphyloccus sexually transmitted disease; short­term disability statim (immediately) streptococcus subcutaneous suppository suspension seizure T T, temp T max tab TAC tachy TAH TB TBSA TBLC TBW T&C TF THR TIA tid TO top tol TPN TURP TWE temperature; time maximum temperature tablet temporal artery catheter tachycardia total abdominal hysterectomy tuberculosis total burn surface area term birth, living child total body water type and crossmatch tube feeding total hip replacement transient ischemic attack three times a day telephone order topically tolerate, tolerated, tolerance total parenteral nutrition transurethral resection of prostate tap water enema
10 Tx treatment U U, u UAC UAO unk UOP up ad lib UR URI Urol US; U/S USP UTI unit (unacceptable abbreviation) umbilical artery catheter upper airway obstruction unknown urinary output up (out of bed) as disired (adlibitum) upper respiratory; utilization review upper respiratory infection urology; urologist ultrasound United States Pharmacopeia urinary tract infection V V VH V/D Vent viz VLBW VO VO2 vol VP VRSA VS ventricular; volume vaginal hysterectomy vomiting and diarrhea ventral; ventricular; ventilator that is, namely very low birth weight verbal order oxygen consumption volume venous pressure vancomycin resistant staph aureus vital signs W W WB WBN WC; w/c w/d WD WF; wf WFL WM; wm white; widowed weight bearing well baby nursery wheelchair well developed; warm and dry well developed white female within functional limits white male
11 WN;w/n WNL Wt W/U;w/u well nourished within normal limits weight work­up X X X­match times cross match Y YO; y/o YTD year(s) old year to date Z Symbols ↓ decrease ↑ increase O ♀ female □ ♂ male 1° primary 2° secondary ά lower­case alpha; β lower­case beta; prefix denoting the second of a series γ lower­case gamma; prefix denoting third of a series Δ upper­case delta; amount of change or difference μ lower­case mu, micrometer (micron). Unacceptable symbol.
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DO NOT USE Medical Acronyms & Abbreviations Abbreviation U (for unit) IU (for international unit) Potential Problem Preferred Term Mistaken as zero, four or Write "unit" cc Mistaken as IV Write "international unit" (intravenous) or 10 (ten) Q.D., Mistaken for each other. Q.O.D. The period after the Q (Latin abbreviation for can be mistaken for an once daily and every other "I" and the "O" can be day) mistaken for "I". Write "daily" and "every other day" Trailing zero (X.0 mg) [Note: Prohibited only for medication­related notations]; Lack of leading zero (.X mg) Decimal point is missed. Never write a zero by itself after a decimal point (X mg), and always use a zero before a decimal point (0.X mg) MS MSO4 MgSO4 Confused for one another. Can mean morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate. Write "morphine sulfate" or "magnesium sulfate"
mg (for microgram) Mistaken for mg (milligrams) resulting in one thousand­fold dosing overdose. Write "mcg" H.S. (for half­strength or Latin abbreviation for bedtime) Mistaken for either half­ Write out "half­strength" strength or hour of sleep or "at bedtime" (at bedtime). q.H.S. mistaken for every hour. All can result in a dosing error. T.I.W. (for three times a week) Mistaken for three times a day or twice weekly resulting in an overdose. 14 Write "3 times weekly" or "three times weekly"
S.C. or S.Q. (for subcutaneous) Mistaken as SL for sublingual, or "5 every" Write "Sub­Q", "subQ", or "subcutaneously" D/C (for discharge) Interpreted as discontinue whatever medications follow (typically discharge meds). Write "discharge" c.c. (for cubic centimeter) Mistaken for U (units) when poorly written. Write "ml" for milliliters A.S., A.D., A.U. (Latin abbreviation for left, right, or both ears) Mistaken for OS, OD, and OU, etc.). Write: "left ear," "right ear" or "both ears"
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