Medical Abbreviations & Symbols

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  1. Ā
    before (ante)
  2. AAA
    Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm - (will hear “Triple A”)
  3. Abd
    Abdomen
  4. ABG
    Arterial Blood Gas
  5. a.c.
    before meals (ante cibum)
  6. ADL
    Activities of Daily Living
  7. ad lib.
    as desired
  8. Aeb, AEB
    as evidenced by
  9. AKA
    Above the Knee Amputation
  10. AMA
    Against Medical Advice
  11. AMI
    Acute Myocardial Infarction
  12. amb., amb
    ambulate or ambulatory
  13. AP
    Anteroposterior – (AP chest X-ray)
  14. ASA
    Acetylsalicylic Acid = Aspirin
  15. ASAP
    As Soon As Possible
  16. assist.
    Assistance
  17. ausc.
    Auscultation
  18. BaE, BE
    Barium Enema
  19. BCP
    Birth Control Pills
  20. BhCG
    Beta hCG- serum pregnancy test
  21. b.i.d., bid, BID
    twice a day (bis in die)
  22. BKA
    Below the Knee Amputation
  23. bkfst, bkf
    breakfast
  24. BLE
    Bilateral Lower Extremities
  25. BLS
    Basic Life Support
  26. BM
    Bowel Movement
  27. BMP
    Basic Metabolic Panel
  28. BP, B/P
    Blood Pressure
  29. Bpm
    beats per minute
  30. Brady
    bradycardia
  31. BRP
    Bathroom Privileges
  32. BS
    Bowel Sounds
  33. B.S.
    Blood Sugar
  34. BUN
    Blood Urea Nitrogen
  35. Bx, bx
    Biopsy
  36. C,℃
    degrees Celsius or Centigrade
  37. _
    c
    with
  38. Ca
    Calcium
  39. CA
    Cancer
  40. cap
    capsule
  41. cath
    catheter, catheterize
  42. C & S
    Culture and Sensitivity
  43. c/o, C/O
    complains of
  44. CABG
    Coronary Artery Bypass Graft(s)
  45. CAD
    Coronary Artery Disease
  46. CT scan, CAT scan
    Computed Tomography scan, Computed Axial Tomography scan
  47. CBC
    Complete Blood Count
  48. C.C.
    Chief Complaint
  49. cc
    cubic centimeter, same as mL (Do Not Use cc – use mL instead)
  50. CDU
    Closed Drainage Unit
  51. CHF
    Congestive Heart Failure
  52. CMP
    Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
  53. CNS, C.N.S.
    Central Nervous System
  54. COPD
    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  55. CPAP
    Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
  56. CPR
    Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
  57. CRF
    Chronic Renal Failure
  58. CSF
    Cerebrospinal Fluid
  59. CTA
    Clear To Auscultation
  60. CV
    Cardiovascular
  61. CVA
    Cerebrovascular Accident
  62. CXR
    Chest X-Ray
  63. d
    Day
  64. D/C, or d/c
    Discontinue, discharge
  65. DM
    Diabetes Mellitus
  66. DNR
    Do Not Resuscitate
  67. DOE
    Dyspnea On Exertion
  68. dsg, drsg
    Dressing
  69. DTV
    Due To Void
  70. DVT
    Deep Vein Thrombosis
  71. Dx, dx
    Diagnosis
  72. EBL
    Estimated Blood Loss
  73. ECG, EKG
    Electrocardiogram; Electrokardiogram in Britain
  74. EENT
    Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat
  75. ER; ED
    Emergency Room; Emergency Department
  76. ESRD
    End Stage Renal Disease
  77. et al.
    and others (et alii)
  78. ETOH, EtOH
    Ethanol, alcohol
  79. ETT
    Endotracheal Tube
  80. EUA, E.U.A.
    Exam Under Anesthesia
  81. eval
    evaluation
  82. Expl, expl
    Exploratory
  83. F, ℉
    degrees Fahrenheit
  84. F/U, f/u
    Follow-Up
  85. Fe
    Iron
  86. FFP
    Fresh Frozen Plasma
  87. FUO
    Fever of Undetermined Origin
  88. Fx., fx
    Fracture
  89. GERD
    Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
  90. GI, G.I.
    Gastrointestinal
  91. GSW
    Gunshot Wound
  92. gtt(s)
    drop/drops (guttae)
  93. GYN, gyn
    Gynecology
  94. H/H, Hgb/Hct
    Hemoglobin and Hematocrit (Hemoglobin is always first)
  95. HA
    Headache
  96. HCTZ
    Hydrochlorothiazide
  97. HHN
    Hand Held Nebulizer
  98. HIPAA
    Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (of 1996)
  99. HOB
    Head Of Bed
  100. H & P
    History and Physical
  101. HPI
    History of Present Illness
  102. HS, hs
    Hour of Sleep
  103. HTN
    Hypertension
  104. Hx, hx
    History
  105. HYST, hyst
    Hysterectomy
  106. I & D
    Incision and Drainage
  107. ICU
    Intensive Care Unit
  108. IM, I.M.
    Intramuscular
  109. INT
    Intermittent Needle Therapy
  110. I & O
    Intake and Output
  111. IS
    Incentive Spirometer
  112. IV
    Intravenous
  113. JP, J-P
    Jackson-Pratt drain
  114. J-tube
    Feeding tube in the Jejunum
  115. K+
    Potassium
  116. KCl
    Potassium Chloride
  117. Kg
    Kilograms
  118. KUB, K.U.B.
    (x-ray of) Kidneys, Ureter, Bladder
  119. KVO
    Keep Vein Open (IV rate approx. 20-30 mL/hr)
  120. L
    Liter
  121. L (draw circle around L), Lt, lt
    Left
  122. L&D
    Labor and Delivery
  123. LMP
    Last Menstrual Period
  124. LOC
    Loss of Consciousness, Level of Consciousness
  125. LTAC
    Long Term Acute Care
  126. LUE, L.U.E.
    Left Upper Extremity
  127. LLE, L.L.E.
    Left Lower Extremity
  128. LUQ, L.U.Q
    Left Upper Quadrant
  129. LLQ, L.L.Q
    Left Lower Quadrant
  130. lytes
    electrolytes
  131. MAR
    Medication Administration Record
  132. mcg
    microgram (Do Not Use ㎍)
  133. mEq
    milliequivalent
  134. mg
    milligram
  135. MI, M.I.
    Myocardial Infarction
  136. MICU
    Medical Intensive Care Unit
  137. mL
    milliliter
  138. MN
    Midnight
  139. MODS
    Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome
  140. MOM
    Milk of Magnesia
  141. MRI
    Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  142. MS, MSO4, MgSO4
    Morphine Sulfate, Magnesium Sulfate – Do Not Use abbrev; Write out "Morphine Sulfate" or "Magnesium Sulfate" 
  143. MVC
    Motor Vehicle Collision
  144. NaCl
    Sodium Chloride
  145. NC
    Nasal Cannula
  146. NG, NGT
    Nasogastric Tube
  147. NICU
    Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
  148. NKA
    No Known Allergies
  149. NKDA
    No Known Drug Allergies
  150. NPO
    Nothing by Mouth (nil per os)
  151. NRBM
    Non-Rebreather Mask (for oxygen delivery)
  152. NS
    Normal Saline (0.9% NaCl)
  153. NSAID
    Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug
  154. N/V
    Nausea and Vomiting
  155. N/V/D
    Nausea, Vomiting, and Diarrhea
  156. NWB
    Non-Weight Bearing
  157. O2
    Oxygen
  158. OD
    Overdose
  159. O.D.
    Right Eye
  160. OOB
    Out of Bed
  161. O.S.
    Left Eye
  162. OTA
    Open To Air
  163. OTC
    Over-The-Counter
  164. O.U.
    Both Eyes
  165. _
    p
    after
  166. PACU
    Post Anesthesia Care Unit
  167. pc, p.c.
    after meals
  168. PCA
    Patient Controlled Analgesia
  169. PCN, PEN
    Penicillin
  170. PCP
    Primary Care Physician
  171. PEG
    Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy tube
  172. per
    by (per Dr. T) or through (per PEG)
  173. peri care
    perineal care (“possible” care)
  174. p.o.
    by mouth (per os)
  175. pr
    Suppository Route (per rectum)
  176. PRBC
    Packed Red Blood Cells
  177. pre-op, preop
    preoperatively, before surgery
  178. PRN, P.R.N., prn, p.r.n.
    as needed, as necessary (pro re nata)
  179. Pt., pt.
    Patient
  180. P.T.
    Physical Therapy
  181. q
    • every
    • q.d. [Write "every day", "daily" or "Qday" (on Do Not Use list)]
  182. QID, Q.I.D., qid, q.i.d.
    Four times a day
  183. QOD, Q.O.D., qod, q.o.d.
    Write every other day (on Do Not Use list)
  184. qs, q.s.
    quantity sufficient

  185. or RT, Rt
    Right
  186. RA
    Rheumatoid Arthritis
  187. R/A
    Room Air
  188. r/t
    Related to
  189. R/O
    Rule Out
  190. RLE
    Right Lower Extremity
  191. RUE
    Right Upper Extremity
  192. RUQ
    Right Upper Quadrant
  193. RLQ
    Right Lower Quadrant
  194. Rx
    Prescription
  195. _
    s
    without (sine)
  196. SAH
    Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
  197. SARS
    Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
  198. SC
    Subclavian
  199. SCD
    Sequential Compression Devices
  200. SICU
    Surgical Intensive Care Unit
  201. SIRS
    Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome
  202. SL
    Sublingual
  203. SN, S.N.
    Student Nurse
  204. SNF
    Skilled Nursing Facility
  205. SOB
    Shortness of Breath
  206. S/P
    Status Post
  207. S/S
    Signs and Symptoms
  208. S.S.I.
    Sliding Scale Insulin
  209. STAT, Stat
    IMMEDIATELY, Now
  210. sub-Q
    subcutaneous
  211. tachy
    tachycardia
  212. T
    Temperature
  213. T & C
    Type and Crossmatch
  214. TB
    Tuberculosis
  215. TCDB
    Turn, Cough, and Deep Breathe
  216. TEDs
    Thromboembolic Disease support hose
  217. TIA
    Transient Ischemic Attack
  218. TID, T.I.D., tid, t.i.d.
    Three Times a Day
  219. TKO
    To Keep Open (IV rate approx. 20-30 mL/hr)
  220. TKA, TKR
    Total Knee Arthroplasty (or Replacement)
  221. tol, tol.
    tolerated
  222. TPCN
    Total Patient Care Nurse
  223. TPR
    Temperature, Pulse, and Respiration book
  224. tx
    treatment
  225. U, IU
    Unit, International Unit (on Do Not Use list) - write out unit
  226. UA
    Urinalysis
  227. URI
    Upper Respiratory Infection
  228. UTI
    Urinary Tract Infection
  229. VS
    Vital Signs
  230. VSS
    Vital Signs Stable
  231. VP shunt
    Ventriculoperitoneal shunt
  232. WBAT
    Weight Bearing as Tolerated
  233. WBC
    White Blood Cell count
  234. WDWN
    Well Developed, Well Nourished
  235. y/o, YO
    year old
  236. Rule for Leading Zero
    0.5 mg - ALWAYS use a zero BEFORE a decimal point (Not .5 mg)
  237. Rule for Trailing Zero
    1 mg - NEVER use a zero AFTER a decimal point (Not 1.0 mg)
  238. Highest Number and Lowest Number Military Time
    Highest number is 2400 (12:00 MN); Lowest number is 0001
  239. Ex: Military Time 12 noon=?
    12 noon = 1200
  240. Military Time
    Civilian to military= (1200 + civilian time)
  241. Military Time
    Military to civilian= (military time – 1200)
  242. Civilian to Military/Military to Civilian
    • Military to Civilian: 1734 – 1200 = 0534
    • Civilian to Military: 1200 + 0815= 2015
  243. ⇔ or <--
             -->
    Reversible reaction
  244. △
    Change
  245. ↑
    Increase, above, elevated
  246. ↓
    Decrease, below, decreased
  247. ≤
    Less than or equal to (better to write out- on do not use list)
  248. ≥
    Greater than or equal to (better to write out- on do not use list )
  249. °
    Degree (10℃, 10℉)or Hour ( 24°urine collection) (better to write out- on do not use list)
  250. =/=
    Not equal to
  251. =
    Equal to
  252. #_
    Number when before (#5 = number 5)
  253. _#
    Pounds when after (5# = 5 pounds)
  254. %
    Percent
  255. '
    Feet, Hours (12' = 12 feet or 12 hours)
  256. "
    Inches, Minutes (10" = 10 inches or 10 minutes)
  257. /
    Per (10mg/1 mL = 10mg per 1 mL) or divided by (better to write out- on do not use list)
  258. x
    Times (3 x 5 = 15)
  259. Divided by
  260. :
    Ratio (5:10 is same as 1:2)
  261. +
    Plus, add, positive (better to write out- on do not use list)
  262. -
    Minus, subtract, negative
  263. &
    And (better to write out- on do not use list)
  264.  .
    T
    one
  265.  . .
    TT
    Two
  266.  . . .
    TTT
  267. Three
  268. 2°
    Secondary to
  269. ♀
    Female
  270. ♂
    Male
  271. ā
    Before
  272. _
    p
    After
  273. _
    c
    With
  274. _
    s
    Without

Card Set Information

Author:
 Mcristan0951
ID:
 166222
Filename:
 Medical Abbreviations & Symbols
Updated:
2012-08-16 00:31:37
Tags:
med abbrev symbols
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Description:
med term quiz 2
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