Common Medical Abbreviations Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What does AFib stand for?

Atrial fibrillation (correct)

Asthma festival

Arterial fiber

None of the above

What does Abx refer to?

Antibiotics

What does AMS mean?

Altered mental status

What does ASA stand for?

Aspirin Signup and view all the answers

What is bpm an abbreviation for?

Beats per minute Signup and view all the answers

What does c/o stand for?

Complaints of, complaining of Signup and view all the answers

What does c/w mean?

Consistent with Signup and view all the answers

What does CA stand for?

Cancer Signup and view all the answers

What does CMT refer to?

Cervical motion tenderness Signup and view all the answers

What does CPR mean?

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation Signup and view all the answers

What does CT stand for?

Computed tomography scan Signup and view all the answers

What does CTA mean?

Clear to auscultation Signup and view all the answers

What does CXR refer to?

Chest x-ray Signup and view all the answers

What does DNR mean?

Do not resuscitate Signup and view all the answers

What does DOE stand for?

Dyspnea on exertion Signup and view all the answers

What does DDx refer to?

Differential diagnosis Signup and view all the answers

What does Dx stand for?

Diagnosis Signup and view all the answers

What does EKG or ECG mean?

Electrocardiogram Signup and view all the answers

What is EF an abbreviation for?

Ejection fraction Signup and view all the answers

What does EMR stand for?

Electronic medical record Signup and view all the answers

What does EOMI mean?

Extraocular movements intact Signup and view all the answers

What does ETT or ET tube refer to?

Endotracheal tube Signup and view all the answers

What does f/u stand for?

Follow up Signup and view all the answers

What does Fx mean?

Fracture Signup and view all the answers

What does G/P/A refer to?

<h1>pregnancies/# live births/# miscarriages and abortions</h1> Signup and view all the answers

What does H & H stand for?

Hemoglobin and hematocrit Signup and view all the answers

What does h/o mean?

History of Signup and view all the answers

What does HA stand for?

Headache Signup and view all the answers

What does Hct stand for?

Hematocrit Signup and view all the answers

What does Hgb refer to?

Hemoglobin Signup and view all the answers

What does Hx mean?

History Signup and view all the answers

What does IM stand for?

Intramuscular Signup and view all the answers

What does IUP mean?

Intrauterine pregnancy Signup and view all the answers

What does IV stand for?

Intravenous Signup and view all the answers

What does IVDA refer to?

IV drug abuse Signup and view all the answers

What does JVD stand for?

Jugular venous distention Signup and view all the answers

What does LLE mean?

Left lower extremity Signup and view all the answers

What does LUE stand for?

Left upper extremity Signup and view all the answers

What does LNMP mean?

Last normal menstruation period Signup and view all the answers

What does LOC stand for?

Loss of consciousness Signup and view all the answers

What does MVA mean?

Motor vehicle accident Signup and view all the answers

What does N/V/D stand for?

Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea Signup and view all the answers

What does NAD mean?

No acute distress/disease Signup and view all the answers

What does NKDA refer to?

No known drug allergies Signup and view all the answers

What does nml/nl mean?

Normal Signup and view all the answers

What does NPO stand for?

Nothing by mouth Signup and view all the answers

What does NS mean?

Normal saline Signup and view all the answers

What does NSR refer to?

Normal sinus rhythm Signup and view all the answers

What does NTG mean?

Nitroglycerin Signup and view all the answers

What does PCP stand for?

Primary care provider Signup and view all the answers

What does PCN mean?

Penicillin Signup and view all the answers

What does PERRL stand for?

Pupils equally round reactive to light Signup and view all the answers

What does PHI stand for?

Protected health information Signup and view all the answers

What does PO mean?

Per as (by mouth) Signup and view all the answers

What does ppd stand for?

Packs per day Signup and view all the answers

What does PRN mean?

As needed Signup and view all the answers

What does Pt refer to?

Patient Signup and view all the answers

What does RLE mean?

Right lower extremity Signup and view all the answers

What does RUE stand for?

Right upper extremity Signup and view all the answers

What does ROM mean?

Range of motion Signup and view all the answers

What does RRR stand for?

Regular rate and rhythm Signup and view all the answers

What does Rx mean?

Prescription Signup and view all the answers

What does s/p mean?

Status post (after) Signup and view all the answers

What does Sx(s) refer to?

Symptom(s) Signup and view all the answers

What does TM mean?

Tympanic membrane Signup and view all the answers

What does TTP stand for?

Tenderness to palpation Signup and view all the answers

What does Tx mean?

Treatment Signup and view all the answers

What does URI refer to?

Upper respiratory infection Signup and view all the answers

What does WNL mean?

Within normal limits Signup and view all the answers

What does BID stand for?

Twice daily Signup and view all the answers

What does PR refer to?

Per rectum Signup and view all the answers

What does SC or SQ mean?

Subcutaneous Signup and view all the answers

What does Q#H stand for?

Every # of hours Signup and view all the answers

What does QAM mean?

Once in the morning Signup and view all the answers

What does QD stand for?

Once daily Signup and view all the answers

What does QHS mean?

Once at bedtime Signup and view all the answers

What does QID stand for?

4 Times daily Signup and view all the answers

What does TID mean?

3 Times daily Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Common Medical Abbreviations

AFib: Atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder.
Abx: Refers to antibiotics, which are medications used to treat bacterial infections.
AMS: Altered mental status indicating changes in cognition or consciousness.
ASA: Aspirin, a medication commonly used for pain relief and cardiovascular protection.
bpm: Beats per minute, a measure of heart rate.
c/o: Complaints of; often used in patient documentation to express what the patient is experiencing.
c/w: Consistent with; used to compare symptoms or findings with a diagnosis.
CA: Cancer; a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth.
CMT: Cervical motion tenderness, often assessed during pelvic examination to check for inflammation or infection.
CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, an emergency lifesaving procedure.
CT: Computed tomography scan, a diagnostic imaging tool.
CTA: Clear to auscultation; indicates normal lung sounds during examination.
CXR: Chest x-ray; a common imaging method for evaluating lung and heart conditions.
DNR: Do not resuscitate; an order indicating that a person does not want life-saving measures.
DOE: Dyspnea on exertion, a term denoting shortness of breath with activity.
DDx: Differential diagnosis, the process of distinguishing one disease from another.
Dx: Diagnosis, the identification of a disease or condition.
EKG/ECG: Electrocardiogram, a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.
EF: Ejection fraction, a measurement of the percentage of blood pumped out of the heart's chambers.
EMR: Electronic medical record, a digital version of a patient’s paper chart.
EOMI: Extraocular movements intact, indicates normal eye movement function.
ETT/ET tube: Endotracheal tube, used to maintain an open airway in unconscious patients.
f/u: Follow up; typically indicates a scheduled return visit or additional evaluation.
Fx: Fracture, a break in a bone.
G/P/A: Number of pregnancies (#), live births (#), and miscarriages or abortions (#).
H & H: Hemoglobin and hematocrit, tests used to evaluate blood components.
h/o: History of; used to denote previous medical conditions.
HA: Headache; a common symptom with various causes.
Hct: Hematocrit, the proportion of blood volume occupied by red blood cells.
Hgb: Hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
Hx: History; refers to past medical history or patient’s previous conditions.
IM: Intramuscular; a method of medication administration.
IUP: Intrauterine pregnancy; a pregnancy located in the uterus.
IV: Intravenous; related to administration of fluids or medications directly into the veins.
IVDA: IV drug abuse, indicating substance misuse through intravenous methods.
JVD: Jugular venous distention; a sign of heart failure or fluid overload.
LLE: Left lower extremity, refers to the left leg region.
LUE: Left upper extremity; refers to the left arm region.
LNMP: Last Normal Menstruation Period, relevant for assessing reproductive health.
LOC: Loss of consciousness; indicates a person is unresponsive or unconscious.
MVA: Motor vehicle accident; used in medical records related to trauma.
N/V/D: Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea; symptoms often associated with gastrointestinal distress.
NAD: No acute distress, indicates the absence of significant health issues.
NKDA: No known drug allergies; important information for medical management.
nml/nl: Normal; indicates findings that are within the expected range.
NPO: Nothing by mouth; a medical instruction to avoid food and drink.
NS: Normal saline, a common IV fluid used for hydration and medication delivery.
NSR: Normal sinus rhythm; indicates a regular heart rhythm.
NTG: Nitroglycerin, used primarily for chest pain related to heart conditions.
PCP: Primary care provider; the medical professional managing overall patient health.
PCN: Penicillin, an antibiotic used to treat various infections.
PERRL: Pupils equally round and reactive to light; a neurological examination finding.
PHI: Protected health information, sensitive patient information protected by law.
PO: Per oral (by mouth); method of medication administration.
ppd: Packs per day; commonly used to quantify tobacco use.
PRN: As needed; a term for medications that are not scheduled but used as required.
Pt or pt: Patient; the individual receiving medical care.
RLE: Right lower extremity, refers to the right leg region.
RUE: Right upper extremity; refers to the right arm region.
ROM: Range of motion; the extent of movement of a joint.
RRR: Regular rate and rhythm; used to describe normal heart activity.
Rx: Prescription; a direction for the preparation and administration of a medicine.
s/p: Status post; indicates the condition of a patient after a procedure or event.
Sx(s): Symptoms; clinical signs indicating a condition.
TM: Tympanic membrane; part of the ear, often referred to in examinations for infections.
TTP: Tenderness to palpation; sensitivity noted during physical examination.
Tx: Treatment; the management and care of a patient for disease or condition.
URI: Upper respiratory infection; a common viral infection affecting the nose and throat.
WNL: Within normal limits; indicates that findings are normal and expected.
BID: Twice daily; medication dosing schedule.
PR: Per rectum; route of medication or examination.
SC/SQ: Subcutaneous; refers to medication administered under the skin.
Q#H: Every # of hours; indicates a dosing schedule.
QAM: Once in the morning; a specific medication administration time.
QD: Once daily; indicates medication is taken once every day.
QHS: Once at bedtime; a specific instruction for medication taking.
QID: Four times daily; medication dosing schedule.
TID: Three times daily; medication dosing schedule.

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Test your knowledge of common medical abbreviations with these flashcards. Each card provides the abbreviation followed by its definition, helping you to better understand medical terminology. Ideal for students and professionals in healthcare.