Common Medical Abbreviations Flashcards

Common Medical Abbreviations

• OOB: Refers to "out of bed," a common term used in patient mobility discussions.
• OP: Stands for "outpatient," indicating patients who receive care without being admitted to a hospital.
• Ophth: Represents "ophthalmic," relating to the eye.
• OR: Abbreviation for "operating room," the surgical area in hospitals.
• Ortho: Denotes "orthopedic," related to the treatment of the musculoskeletal system.
• OS: Means "left eye," used in vision assessments.
• OSA: Stands for "obstructive sleep apnea," a sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing.
• OT: Represents "occupational therapy," focused on helping patients develop or recover daily living and work skills.
• OU: Means "both eyes," often used in prescriptions or eye exams.
• oz: Abbreviation for "ounce," a unit of measurement in liquid capacity.
• p: Indicates "after," used in medical instructions to denote timing.
• P: Stands for "phosphorus," a chemical element important for biological functions.
• PA: Can mean "physicians assistant," a healthcare professional or "posterior anterior," a type of imaging view.
• pc: Stands for "after meals," often used in medication instructions.
• PCP: Abbreviation for "pneumocystis carinii pneumonia," a type of pneumonia common in immunocompromised individuals.
• PCU: Refers to "progressive care unit," a specialized area for closely monitoring patients.
• PCV: Stands for "packed cell volume," a measure of the proportion of blood volume occupied by red blood cells.
• PDR: Represents "physicians desk reference," a medical reference for medications.
• Peds: Abbreviation for "pediatrics," a branch of medicine focused on children.
• PEEP: Means "positive end-expiratory pressure," a mode of mechanical ventilation.
• per: Denotes "by," often used in dosage and administration routes.
• PERLA: Acronym for "pupils equal, reactive to light and accommodation," a standard neurological assessment.
• PET: Stands for "positron emission tomography," a nuclear medicine functional imaging technique.
• PICU: Refers to "pediatric intensive care unit," a unit for critically ill children.
• PKU: Stands for "phenylketonuria," a genetic disorder affecting metabolism.
• pm: Refers to the time "between noon and midnight."
• PNS: Stands for "peripheral nervous system," the part of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord.
• PO: Can mean "orally," "postoperative," or "phone order," depending on context.
• post op: Refers to "postoperative," the recovery phase following surgery.
• PP: May indicate "postpartum" or "postprandial," referring to after childbirth or after meals, respectively.
• PPD: Stands for "purified protein derivative," often used in tuberculosis testing.
• PRBC: Represents "packed red blood cells," used in blood transfusions.
• PRN: Stands for "whenever necessary," indicating as needed administration of medications.
• pro time: Indicates "prothrombin time," a blood test that measures how long it takes blood to clot.
• pt: Can mean either "patient" or "pint," depending on the context.
• PT: Refers to "physical therapy," a treatment to improve movement and function.
• PTCA: Stands for "percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty," a procedure to open narrowed coronary arteries.
• PTT: Stands for "partial thromboplastin time," a test to evaluate blood clotting.
• PUL: Abbreviation for "percutaneous ultrasound lithotripsy," a procedure to treat kidney stones.
• q: Indicates "every," often used in dosage schedules.
• qd: Stands for "every day," a daily medication dosage.
• q___h: Used to denote frequency, meaning "every (number) hour" (e.g., q2h means every two hours).
• qid: Means "four times a day," often used in medication dosing schedules.
• qn: Refers to "every night," indicating night-time medication administration.
• qod: Stands for "every other day," reflecting a medication frequency.
• qoh: Indicates "every other hour," used for medication or treatment schedules.
• qt: Refers to "quart," a unit of volume measurement.

Test your knowledge of common medical abbreviations with these flashcards. This quiz covers terms frequently used in healthcare settings, enhancing your understanding and vocabulary. Perfect for medical students and practitioners alike!