Medical Abbreviations & Hospital Units

• Abbreviations related to healthcare facilities and institutions for reference.

Healthcare Facility Abbreviations

• CCU: Coronary Care Unit, which is a specialized unit for patients with heart conditions.
• ECU: Emergency Care Unit, a unit for immediate medical attention.
• ER: Emergency Room, a hospital department for emergency care.
• ED: Emergency Department, another term for the emergency room.
• ICU: Intensive Care Unit, provides critical care for patients with life-threatening conditions.
• PICU: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, focused on critical care for pediatric patients.
• NICU: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which specializes in the care of newborn infants.
• SICU: Surgical Intensive Care Unit, for patients recovering from surgery.
• PACU: Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, where patients recover immediately after surgery.
• L&D: Labor & Delivery, the department for childbirth.
• OR: Operating Room, this is where surgical procedures are performed.
• Post-Op: after surgery, referring to the period following a surgical procedure.
• Pre-Op: Before Surgery, indicates the period before a surgical procedure.

Abbreviations on Health Records

• Common abbreviations used in patient health records for quick documentation:
• VS: Vital Signs, which includes temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure.
• BP: Blood Pressure, the pressure of blood in the arteries.
• RR: Respiratory Rate, the number of breaths per minute.
• T: Temperature, which indicates body heat.
• HR: Heart Rate, the number of heartbeats per minute.
• Ht: Height, used for calculating BMI and other health metrics.
• Wt: Weight, a measure of body mass.
• BMI: Body Mass Index, a measure of body fat based on height and weight.
• I/O: Intake/Output, the amount of fluids a patient has taken in (IV or mouth) and produced (usually urine output).
• Dx: Diagnoses, identification of a disease or condition.
• DDx: Differential Diagnoses, a list of possible diagnoses that could explain the symptoms.
• Tx: Treatment, the management and care of a patient to combat a disease or disorder.
• Bx: Prescription, an order for medication.
• H&P: History & Physical, a comprehensive overview of the patient's medical history and physical examination.
• Hx: History, the patient's medical background.
• CC: Chief Complaint, the primary reason for the patient's visit.
• HPI: History of Present Illnesses, a detailed account of the current medical problem.
• ROS: Review of Symptoms, an inventory of body systems to identify potential issues.
• PMHx: Past Medical History, the patient's previous medical conditions and treatments.
• FHx: Family History, information about the health of the patient's family.
• NKDA: No Known Drug Allergies, indicating the patient has no known allergies to medications.
• PE: Physical Exam, an assessment of the patient's body.
• Pt: Patient, the individual receiving medical care.
• y/o: Years Old, the patient's age.
• h/o: history of, to describe an patients past health matters.
• PCP: Primary Care Provider, the patient's main healthcare provider .
• F/U: Follow Up, indicates a subsequent appointment or check-up.

Abbreviations for Symptoms or Findings

• Common abbreviations used to document symptoms, findings, or instructions regarding medications.
• SOB: Shortness of Breath, the symptom of difficulty breathing.
• HEENT: Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat, used to indicate examination of these areas.
• PERRLA: Pupils are Equal, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation, a neurological assessment of the pupils.
• NAD: No Acute Distress, the patient does not appear to be in significant discomfort.
• CV: Cardiovascular, pertaining to the heart and blood vessels.
• RRR: Regular Rate & Rhythm, a normal heart examination finding.
• CTA: Clear to Auscultation, description of normal sounding lungs during a physical exam.
• WDWN: Well Developed, Well Nourished, physical appearance of the patient.
• A&O: Alert and Oriented, the patient is aware of person, place, and time.
• WNL: Within Normal Limits, results that fall within the expected range.
• NOS: Not Otherwise Specified, information that doesn't fit a specific category.
• NEC: Not Elsewhere Classified, conditions not classified under existing categories.
• PO: Per Os (by mouth), medication by mouth.
• NPO: Nil Per Os (nothing by mouth), medication restriction like fasting.
• PR: Per Rectum (anal), medication through the rectum.
• IM: Intramuscular, medication administered into the muscle.
• SC: Subcutaneous (under skin), medication injected beneath the skin.
• IV: Intravenous, medication administered directly into a vein.
• CVL: Central Venous Line, a catheter placed in a large vein.
• PICC: Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter, a catheter inserted into a peripheral vein. Sig: instructions, Short for signa.

Medication Administration Abbreviations

• BID: Twice Daily, from Latin "Bis in die", indicating medication should be taken twice a day.
• TID: Three Times Daily, from Latin "ter indie", medication should be taken three times a day.
• Q: Every X, example Q4hr means every 4 hours, specifying the frequency of administration.
• QD: Daily, from Latin phrase quaque die, which means each day.
• QID: Four Times Daily, from the Latin phrase quarter indie,which means 4 in a day.
• QHS: At Night, from the Latin phrase quaque hora somni, indicating medication given "each night at the hour of sleep."
• AC: Before Meals, from the Latin phrase ante cibum, indicating medication taken "before food."
• PC: After Meals, from the Latin phrase "post cibum" which means after food.
• prn: As Needed, from latin phrase per re nata, which means as the "the need arises".
• ad lib: As Desired, indicating the medication and be administered as the patient wants or needs

Integumentary Abbreviations

• Commonly used medical shorthand related to the skin and its conditions.

Integumentary System Shorthand

• ABCDE signifies:
  • A: asymmetry, when one half of a mole doesn't match the other half.
  • B: border, the edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
  • C: color, the mole has uneven colors, with different shades.
  • D: diameter, the mole is larger than 6 millimeters (about 1/4 inch).
  • E: evolving, the mole is changing in size, shape, or color.
• AK: Actinic Keratosis, a rough, scaly patch on the skin caused by years of sun exposure.
• Bx: Biopsy, the removal of a small piece of tissue for examination.
• C&S: Culture & Sensitivity, tests used to identify if bacteria are present and which antibiotics will work.
• derm: Dermatology, the study of the skin and its diseases.
• ID: Intradermal, an injection administered into the skin.
• SC: Subcutaneous, an injection administered under the skin.
• SQ: Subcutaneous, an injection administered under the skin.

Test your knowledge of common medical abbreviations used in prescriptions and patient charts. This quiz covers abbreviations for medication frequency, dermatological assessments, treatments, and routes of administration. It also assesses understanding of hospital units based on patient needs.