Medical Careers Abbreviations Flashcards

Common Medical Abbreviations

• NPO (Nothing by mouth): Indicates that a patient is not allowed to eat or drink anything.
• Nsy (Nursery): Refers to a designated area for infants in a healthcare setting.
• O2 (Oxygen): A vital element essential for respiration.
• OB (Obstetrics): Branch of medicine dealing with pregnancy and childbirth.
• Obt (Obtained): Commonly used in medical notes to indicate acquisition of information or samples.
• OJ (Orange Juice): Often used in dietary orders or nutritional plans.
• Ord. (Orderly): Refers to tasks or personnel responsible for maintaining order in healthcare settings.
• OOB (Out of Bed): Indicates that a patient is able to get out of bed, often a sign of recovery.
• OPD (Outpatient Department): Area of a hospital where patients receive care without being admitted.
• OR (Operating room): Specialized facility where surgical operations are performed.
• Ortho (Orthopedics): Field of medicine that focuses on the musculoskeletal system.
• OT (Occupational Therapy or Oral Temperature): Refers to therapies aimed at improving daily living skills or measuring body temperature.
• oz (Ounce): A unit of weight commonly used in medication dosages.
• PAR (Postanesthesia room): Recovery area for patients after anesthesia.
• pc (after meals): Indicates medication or treatment to be administered post-eating.
• Ped (Pediatrics): Medical field specializing in the treatment of infants, children, and adolescents.
• per (By, through): Latin term commonly used in prescriptions and medical directives.
• PM (Afternoon): Often used in scheduling and medical timing.
• PN (Pneumonia): A condition affecting the lungs, indicated by the abbreviation.
• PO (By mouth): Denotes that medication or substances are to be ingested orally.
• Post (After): Prefix used to indicate a point in time following an event.
• Postop (Postoperative): Refers to the period after surgery.
• Post op spec (After surgery urine specimen): Collection of urine samples for testing following a surgical procedure.
• PP (Postpartum): Refers to the period after childbirth.
• PPBS (Postprandial blood sugar): Blood sugar measurement taken after a meal.
• Pre (Before): Indicates a time period prior to an event.
• prn (Whenever necessary): Medication to be taken as needed rather than on a fixed schedule.
• Preop (Before surgery): Refers to the preparations and evaluations done prior to surgical procedures.
• pre op spec (Urine specimen before surgery): Collection of urine samples for testing prior to surgery.
• Prep (Prepare): Actions taken to ready a patient for surgery, often involving hygiene practices.
• Pt (Patient or pint): Refers to the individual receiving medical care or a unit of volume.
• PT (Physical Therapy): Rehabilitation service focused on improving physical functionality.
• q (Every): Often used in medical prescriptions to indicate frequency.
• qd (Every day): Directions indicating daily medication or actions.
• qh (Every hour): Medications or treatments required on an hourly basis.
• q2h (Every 2 hours): Refers to actions to be taken every two hours.
• q3h (Every 3 hours): Indicates treatments or medication every three hours.
• q4h (Every 4 hours): Directs administration at four-hour intervals.
• QHS (Every night at bedtime): Medication or action to be taken nightly at the time of sleep.
• qid (Four times a day): Directions indicating administration of treatment or medication four times daily.
• qam (Every morning): Refers to actions or medications to be taken in the morning.