Common Medical Abbreviations PDF

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Making effective communication, a human right, accessible and achievable for all. Search  Common Medical Abbreviations A A.A.R.O.M. active assistive range of motion...

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Making effective communication, a human right, accessible and achievable for all. Search  Common Medical Abbreviations A A.A.R.O.M. active assistive range of motion AAC augmentative and alternative communication A.B.G arterial blood gas a.c. before meals A/C assist control ADA Diet American Diabetes Association Diet A.D.L. activities of daily living A.Fib. atrial fibrillation AKA above-knee amputation or above-the-knee amputation ALS amyotrophic lateral sclerosis AMA against medical advice A&O alert and oriented A/P anterior–posterior A.R.O.M. active range of motion ASAP as soon as possible ASD autism spectrum disorder ASL American Sign Language B b.i.d. twice a day BKA below-knee amputation B/L bilateral B.L.BS bilateral breath sounds BMR basal metabolism rate BP blood pressure BR bed rest bs bowel sounds BS breath sounds B/S bedside bx biopsy C c̅ with C Celsius, centigrade C1, C2, etc. first cervical vertebrae, second cervical vertebrae, etc. CA cardiac arrest CA, ca cancer, carcinoma CABG coronary artery bypass graft CAD coronary artery disease cal calorie cath catheter CBC complete blood count cc cubic centimeter CC chief complaint CHF congestive heart failure, chronic heart failure CCU coronary care unit CHI closed head injury cm centimeter CMT continuing medication and treatment CN cranial nerve CNA certified nursing assistant CNS central nervous system c/o complains of COTA certified occupational therapy assistant cont continue(d) COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease CP cerebral palsy CPAP continuous positive airway pressure CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation CRF chronic renal failure CRNP certified registered nurse practitioner CSF cerebrospinal fluid CT computerized tomography CV cardiovascular CVA cerebral vascular accident CXR chest X-ray D d day d/c discontinue DC discharge DM diabetes mellitus DNK do not know DNKA did not keep appointment DNR do not resuscitate DNT did not test DOA dead on arrival DOB date of birth DOE dyspnea on exertion d/t due to Dx diagnosis E ECC, EKG electrocardiogram ED emergency department EEG electroencephalogram EENT eyes, ears, nose, throat EMG electromyogram ENT ears, nose, throat ER emergency room ETOH ethanol (alcohol) exam examination ext external, exterior F F Fahrenheit FH family history fib fibrillation fl, fld fluid FOB foot of bed f/u follow-up FWB full weight bearing Fx fracture G GB gall bladder GCS Glasgow Coma Scale GE gastroenterology GERD gastroesophageal reflux disease G/E gastroenteritis gen general gest. gestation G.I. gastrointestinal GNA geriatric nursing assistant gluc glucose GP general practitioner, general paralysis GSW gunshot wound GTT glucose tolerance test Gt. tr. gait training GYN gynecology H h hour H/A headache HAV hepatitis A virus Hb. hemoglobin HB heart block HBP high blood pressure h.d. at bedtime HEENT head, eyes, ears, nose, throat HEP home exercise program H2 O water h/o history of HOB head of bed H&P history and physical HR heart rate HTN hypertension HVD hypertensive vascular disease Hx history Hz hertz (cycles/second) I ICCU intensive coronary care unit ICP intracranial pressure ICU intensive care unit imp. impression incr. increased(ing) inf infusion, inferior inspire inspiration, inspiratory int. internal I&O intake and output IPPB intermittent positive pressure breathing irreg. irregular IV intravenous(ly) J J, jt. joint K K potassium, kidney L L left, liver, liter, lower, light, lumbar L2, L3 second lumbar vertebrae, third lumbar vertebrae lab laboratory lac. laceration lat. lateral LBW low birth rate L.E. lower extremities liq. liquid L.O.C. loss of consciousness, level of consciousness, laxative of choice LOS length of stay LP lumbar puncture LPN licensed practical nurse LUE left upper extremity Lx larynx L&W living and well M m, M married, male, mother, murmur, meter, mass, molar max. maximum, maxillary MBC maximum breathing capacity MBSS modified barium swallow study MCA middle cerebral artery MD muscular dystrophy mdnt. midnight med. medicine mets. metastasis MG myasthenia gravis MI myocardial infarction min minute MICU medical intensive care unit mod moderate MRI magnetic resonance imaging MRSA methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus mss massage MVA motor vehicle accident N n. nerve Na sodium NaCl sodium chloride NAD no abnormality detected NAD no apparent distress neg. negative neur. neurology NG nasogastric NIC neonatal intensive care NICU neonatal intensive care unit NKA no known allergies no. number NOS not otherwise specified NPO nothing by mouth NSA no specific abnormality NST nonstress test N&V nausea and vomiting NVD nausea, vomiting, diarrhea N&W normal and well NWB non–weight bearing NYD not yet diagnosed O o none, without O oral O2 oxygen O2 cap. oxygen capacity O2 sat. oxygen saturation OA osteoarthritis OB, OBG obstetrics OB/GYN obstetrics and gynecology Obs observation OBS organic brain syndrome ODD oppositional defiant disorder O/E on examination OH occupational history OHD organic heart disease oint. ointment O.M. otitis media O.M.E. otitis media with effusion OOB, oob out of bed Op. operation ot. ear Oto otolaryngology OTC over-the-counter (pharmaceuticals) O.T. occupational therapy, old tuberculin OR operating room P PA physician’s assistant p&a percussion and auscultation PACU post anesthesia care unit PAF paroxysmal atrial fibrillation palp. palpate, palpated, palpable Path pathology PA view posterior–anterior view on X-ray p/c, p.c. after meals PD Parkinson’s disease pdr. powder PDN private duty nurse PE physical exam, pulmonary embolism, pressure equalizer (tubes) Ped. pediatrics PEEP positive end-expiratory pressure PEG percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy PET positron emission tomography PH past history pharm pharmacy PHYS. physical, physiology PI present illness, pulmonary insufficiency PICU pulmonary intensive care unit PID pelvic inflammatory disease plts. platelets P.M. afternoon, postmortem PMH past medical history PMR physical medicine and rehabilitation PN poorly nourished, practical nurse P&N psychiatry and neurology PNA pneumo, pneumonia PNI peripheral nerve injury PNX pneuomothorax p.o. by mouth p.o.d. postoperative day pos. positive post. posterior POSTOP. postoperative pot. or potass. potassium PR proctology pre-op preoperative prep. prepare for p.r.m. according to circumstances p.r.n., PRN as often as necessary, as needed prod. productive Prog. prognosis PROM passive range of motion pron. pronator, pronation prosth. prosthesis PSH past surgical history Psych. psychiatry pt., Pt. patient PT, P.T. physical therapy PTA prior to admission PTA pulse posterior tibial artery pulse PUD peptic ulcer disease PVD peripheral vascular disease PVT previous trouble PWB% partial weight bearing with percent Px, PX physical examination Q q every q.h. every hour q.i.d. four times a day qt. quart quad. quadriplegic R R, r right R. rub, rectal temperature RA rheumatoid arthritis, right atrium rad. radial r.a.m. rapid alternating movements R.A.S. right arm sitting RAtx radiation therapy rbc/RBC red blood cell, red blood count RCA right coronary artery RCU respiratory care unit RD respiratory distress RDS respiratory distress syndrome RE reconditioning exercise reg. regular rehab. rehabilitation resp. respiratory, respirations RF rheumatic fever RLAS Rancho Los Amigos Scale R to L&A react to light and accommodation RLE right lower extremity RN registered nurse RND radical neck dissection RO, R/O rule out ROM range of motion, rupture of membranes, right otitis media ROS review of symptoms Rt. right RT radiation therapy, respiratory therapy RUE right upper extremity RV residual volume RW rolling walker Rx therapy, prescription S s without S sensation, sensitive, serum Sa. saline s.c. subcutaneous(ly) Scc squamous cell carcinoma SCCA squamous cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma antigen SCD sudden cardiac death SCI spinal cord injury schiz schizophrenia SCU special care unit sec second Sens. sensory, sensation sep. separated SGA small for gestational age s.gl. without correction (without glasses) SH social history SI stroke index sib. sibling SICU surgical intensive care unit SIDS sudden infant death syndrome skel. skeletal Sl. slightly SL under the tongue SLP speech-language pathologist sm small SNF skilled nursing facility SOAP subjective, objective, assessment, plan SOB shortness of breath S/P, s/p status post (previous condition) sp. cd. spinal cord spec. specimen sp. fl. spinal fluid sp&H speech and hearing spin. spine, spinal spont. spontaneous s/s signs and symptoms SS social service ST speech therapy stat., STAT immediately STD sexually transmitted disease subcut. subcutaneous subling. sublingual sup. superior supin. supination surg. surgery, surgical Sx symptoms sys. system Syst. systolic Sz seizure T T temperature T&A tonsils and adenoids, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy tab. tablet TAH total abdominal hysterectomy TB tuberculosis TBI traumatic brain injury temp temperature THERAP. therapy, therapeutic THR total hip replacement TIA transient ischemic attack TKR total knee replacement TNM tumor, nodes, and metastases TO telephone order TPN total parenteral nutrition TPR temperature, pulse, respiration tr trace trach tracheostomy tsp. teaspoon Tx treatment, traction U U/A urinalysis UCD, UCHD usual childhood diseases UG upward gaze Unilat. unilateral u/o under observation Ur. urine URD upper respiratory disease URI upper respiratory infection Urol. urology u/s, US ultrasound UTI urinary tract infection V V vein VA visual acuity vag vagina, vaginal VC, vit.cap. vital capacity VD venereal disease vent. ventilator vert. vertical VF visual fields, ventricular fibrillation VFSS videofluoroscopic swallowing study Via by way of vit. vitamin VN visiting nurse  VO verbal order VS, V.S. vital signs W w, wk week W/C, wh.ch. wheelchair WBT weight bearing tolerance WFL within functional limits w/n within WNL within normal limits WP whirlpool wt. weight w/u workup X x times Y y.o. years old yrs. years This list is not exhaustive. Note that some abbreviations overlap (e.g., CA could mean "cardiac arrest" or "carcinoma"). Please avoid using abbreviations if their meaning is unclear. © 1997-2023 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association