Medical Abbreviations PDF 2020W

COMMONLY USED MEDICAL ABBREVIATIONS1,2,3 The use of abbreviations and chemical symbols in the writing of medication orders and labels is discouraged in the interest of patient safety. Make sure you are familiar with the ISMP List of Error Prone Abbreviations and know which ones to avoid as they can...

COMMONLY USED MEDICAL ABBREVIATIONS1,2,3 The use of abbreviations and chemical symbols in the writing of medication orders and labels is discouraged in the interest of patient safety. Make sure you are familiar with the ISMP List of Error Prone Abbreviations and know which ones to avoid as they can be involved in harmful medication errors. However, there are some commonly used medical abbreviations you may come across in practice and therefore should be familiar with what they mean. 5ICS MCL fifth intercostal space AIDS acquired midclavicular line immunodeficiency AAA abdominal aortic syndrome aneurysm AKA above the knee A-a gradient alveolar to arterial amputation gradient AKI acute kidney injury A&O x 3 awake (alert) and AL assisted living facility oriented to person, ALL acute lymphocytic place and time leukemia A&P auscultation and ALT alanine percussion aminotransferase AAT activity as tolerated ALP alkaline phosphatase ABD abdomen Amb ambulate ABG arterial blood gas AMA against medical ABW actual body weight advice AC air conduction AML acute myelogenous ACLS advanced cardiac life leukemia support ANA antinuclear antibody ACS acute coronary AOB alcohol on breath syndrome AODM adult onset diabetes ACTH adrenocorticotropic mellitus hormone AP anteroposterior or ad lib as much as needed abdominal - perineal ADH anti-diuretic APAP acetaminophen hormone APTT activated partial ADL activities of daily thromboplastin time living AR aortic regurgitation ADR adverse drug ARDS acute respiratory reaction distress syndrome AF atrial fibrillation or ARF acute renal failure afebrile AS aortic stenosis A-FIB atrial fibrillation ASAP as soon as possible AFB acid-fast bacilli AI aortic insufficiency 1 Reviewed and updated annually by the Office of Experiential Education and the Integration Activities Team. 2 https://globalrph.com/medterm/a/ 3 http://samples.jbpub.com/9780763779306/Medical%20Terminology.pdf 2020W 1 ASCVD atherosclerotic CBC complete blood cardiovascular count disease CBG capillary blood gas ASD atrial septal defect CBT cognitive ASHD atherosclerotic heart behavioural therapy disease CC chief complaint AST aspartate CCU clean catch urine or aminotransferase cardiac care unit AV atrioventricular CF cystic fibrosis A-V arteriovenous CGL chronic granulocytic A-VO2 arteriovenous oxygen leukemia AWOL absent without CHF congestive heart authorized leave failure BBB bundle branch block CHO carbohydrate BC bone conduction CI cardiac index BG blood glucose CIWA clinical institute BKA below the knee withdrawal amputation assessment (for BM bone marrow or alcohol) bowel movement Cl Chloride BMR basal metabolic rate CM costal margin BOM bilateral otitis media CML chronic myelogenous BP blood pressure leukemia BPH benign prostatic CMV cytomegalovirus hypertrophy CN cranial nerves BPM beats per minute CNII-XII cranial nerves II BRBPR bright red blood per through XII rectum CNS central nervous BS bowel sounds or system breath sounds or CO cardiac output blood sugars CO2 carbon dioxide BSA body surface area COPD chronic obstructive BUN blood urea nitrogen pulmonary disease BW body weight, blood work CP chest pain or BX biopsy cerebral palsy C&S culture and CK creatine kinase sensitivity CKD chronic kidney C/O complaining of disease CA cancer CPAP continuous positive Ca calcium airway pressure CABG coronary artery CPR cardiopulmonary bypass graft resuscitation CAD coronary artery CrCL creatinine clearance disease CRF chronic renal failure CAT computed axial CRP C-reactive protein tomography 2020W 2 CRRT continuous renal DP dorsalis pedis replacement therapy DPL diagnostic peritoneal CSF cerebrospinal fluid lavage CTA clear to auscultation DTs delirium tremens CT computed DTR deep tendon reflexes tomography DVT deep venous (vein) CV cardiovascular thrombosis CVA cerebrovascular Dx diagnosis accident or EBL estimated blood loss costovertebral angle ECF extracellular fluid CVP central venous ECG electrocardiogram pressure ECT electroconvulsive CXR chest X-ray therapy D&C dilation and ECMO extracorporeal curettage membrane D5NS 5% dextrose in oxygenation normal saline EEG electroencephalogram D5W 5% dextrose in water EF ejection fraction D10W 10% dextrose in EKG electrocardiogram water EMG electromyogram D50W 50% dextrose in EMV eyes, motor, verbal water response DAT diet as tolerated ENT ears, nose, and DBP diastolic blood throat pressure EOL end of life DC* or D/C* discontinue or EOM extraocular muscles discharge EOMI extraocular muscles DDx differential intact diagnosis ER emergency room DI diabetes insipidus ERCP endoscopic DIC disseminated retrograde intravascular cholangiopancreatog coagulation raphy DIP distal ESR erythrocyte interphalangeal joint sedimentation rate DJD degenerative joint ET endotracheal disease ETA estimated time of DKA diabetic ketoacidosis arrival dL deciliter ETOH ethanol DM diabetes mellitus ETT endotracheal tube DNR do not resuscitate FPG fasting plasma DNS do not substitute glucose DOA dead on arrival Fe iron DOB date of birth FEV1 forced expiratory DOE dyspnea on exertion volume in one DOT directly observed second therapy FFP fresh frozen plasma 2020W 3 FHx family history HJR hepatojugular reflex FRC functional residual HLA histocompatibility capacity locus antigen FROM full range of motion HOB head of bed FTT failure to thrive HPF high power field FU or F/U follow-up HPI history of present FUO fever of unknown illness origin HR heart rate FVC forced vital capacity HSM hepatosplenomegaly Fx, # fracture HSV herpes simplex virus G6PD glucose-6-phosphate HTN hypertension dehydrogenase Hx history GCS Glasgow Coma Scale I&D incision and drainage GERD gastroesophageal I&O intake and output reflux disease IBD inflammatory bowel GFR glomerular filtration disease rate IBS irritable bowel GI gastrointestinal syndrome GTT glucose tolerance IBW ideal body weight test ICD international GU genitourinary classification of GYN gynecology diseases or HA headache implantable HAART highly active cardioverter- antiretroviral defibrillator therapy ICF intracellular fluid HAV hepatitis A virus ICP intracranial pressure HBV hepatitis B virus ICS inhaled HCV hepatitis C virus corticosteroids or HCG human chorionic intercostal space gonadotropin ICU intensive care unit HCT hematocrit ID infectious disease or HD hemodialysis identification HDL high density IADL instrumental lipoprotein activities of daily HEENT head, eyes, ears, living nose, throat IDDM insulin dependent HFrEF heart failure with diabetes mellitus reduced ejection IG immunoglobulin fraction IGG immunoglobulin G HFpEF heart failure with IGM immunoglobulin M preserved ejection IHD intermittent fraction hemodialysis Hgb or Hb hemoglobin IM intramuscular HIV human INR international immunodeficiency normalized ratio virus IOP intraocular pressure 2020W 4 IP intraperitoneal LTCF long term care IPPB intermittent positive facility pressure breathing LUE left upper extremity IRBBB incomplete right LUL left upper lobe bundle branch block LUQ left upper quadrant IT intrathecal injection LV left ventricle ITP idiopathic LVH left ventricular thrombocytopenic hypertrophy purpura Mab monoclonal antibody IU* international units MAP mean arterial IUD intrauterine device pressure IV intravenous MAR medication IVC intravenous administration cholangiogram or record inferior vena cava mEq milliequivalent IVDU intravenous drug MI myocardial user infarction or mitral IVP intravenous insufficiency pyelogram MOCA Montreal Cognitive JVD jugular venous Assessment distention MR mitral regurgitation JVP jugular venous MRI magnetic resonance pressure imaging K potassium MS musculoskeletal KUB kidneys, ureters, and system or mental bladder status or multiple LBW lean body weight or sclerosis low birth weight MSM men who have sex LCM left costal margin with men LDH lactate MMSE mini-mental state dehydrogenase examination LDL low density MVA Motor vehicle lipoprotein accident LE lower extremity MVP mitral valve prolapse LLE left lower extremity Na sodium LLL left lower lobe NABS normal active bowel LLQ left lower quadrant sounds LLSB left lower sternal NAD no apparent distress border or no active disease LMWH low molecular NEB nebulizer or nebules weight heparin NICU neonatal intensive LOC level of care unit consciousness NIDDM non-insulin diabetic LP lumbar puncture diabetes mellitus LPN licensed practical nurse 2020W 5 NG nasogastric tube PET positron emission NKA no known allergies tomography scan NKDA no known drug PFT pulmonary function allergies test NM neuromuscular PI protease inhibitor NMR nuclear magnetic PICC peripherally inserted resonance central catheter NPO nothing by mouth Post op Post-operative NR nonreactive PMI point of maximal NRTI nucleoside/nucleotid impulse e reverse PMN polymorphonuclear transcriptase cell inhibitor PMHx past medical history NS normal saline PNA pneumonia NSR normal sinus rhythm PND paroxysmal NYD not yet diagnosed nocturnal dyspnea N/V nausea and vomiting PPI proton pump N/V/D nausea, vomiting, inhibitor diarrhea PPD packs per day OA osteoarthritis PR per rectum, rectally OAT opioid agonist PSVT paroxysmal therapy supraventricular OB obstetrics tachycardia OD overdose PT popliteal oral glucose PTA prior to admission OGTT tolerance test PT prothrombin time or OT occupational therapy patient or physiotherapy PALP palpation PTH parathyroid PCU palliative care unit hormone PD peritoneal dialysis PV vaginally PE physical PVC premature examination or ventricular pulmonary contractions embolism PVD peripheral vascular PEARL pupils equal and disease reactive to light RA rheumatoid arthritis PEARRLA pupils equal and or right atrium or or PERRLA round, reactive to room air light and REM rapid eye movement accommodation right costal margin RCM Ped(s) Pediatric RBC red blood cell PEG percutaneous RLE right lower extremity endoscopic RLL right lower lobe gastrostomy tube or polyethylene glycol RLQ right lower quadrant RML right middle lobe RN registered nurse 2020W 6 R/O rule out SVT supraventricular ROM range of motion tachycardia RR Respiratory rate Sx symptom RRR regular rate and SZ seizure rhythm T(a) temperature, axillary RTA renal tubular acidosis T(po) temperature, oral RUE right upper extremity T(R) temperature, rectal RUL right upper lobe T(T) temperature, RUQ right upper quadrant tympanic RVH right ventricular T3 triiodothyronine hypertrophy T4 thyroxine Rx pharmacist or TBW total body weight or medication total body water Rxn reaction TIA transient ischemic S1 First heart sound attack S2 Second heart sound TKVO or to keep vein open S3 Third heart sound TKO S4 Fourth heart sound SA sternal angle TTP thrombotic SBE subacute bacterial thrombocytopenic endocarditis purpura SBP systolic blood Tx treatment pressure UA urinalysis SC* subcutaneous UE Upper extremity injection URTI or Upper respiratory SCM sternocleidomastoid URI tract infection SEM systolic ejection USB Upper sternal border murmur UTI Urinary tract SIADH syndrome of infection inappropriate V/Q scan Ventilation/perfusio antidiuretic hormone n scan SL sublingual VF Ventricular SLE systemic lupus fibrillation erythematosus VS Vital signs SOB shortness of breath VSS Vital signs stable SOBOE shortness of breath Ventricular VT on exertion tachycardia SROM slow-release oral Venous VTE morphine thromboembolism S/S signs and symptoms white blood cells WBC ST sinus tachycardia WNL Within normal STI sexually transmitted limits infection Y/O Years old SUD substance use disorder SW social work 2020W 7  ISMP LIST OF ERROR-PRONE ABBREVIATIONS4 Do not use – unapproved ISMP abbreviations Make sure you are familiar with the ISMP List of Error Prone Abbreviations and know which ones to avoid as they can be involved in harmful medication errors. See excerpt below: Intended Abbreviations Misinterpretation Correction Meaning µg Microgram Mistaken as “mg” Use “mcg” Right ear, left Mistaken as OD, OS, OU Use “right ear,” “left AD, AS, AU ear, each ear (right eye, left eye, each eye) ear,” or “each ear” Right eye, left Mistaken as AD, AS, AU Use “right eye,” “left OD, OS, OU eye, each eye (right ear, left ear, each ear) eye,” or “each eye” Mistaken as “BID” (twice BT Bedtime Use “bedtime” daily) Cubic cc Mistaken as “u” (units) Use “mL” centimeters Premature discontinuation of medications if D/C (intended to mean “discharge”) has Discharge or Use “discharge” and D/C been misinterpreted as discontinue “discontinue” “discontinued” when followed by a list of discharge medications Mistaken as “IV” or IJ Injection Use “injection” “intrajugular” Use “intranasal” or IN Intranasal Mistaken as “IM” or “IV” “NAS” Use “half-strength” HS Half-strength Mistaken as bedtime or “bedtime” At bedtime, Use “half-strength” hs Mistaken as half-strength hours of sleep or “bedtime” Mistaken as IV (intravenous) IU** International unit Use “units” or 10 (ten) 4 https://www.ismp.org/recommendations/error-prone-abbreviations-list 2020W 8  Intended Abbreviations Misinterpretation Correction Meaning Mistaken as “right eye” (OD- oculus dexter), leading to o.d. or OD Once daily Use “daily” oral liquid medications administered in the eye Mistaken as OD or OS (right or left eye); drugs meant to OJ Orange juice Use "orange juice" be diluted in orange juice may be given in the eye The “os” can be mistaken as Use “PO,” “by Per os By mouth, orally “left eye” (OS-oculus sinister) mouth,” or “orally” Mistaken as q.i.d., especially if the period after the “q” or q.d. or QD** Every day Use “daily” the tail of the “q” is misunderstood as an “i” Nightly at Mistaken as “qhr” or every qhs Use “nightly” bedtime hour Nightly or at Use “nightly” or “at qn Mistaken as “qh” (every hour) bedtime bedtime” Mistaken as “q.d.” (daily) or Use “every other q.o.d. or QOD** Every other day “q.i.d. (four times daily) if the day” “o” is poorly written Mistaken as q.i.d. (four times q1d Daily Use “daily” daily) Every evening at Use “daily at 6 PM” q6PM, etc Mistaken as every 6 hours 6 PM or “6 PM daily” SC mistaken as SL (sublingual); SQ mistaken as “5 every;” the “q” in “sub q” has been mistaken as “every” Use “subcut” or SC, SQ, sub q Subcutaneous (e.g., a heparin dose ordered “subcutaneously” “sub q 2 hours before surgery” misunderstood as every 2 hours before surgery) Sliding scale Spell out “sliding ss (insulin) or ½ Mistaken as “55” scale;” use “one- (apothecary) half” or “½” Sliding scale Mistaken as selective- Spell out “sliding SSRI regular insulin serotonin reuptake inhibitor scale (insulin)” 2020W 9  Intended Abbreviations Misinterpretation Correction Meaning Sliding scale Mistaken as Strong Solution Spell out “sliding SSI insulin of Iodine (Lugol's) scale (insulin)” i/d One daily Mistaken as “tid” Use “1 daily” Mistaken as “3 times a day” Use “3 times TIW or tiw 3 times a week or “twice in a week” weekly” Mistaken as the number 0 or 4, causing a 10-fold overdose or greater (e.g., 4U seen as U or u** Unit “40” or 4u seen as “44”); Use “unit” mistaken as “cc” so dose given in volume instead of units (e.g., 4u seen as 4cc) Mistaken as unit dose (e.g., diltiazem 125 mg IV infusion As directed (“ut “UD” misin- terpreted as UD Use “as directed” dictum”) meaning to give the entire infusion as a unit [bolus] dose) Dose Intended Designations and Misinterpretation Correction Meaning Other Information Trailing zero Do not use trailing after decimal Mistaken as 10 mg if the zeros for doses 1 mg point (e.g., 1.0 decimal point is not seen expressed in whole mg)** numbers Use zero before a “Naked” decimal Mistaken as 5 mg if the decimal point when point (e.g.,.5 0.5 mg decimal point is not seen the dose is less mg)** than a whole unit Abbreviations such as mg. or The period is unnecessary Use mg, mL, etc. mL. with a period mg mL and could be mistaken as the without a terminal following the number 1 if written poorly period abbreviation Drug name and dose run Place adequate together Mistaken as Inderal 140 mg Inderal 40 mg space between the (especially Mistaken as Tegretol 1300 Tegretol 300 mg drug name, dose, problematic for mg and unit of measure drug names that end in “l” such as 2020W 10  Intended Abbreviations Misinterpretation Correction Meaning Inderal40 mg; Tegretol300 mg) Numerical dose The “m” is sometimes Place adequate and unit of mistaken as a zero or two space between the measure run 10 mg 100 mL zeros, risking a 10- to 100- dose and unit of together (e.g., fold overdose measure 10mg, 100mL) Use commas for Large doses dosing units at or without properly 100000 has been mistaken above 1,000, or use placed commas 100,000 units as 10,000 or 1,000,000; words such as 100 (e.g., 100000 1,000,000 units 1000000 has been mistaken "thousand" or 1 units; 1000000 as 100,000 "million" to improve units) readability Drug Name Intended Misinterpretation Correction Abbreviations Meaning To avoid confusion, do not abbreviate drug names when communicating medical information. Examples of drug name abbreviations involved in medication errors include: Not recognized as Use complete drug APAP acetaminophen acetaminophen name Mistaken as cytarabine (ARA Use complete drug ARA A vidarabine C) name zidovudine Mistaken as azathioprine or Use complete drug AZT (Retrovir) aztreonam name Compazine Use complete drug CPZ (prochlorperazin Mistaken as chlorpromazine name e) Demerol- Mistaken as diphtheria- Use complete drug DPT Phenergan- pertussis-tetanus (vaccine) name Thorazine Diluted tincture of opium, or Use complete drug DTO deodorized Mistaken as tincture of opium name tincture of opium (Paregoric) Use complete drug hydrochloric Mistaken as potassium name unless HCl acid or chloride (The “H” is expressed as a salt hydrochloride misinterpreted as “K”) of a drug 2020W 11  Intended Abbreviations Misinterpretation Correction Meaning Mistaken as Use complete drug HCT hydrocortisone hydrochlorothiazide name hydrochlorothiaz Mistaken as hydrocortisone Use complete drug HCTZ ide (seen as HCT250 mg) name magnesium Use complete drug MgSO4** Mistaken as morphine sulfate sulfate name Mistaken as magnesium Use complete drug MS, MSO4** morphine sulfate sulfate name Use complete drug MTX methotrexate Mistaken as mitoxantrone name novel/new oral Use complete drug NoAC No anticoagulant anticoagulant name Mistaken as patient Use complete drug PCA procainamide controlled analgesia name Use complete drug PTU propylthiouracil Mistaken as mercaptopurine name Tylenol with Use complete drug T3 Mistaken as liothyronine codeine No. 3 name Mistaken as tetracaine, Use complete drug TAC triamcinolone Adrenalin, cocaine name Use complete drug TNK TNKase Mistaken as “TPA” name tissue Mistaken as TNKase plasminogen (tenecteplase), or less often Use complete drug TPA or tPA activator, as another tissue name Activase plasminogen activator, (alteplase) Retavase (retaplase) Use complete drug ZnSO4 zinc sulfate Mistaken as morphine sulfate name nitroglycerin Mistaken as sodium Use complete drug “Nitro” drip infusion nitroprusside infusion name Use complete drug “Norflox” norfloxacin Mistaken as Norflex name intravenous Use complete drug “IV Vanc” Mistaken as Invanz vancomycin name 2020W 12  Intended Abbreviations Misinterpretation Correction Meaning Intended Symbols Misinterpretation Correction Meaning Symbol for dram mistaken as Use the metric ʓ Dram “3” system Symbol for minim mistaken Use the metric ♏ Minim as “mL” system x3d For three days Mistaken as “3 doses” Use “for three days” Mistaken as opposite of More than and intended; mistakenly use Use “more than” or > and < less than incorrect symbol; “< 10” “less than” mistaken as “40” Mistaken as the number 1 Separates two Use “per” rather (e.g., “25 units/10 units” / (slash mark) doses or than a slash mark to misread as “25 units and indicates “per” separate doses 110” units) @ At Mistaken as “2” Use “at” & And Mistaken as “2” Use “and” + Plus or and Mistaken as “4” Use “and” Mistaken as a zero (e.g., q2° Use “hr,” “h,” or ° Hour seen as q 20) “hour” Use 0 or zero, or Mistaken as numerals 4, 6, Ф or ᴓ zero, null sign describe intent 8, and 9 using whole words ADDITIONAL TIPS: Specifically avoid QD, QOD, or OD for daily. Write “daily”. Specifically avoid U but write "units" out in full, as "u" can resemble a zero, 4 or 6. Decimals must be written with the leading 0. For example, write 0.15 not.15 Do not use trailing zeros with doses expressed in whole numbers. For example, write 1 mg instead of 1.0 mg. This can be mistaken as 10 mg. 2020W 13