Medical Abbreviations

Medical Abbreviations

Medical abbreviations are found throughout the medical and non-medical literature. Medical abbreviations such as STAT (Statim), COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and GSW (gun shot wound) are common in everyday language. These medical abbreviations are found in physician orders, on prescriptions, and in medical records.

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PEOPLE AND PLACES

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pt– patient

MD– Medical doctor

PDM– Podiatric doctor of medicine

DO– Doctor of osteopathy

PA– Physician’s Assistant

DDS– Doctor of dental surgery

RN– Registered nurse

NP– Nurse Practitioner

LVN– Licensed vocational nurse

CNA– Certified nurse assistant

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ER– Emergency room

X-ray– radiology

SP– Sterile processing

PRE-OP– Pre-operative

OR– Operating room

RR– Recovery room

POST-OP– Post-operative

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EMT– Emergency medical

technician

RRT– Registered Respiratory

Therapist

OT– Occupational Therapist– Occupational Therapy

PT– Physical Therapist– Physical Therapy

RT– Respiratory Therapy

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OB-GYN– Obstetrics and

gynecology

L&D– Labor and delivery

PP– Post partum

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ICU– Intensive care unit

CICU– Cardiac intensive care

unit MICU

– Medical intensive care unit

SICU– Surgical intensive care

MED-SURG– Medical surgical

LAB– laboratory

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PEDS– pediatrics

ENT– Ear nose, and throat

ADM– admissions

CS– Central supply

Patient Restrictions

Patient Restrictions

NPO– Nothing by mouth

ROM– Range of motion

HOB– Head of bed

FOB– Foot of bed

Patient Restrictions

AMB– ambulate

CBR– Complete bed rest

BRP– Bathroom privileges

OOB– Out of bed

WC– wheelchair

AD LIB– As desired

PRN– When necessary

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Medical Abbreviations

Part 2

TIMES

Medical Abbreviations: TIMES

Q or q– every

QD or qd– Every day

QOD or qod– Every other day

Q2H or q2h– Every two hours

BID or bid– Twice a day

TID or tid– Three times a day

QID or qid– Four times a day

HS or hs– Hour of sleep (Bedtime)

Medical Abbreviations: TIMES

AC or ac– Before meals, before

food

PC or pc– After meals, after food

Pre– before

Post– after

a– before

p– after

c– with

s– without

Medical Abbreviations: TIMES

AM– morning

PM– evening

NOC– night

MN– midnight

STAT– immediately

Medical Abbreviations: TIMES

ATC– Around the clock

DTD– Give of such doses

Diagnostic Tests

EKG or ECG– electrocardiogram

EEG– electroenchephalogram

CAT SCAN– Computerized axial

tomography

MRI– Magnetic resonance

imaging

UGI– Upper gastrointestinal

BE– Barium enema

Diagnostic Tests

I & O– Intake and output

VS– Vital signs

TPR– Temperature, pulse and

respiration

BP– Blood pressure

mmHg– Millimeters of mercury

Medications

Medications

Rx– Prescription

OTC– Over the counter

SIG– Let it be written

gtt(s)– drops

Gr(s)– grain

Tab(s)– tablet

Cap(s)– Capsule

Medications

INJ– injection

IM– intramuscular

IV– intravenous

po– By mouth

ng– nasogastric

R– rectal

Elix– elixir

ung– ointment

Medications

top– Topical

SL– sublinqual

SUBQ– subcutanous

D/C– Discharge– discontinue

One– i

Two– ii

Three– iii

IVP– Intravenous piggy back

Medications

NS– Normal saline

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Laboratory Tests

Laboratory Tests

SPEC– specimen

CBC– Complete blood count

RBC– Red blood cells

WBC– White blood cells

HCT– hematocrit

HGB– hemoglobin

Laboratory Tests

FBS– Fasting blood sugar

UA– urinalysis

ABG– Arterial blood gas

QNS– Quantity not sufficient

C & S– Culture and sensitivity

BL WK– Blood work

BUN– Blood urea nitrogen

Diagnosis (DG or DX)

CVA– Cerebrovascular

accident

Fx– fracture

FUO– Fever of unknown origin

DOA– Dead on arrival

MI– Myocardial infarction

HIV– Human

immunodeficiency virus

Diagnosis

AIDS– Acquired immune

deficiency syndrome

URI– Upper respiratory

infection

UTI– Urinary tract infection

c/o– Complains of

SOB– Short of breath

DNR– Do not resuscitate

Diagnosis

CHD– Congestive heart disease

BKA– Below the knee amputation

AKA– Above the knee amputation

CP– Chest pain

Measures

Measures

U– unit

cc– Cubic centimeters– 1cc=1ml

mg– milligrams

g– gram

kg– kilogram

ml or mL– milliliter

L– liter

Tsp, t– Teaspoon

1 tsp= 5 mL

Measures

TBS, T– Tablespoon

1 T= 15 mL

oz– Ounce

1 oz = 30 mL

qt– quart

Fl – fluid

ss– One-half

aa– Of each

Body Parts

OD– Right eye

OS– Left eye

OU– Both eyes

Body Parts

AD– Right ear

AS– Left ear

AU– Both ears

Body Parts

OS– mouth

AX– axilla

ABD– abdomen

CX– Cervix

VAG– vagina