Medical Abbreviations

Medical Abbreviations  BS – blood sugar OR bowel sounds OR
breath sounds
( medical terminology)  Bx – biopsy
In both written and oral communication,  c – with

medical personnel use a large number of
 C – celsius
abbreviations to save time as well as to save
space on forms.  CA – cancer
Common Abbreviations  CBC – complete blood count
 A - assessment  CC – chief complaint
 a – before  cc – cubic centimeter
 ac – before meal  CHF – congestive heart failure
 ADL – activities of daily living  cm – centimeter
 ad lib – as desired  CNS – central nervous system
 AIDS – acquired immuno-deficiency  c/o – complains of

syndrome
 CO2 – carbon dioxide
 am/AM – between midnight and noon
 COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary
 amb – ambulate, ambulatory disease
 amt – amount  CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation
 AP – anterior posterior  CSF – cerebrospinal fluid
 ASA – aspirin  CT – computer tomography
 ASAP – as soon as possible  CVA – cerebrovascular accident
 av/AV/A-V – atrioventricular  CXR – chest xray
 ax – axillary  d – day
 B – bilateral  dc/DC or D/C – discontinue
 bid – twice a day  DM – diabetes mellitus
 BM – bowel movement  DNR – do not resuscitate
 BP – blood pressure  DOA – dead on arrival

 DOB – date of birth  HEENT – head, eyes, ears, nose, throat
 DRG – diagnosis-related group  Hg – mercury
 DVT – deep vein thrombosis  Hgb/Hb - hemoglobin
 Dx – diagnosis  H2O – water
 ECG/EKG – electrocardiogram  H2O2 – hydrogen peroxide
 EEG – electroencephalogram  HIB – haemophilus influenzae type B
 EMG – electromyogram  HIV – human immunodeficiency virus
 ENT – ear, nose, and throat  H&P or HxPx – history and physical
 ER – emergency room  HR – heart rate
 ETA – estimate time of arrival  hs – hour of sleep (bedtime)
 ETOH – alcohol (beverage)  Ht – height
 F – Fahrenheit  Hx - history
 FBS – fasting blood sugar  ICU – intensive care unit
 FUO – fever of unknown origin  IDDM – insulin-dependant diabetes

mellitus
 fx – fracture
 I&D – incision and drainage
 g or gm – gram
 I&O – intake and output
 GERD – gastroesophageal reflux disease
 IP – inpatient
 GI – gastrointestinal
 IV – intravenous
 gtt or gtts – drop or drops
 K/K+ - potassium
 GTT – glucose tolerance test
 kg – kilogram
 GU – genitourinary
 L - left
 GYN/gyn – gynecology
 L/l – liter
 h – hour
 lb or # - pound
 HA – headache
 L&D – labor and delivery
 HBV – hepatitis B virus
 LLQ – left lower quadrant
 Hct – hematocrit
 LMP – last menstrual period  OR – operating room
 LOC – level of consciousness or loss of  OS – left eye
consciousness  OTC – over-the-counter
 LUQ – left upper quadrant  OU – both eyes
 mg or m – milligram  OV – office visit
 MI – myocardial infarction  oz - ounce
 ml – milliliter  p – after
 Mm – millimeter  P – pulse
 MRI – magnetic resonance imaging  PDR – physician’s desk reference
 Na/Na+ - sodium  PE – pulmonary embolus or physical

exam
 N/A – not applicable
 Peds – pediatrics
 NB – newborn
 per – by or through
 NCR – no cardiac resuscitation
 PET – positron emission tomography
 neg - negative
 PK – pain killer
 NKA – no known allergies
 pm/PM – between noon and midnight
 NKDA – no known drug allergies
Utah State Office of Education
 noct – night
Common Abbreviations
 NPO/npo – nothing by mouth
 PMS – pre-menstrual syndrome
 NS – normal saline
 PO – orally, by mouth
 N&V – nausea and vomiting
 PRN/prn – as needed
 O2 – oxygen
 Pt/pt – patient
 OA – osteoarthritis
 q – every
 OB/ob – obstetrics
 qam – every morning
 OD – overdose or right eye
 qd/qday – every day
 oint – ointment
 q_h – every (number) hour(s)
 OP – outpatient
 for example: q2h = every 2 hours  sq/subcu/subq – subcutaneous
 qid – four times a day  S&S – signs and symptoms
 R – rectal or respirations  stat - immediately
 R – right Utah State Office of Education
 RA – rheumatoid arthritis  STD – sexually transmitted disease
 RBC – red blood cell OR red blood count  T – temperature
 reg – regular  tab(s) – tablet(s)
 RICE – rest, ice, compression, and  TB – tuberculosis

elevation
 tbsp – tablespoon
 RLQ – right lower quadrant
 TCDB – turn, cough, deep breathe
 r/o, R/O – rule out
 temp – temperature
 ROM – range of motion
 tid – three times a day
 ROS – review of systems
 TM – tympanic membrane
 RRR – regular rate & rhythm (referring to
the heart) Utah State Office of Education
 RTC – return to clinic  TPR – temperature, pulse, and respiration
 RUQ – right upper quadrant  tsp – teaspoon
 Rx – take OR prescription  Tx – therapy or treatment
 s – without  U – unit
 SA – sinoatrial node  UA – urinalysis
 SIDS – sudden infant death syndrome  UNK – unknown
 sig – instructions or directions  URI – upper respiratory infection
 sm – small  UTI – urinary tract infection
 SO – standing order OR significant other  UV – ultra-violet
 SOAP – subjective, objective, assessment,  VA – visual acuity

plan  VBAC – vaginal birth after cesarean
 SOB – shortness of breath section
 VS – vital signs  ♂ - male
 VSS – vital signs stable
 w/a – when awake
 WBC – white blood cell OR white blood

count
 w/c or W/C – wheelchair
 wk – week
 WNL – within normal limits
 Wt – weight
 YOB – year of birth
 yr – year
 > - greater than
 < - less than
 + - positive
 - - negative
 ~ - approximately
 % - percent
 - check or checked
 - increase or increasing
 - decrease or decreasing
 - to the right
 - to the left
 - change or changed
 @ - at
 - degree
 ♀ - female

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Medical Abbreviations

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Medical Abbreviations  BS – blood sugar OR bowel sounds OR

In both written and oral communication,  c – with

Common Abbreviations  CBC – complete blood count

 A - assessment  CC – chief complaint

 a – before  cc – cubic centimeter

 ac – before meal  CHF – congestive heart failure

 ADL – activities of daily living  cm – centimeter

 ad lib – as desired  CNS – central nervous system

 AIDS – acquired immuno-deficiency  c/o – complains of

 amt – amount  CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation

 AP – anterior posterior  CSF – cerebrospinal fluid

 ASA – aspirin  CT – computer tomography

 ASAP – as soon as possible  CVA – cerebrovascular accident

 av/AV/A-V – atrioventricular  CXR – chest xray

 B – bilateral  dc/DC or D/C – discontinue

 bid – twice a day  DM – diabetes mellitus

 BM – bowel movement  DNR – do not resuscitate

 BP – blood pressure  DOA – dead on arrival

 DRG – diagnosis-related group  Hg – mercury

 DVT – deep vein thrombosis  Hgb/Hb - hemoglobin

 Dx – diagnosis  H2O – water

 ECG/EKG – electrocardiogram  H2O2 – hydrogen peroxide

 EEG – electroencephalogram  HIB – haemophilus influenzae type B

 EMG – electromyogram  HIV – human immunodeficiency virus

 ER – emergency room  HR – heart rate

 ETA – estimate time of arrival  hs – hour of sleep (bedtime)

 ETOH – alcohol (beverage)  Ht – height

 FBS – fasting blood sugar  ICU – intensive care unit

 FUO – fever of unknown origin  IDDM – insulin-dependant diabetes

 LOC – level of consciousness or loss of  OS – left eye

consciousness  OTC – over-the-counter

 LUQ – left upper quadrant  OU – both eyes

 mg or m – milligram  OV – office visit

 MI – myocardial infarction  oz - ounce

 MRI – magnetic resonance imaging  PDR – physician’s desk reference

 Na/Na+ - sodium  PE – pulmonary embolus or physical

 qid – four times a day  S&S – signs and symptoms

 R – rectal or respirations  stat - immediately

 R – right Utah State Office of Education

 RA – rheumatoid arthritis  STD – sexually transmitted disease

 RBC – red blood cell OR red blood count  T – temperature

 reg – regular  tab(s) – tablet(s)

 RICE – rest, ice, compression, and  TB – tuberculosis

 RTC – return to clinic  TPR – temperature, pulse, and respiration

 RUQ – right upper quadrant  tsp – teaspoon

 Rx – take OR prescription  Tx – therapy or treatment

 SA – sinoatrial node  UA – urinalysis

 SIDS – sudden infant death syndrome  UNK – unknown

 sig – instructions or directions  URI – upper respiratory infection

 sm – small  UTI – urinary tract infection

 SO – standing order OR significant other  UV – ultra-violet

 SOAP – subjective, objective, assessment,  VA – visual acuity

 VSS – vital signs stable

 w/a – when awake

 WBC – white blood cell OR white blood

 w/c or W/C – wheelchair

 WNL – within normal limits

 YOB – year of birth

 > - greater than

 < - less than

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