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.

TITLE OF PEOPLE AND PLACES

TITLE OF PEOPLE AND PLACES 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

TITLE OF PEOPLE AND PLACES ER – Emergency room X-ray – radiology SP – Sterile processing PRE-OP – Pre-operative OR – Operating room RR – Recovery room POST-OP – Post-operative

TITLE OF PEOPLE AND PLACES EMT – Emergency medical technician RRT – Registered Respiratory Therapist OT – Occupational Therapist – Occupational Therapy PT – Physical Therapist – Physical Therapy RT – Respiratory Therapy

TITLE OF PEOPLE AND PLACES OB-GYN – Obstetrics and gynecology L&D – Labor and delivery PP – Post partum

TITLE OF PEOPLE AND PLACES ICU – Intensive care unit CICU – Cardiac intensive care unit MICU – Medical intensive care unit SICU – Surgical intensive care MED-SURG – Medical surgical LAB – laboratory

TITLE OF PEOPLE AND PLACES PEDS – pediatrics ENT – Ear nose, and throat ADM – admissions CS – Central supply

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

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–i Two – ii Three – iii IVP – Intravenous piggy back

Medications NS – Normal saline

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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

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