Medical Abbreviations Flashcards
ac
before meals
ADL
activities of daily living
ad lib
as desired
AIDS
acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome
am/AM
between midnight and noon
amb
ambulate, ambulatory
AP
anterior posterior or apical pulse
ASA
aspirin
ax
axillary
bid
twice a day
BM
bowel movement
BP
blood pressure
c
with
CBC
complete blood count
cc
cubic centimeter
CHF
congestive heart failure
c/o
complains of
COPD
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPR
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CVA
cerebrovascular accident
dc/DC or D/C
discontinue
DOA
dead on arrival
Dx
diagnosis
ECG/EKG
electrocardiogram
EEG
electroencephalo-gram
ER
emergency room
FBS
fasting blood sugar
FUO
fever of undetermined (or unknown) origin
GI
gastrointestinal
gtt or gtts
drop or drops
GYN/gyn
gynecology
h
hour
HA
headache
Hct
hematocrit
Hgb/Hb
hemoglobin
H2O
water
Ht
height
IM
intramuscular
I&O
intake and output
IV
intravenous
K/K+
potassium
L
left
LMP
last menstrual period
LUQ
left upper quadrant
mg(m)
milligram
MI
myocardial infarction
ml
milliliter
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
Na/Na+
sodium
NKA
no known allergies
NKDA
no known drug allergies
NPO/npo
nothing by mouth
NS
normal saline (refers to the normal plasma concentration 0.9%NaCl)
N&V
nausea and vomiting
O2
oxygen
OB/ob
obstetrics
OR
operating room
oz
ounce
p
after
PE
pulmonary embolus or physical exam
PO
orally, by mouth
PRN/prn
as needed
q
every
qd/qday
every day
q _ h
every (number) hour (example: q2h would be every two hours)
qid
four times a day
R
rectal OR respirations
R
right
RBC
red blood cell OR red blood count
RLQ
right lower quadrant
r/o, R/O
rule out
ROM
range of motion
Rx
"take" OR prescription
SOB
shortness of breath
stat
immediately
T
temperature
tab(s)
tablet(s)
tid
three times a day
TPR
temperature, pulse, and respiration
tsp
teaspoon
VS
vital signs
w/c or W/C
wheelchair
Wt
weight
Inj
injection
C&S
culture & sensitivity
FFl
force fluids
CCU
coronary care unit
Fe
Iron
CAD
Coronary Artery Disease
RN
Registered Nurse
LPN
Licensed Practical Nurse
NA
Nurse Assistant
PT
Physical Therapy
BE
Barium Enema
KUB
Kidneys, Urethra, & Bladder (x-ray)
sol
solution
spec
specimen
SpGr
Specific Gravity
MOM
Milk of Magnesia
MD
Medical Doctor
Bl Wk
Blood Work
cap
capsule
EMT
Emergency Medical Technician
cl liq
clear liquids
Etiol
etiology
HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
w/o
without
CDC
Centers for Disease Control
NIH
National Institute of Health
TIA
Transient Ischemic Attack (Stroke)
ABG
Arterial Blood Gas
NG
Nasogastric
HOB
Head of Bed