Medical Abbreviations PDF

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Abbreviations for the semester...

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FSHN 367X: Medical Abbreviations Listed below are common medical abbreviations used in charting. Quiz 1 focuses on abbreviations, but you will be tested on them throughout the course. Every hospital, clinic, etc. has its own system, so these may not be accurate at all institutions. Oftentimes facilities choose a particular reference. The Iowa Health System uses “Stedman's Medical Abbreviations, Acronyms & Symbols” as its abbreviation reference. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the Institute for Safe Medicine Practices warn that miswriting and misusing abbreviations is dangerous. JCAHO issued a list of abbreviations that as of January 1, 2004 are not to be used. Page 453 and Appendix B in your textbook lists them. More commonly misused abbreviations are listed here in italics, as well as, at the end of this document. Common Abbreviations (Note capitalization makes a difference in meaning.) • ā: before  • aa: of each • AA: aortic aneurysm • AAA: abdominal aortic aneurysm • abd: abdomen • ac: before meals • ad lib: at will, as desired • adm: admission, admitted, administer • AIDS: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome • am: before noon • AMA: against medical advice • ant: anterior • amb: ambulate (walk) • approx: approximately • ARDS: acute respiratory distress syndrome • ASA: Aspirin • ASAP: as soon as possible • AV: atrioventricular • BCAA: branched chain amino acids • bid: twice a day • BIPAP: bi-level positive airway pressure • BM: bowel movement • BMR: basal metabolic rate • BP: blood pressure • BPM: beats per minute • BUN: blood urea nitrogen • BW: body weight • Bx: biopsy • c: with • C: Centigrade, Celsius • CA: cancer, carcinoma • CABG: coronary artery by-pass graft • CAD: coronary artery disease • Cap: capsule • CBW: current body weight • CC: chief complaint • cc: *no longer accepted because can be mistaken for unit; use mL instead • CCU: cardiac care unit • c/o: complains of • CHF: congestive heart failure • chol: cholesterol

• CKD: chronic kidney disease • CMS: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services • CO2: carbon dioxide • cont: continue • COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease • CPAP: continuous positive airway pressure • CPN: central parenteral nutrition • CPR: cardiopulmonary resuscitation • CRF: chronic renal failure (note: CKD is often preferred, see above) • creat: creatinine • CXR: chest x-ray • dc: discontinue • d/c: *no longer accepted for discharge • DM: diabetes mellitus • DNR: do not resuscitate • DOL: day of life (e.g. DOL3: day of life #3) • Dx: diagnosis • ECG or EKG: electrocardiogram • EBL: estimated blood loss • ent: ears, nose, throat • ER: emergency room • EtOH: alcohol (ethanol) • ETT: endotracheal tube • F: Fahrenheit • FAS: fetal alcohol syndrome • FBS: fasting blood sugar • Fx: fracture • GB: gallbladder • GERD: gastroesophageal reflux disease • GI: gastrointestinal • Glu: glucose • gtt: drop-liquid measurement • GTT: glucose tolerance test • GU: genitourinary • GYN: gynecology • H & H: Hematocrit and hemoglobin • H & P: history and physical • HBV: hepatitis B virus • heent: head, eyes, ears, nose, throat • Hep B: hepatitis B vaccine • Hct: hematocrit

• Hgb: hemoglobin • HIV: human immunodeficiency virus • hpf: high power field • HPV: human papilloma virus • HTN: hypertension • HR: heart rate • hr: hour • HS or hs or qhs: *no longer accepted for “halfstrength” or “at bedtime” • Hx: history • Hypo: hypodermic injection • H2O: water • i: 1 • ii: 2 • iii: 3 • iv: 4 • v: 5 • I + O: intake and output • IBW: ideal body weight • ICD: implantable cardioverter defibrillator • ICU: intensive care unit • ID: intradermal • IDDM: insulin-dependentdiabetes mellitus (type 1) • IgG, IgM, IgE: immunoglobulins • IM: intramuscular • IPV: Inactivated polio vaccine • IU: *no longer accepted for international unit – can be mistaken for IV • IUD: intrauterine device • IV: intravenous • IVF: intravenous fluids, IV fluids • JCAHO: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations • KUB: kidney, ureter, bladder (x-ray) • L + A: light and accommodation • L + W: living and well • LLQ: left lower quadrant • LMP: last menstrual period • LOS: length of stay • Med Hx: medical history • Met, mets, metas: metastasis (s), metastases (pl) • mg: milligram • mL: milliliter • MODS, MSOF: multiple organ dysfunction syndrome; multiple/multi-system organ failure • MRI: magnetic resonance imaging • MS, MSO4, MgSO4, or MgMSO4: *no longer accepted for Morphine and Magnesium because they can be mistaken for each other • MVA or MVC: motor vehicle accident/crash • neg: negative • ND: nasoduodenal • NG: nasogastric • NGT: nasogastric tube • NJ: nasojejunal

• NIDDM: non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (Type II) • NPO: nothing by mouth • NTG: nitroglycerin • N/V: Nausea/vomiting • NPO: nothing by mouth • O2: oxygen • OB: obstetrics • OGT: oral gastric tube • OP: outpatient • OR: operating room • P: pulse •p  : after • PAB: prealbumin • pc: after meals • PE: pulmonary embolism • PEG: percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy • PEJ: percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy • PENS: parenteral and enteral nutrition support • PICC: peripherally inserted central catheter • PKU: phenylketonuria • PO or po.: by mouth, orally • post-op or PO: postoperative (after surgery) • POD: post-op day (e.g. POD1: post-op day #1) • pre-op: preoperative (before surgery) • pm: afternoon or evening • prn: as needed or desired • pt: patient • PTA: prior to admission • Px: prognosis • q: every • QD or qd: *no longer accepted for every day • qh: every hour • q2h: ever 2 hours • q4h: every 4 hours • qid: four times a day • qm: every morning • qn: every night • QOD or qod: *no longer accepted for every other day • RBC: red blood cell count • Rh: blood factor, Rh+ or Rh• RPh: registered pharmacist • r/t: related to • Rx: prescription, treatment • s : without • SBO: small bowel obstruction • sc/sq: *no longer accepted for subcutaneous • SIDS: sudden infant death syndrome • s/p: status: post • s/s: signs and symptoms • stat: immediately • SOB: short of breath • SOS: if necessary • STI or STD: sexually transmitted infection (disease)

• Sx: symptoms • T: temperature • T3, T4: thyroid hormones • tab: tablet • TC&DB: turn, cough, and deep breathe • Td: tetanus vaccine • TIA: transient ischemic attack • TF: tube feeding • TG or trig: triglycerides • tid: three times daily • TPN: total parenteral nutrition • TPR: temperature, pulse, respiration • TSH: thyroid-stimulating hormone

• Tx: treatment • U: *no longer accepted for unit • ug or μg: *no longer accepted for microgram; use mcg instead • URI: upper respiratory infection • US: ultrasound • UTI: urinary tract infection • UV: ultraviolet • Var: Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine • vs: vital signs • WBC: white blood cell count • y.o.: years old

Common Symbols • x: times, power • ♂ male • ♀ female • ↑ increase, above, elevated • ↓ decrease, below, lowered, or death • ~ approximate • # pounds Other Notes • Always put a zero before a decimal point • Never put a zero after a decimal point • Always spell out drug names – do not abbreviate Unaccepted Abbreviations: Do Not Use! (see page 453 in your textbook) • cc: no longer accepted because can be mistaken for unit; use mL instead • d/c: no longer accepted for discharge • HS or hs or qhs: no longer accepted for “half-strength” or “at bedtime” • IU: no longer accepted for international unit – can be mistaken for IV • QD or qd: no longer accepted for every day • QOD or qod: no longer accepted for every other day • MS, MSO4, MgSO4, or MgMSO4:: no longer accepted for Morphine and Magnesium because they can be mistaken for each other • sc/sq: no longer accepted for subcutaneous • U: no longer accepted for unit • ug or μg: no longer accepted for microgram; use mcg instead

*This document was last updated May 2018....