Common Medical Abbreviations

Front 1

-a

Back 1

before

Front 2

a.c. or ac

Back 2

before meal

Front 3

abd

Back 3

abdomen

Front 4

ADL

Back 4

activities of daily living

Front 5

ad lib

Back 5

as desired

Front 6

Adm

Back 6

administrator

Front 7

AM

Back 7

morning

Front 8

amb

Back 8

ambulate - assisted walking

Front 9

amt

Back 9

amount

Front 10

AP

Back 10

apical - heart rate

Front 11

ASAP

Back 11

as soon as possible

Front 12

bid

Back 12

2 times a days

Front 13

BM

Back 13

bowel movement

Front 14

B/P or BP

Back 14

blood pressure

Front 15

BR

Back 15

bed rest

Front 16

BRP

Back 16

bathroom privileges - assisted to the bathroom (scheduled)

Front 17

BSC

Back 17

bedside commode - bedside toilet

Front 18

-c

Back 18

with

Front 19

cath

Back 19

catheter - the tube part that goes to the patient

Front 20

cc

Back 20

cubic centimeter

Front 21

c/o

Back 21

complains of

Front 22

CPR

Back 22

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Front 23

CVA

Back 23

cerebrovascular accident; stroke

Front 24

DC or D/C

Back 24

discontinue; stop; discharge

Front 25

DNS

Back 25

director of nursing services

Front 26

DON

Back 26

director of nursing

Front 27

drsg or dsg

Back 27

dressing

Front 28

dx

Back 28

diagnosis - final conclusion of patient problem

Front 29

F

Back 29

Fahrenheit

Front 30

FF

Back 30

force fluids - offer more fluids, encourage patient to drink more

Front 31

h or hr

Back 31

hour

Front 32

H2O

Back 32

water

Front 33

HA or H/A

Back 33

headache

Front 34

HOH

Back 34

hard of hearing

Front 35

hs

Back 35

hour of sleep; bedtime

Front 36

ht

Back 36

height

Front 37

I&O

Back 37

intake and output - monitoring how organs are working (document eating, urinating, BM, IV fluid)

Front 38

ICP

Back 38

interdisciplinary care plan - written document about the patient's needs

Front 39

IV

Back 39

intravenous - through vein

Front 40

kg

Back 40

kilogram - 2.2lbs/kg

Front 41

L or lt

Back 41

left

Front 42

lb

Back 42

pound

Front 43

MD

Back 43

medical doctor

Front 44

midnoc

Back 44

midnight

Front 45

ml

Back 45

milliliter - lml = 1cc (1oz = 30 cc)

Front 46

NA

Back 46

sodium - salt

Front 47

NAS

Back 47

no added salt

Front 48

neg.

Back 48

negative

Front 49

noc

Back 49

night

Front 50

NPO

Back 50

nothing by mouth

Front 51

OD

Back 51

right eye

Front 52

OOB

Back 52

out of bed

Front 53

OS

Back 53

left eye

Front 54

OT

Back 54

occupational therapy

Front 55

-p

Back 55

after

Front 56

p.c. or pc

Back 56

after meal

Front 57

PM

Back 57

afternoon or evening

Front 58

PO

Back 58

by mouth

Front 59

PR

Back 59

per (or by) rectum

Front 60

PRN

Back 60

as needed

Front 61

PT

Back 61

physical therapy

Front 62

q

Back 62

every

Front 63

qd

Back 63

every day

Front 64

qhs

Back 64

every hour of sleep

Front 65

qid

Back 65

four times a day

Front 66

qod

Back 66

every other day

Front 67

q2h, q3h, q4h...

Back 67

every 2 hours, every 3 hours, every 4 hours...

Front 68

R or rt

Back 68

right (R can also mean rectal)

Front 69

RCP

Back 69

resident care plan

Front 70

res

Back 70

resident

Front 71

ROM

Back 71

range of motion - exercising the joints (flexibility, prevent spasms and stiffness)

Front 72

-s

Back 72

without

Front 73

SOB

Back 73

shortness of breath

Front 74

spec

Back 74

specimen

Front 75

stat

Back 75

immediately

Front 76

tid

Back 76

three times a day

Front 77

TPR

Back 77

temperature, pulse, respiration

Front 78

u/a or U/A

Back 78

urinalysis

Front 79

VS

Back 79

vital signs

Front 80

W/C

Back 80

wheelchair

Front 81

wt

Back 81

weight - lb

Front 82

x

Back 82

times

Front 83

ST

Back 83

speech therapist

Front 84

PPE

Back 84

Personal Protective Equipment