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Abbreviations and Acronyms programs
Acronyms and abbreviations for medical terms are frequently used by
RN-to-BSN
healthcare providers. It can be challenging to keep up with the lingo,
MSN - Nursing Systems
especially as a new nurse. Whether you are working on mastering medical
Administration
abbreviations or just looking for a review, feel free to consult our
MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner
comprehensive guide to nursing acronyms and abbreviations used in
MSN - School Nurse Certificate
hospitals across the United States.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Ph.D. in Nursing
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Abbreviation/Acronym Meaning
@
@ At
< Less Than
> Greater Than
A
a Artery
A (see acc.) Accommodation (see acc.)
A Acetum
A Angström Unit
A Anode
A Anterior
A&D (see Adm.) Admission and Discharge
A&E Accident and Emergency
A/CA Accommodative/Convergence Accommodation Ratio
A/G, or A-G ratio Albumin/Globulin Ratio
a¯ Before
aa Of Each, Equal Parts, Arteries
AAA Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
AAPB
:
Association of Applied Psychophysiology and
Biofeedback
AARP American Association of Retired Persons
AASM American Academy of Sleep Medicine
AAT Animal-Assisted Therapy
AATH American Association for Therapeutic Humor
ABC Airway, Breathing, Circulation
ABD, Abd, Abdo Abdominal, or Abdomen
ABG Arterial Blood Gases
ABI Ankle-Brachial Index
ABO Blood Types
ABR Absolute Bed Rest (See CBR)
AC Adrenal Cortex, Air Conduction, Alternating Current,
or Axiocervical
ac or a.c. Before Meals
acc. (see A) Accommodation (see A)
ACE Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme
ACIP Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support
ACS American Cancer Society
ACTH Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
AD Alzheimer's Disease
AD Right Ear
AD Admitting Diagnosis
AD Advance Directive
ad lib Freely, as Desired, if the Patient So Desires
ad sat. To Saturation
Ad. Spec. Admission Urine Specimen
ADA Americans With Disabilities Act
ADH Antidiuretic Hormone
ADHD Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder
ADL Activities of Daily Living
:
Adm. (see A&D) Admission and Discharge
admov. Apply
ADN Associate Degree Nurse (Nursing)
AEB As Evidenced By
AED Antiepileptic Drug
AF Atrial Fibrillation
AFB Acid-Fast Bacillus
AFP Alpha-Fetoprotein
AGC Atypical Glandular Cells
AHA American Hospital Association
AHCA American Health Care Association
AHCPR Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
AHF Antihemophilic Factor
AHNA American Holistic Nurses' Association
AHRQ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
AI Adequate Intake
AI Aortic Incompetence, or Aortic Insufficiency
AICD Automatic Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator
AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
AK Above the Knee
AKA Above Knee Amputation
ALFA Assisted Living Federation of America
ALT Alanine Aminotransferase
AM/am/A.M./a.m. Morning (After Midnight and Before Midday)
AMA Against Medical Advice
AMA American Medical Association
Amb Ambulatory, Walking, Able to Walk
Amt Amount
ANA American Nurses Association
ANA Antinuclear Antibody
:
Angio Angiogram
AoA Administration on Aging
AP Anterior/Posterior
AP Apical Pulse
AP Appendectomy
APIC Association for Practitioners In Infection Control and
Epidemiology
Approx. Approximately
APRN Advance Practice Registered Nurse
APS Adult Protective Services
APS American Pain Society
APTT Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time
aqua Water or H2O
AROM Active Range of Motion
AS Left Ear
ASA Acetylsalicylic Acid
ASO Antistreptolysin-O
AST Aspartate Aminotransferase
AT Axillary Temperature
ATC Around the Clock
ATP Adenosine Triphosphatase
AU Both Ears
AV Atrioventricular
B
B1 Thiamine
B12 Cobalamin
B2 Riboflavin
B6 Pyridoxine
Ba Barium
BA Bowel Action
Ba Meal Barium Meal
BBA Balanced Budget Act
:
BCC Basal Cell Carcinoma
BD, bd, or bid Twice A Day
BE Base Excess
BGL Blood Glucose Level
BK Below Knee
BKA Below Knee Amputation
BMD Bone Mineral Density
BMI Body Mass Index
BMR Basal Metabolic Rate
BNO Bowels Not Opened
BO Bowels Opened
BP or B/P Blood Pressure
BPH Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
BPM Beats Per Minute
BSA Body Surface Area
BSE Breast Self-Examination
BSI Body Substance Isolation
BSL Blood Sugar Level
BSN Bachelor of Science In Nursing
BUN Blood Urea Nitrogen
BWO Bowels Wide Opened
C
c Cup
C Celsius
C&S Culture and Sensitivity
C/A Complementary/Alternative
C/O Complaint Of
c¯ With
Ca Calcium or Cancer
Ca++ Calcium Ion
CaBG Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
:
CaCl2 Calcium Chloride
CAD Coronary Artery Disease
CAI Computer-Assisted Instruction
CAM Complementary/Alternative Medicine
cap Capsule
Card Cardiac
CARF Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation
Facilities
CAT Computed Axial Tomography
CAT Computerized Adaptive Testing
Cath Catheter
CBC Complete Blood Count
CBD Common Bile Duct
CBE Charting By Exception
CBR Complete Bed Rest (See ABR)
cc Cubic Centimeter
CCF (see CHF) Congestive Cardiac Failure (See CHF)
CCRC Continuing Care Retirement Community
CCU (see CICU) Coronary Care Unit, or Cardiac Care Unit (See CICU)
CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CEA Carcinoembryonic Antigen
CEPN-LTC™ Certification Examination for Practical and Vocational
Nurses In Long-Term Care
CEU Continuing Education Unit
CHAP Community Health Accreditation Program
CHD Coronary Heart Disease
CHF (see CCF) Congestive Heart Failure (See CCF)
CHIP Children's Health Insurance Program
CHO Carbohydrate (Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen)
CHON Protein (Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen)
CICU (see CCU) Coronary Care Unit, or Cardiac Care Unit (See CCU)
CK or CPK Creatine Kinase or Creatine Phosphokinase
:
Cl Chlorine, Chloride
Cl− Chloride Ion
CLTC Certified In Long-Term Care
cm Centimeter
CMS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
CN Cranial Nerve
CNA Certified Nursing Assistant
CNC Clinical Nursing Consultant
CNM Certified Nurse Midwife
CNO Community Nursing Organization
CNS Central Nervous System
CNS Clinical Nurse Specialist
Co Cobalt
consult Consultation
CO2 Carbon Dioxide
CO2− Carbon Dioxide Ion
COBRA Comprehensive Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
COOH Carboxyl Group
COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
CPAP Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
CPNP Council of Practical Nursing Programs
CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
CPR Computerized Patient Record
Cr Chromium
CRNA Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
CRP C-Reactive Protein
C&S Culture and Sensitivity
CSF Cerebrospinal Fluid
CSM Circulation, Sensation, Motion
CT Computed Tomography
:
CT scan Computerized Axial Tomography Scan
Cu Copper
CVA Cerebrovascular Accident or Stroke
CVC Central Venous Catheter
CXR Chest X-Ray
CWMS Color, Warmth, Movement, Sensation
D
D5W Dextrose 5% In Water
D&C Dilatation and Curettage
DAR Document, Action, Response
DC or d/c Discontinue or Discharge
DDB Disciplinary Data Bank
DDS Doctor of Dental Surgery
DEA Drug Enforcement Agency
DHHS Department of Health and Human Services
DIC Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
DICC Dynamic Infusion Cavernosometry and
Cavernosography
dL Deciliter
DMD Diabetes Mellitus
DMD Doctor of Dental Medicine
DNA Deoxyribonucleic Acid
DNR Do Not Resuscitate
DO Doctor of Osteopathy
DOA Dead on Arrival
DOB Date of Birth
DPAHC Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
dr Dram
DRG Diagnosis-Related Group
DRI Dietary Reference Intake
DSM-V Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, 5th Edition
:
DST Dexamethasone Suppression Test
DT Delirium Tremens
DTaP Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis
DTP Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis
DVT Deep Vein Thrombosis
DX Diagnosis
E
EAR Estimated Average Requirement
ECF Extended Care Facility
ECF Extracellular Fluid
ECG (EKG) Electrocardiogram
ED Emergency Department
EDTA Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid
EEG Electroencephalograph/Electroencephalogram
EGD Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
EKG (ECG) Electrocardiogram
ELISA Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
elix Elixir
EMG Electromyogram
EMLA Eutectic (Cream) Mixture of Local Anesthetics
EMS Emergency Medical Services
EMT Emergency Medical Technician
EMT-P Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
EPO Exclusive Provider Organization
ER Emergency Room
ERCP Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatogram
ERG Electroretinogram
ERT Estrogen Replacement Therapy
ESR Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
ET Ear (Tympanic) Temperature
:
EVAD Explantable Venous Access Device
F
F Fahrenheit
FAS Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
FBS Fasting Blood Sugar
FCA False Claims Act
FDA Food and Drug Administration
Fe Iron
FeSO4 Iron Sulfate
FF Forced Feeding, or Forced Fluids
fl Fluid
Fl Fluorine
FOBT Fecal Occult Blood Test
FSH Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
ft Foot or Feet
FVD Fluid Volume Deficit
Fx Fracture
G
g Gram
GAO General Accounting Office
GAS General Adaptation Syndrome
GCS Glasgow Coma Scale
g/dL Grams Per Deciliter
GED General Education Development
GER Gastroesophageal Reflux
GFR Glomerular Filtration Rate
GGT (see GGTP) Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (see GGTP)
GGTP (see GGT) Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (see GGT)
GH Growth Hormone
GHB Glycosylated Hemoglobin
GI Gastrointestinal
:
gr Grain
gtt Drop
GTT Glucose Tolerance Test
gtt/min Drops Per Minute
GU Genitourinary
Gyn Gynecology
H
h Hour(S)
H+ Hydrogen Ion
H2CO3 Carbonic Acid
H2O Water
H&H Hemoglobin and Hematocrit
HB5AG Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
HBV Hepatitis B Virus
HCFA Health Care Financing Administration
hCG Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
HCl Hydrochloric Acid, Hydrochloride
HCO3− Bicarbonate Ion
Hct Hematocrit
HCV Hepatitis C Virus
HDL High Density Lipoprotein
HDV Hepatitis D Virus
Hep B Hepatitis B
HFA Hospice Foundation of America
Hg Mercury
Hgb Hemoglobin
HICPAC Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory
Committee
HIS Hospital Information System
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HLA Human Leukocyte Antigen
HMO Health Maintenance Organization
:
HOB Head of Bed
HPO4 Phosphate
HR Heart Rate
HRSA Health Resources and Services Administration
h.s. Hour of Sleep
I
I Iodine
I&O Intake and Output
IADLs Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
IASP International Association for the Study of Pain
ICF Intermediate Care Facility
ICF Intracellular Fluid
ICN International Council of Nurses
ICU Intensive Care Unit
ID Identification
ID Intradermal
IgG Immunoglobulin G
IgM Immunoglobulin M
IHCT Interdisciplinary Health Care Team
IM Intramuscular
in Inch
INR International Normalized Ratio
I&O Intake and Output
IOL Intraocular Lens
IOM Institute of Medicine
Isol Isolation
ITT Insulin Tolerance Test
IV Intravenous
IVAD Implantable Vascular Access Device
IVP Intravenous Push, Intravenous Pyelogram
IVPB Intravenous Piggyback
:
J
JCAHO Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations
K
K Potassium
K+ Potassium Ion
kcal Kilocalorie
KCl Potassium Chloride
kg Kilogram
KS Ketosteroids
KUB Kidneys/Ureters/Bladder
KVO Keep Vein Open
L
L Liter
LAS Local Adaptation Syndrome
lb Pound
LDH Lactic Dehydrogenase
LDL Low Density Lipoprotein
LE Lupus Erythematosus
LES Lower Esophageal Sphincter
LFT Liver Function Test
LH Luteinizing Hormone
LLQ Left Lower Quadrant
LMP Last Menstrual Period
L/min Liters Per Minute
LOC Level of Consciousness
LP Lumbar Puncture
LP/VN Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse
LPN Licensed Practical Nurse
LUQ Left Upper Quadrant
LVN Licensed Vocational Nurse
M
m Meter
:
m2 Square Meter
MAO Monoamine Oxidase
MAOI Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor
MAR Medication Administration Record
mcg (or µg) Microgram
MD Doctor of Medicine
MDI Metered-Dose Inhaler
MDR Multidrug-Resistant
MDR-TB Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis
MDS Minimum Data Set
mEq Milliequivalent
mEq/L Milliequivalents Per Liter
mg Milligram
mg/dL Milligrams Per Deciliter
Mg Magnesium
Mg++ Magnesium Ion
MgCl Magnesium Chloride
MgSO4 Magnesium Sulfate
MI Myocardial Infarction
min Minute
mL Milliliter
mm3 Cubic Millimeter
mm Hg Millimeters of Mercury
mmol/L Millimoles Per Liter
MMR Measles, Mumps, Rubella
Mn Manganese
Mo Molybdenum
MOM Milk of Magnesia
mOsm/kg Milliosmoles/Kilogram
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRSA Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
:
MS Morphine Sulfate
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet
MUGA Multi-Gated Acquisition
N
N2 Nitrogen
Na Sodium
Na+ Sodium Ion
Na2SO4 Sodium Sulfate
NaCl Sodium Chloride
NA Not Applicable
NADSA National Adult Day Services Associations
NaH2PO4 Sodium Dihydrogen Phosphate
Na2HPO4 Disodium Phosphate
NAHC National Association for Home Care
NaHCO3 Sodium Bicarbonate
NaHPO4 Sodium Monohydrogen Phosphate
NANDA North American Nursing Diagnosis Association
NaOH Sodium Hydroxide
NAPNE National Association of Practical Nurse Education
NAPNES National Association for Practical Nurse Education
and Services
NCCAM National Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine
NCHS National Center for Health Statistics
NCLEX® National Council Licensure Examination
NCLEX-PN® National Council Licensure Examination—Practical
Nurse
NCLEX-RN® National Council Licensure Examination—Registered
Nurse
NCLD National Center for Learning Disabilities
NCOA National Council on Aging
NCSBN National Council of State Boards of Nursing
:
NCVHS National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics
NF National Formulary
NFLPN National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses,
Inc.
NG Nasogastric
NH2 Amino Group
NHO National Hospice Organization
NIA National Institute on Aging
NIC Nursing Interventions Classification
NICU Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
NIH National Institutes of Health
NIOSH National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
NIS Nursing Information System
NLEA Nutrition, Labeling, and Education Act
NLN National League for Nursing
NLNAC National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission
NMDS Nursing Minimum Data Set
NOC Nursing Outcomes Classification
Noct At Night
NP Nurse Practitioner
NPDB National Practitioner Data Bank
NPO Nil per os, Latin for “Nothing By Mouth”
NREM Non-Rapid Eye Movement
NS Normal Saline
NSAID Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug
NSF National Sleep Foundation
NPO Nothing By Mouth
O
O&P Ova and Parasite
O2 Oxygen
OAM Office of Alternative Medicine
:
OBRA Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
OD Right Eye
OH− Hydroxyl
OR Operating Room
ORIF Open Reduction/Internal Fixation
OS Left Eye
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OT Occupational Therapist
OT Oral Temperature
OTC Over-The-Counter
OU Both Eyes
oz Ounce
P
p¯ After
P Phosphorus
P Pulse
PA Physician's Assistant
PA Posteroanterior
PaCO2 Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide
PaO2 Partial Pressure of Oxygen
Pap Papanicolaou Test
PAR Postanesthesia Room
p.c. After Meals
PCA Patient-Controlled Analgesia
PCO2(PaCO2) Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide
PCP Primary Care Provider
PCR Polymerase Chain Reaction
PCV Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
PDPH Postdural Puncture Headache
PEG Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy
PERRLA Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light and
Accommodation
:
PET Positron Emission Tomography
PFT Pulmonary Function Test
pH Potential Hydrogen
PICC Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter
PICU Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
PIE Problem, Implementation, Evaluation
PKU Phenylketonuria
PLMS Periodic Limb Movements In Sleep
PMI Point of Maximum Intensity
PMR Progressive Muscle Relaxation
PMS Premenstrual Syndrome
PNI Psychoneuroimmunology
PNS Peripheral Nervous System
PO By Mouth (Per os In Latin)
PO2(PaO2) Partial Pressure of Oxygen
PO4−− Phosphate Ion
POMR Problem-Oriented Medical Record
POR Problem-Oriented Record
Post op spec After Surgery Urine Specimen
PPBS Post Prandial Blood Sugar
PPE Personal Protective Equipment
PPG Post Prandial Glucose
PPO Preferred Provider Organization
PPS Prospective Payment System
PRA Plasma Renin Activity
PRL Prolactin Level
PRN Pro Re Nata, Latin for “As Required”
PRO Peer Review Organization
PROM Passive Range of Motion
PSA Prostate Specific Antigen
:
PSDA Patient Self-Determination Act
PSP Phenolsulfonphthalein
pt Pint
PT Patient
PT Physical Therapist
PT Prothrombin Time
PTH Parathyroid Hormone
PTSD Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTT Partial Thromboplastin Time
PVD Peripheral Vascular Disease
Q
q Quaque, Latin for “Every”
qd Every Day
qh Every Hour
qid Four Times A Day
qod Every Other Day
qs Quantity Sufficient
q2h Every 2 Hours
qt Quart
R
R (Resp) Respiration
RAIU Radioactive Iodine Uptake
RAST Radio Allergosorbent Test
RBC Red Blood Count, Red Blood Cell
RD Registered Dietician
RDA Recommended Dietary Allowance
REM Rapid Eye Movement
RF Rheumatoid Factor
RLQ Right Lower Quadrant
RLS Restless Leg Syndrome
RN Registered Nurse
:
RNA Ribonucleic Acid
RNFA Registered Nurse First Assistant
ROM Range of Motion
ROS Review of Systems
RPCH Rural Primary Care Hospital
RPh Registered Pharmacist
RPR Rapid Plasma Reagin
RR Recovery Room
RSV Respiratory Syncytial Virus
R/T Related To
RT Rectal Temperature
RT Respiratory Therapist
RTI Respiratory Tract Infection
RUGS Resource Utilization Group System
RUQ Right Upper Quadrant
RWJF Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
S
s¯ Without
S Sulfur
SAMe S-Adenosylmethionine
SaO2 Oxygen Saturation
SBC School-Based Clinic
SC/SQ Subcutaneous
SCHIP State Children's Health Insurance Program
Se Selenium
SGOT Serum Glutamate Oxaloacetate Transaminase
SGPT Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase
SL Sublingual
SNF Skilled Nursing Facility
SOAP Subjective Data, Objective Data, Assessment, Plan
SOAPIE
:
Subjective Data, Objective Data, Assessment, Plan,
Implementation, Evaluation
SOAPIER Subjective Data, Objective Data, Assessment, Plan,
Implementation, Evaluation, Revision
SOB Shortness of Breath
SPF Sun Protection Factor
s¯s¯ One Half
SSA Social Security Administration
STAT/Stat Immediately, (Statim In Latin)
STD Sexually Transmitted Disease
supp Suppository
susp Suspension
SW Social Worker
T
T Temperature
T3 Triiodothyronine
T4 Thyroxine
tab Tablet
TAC Tetracaine, Adrenaline, Cocaine
TB Tuberculosis
Tbsp Tablespoon
Td Tetanus/Diphtheria
TDD Telecommunication Device for the Deaf
TEFRA Tax Equity Fiscal Responsibility Act
TENS Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
TF Tube Feeding
THA Total Hip Arthroplasty
TIA Transient Ischemic Attack
TIBC Total Iron Binding Capacity
TICU Trauma Intensive Care Unit
t.i.d. Three Times A Day
TMJ Temporomandibular Joint
:
t.o. Telephone Order
TPN Total Parenteral Nutrition
TPR Temperature, Pulse, Respiration
Tr or tinct Tincture
TRH Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
TSE Testicular Self Examination
TSH Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone
tsp Teaspoon
U
U Unit
U/L Unit Per Liter
UA or U/A Routine Urinalysis
UAP Unlicensed Assistive Personnel
UIS Universal Intellectual Standards
UL Upper Intake Level
UMLS Universal Medical Language System
UNOS United Network for Organ Sharing
U-100 100 Units Insulin Per Cc
UPP Urethra Pressure Profile
URQ Upper Right Quadrant
USDHHS United States Department of Health and Human
Services
USP United States Pharmacopeia
USPHS United States Public Health Service
UTI Urinary Tract Infection
V
VA Veterans Administration, Veterans Affairs
VAD Ventricular Assist Device, Vascular Access Device
VAS Visual Analog Scale
VDRL Venereal Disease Research Laboratory
VLDL Very Low-Density Lipoprotein
:
VMA Vanillymandelic Acid
VRE Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci
VS Vital Signs
W
W/C Wheel Chair
WBC White Blood Cell, White Blood Count
WHO World Health Organization
WNL Within Normal Limits
WPM Words Per Minute
wt Weight
Y
YWCA Young Women's Christian Association
Z
Zn Zinc
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