at pleasure, as desired

(NOT as needed which is prn)

AD

(also a.d.)

"aurio dextra"

(right ear)

Adm.

admit

AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrom

Alb.

albumin

a.m.

(also AM)

"ante meridiem"

(before noon, morning)

AMA

against medical advice

(also American Medical Association)

amt.

amount

AP

anteroposterior

appt.

appointment

aq.

water

aq. dist.

distilled water

aq. Penicillin

Aqueous Penicillin

ARD

acute respiratory distress

AROM

active range of motion

AS

(also a.s.)

"aurio sinister" (left ear)

also Aortic Stenosis

ASA

aspirin

ASAP

as soon as possible

At. Fib.

atrial fibrillation

AU

both ears,

each ear

Ausc & perc

auscultation & percussion

A & W

alive and well

B.E.

barium enema

b.i.d.

"bis in die"

(twice a day)

BM

bowel movement

BMR

Basal Metabolic Rate

b/o

because of

BP

blood pressure

Bx

biopsy

_

c

with

Ca

calcium

(atomic symbol)

Ca++

calcium ion

CA

cancer

CAD

coronary artery disease

cap.

capsule

cath.

catheter

CBC

complete blood count

CBR

complete bed rest

cc

cubic centimeter

CC

chief complaint, clinical course, cardia cycle

CCMS

CCU

coronary care unit,

cardiac care unit

CHF

coronary heart failure

Cl

chloride

cm

centimeter

CNS

central nervous system

C/O

complaint of/

complains of

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CPX

complete physical exam

C/S or C-section

cesarean section

C & S

culture & sensitivity

CSF

CT scan

CVA

CVP

central venous pressure

dc

(also DC)

discontinue

D&C

dilation & curettage

dc'd

discontinued

o

   C

degrees Celcius or centigrade

o

   F

degrees Fahrenheit

dil.

dilute, dissolve

dischg.

discharge

disp.

dispense

DKA

DM

Diabetes Mellitus

DNR

do not resuscitate

DNS

DOA

dead on arrival

DPT

drng.

drainage

Dx.

(also DX)

diagnosis

EBL

estimated blood loss

ECG & EKG

electrocardiogram

ECHO

echocardiogram

EEG

electroencephalogram

EENT

ears, eyes, nose, throat

e.g.

example given

elix.

elixir

Eq

equivalent

esp.

especially

ESR

erythrocyte sedimentation rate

est.

estimate

ext.

extract

F.B.S.

fasting blood sugar

F.D.

fatal dose

FDA

Food and Drug Administration

FHM

fetal heart monitor

FHR

fetal heart rate

fl.

fluid

fl oz.

fluid ounce

ft.

feet

FTT

failure to thrive

F/U or  f/u

follow up

fx

fracture

GI

gastrointestinal

gm

gram

G neg or G-

gram negative

G pos. or G+

gram positive

gr.

grain

GTT

glucose tolerance test

gtts/min

gtt

drop

GYN

Gynecology

h

hour

H/A or HA

headache

Hb or Hbg

hemoglobin

HCl

(also HCL)

hydrochloric acid

Hct.

hematocrit

h.n.

"hora nocte"

hour of night

or tonight

H&P

history and physical

HR

heart rate

h.s.

hour of sleep

ht.

height

Hx

history

ICU

intensive care unit

I&D

incision and drainage

IgA

IgG

IgM

I.M.

intramuscular

IMP

impression

inj.

injection

I&O

intake and output

IUD

intrauterine device

IV

intraventricular

I.V.

intravenous

K+

potassium

Kg.

kilogram

KDA

known drug allergy(ies)

L

liter or left

LB

lower back

lb.

pound

lbs.

pounds

LFT

liver function test

LMP

last menstrual period

LOC

loss of consciousness

LP

lumbar puncture

Lt.

left

m

minimum

mcg

microgram

meds

medications

mEq

milliequivalent

mEq/L

(or MEq per/L)

millequivalent per liter

mg

milligram

MI

myocardial infarction

min.

minute

ml

(also mL)

milliliter

mm

millimeter

mmHg

(also mm Hg)

millimeters of mercury

MMR

measles, mumps, rubella vaccine

MRI

NaCl

Sodium Chloride

NKDA

noc.

"nocte"

(night)

n.p.o.

(also NPO)

N/S

normal saline

OB/GYN

OD or o.d.

"oculus dextra"

(right eye)

also Doctor of Optometry

OD'd

overdosed

ophth.

ophthalmic

OR

operating room

OS or o.s.

O.T.C. or OTC

over the counter

O.U.

"oculus uterque"

(both eyes)

oz.

ounce

p

after

p.c.

"post cibum"

(after meals)

PDR

PH

past history

pH

potential of hydrogen

PM or p.m.

post meridiem

PMS

pn.

pain

p.o.

by mouth

PO or

post or

post-op

postoperative

pre-op

preoperative

prn

whenever necessary

Pt

patient

PX

physical exam

Px

prognosis

q.d.

every day

q.h.

"quaque hora"

every hour

q Hs

"quaque hora sommne"

every night at bedtime

q2h

every 2 hours

q3h

q4h

q.i.d.

"quarter in die"

four times a day

(not every 4 hours)

q.n.

"quaque nocte"

every night

q.o.d.

every other day

q.s.

"quantum sufficitium"

as much as you like

rbc

red blood cells

RBC

red blood count

R/O

rule out

ROM or R.O.M

range of motion

Rt or R

right

RTC

return to clinic

RTO

return to office

Rx

prescription

(medicinal recipe)

_

s

without

s.c.

subcutaneous

SOAP

Subjective

Objective

Assessment

Plan

SOB

shortness of breath

sos

"si op si"

(if needed)

__

ss

half

STAT

immediately, right now

Tbs.

tablespoon

t.i.d.

"ter in die"

(three times a day)

UA

urinalysis,

urine analysis

UGI

upper gastrointestinal

URI

UTI

urinary tract infection

VS

vital signs

wbc

white blood cells

WBC

white blood count

WDWN

well-developed,

well nourished

WNL

within normal limits