Common Medical Abbreviations

Abbreviation: BM

Meaning: bowel movement Sentence Usage: The infant had BMs x7 for the previous 24 hours. (The x means times.) Explanation: BM denotes the number of actual bowel movements the patient has. This is usually recorded for intake and output purposes.

Abbreviation: PO

Meaning: by mouth Sentence Usage: The patient tolerated 240 cc's PO. Explanation: PO stands for the Latin per os, meaning "by mouth." (The measurement 240 cc's is the standard volume of a coffee cup.)

Abbreviation: cal

Meaning: calorie Sentence Usage: The dietician recommended that the patient be placed on a 2400 cal ADA diet. Explanation: Cal is utilized in the description of a particular diet: 2400 cal ADA diet.

Abbreviation: HOH

Meaning: hard of hearing Sentence Usage: The patient's chart indicated that he was HOH. Explanation: HOH is an acronym for hard of hearing.

Abbreviation: qid

Meaning: 4 times a day Sentence Usage: The patient's Maalox order was changed to qid. Explanation: The Latin phrase for qid is quater in die. This usually refers to how often both a procedure should be performed and medications should be given. If medication, it is usually given at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 5 p.m., and 9 p.m.

Abbreviation: C

Meaning: Celsius Sentence Usage: The liquid oxygen was stored at -30° (Celsius). Explanation: C with a degree mark (°) next to the letter denotes the temperature in Celsius. To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit; multiply by 9, divide by 5, and add 32.

Abbreviation: F

Meaning: Fahrenheit Sentence Usage: The boy had an oral temperature of 100 (F). Explanation: Fahrenheit is the unit of measure for temperature used in the United States. Yes, it was named after a Dr. Fahrenheit. To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, you must subtract 32, multiply by 5, and divide by 9.

Abbreviation: abd

Meaning: abdominal Sentence Usage: The patient's abd is soft and nondistended. Explanation: This is a short reference for the abdomen.

Abbreviation: AROM

Meaning: active range of motion Sentence Usage: The doctor ordered AROM exercises for the patient. Explanation: Active range of motion, AROM, usually refers to physical therapy or patient activity. It denotes normal full motion.

Abbreviation: ADL

Meaning: activity of daily living Sentence Usage: The patient's ADL has decreased since her stroke. Explanation: ADL tells what patients can or should do on a daily basis.

Abbreviation: the letter "p" with a line over the top

Meaning: after Sentence Usage: The patient was to have his dressings changed (the letter "p" with a line over the top) his a.m. care. Explanation: This is an abbreviation for post or after.

Abbreviation: p.c.

Meaning: after meals Sentence Usage: The patient has Maalox 30cc's ordered p.c. Explanation: The abbreviation p.c. stands for the Latin post cibum.

Abbreviation: amt.

Meaning: amount Sentence Usage: The patient ate 30% of the amt. of his diet. Explanation: Amount usually describes volume.

Abbreviation: ad lib

Meaning: as desired Sentence Usage: The patient may be out of bed (OOB) ad lib. Explanation: Ad lib denotes that the patient may have something as desired.

Abbreviation: prn

Meaning: as needed Sentence Usage: The sedative was ordered on a prn basis. Explanation: This abbreviation is Latin for pro re nata, which literally means "for an occasion that has arisen" (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th ed.).

Abbreviation: AX

Meaning: axillary Sentence Usage: The infant's temperature was 98.2 (AX). Explanation: Axillary refers to temperature under the arm. In newborn infants, temperatures are usually recorded in this manner to not damage the rectum.

Abbreviation: BRP

Meaning: bathroom privileges Sentence Usage: The recovering fractured hip patient was granted BRP. Explanation: Patients may be placed on bed rest but allowed to get up out of bed to go to the bathroom.

Abbreviation: a

Meaning: before Sentence Usage: The patient's orders state, "Enema a pre-op." Explanation: The abbreviation a is Latin for ante and means before.

Abbreviation: a.c.

Meaning: before meals Sentence Usage: The patient is to take the medication a.c. Explanation: This is Latin for ante cibum and means before meals.

Abbreviation: BP

Meaning: blood pressure Sentence Usage: The patient's BP was 122/78. (This is a normal BP.) Explanation: Blood pressure is measured by use of a cuff that limits the blood flow in an arm or leg. The cuff is usually inflated to 200 mm, and then the air is slowly let out as a stethoscope is used to listen to the beginning and ending beats. Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers. The beginning beat is called systolic and is the pressure created by the heart when it contracts. The ending beat is called diastolic and is the pressure created by the heart at rest.

Abbreviation: O.U.

Meaning: both eyes Sentence Usage: The patient was to receive 3 gtts O.U. Explanation: This is Latin for oculus uterque.

Abbreviation: cath

Meaning: catheter Sentence Usage: The doctor ordered a urinary cath for the patient with retention (who could not urinate). Explanation: A catheter is a tubular instrument that allows passage of fluid from or into a body cavity. It's often a urinary catheter, which is a tube inserted through the urethra and into the bladder. It may also refer to a heart catheterization, which is a procedure that allows a doctor to see the vessels that supply blood to the heart.

Abbreviation: cm

Meaning: centimeter Sentence Usage: The infant's abdominal girth was 32 cms. (Abdominal girth is the diameter of the abdomen. It is measured in newborn infants in order to insure adequate digestion.) Explanation: A cm is a unit of measure that is commonly used in the medical profession. One inch equals 2.54 cms.

Abbreviation: CNS

Meaning: central nervous system Sentence Usage: The concussion caused the patient to have CNS depression. Explanation: The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord.

Abbreviation: CN

Meaning: charge nurse Sentence Usage: The CN wanted a report on the patient's vital signs. Explanation: A charge nurse is usually a registered nurse who is in charge during a hospital shift.

Abbreviation: c/o

Meaning: complains of Sentence Usage: The patient c/o angina with exertion. (Chest pain with activity.) Explanation: The abbreviation c/o means a patient's complaints.

Abbreviation: CBR

Meaning: complete bed rest Sentence Usage: The patient with the myocardial infarction was placed on CBR. Explanation: Patients are placed on complete bed rest when activity could cause complications. Such an order is common for patients following a heart attack.

Abbreviation: CHF

Meaning: congestive heart failure Sentence Usage: The doctor ordered lasix, a diuretic, for the patient with CHF. Explanation: Congestive heart failure is a condition in which too much fluid presses against the lungs and the heart. It is caused by poor kidney or heart function and can be adequately treated with fluid management and diuretics (medicines that cause urination).

Abbreviation: cc

Meaning: cubic centimeter Sentence Usage: The patient was to receive 30cc's of the medication PO (by mouth). Explanation: A cc is a unit of measure commonly used in the medical profession. It is exactly equal to a ml.

Abbreviation: DX

Meaning: diagnosis Sentence Usage: The doctor was not prepared to offer a DX at this time. Explanation: DX is shortened reference for diagnosis. A diagnosis is an educated guess as to what is wrong with a patient. This is not to be confused with prognosis. A prognosis is an educated guess as to what the outcome will be for the patient. Only a licensed physician may offer a diagnosis. There is such a thing as a nursing diagnosis, but it's only used in the identifications of signs and symptoms. For example, a nursing diagnosis may be abdominal pain, while the physician's diagnosis would be gastritis.

Abbreviation: DON

Meaning: director of nurses Sentence Usage: The DON was preparing the staff for a JACH visit. Explanation: This is pronounced D - O - N, not don. It refers to the head of nursing in a facility. There is only one DON to a facility. (JACH is the Joint Accreditation Commission of Hospitals, the agency responsible for accrediting hospitals in the United States.)

Abbreviation: DC

Meaning: discontinue Sentence Usage: The doctor ordered the patient's IV to be DC'd. Explanation: Discontinue means to stop. As you can tell, the D stands for the prefix dis, and the C stands for continue.

Abbreviation: Dr.

Meaning: doctor Sentence Usage: The Dr. was in the OR and not available for consultations. Explanation: As you probably recognize, Dr. is a shortened reference for doctor. Many people, however, don't realize that doctors were not always called doctors. In fact, a surgeon was usually the town barber because he was the one who had all the blades. In order to give educated physicians more credibility, they adopted the name of doctor for doctorate. A doctorate was the highest level an educated person could achieve. So, the next time people with doctorates in education say they are doctors, remember, they had the title first!

Abbreviation: gtt

Meaning: drop Sentence Usage: The patient was to take 3 gtts of medication in the left eye (O.S.). Explanation: This abbreviation refers to the Latin word gutta, which means drop. It's used in connection with medication.

Abbreviation: p.m.

Meaning: evening Sentence Usage: The patient did not want to take his bath until the p.m. Explanation: The abbreviation p.m. stands for post meridiem (after noon).

Abbreviation: q2h

Meaning: every 2 hours Sentence Usage: The BP order was changed to q2h. Explanation: This, like the single qh, usually refers to how often a procedure should be performed. In this case, it's every two hours.

Abbreviation: qd

Meaning: every day Sentence Usage: The patient's Procardia XL was ordered 15mg qd. Explanation: The abbreviation qd is Latin for quaque die. This usually refers to medications. A qd medication time is usually 9 a.m. (In the Sentence Usage above, Procardia is a medication used to lower blood pressure, and XL indicates that it is long acting.)

Abbreviation: qh

Meaning: every hour Sentence Usage: The CCU patient's BP was ordered qh. Explanation: Qh is Latin for quaque hora. It usually refers to how often a procedure should be performed; in this case, every hour.

Abbreviation: qod

Meaning: every other day Sentence Usage: The order was for physical therapy qod. Explanation: The Latin phrase for qod is quaque outro die. This means that usually a procedure should be performed every other day.

Abbreviation: fx

Meaning: fracture Sentence Usage: The boy fx'd his femur (the large bone located in the thigh). Explanation: This is a shortened reference for fracture.

Abbreviation: GI

Meaning: gastrointestinal Sentence Usage: The patient was admitted in GI distress (stomach hurt). Explanation: GI refers to things concerning the gastrointestinal system.

Abbreviation: GU

Meaning: genitourinary Sentence Usage: The man with a swollen prostate was admitted for GU complications. Explanation: GU is a shortened reference for genitourinary.

Abbreviation: HOB

Meaning: head of bed Sentence Usage: The doctor's order stated that the patient should be kept in reverse Trendelenberg position. Explanation: HOB is an acronym for head of bed. (The Trendelenberg position is where the hips are placed higher than the head. Reverse Trendelenberg means that the head of the bed should remain elevated.)

Abbreviation: h

Meaning: hour Sentence Usage: The patient was to stay up in the chair for x3h. Explanation: An h means hour.

Abbreviation: HS

Meaning: hour of sleep Sentence Usage: The patient was ordered 15mg of restoril (a sleeping pill) @ hs. Explanation: HS is an acronym for hour of sleep. You'll usually find this on med sleep orders. It would not be appropriate for meds that might keep the patient awake, such as diuretics or cathartics (laxatives). (The symbol @ means "at.")

Abbreviation: I/O

Meaning: intake and output Sentence Usage: The patient with CHF (congestive heart failure) was placed on I/O. Explanation: Patients with certain conditions may require an accurate recording of the amount of fluid they take in and release over a given 24-hour period.

Abbreviation: IV

Meaning: intravenous Sentence Usage: The patient's IV was infiltrated. Explanation: IV refers to the placement of a catheter into a vein for the infusion of fluids, nutrients, or medications. (Infiltrated means that the IV was no longer in the vein and that fluid was now seeping into the surrounding tissues. This is usually accompanied by a swollen, red, or tender site.)

Abbreviation: kg

Meaning: kilogram Sentence Usage: The patient weighed 110 kgs. Explanation: One kilogram equals 2.2 pounds.

Abbreviation: Lt.

Meaning: left Sentence Usage: The patient c/o Lt. side tenderness. Explanation: Lt. is a shortened reference for left.

Abbreviation: O.S.

Meaning: left eye Sentence Usage: The patient was to receive 3 gtts O.S. Explanation: O.S. stands for the Latin oculus sinister. It was once thought that left-handed people were evil, so left was interpreted as sinister or evil.

Abbreviation: L

Meaning: liter Sentence Usage: The patient had 2.4 L of fluid recorded on her I/O sheet. Explanation: One liter equals 1,000 cc's or 33.8 ounces.

Abbreviation: LE/LLE/LUE

Meaning: lower extremity; left lower extremity; left upper extremity Sentence Usage: The patient was c/o LUE pain. Explanation: These are acronyms for lower extremity, left lower extremity, and left upper extremity.

Abbreviation: mm

Meaning: millimeter Sentence Usage: The wound was approximately 6 mm's in diameter. Explanation: One mm equals .1 cm (centimeter), or we could say that ten mm's equal 1 cm. To convert mm's to inches, multiply by 10 and divide by 254.

Abbreviation: a.m.

Meaning: morning Sentence Usage: The patients are to be bathed in the a.m. Explanation: This stands for the Latin ante meridiem and means before noon.

Abbreviation: MI

Meaning: myocardial infarction Sentence Usage: The patient who suffered an MI was admitted to CCU. Explanation: A myocardial infarction is a heart attack.

Abbreviation: N/V

Meaning: nausea and vomiting Sentence Usage: The patient was c/o N/V x2 days. Explanation: N/V is a very logical abbreviation for nausea and vomiting.

Abbreviation: noc

Meaning: night Sentence Usage: The patient was to receive a sedative @ noc. Explanation: This abbreviation comes from the Latin nocte, meaning "at night," as in nocturnal (awake at night.)

Abbreviation: NPO

Meaning: nothing by mouth Sentence Usage: The pre-op patient was NPO. Explanation: NPO stands for nothing per oral. It's always used in reference to a patient.

Abbreviation: aa

Meaning: of each Sentence Usage: The patient will take two drops (gtts) aa medication at bedtime (hs). Explanation: Standing for another word, the Latin ana, aa means of each.

Abbreviation: oz.

Meaning: ounce Sentence Usage: The baby weighed 6 lbs., 5 oz. Explanation: Oz. is the abbreviation for ounce. 3 tsps. or 15 cc's = 1 tbsp.1 tsp. = 5 cc's.1 cup = 250 cc's1 ounce = 30cc's.1 cc = 1 ml.

Abbreviation: OOB

Meaning: out of bed Sentence Usage: The patient was allowed OOB following the surgery. Explanation: OOB is an acronym for out of bed.

Abbreviation: PROM

Meaning: passive range of motion Sentence Usage: The arthritic patient was given PROM exercises. Explanation: PROM usually refers to passive exercises that are stopped when resistance of any kind is met.

Abbreviation: pt.

Meaning: patient Sentence Usage: The pt. was ambulating ad lib. Explanation: The abbreviation pt. refers quite logically to patient.

Abbreviation: lb.

Meaning: pound Sentence Usage: The baby weighed 7 lbs., 6oz. (ounces) at birth. Explanation: This abbreviation is a shortened reference for the Latin libra. Sixteen ounces = 1 pound. The plural is lbs.

Abbreviation: Rx

Meaning: prescription Sentence Usage: The doctor ordered the patient's Rx and left it with the pharmacist. Explanation: Rx actually stands for recipe of prescription.

Abbreviation: P

Meaning: pulse Sentence Usage: The patient had a 78 P rate. Explanation: P is an abbreviation for pulse. A pulse is recorded in beats per minute. A radial pulse is recorded in the wrist, a popliteal pulse behind the knee, an apical pulse directly on the chest, a carotid pulse on the neck, and a pedal pulse on the foot.

Abbreviation: QNS

Meaning: quantity not sufficient Sentence Usage: The amt. on urine output was QNS. Explanation: The Latin phrase for QNS is quantum non sufficit.

Abbreviation: QS

Meaning: quantity sufficient Sentence Usage: The patient's urine output was QS in regard to his I/O. Explanation: Okay, after all these Latin phrases, I'll bet you know what this stands for. Here it is, though, just in case you got sleepy: quantum sufficit.

Abbreviation: ROM

Meaning: range of motion Sentence Usage: The patient was given ROM exercises following her a.m. care. Explanation: ROM indicates exercises that promote normal range of motion.

Abbreviation: the letter "r" with a circle around it

Meaning: rectal Sentence Usage: The patient had a 99.6° F ® temp. Explanation: This is not a registered trademark but a reference to rectal concerning temperature.

Abbreviation: R

Meaning: respirations Sentence Usage: The patient's vital signs showed that she had tachypnea (fast respiration rate) with a rate of 44 R. Explanation: Respirations are counted in how many breaths are taken per minute.

Abbreviation: RE/RUE/RLE

Meaning: right extremity; right upper extremity; right lower extremity Sentence Usage: The patient had poor circulation in his RLE. Explanation: These would be referring to the right arm or leg, hand or foot.

Abbreviation: O.D.

Meaning: right eye Sentence Usage: The patient was to receive 3 gtts O.D. Explanation: O.D. stands for the Latin oculus dexter. You'll also see it as the abbreviation for overdose.

Abbreviation: BID

Meaning: two times a day Sentence Usage: The doctor ordered the patient to sit up in the chair BID. Explanation: BID is Latin for bis in die, or two times per day.

Abbreviation: H20

Meaning: water Sentence Usage: The patient tolerated 100 cc's of H20 Explanation: H2O is the chemical designation for water (hydrogen and oxygen).

Abbreviation "c" with a line over it

Meaning: with Sentence Usage: The patient is to take the medication ("c" with a line over it) water.