NURSING ABBREVIATIONS

A
a assessment

a or AB abortion or miscarriage

a or ART artery

A&E accident and emergency

A&P auscultation and percussion

A&W alive and well

a.c. before meals (Lat. ante cenam

a.f.g.f. acidic fibroblast growth factor

a.k. above knee

a.p. before dinner

A.S.A. American Society of Anesthesiologists

A.S.A. 1 normal healthy patient

A.S.A. 2 patient with mild systemic disease

A.S.A. 3 patient with severe systemic disease

A.S.A. 4 patient with incapacitating systemic disease

that is constant threat to life
A.Z. Ascheim-Zondek test

A/B acid/base ratio

A/BE acid/base equilibrium

A/G albumin globulin ratio

A/O alert and oriented

A2 aortic second sound

AA affected area
aa equal part of each

AAA abdominal aortic aneurysm

AAL acute lymphoblastic leukemia - anterior axillary line

AAROM active assisted range of motion

AASP acute atrophic spinal paralysis

AAU acute anterior uveitis

AB Ace Bandage - active bilaterally

ACE angiotensin converting enzyme

ACL anterior cruciate ligament

ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone

ADA American Diabetes Association

ADH antidiuretic hormone

ADL activities of daily living

AFB acid-fast bacilli

AFP alpha-fetoprotein

AGA appropriate for gestational age

AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome

AKA above knee amputation

ALP alkaline phosphatase

ALT alanine transaminase, alanine aminotransferase

AMA against medical advice

AMI acute myocardial infarction

AODM adult onset diabetes mellitus

AP apical pulse

APSGN acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis

ARF acute renal failure

ASD atrial septal defect

AST aspartate aminotransferase

ATN acute tubular necrosis

AU both ears

AVB atrio-ventricular block\

BBS bilateral breath sounds

BE barium enema

BG blood glucose

BI brain injury

BID twice a day

B/K below knee

BM bowel movement or breast milk

BP blood pressure

BPH benign prostatic hypertrophy

BRM biologic response modifiers

BRP bathroom privileges

BS bowel sounds

BSA body surface area

BSE breast self examination

BT bowel tones

BUN blood urea nitrogen

BBS bilateral breath sounds

BE barium enema

BG blood glucose
BI brain injury

BID twice a day

BILAT bilateral

B/K below knee

BM bowel movement or breast milk

BP blood pressure

BPH benign prostatic hypertrophy

BRM biologic response modifiers

BRP bathroom privileges

BS bowel sounds

BSA body surface area

BSE breast self examination

BT bowel tones

BUN blood urea nitrogen

B.A. Bachelor of Arts

B.S. Bachelor of Science

B.S.N. Bachelor of Science in Nursing

C
C&S culture and sensitivity

CA calcium, cancer, carcinoma

CABG coronary artery bypass graft

CAD coronary artery disease

CAPD continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

CAT computerized tomography scan

CBC complete blood count

CBD common bile duct

CBE clinical breast examination

CBG capillary blood glucose

CBI continuous bladder irrigation

CBS capillary blood sugar

CC chief complaint

CCK cholecystokinin

CCPD continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis

CEA cultured epithelial autograft

CFT complement-fixation test

CIN cervical intraepithelial neoplasm

CL cleft lip

CMS circulation, motion, sensation

CO cardiac output

COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CP chest pain, cleft palate

CPAP continuous positive airway pressure

CPD cephalo-pelvic disproportion

CPP cerebral perfusion pressure

CPPD chest percussion and post drainage

CRF chronic renal failure

CRRT continuous renal replacement therapy

CRT capillary refill time

CSF cerebrospinal fluid, colony stimulating factors

CT chest tube, computed tomography

CVA cerebral vascular accident, costovertebral angle

CVP central venous pressure

CX cancel, cervix

CXR chest x-ray

CDA Certified Dental Assistant

CLS Clinical Laboratory Scientist

CLT Clinical Laboratory Technician

CMA Certified Medical Assistant

CNMT Certified Nuclear Medical Technologist

COTA Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

CRTT Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician

D
DAT diet as tolerated

DC (dc) discontinue

DCCT Diabetes Control and Complication Trials

DEX (DXT) blood sugar

DIC disseminated intravascular coagulation

DKA diabetic ketoacidosis

DNA deoxyribonucleic acid

DNR do not resuscitate

DTR deep tendon reflex

DVT deep vein thrombosis

DX diagnosis

D.M.D Doctor of Dental Medicine

DDS Doctor of Dental Surgery

DVM Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

E
EBV Epstein-Barr Virus
ECF extracellular fluid, extended care facility
EENT eye, ear, nose and throat
EMC ensephalomyocarditis
EMG electromyogram
ERCP endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
ESRD end stage renal disease
ET endotracheal tube
EMT-B Emergency Medical Technician-Basic
EMT-I Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate
EMT-P Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic

F
F&R force and rhythm
FA fatty acid
FBS fasting blood sugar
FD fatal dose, focal distance
FDA Food & Drug Administration
FX fracture
FUO fever of unknown origin
FVD fluid volume deficit
FNP Family Nurse Practitioner

G
GB gallbladder

GERD gastroesophageal reflux disease

GFR glomerular filtration rate

GGT gamma-glutamyl transferase

GI gastrointestinal

GOT glutamic oxalic transaminase

GU genitourinary

GVHD graft-versus-host-disease

H
HA headache

HB hemoglobin

HCG human chorionic gonadotropin

HCO3 bicarbonate

HCT hematocrit

HD hemodialysis

HDL high density lipoprotein

HEENT head, eye, ear, nose and throat

HGB hemoglobin

HIV human immunodeficiency virus

HRT hormone replacement therapy

HS bedtime

HX history

I
IBC iron binding capacity

IBD inflammatory bowel disease

IBS irritable bowel syndrome

IBW ideal body weight

ICCE intracapsular cataract extraction

ICF imtermediate care facility

ICP intracranial pressure

ICS intercostal space

ICT inflammation of connective tissue

ICU intensive care unit

IDM infant of diabetic mother

IDDM insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

IE inspiratory exerciser

IH infectious hepatitis

IHD ischemic heart disease

IIP implantable insulin pump

IM intramuscular

IMV intermittent mandatory ventilation

INR international normalization ratio

IPD intermittent peritoneal dialysis

IPPB intermittent positive pressure breathing

ITP immune thrombocytopenic purpura

IV intravenous

IVF in vitro fertilization

IVP intravenous pyelography

J
JAMA Journal of the American Medical Association

JVP jugular venous pressure

K
K potassium

KCl potassium chloride

KI potassium iodide

KUB kidney, ureter, bladder

KVO keep vein open

L
L&A light and accommodation

LAD left anterior descending artery

LB large bowel

LDL low density lipoprotein

LE lupus erythematosus

LFTs liver function tests

LIJ left internal jugular

LLQ left lower quadrant

LMP last menstrual period

LP lumbar puncture

LSC left subclavian

LUQ left upper quadrant

LPN Licensed Practical Nurse

M
MAP mean arterial pressure

MAR medication administration record

MCL modified chest lead

MDI multiple daily vitamin

MI myocardial infarction

MLC midline catheter

MM mucous membrane

MOABS monoclonal antibodies

MOM Milk of Magnesia

MRDD mental retarded/developmentally disabled

MRI magnetic resonance imaging

MRM modified radical mastectomy

MS multiple sclerosis, morphine sulfate

M.B.A. Master of Business Administration

M.D. Doctor of Medicine

M.H.E. Master of Health Education

M.N. Master of Nursing

M.P.A. Master of Public Administration

M.P.H. Master of Public Health

M.P.T. Master of Physical Therapy

M.S. Master of Science

M.S.N. Master of Science in Nursing

M.S.W. Master of Social Work

MD Medical Doctor

MLT Medical Laboratory Technician

MT Medical Technologist
N
NA sodium

NACL sodium chloride

NED no evidence of disease

NICU neonatal intensive care unit

NIDDM noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus

NKA no known allergies

NKDA non-ketotic diabetic acidosis

NKMA no known medcation allergies

NPD nightly peritoneal dialysis

NPO nothing by mouth

NSAID nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug

NTD neural tube defect

NV nausea & vomiting

NYD not yet diagnosed

O
OD right eye

OGTT oral glucose tolerance test

ORIF open reduction internal fixation

OS left eye

OU both eyes

OTR Occupational Therapist-Registered

P
PABA para-aminobenzoic acid

PC after meals

PCA patient controlled analgesia, posterior

communicating artery
PCN penicillin, primary care nurse

PCV packed cell volume

PD peritoneal dialysis

PDA patent ductus arteriosus, posterior descending artery

PDD pervasive development disorder

PDR physician's desk reference

PEG percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

PEJ percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy

PERL pupils equal, react to light
PERRLA pupils equal, round, react to light, accommodation

PET positron emission tomography

PFT pulmonary function test

PG prostaglandin
PH past history
PI present illness

PICC peripherally inserted central venous catheter

PID pelvic inflammatory disease

PMI point of maximal impulse

PNH paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

PO by mouth

PRBC packed red blood cells

PS pyloric stenosis

PSA prostate specific antigen

PT prothrombin time

PTT partial thromboplastin time

PUD peptic ulcer disease

PVD peripheral vascular disease

PX pneumothorax

Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy

Pharm.D. Doctor of Pharmacy

PT Physical Therapist

PTA Physical Therapy Assistant

Q
QD everyday

QID four times a day

QNS quantity not sufficient

QOD every other day

QS quantity sufficient, quantity required

R
RA rheumatoid arthritis

RAD reactive airway disease

RAI radioactive iodine

RAIU radioactive iodine uptake

RCA right coronary artery

RDW red cell distribution width

REEDA redness, edema, ecchymosis, drainage,
approximation
RHD rheumatic heart disease, relative hepatic dullness

RIJ right internal jugular

RLQ right lower quadrant

RM respiratory movement

ROM range of motion

ROS review of systems

RSC right subclavian

RUQ right upper quadrant

RX prescription, pharmacy

RD Registered Dietician

RHIA Registered Health Information Administrator

RHIT Registered Health Information Technician

RN Registered Nurse

RRA Registered Record Administrator

RRT Registered Respiratory Therapist

RT Radiologic Technologist

RTN Registered Technician of Nuclear Medicine

S
S/S signs & symptoms

SAB spontaneous abortion

SAST serum aspartate aminotransferase

SB spina bifida

SBO small bowel obstruction

SGPT serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase

SLE systemic lupus erythematosus

SNF skilled nursing facility

SOB short of breath

SR sedimentation rate

SS social services

STD sexually transmitted disease

STH somatotropic hormone

STM short term memory

SUI stress urinary incontinence

SVR systemic vascular resistance

T
T3 triiodothyronine

T4 thyroxine

TBSA total body surface area

TCDB turn, cough, deep breathe

TED (hose) thrombo-embolism deterrent

TEP transesophageal puncture

THR total hip replacement

TIA transient ischemic attack

TIBC total iron binding capacity

TID three times a day

TIL tumor infiltrating lymphocytes

TKR total knee replacement

TNF tumor necrosis factor

TNM tumor, node, metastases

TNTC too numerous to mention

TP tuberculin precipitation

TPN total parenteral nutrition

TTN transient tachypnea of the newborn

TTP thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura

TUPR trans-urethral prostatic resection

TUR (or TURP) trans-urethral resection of the prostate

TWB touch weight bear

TWE tap water enema

TX treatment, traction

U
UA urinalysis

UAO upper airway obstruction

UBW usual body weight

UGI upper gastrointestinal

UPJ ureteropelvic junction

URI upper respiratory infection

US ultrasonic

UTI urinary tract infection

UVJ ureterovesical junction

V
VA visual acuity

VBAC vaginal birth after caeserean

VF ventricular fibrillation

VLDL very low density lipoprotein

VMA vanillylmandelic acid

VSD ventricular septal defect

VT ventricular tachycardia

VW vessel wall

W
W/C wheelchair

WBC white blood cell

WD well developed

WHO World Health Organization

WN well nourished

WNL within normal limits

X
XR x-ray

Y
YO years old

Z
Z zero

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