SUBJECT:ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations cannot be used due to conflict, confusion, and or easily mistaken for another abbreviation:

ABBREVIATION / POTENTIAL PROBLEM / PREFERRED TERM
U (for unit) / mistaken as zero, four, or cc / write 'unit'
IU (for internal unit) / mistaken as IV or 10 / write 'internal unit'
Q.D. (for once daily)
Q.O.D. (for every other day) / mistaken for each other; letters and periods after each letter may be mistaken for letters / write 'daily' or 'every other day'
Trailing zero (X.0 mg)
Lack of leading zero (.X mg) / decimal point is misplaced / never write a zero by itself after a decimal point, and always use a zero before a decimal point
MS
MSO4
MgSO4 / confused for one another; can mean morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate / write 'morphine sulfate' or 'magnesium sulfate'

Abbreviations used by the Center staffs that have been sanctioned for general use on the patient record are as follows:

@At

AbdAbdomen

acBefore meals

AC IOLAnterior chamber intraocular lens

ad libAt discretion, as needed

admAdmitted

AFBAcid fast bacilli

AK ampAbove knee amputation

ambAmbulate

ampAmpule

A.M.Morning

AMAAgainst medical advice

amtAmount

APAnterior posterior

approxApproximate

ASAAcetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)

ASCVDArteriosclerotic cerebrovascular disease

A-VArteriovenous

AXAxillary

BBBBundle branch block

BCPBirth Control Pills

Bil, bilatBilateral

BEBarium enema

Bid Twice a day

BMBowel movement

BMRBasal metabolism rate

BMTBilateral Myringotomy with tube insertion

B/P,BPBlood Pressure

BPHBenign prostatic hypertrophy

BUNBlood urea nitrogen

ScWith

CCentigrade

CACarcinoma

CapCapsule

CathCatheter

CBCComplete blood count

CCChief complaint

certCertification

CHFCongestive heart failure

CHDCoronary heart disease

cmCentimeter

CNACertified Nurse Aide

CNSCentral nervous system

CO2Carbon dioxide

CompCompound

COPDChronic obstructive pulmonary disease

C & SCulture and sensitivity

CPRCardiopulmonary resuscitation

CRNACertified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

CVACerebrovascular accident

D&CDilation and curettage

dxDiagnosis

dischDischarge

DMDiabetes mellitus

DOADead on arrival

DOBDate of birth

DrDoctor

DTDelirium tremens

DTRDeep tendon reflexes

ECGElectrocardiogram (graph)

EEGElectroencephalogram

EENTEye, ear, nose and throat

e.g.For example

EKGElectrocardiogram

EMGElectromyogram

ENTEar, nose, throat

E, coliEscherichia coli

elixElixir

EREmergency Room

ESRErythrocyte sedimentation rate

ETEndotracheal tube

examExamination

expExpired

extExternal

FFahrenheit

FBForeign body

FBSFasting blood sugar

FeIron

FlFluid

FUOFever of undetermined origin

FxFracture

GBGallbladder

GIGastrointestinal

gmGram

grGrain

GttsDrops

GPGeneral Practice

GUGenitourinary

GynGynecology

hrHour

H2O Water

Ht, HctHematocrit

Hb, HgbHemoglobin

HCVDHypertensive cardiovascular disease

H & P History and physical

HtHeight

HxHistory

ICCEIntracapsular cataract extraction

I & DIncision and drainage

IMIntramuscular

impImpression

IOLIntraocular lens

I & OIntake and output

IrregIrregular

IVPIntravenous pyelogram

IVIntravenous

KPotassium

KgKilogram

KCLPotassium chloride

KUBKidney, ureter, bladder

LLeft

labLaboratory

latLateral

L1, L2, etc.Lumbar vertebra

lbPound

LBBBLeft bundle branch block

Liq Liquid

LLELeft lower extremity

LLLLeft lower lid or lobe

LLQLeft lower quadrant

LMPLast menstrual period

LOALeave of absence

LPLumbar puncture

LPNLicensed Practical Nurse

LQLower quadrant

LRQLower right quadrant

LSLumbarsacral

LULLeft upper lobe

LUQLeft upper quadrant

LVHLeft ventricular hypertrophy

LVNLicensed Vocational Nurse

MACMonitored Anesthesia Care

medMedication

Meq, meqMilliequivalent

Mgm, mgmMilligram

MIMyocardial infarction

minMinute

mlMilliliters

mmMillimeters

modModerate

MRMedical Record

NaSodium

NA, N/ANonapplicable

negNegative

neuroNeurology

nilNothing

NKANo known allergies

NPONothing by mouth

N/S, NSNormal saline

NSRNormal sinus rhythm

N & VNausea and vomiting

OmtOintment

OOBOut of bed

OphthOphthalmology

OROperating Room

OrthoOrthopedic

OTOccupational Therapy

oz Ounce

O2Oxygen

OpOperative

/pAfter

PPulse

papPapanicolaou

PathPathology

pcAfter meals

PCPosterior

PCNPenicillin

PEPhysical examination

PERRLA Pupils, equal, regular, react to light and accommodation

PIPresent illness

PIDPelvic inflammatory disease

PMEvening

PO, poBy mouth

prepPreparation

prnAs often as necessary

pro timeProthrombin time

ptPatient

PTTPartial Thromboplastin Time

P.T.Physical Therapy

PVCPremature ventricular contraction

PVDPeripheral vascular disease

qEvery

qhEvery hour

qid Four times a day

qnEvery night

qnsQuantity not sufficient

qsQuantity sufficient

qtQuart

q2hEvery 2 hours

q3hEvery 3 hours

RRespiration

RACResponsible adult companion

RBBBRight Bundle Branch Block

RBCRed blood count

RegRegular

RhRhesus blood factor

RLERight lower extremity

RLLRight lower lobe

RLQRight lower quadrant

RMLRight middle lobe

RNRegistered Nurse

R/ORule out

ROSReview of systems

RULRight upper lobe

RUQRight upper quadrant

RxMedication

SsWithout

satSaturated

SGOTSerum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase

SGPTSerum glutamic pyruvic transaminase

SOBShortness of breath

solSolution

specSpecimen

SSN, SS#Social Security Number

StaphStaphylococcus

statAt once, immediately

strepStreptococcus

Sub lingSublingually

Sub-qSubcutaneous

suppSuppository

surgSurgery

TabTablet

TBTuberculosis

tbspTablespoon

TIATransient ischemic attack

tidThree times a day

tincTincture

TOTelephone order

tspTeaspoon

TURTransurethral resection

TURPTransurethral resection of prostate

TPRTemperature, pulse, respiration

TX, txTreatment

UAUrinalysis

ULQUpper left quadrant

URIUpper respiratory infection

URUtilization Review

USPUnited State Pharmacopeia

UTIUrinary tract infection

VAVisual acuity

vagVaginal

VDVenereal disease

vitVitamin

VOVerbal order

WBCWhite blood count

W/DWell developed

W/NWell nourished

wkWeek

wtWeight

yrYear

SYMBOL

oDegree

Increase or greater than

Decrease or lesser than

F or Female

M or Male

oSecondary

LtLeft

RtRight

=Equal

MED RECORDS 90 AbbreviationsPage 1 of 7