Abbreviations |
| a = before |
| @ = at |
| ABC = airway, breathing,
circulation |
| abd. = abdomen |
| A/C = antecubital fossa |
| ACLS = advanced cardiac life
support |
| A.D. = right ear |
| ALS = advanced life support |
| AMA = against medical advice |
| a.m. = morning |
| AMI = acute myocardial
infarction |
| amp. = ampule |
| amt. = amount |
| AP = anteroposterior |
| ASA = aspirin |
| ASAP = as soon as possible |
| ASHD = arteriosclerotic heart
disease |
| ATV = all terrain vehicle |
| A/V = atrioventricular |
| bbb = bundle branch block |
| BBS = bilateral breath sounds |
| B/F = black female |
| B/M = black male |
| b.i.d. = twice a day |
| BLS = basic life support |
| BM = bowel movement |
| BP = blood pressure |
| BSA = body surface area (burns) |
| BSI = body substance isolation |
| BVM = bag/valve/mask |
| c = with |
| CA = cancer |
| CABG = coronary artery bypass
graft |
| CAD = coronary artery disease |
| CAO = conscious, alert, oriented |
| C/C = chief complaint |
| CCU = coronary care unit |
| CHD = congenital heart disease |
| CHF = congestive heart failure |
| cm = centimeter |
| CNS = central nervous system |
| C/O = complains of |
| CO2 = carbon
dioxide |
| COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease |
| CP = chest pain |
| CPR = cardiopulmonary
resuscitation |
| CSF = cerebrospinal fluid |
| C-spine = cervical spine |
| CVA = cerebrovascular accident |
| DC = discontinue |
| DCAP- BLS = deformity, contusions,
abrasions, penetrations, burns, |
| lacerations, and swelling |
| D & C = dilation and
curettage |
| diff. = differential |
| DOA = dead on arrival |
| DNR = do not resuscitate |
| DNRO = do not resuscitate order |
| D5W = 5% dextrose in water |
| D25 = dextrose 25% |
| D50 = dextrose 50% |
| Dx. = diagnosis |
| ED = emergency department |
| EENT = eyes, ears, nose and
throat |
| ECG or EKG =
electrocardiogram |
| EEG = electroencephalogram |
| e.g. = for example |
| EGTA = esophageal gastric tube
airway |
| EMD = electromechanical
dissociation |
| EMS = emergency medical services |
| EMT = emergency medical
technician |
| ENT = ears, nose and throat |
| EOA = esophageal obturator
airway |
| EOM = extraocular movement |
| epi = epinephrine |
| ER = emergency room |
| ET tube = endotracheal tube |
| ETA = estimated time of arrival |
| ETOH = ethyl alcohol |
| FBAO = foreign body airway
obstruction |
| fl. = fluid |
| flex. = flexion |
| ft. = foot |
| FROM = full range of motion |
| fx = fracture |
| g = gauge (diameter) |
| GCS = glasgow coma scale |
| Gm = gram |
| GSW = gunshot wound |
| gtt. = drop |
| GU = genitourinary |
| GYN = gynecology |
| H/F = hispanic female |
| H/M = hispanic male |
| HBP = high blood pressure |
| hr. = hour |
| HEENT = head, ears, eyes, nose and
throat |
| HIV = human immune deficiency
virus |
| hgb = hemoglobin |
| hosp. = hospital |
| HTN = hypertension |
| Hx = history |
| ICU = intensive care unit |
| I & D = incision and
drainage |
| IM = intramuscular |
| I & O = intake and output |
| IO = intraosseous |
| IUD = intrauterine device |
| IV = intravenous |
| IVP = intravenous push |
| JVD = jugular vein distention |
| kg. = kilogram |
| KCl = potassium chloride |
| (L) or lt. =
left |
| lac. = laceration |
| lat = lateral |
| LBBB = left bundle branch block |
| lb(s) = pound(s) |
| L & D = labor and delivery |
| L/min or lpm =
liters per minute |
| LLQ = left lower quadrant |
| LMA = laryngeal mask airway |
| LMP = last menstrual period |
| LOC = loss of consciousness |
| LP = lumbar puncture |
| LR = lactated ringers |
| LUQ = left upper quadrant |
| MAE = moves all extremities |
| MAST = medical anti-shock
trousers |
| mA = milliampere |
| mcg = microgram |
| MCI = mass casualty incident |
| meds = medications |
| mEq = milliequivalent |
| MI = myocardial infarction |
| min. = minute |
| mg. = milligram |
| mkd. = marked |
| ml. = milliliter |
| mod. = moderate |
| MOE = movement of extremities |
| MS = morphine sulfate |
| N2 O =
nitrous oxide |
| NaCl = sodium chloride |
| NAD = no acute distress |
| neg. = negative |
| NKA = no known allergies |
| n/g = nasogastric |
| NPO = nothing by mouth |
| NS = normal saline |
| NSR = normal sinus rhythm |
| NTG = nitroglycerin |
| N & V = nausea and vomiting |
| O2 =
oxygen |
| OB = obstetrics |
| OBS = organic brain syndrome |
| OD = overdose - also means right
eye |
| OPQRST = onset, provocation,
quality, |
| radiation, severity, time |
| ophth = ophthalmology |
| OR = operating room |
| OS = left eye |
| OU = both eyes |
| PA = posteroanterior |
| PAC = premature atrial
contraction |
| PaCO2 =
partial pressure of CO2 in arterial
blood |
| PaO2 =
partial pressure of O2 in arterial
blood |
| PAT = paroxysmal atrial
tachycardia |
| PDR = physician's desk reference |
| PE = pulmonary edema |
| per = by |
| PERL = pupils equal and reactive to
light |
| PERLA = pupils equal and reactive to
light, |
| and accommodation |
| PID = pelvic inflammatory
disease |
| PJC = premature junctional
contraction |
| p.m. = evening |
| PMD = private medical doctor |
| PO = mouth |
| post = after |
| pre = before |
| prn = as needed |
| PSVT = paroxysmal supraventricular
tachycardia |
| pt. = patient |
| PVC = premature ventricular
contraction |
| Px. = physical history |
| q = every |
| q.h. = hourly |
| q.i.d. = four times daily |
| q.o.d. = every other day |
| RBBB = right bundle branch block |
| RBC = red blood count |
| (R) OR rt. =
right |
| RLQ = right lower quadrant |
| R/O = rule out |
| ROM = range of motion |
| RUQ = right upper quadrant |
| s = without |
| SAMPLE = signs/symptoms, allergies,
medications, |
| past Hx, last oral intake, events prior |
| SaO2 =
percentage of oxygen in arterial blood |
| SIDS = sudden infant death
syndrome |
| SL = sublingual |
| SOAP = subjective, objective,
assessment, plan |
| SOB = short(ness) of breath |
| sol. = solution |
| spec. = specimen |
| Sub. Q (SQ) =
subcutaneously |
| SpO2 =
percentage of oxygen in the blood via |
| pulse oximeter (equal to SaO2 ) |
| tab. = tablet |
| TB = tuberculosis |
| temp. = temperature |
| TIA = transient ischemic attack |
| t.i.d. = three times daily |
| TMJ = temporomandibular joint |
| TPR = temperature, pulse and
respiration |
| Tx. = treatment |
| UA = urinalysis |
| ULQ = upper left quadrant |
| URI = upper respiratory
infection |
| URQ = upper right quadrant |
| V - fib (VF) =
ventricular fibrillation |
| V - tach (VT) =
ventricular tachycardia |
| VD = venereal disease |
| via = by way of |
| vol. = volume |
| VS = vital signs |
| WBC = white blood count |
| W/F = white female |
| W/M = white male |
| WNL = within normal limits |
| wt. = weight |
| Y/O = years old |
| ˜ =
approximately |
| < = less
than |
| > = more
than |
| - =
negative |
| + =
plus/positive |
| # =
number |
| % =
percent |
| @ = at |
| = increase |
| ¯ = decrease |
| (R) =
right |
| (L) =
left |
