AAA Abdominal aortic aneurysm (ballooning of the aorta, the blood vessel that leaves the heart)

ABG Arterial blood gas (the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood)

ac Before meals (ante cibum)

ACLS Advanced cardiac life support

Ad lib As needed (ad libitum)

AOB Alcohol on breath

AODM Adult onset diabetes (Type II)

ASAP As soon as possible

BE Barium enema (X-ray of colon to look for cancer or obstruction)

Bid Twice a day (bis in die)

BP Blood pressure

Bx Biopsy

c with (cum)

CA Cancer

Ca Calcium

CABG Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (open heart surgery)

CT Scan Computerized axial tomography imaging

CC Chief complaint

CNS Central nervous system

CO Cardiac output

c/o Complaining of

COPD Chronic obstruction pulmonary disease

CPR Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CVA Cardiovascular accident or stroke

CXR Chest x-ray

Ddx List of possible diagnoses

DNR Do not resuscitate

DOE Dyspnea on exertion, or short of breath when exercising

DVT Deep vein thrombosis

Dx Diagnosis

EKG/ECG Electrocardiogram (kardio)

ENT Ears, nose, & throat

EtOH Alcohol

FU Follow up

FUO Fever of unknown origin

Fx Fracture

Gtt drops (guttae)

GU Genitourinary

HA Headache

Hct Hematrocrit (red blood cell volume)

h/o History of

HPI History of present illness

HR Heart rate

hs At bedtime (hora somni)

HTN Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Hx History

I&D Incision and drainage

ICU Intensive care unit

IM Intramuscular

IV Intravenous

L Left

MI Myocardial infraction (heart attack)

MRI Magnetic resonance imaging

MVA Motor vehicle accident

NAD No apparent distress

NED No evidence of disease

NKDA No known drug allergies

NPO Nothing by mouth (nil per os)

NSAID Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug

NSR Normal sinus rhythm (normal heart rate)

OOB Out of bed

OR Operating room

pc After meals (post cibum)

PDR Physician’s Desk Reference (“The Drug Bible”)

PE Physical exam OR Pulmonary embolus (blood clot to lungs)

po By mouth (per os)

POD Post operation day

PMH Past medical history

PR per rectum

PRN As needed (pro re nata)

Pt Patient

PUD Peptic ulcer disease

q Every (quaque)

qd Every day/ once a day (quaque die)

qh Every hour

q—h Every hour q2h, q3h every 2 hours, every 3 hours

qhs Every bedtime (hora somni)

qid four times/day (quarter in die)

qod Every other day

R Right

RLL Right lower lobe of lungs

RLQ Right lower quadrant

RML Middle lobe of lungs

ROM Range of motion

ROS Review of symptoms

RUL Right upper lobe of lungs

RUQ Right upper quadrant of abdomen

RTC Return to clinic

RX Prescription

s Without (sine)

SL Below the tongue (sub lingual)

SOAP Chart Format
S=subjective O=objective
A=assessment P=plan

SIG Write on label
(signa)

SOB Short of breath

SQ Under the skin (subcutaneous)

Stat Immediately (statin)

TIA Transient ischemic attack (ministroke)

tid Three times a day (ter in die)

TX Treatment

UA Urinalysis

UGI Upper GI (gastrointestinal, i.e., stomach and large intestine)

US Ultrasound

UTI Urinary tract infection

URI Upper respiratory infection

VS Vital signs (heart rate HR; blood pressure BP; respiratory rate RR; temperature T)

WNL Within normal limits

y/o Year old