Nursing Abbreviations and Acronyms: Guide to Medical Terminology

Ever wondered how healthcare professionals communicate complex information so efficiently? Dive into the world of medical abbreviations and acronyms—essential tools that transform lengthy terms like “complete blood count” into simple “CBC,” ensuring clarity and speed in patient care.

Table of Contents

• Medical and Nursing Terminologies
• Precautions
• Official “Do Not Use” List
• List of Common Medical and Nursing Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Terminologies

Medical and Nursing Terminologies

Healthcare professionals, including nurses and doctors, use a specialized set of vocabulary to ensure precise and efficient communication. These terms, often abbreviations or acronyms, are essential for clear documentation and effective patient care.

When working within the medical and nursing fields, it’s important to distinguish between abbreviations and acronyms, as they are key components of healthcare communication.

Abbreviations are shortened forms of words or phrases. For example, “vol” is an abbreviation for “volume.” These shortened forms are used to save time and space when writing or speaking about common terms and are prevalent in medical documentation.

Acronyms, on the other hand, are words created from the initial letters of each major part of a compound term. For instance, “CBC” stands for “complete blood count.” Acronyms streamline communication by condensing complex medical terms into more manageable and recognizable forms.

Precautions

Medical abbreviations and acronyms are essential for efficient communication within healthcare settings. However, their meanings can vary significantly between different agencies, hospitals, and regions. To prevent miscommunication and ensure patient safety, follow these precautions:

• Always verify meaning. Always verify the meaning of any unfamiliar abbreviations or acronyms with the one who wrote it. Different facilities might use the same abbreviation to mean different things.
• Reference Facility-Specific Guidelines. Each healthcare facility typically has its own set of approved abbreviations. Familiarize yourself with and reference these guidelines regularly to ensure compliance with local standards.
• Use Full Terms When in Doubt. If there is any uncertainty about an abbreviation, write out the full term to avoid misinterpretation.
• Documentation Clarity. When documenting patient information, ensure that the context around the abbreviation is clear. This helps other healthcare providers understand the intended meaning without confusion.
• Standardize Communication. Encourage the use of standardized abbreviations within your team to reduce variability and enhance communication clarity.

Official “Do Not Use” List

The Joint Commission’s Official “Do Not Use” List aims to enhance patient safety by eliminating the use of dangerous abbreviations, acronyms, symbols, and dose designations that could lead to misinterpretation and medication errors. It applies to handwritten orders and free-text computer entries but not to preprogrammed health IT systems, though organizations are encouraged to eliminate such abbreviations during system upgrades. An exception exists for trailing zeros in specific contexts like lab results. The list was developed following a 2001 Sentinel Event Alert and was formalized in 2004, later integrated into Information Management standards in 2010. By adhering to this list, healthcare professionals can reduce errors and improve patient outcomes.

Do Not Use	Potential Problem	Use Instead	Examples
U, u (unit)	Mistaken for “0”, “4”, or “cc”	Write “unit”	Do Not Use: 10u Use Instead: 10 units
IU (International Unit)	Mistaken for IV or “10”	Write “International Unit”	Do Not Use: 5 IU Use Instead: 5 International Units
Q.D., QD, q.d., qd (daily)	Mistaken for each other	Write “daily”	Do Not Use: QD 5 mg Use Instead: Daily 5 mg
Q.O.D., QOD, q.o.d, qod (every other day)	Period after Q mistaken for “I” and the “O” mistaken for “I”	Write “every other day”	Do Not Use: QOD 5 mg Use Instead: Every other day 5 mg
Trailing zero (X.0 mg)	Decimal point is missed	Write X mg	Do Not Use: 1.0 mg Use Instead: 1 mg
Lack of leading zero (.X mg)	Decimal point is missed	Write 0.X mg	Do Not Use: .5 mg Use Instead: 0.5 mg
MS	Can mean morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate	Write “morphine sulfate” or “magnesium sulfate”	Do Not Use: MS 10 mg Use Instead: Morphine sulfate 10 mg
MSO4 and MgSO4	Confused for one another	Write “morphine sulfate” or “magnesium sulfate”	Do Not Use: MSO4 10 mg Use Instead: Morphine sulfate 10 mg

List of Common Medical and Nursing Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Terminologies

A

Term	Meaning
@	At
A/G	Albumin/Globulin Ratio
AAL	Anterior Axillary Line
AA	Of each, equal parts
ABG	Arterial Blood Gases
ABR	Absolute bed rest
Abd.	Abdomen
AC	Before eating
ACE	Angiotensin Converting Enzyme
ACL	Anterior Cruciate Ligament
ACLS	Advanced Cardiac Life Support
ACTH	Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
AD	Admitting diagnosis
ADH	Antidiuretic Hormone
ADL	Activities of Daily Living
Adm.	Admission
Ad. Spec.	Admission urine specimen
AGA	Appropriate for Gestational Age
AID	Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
AI	Aortic Insufficiency
A.K.A.	Above Knee Amputation
ALD	Alcoholic Liver Disease
ALL	Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
ALP	Alkaline Phosphatase
ALT	Alanine Transaminase, Alanine Aminotransferase
A.M. or a.m., AM or am	Morning
Amb.	Ambulation, walking, ambulatory
Amt.	Amount
AP or A.P.	Appendectomy
Approx.	Approximately
APR	Abdominoperineal Resection
ARF	Acute Renal Failure
ASA	Acute Surgical Abdomen
ASF	Anterior Decomposition Spinal Fusion
ATN	Acute Tubular Necrosis
AU	Both Ears
AV	Atrioventricular
Aqua	Water or H2O

B

Abbreviation	Meaning
B/K	Below Knee
B.S.	Bachelor of Science
B&B or b&b	Bowel and Bladder Training
BAT	Blunt Abdominal Trauma
BIH	Bilateral Inguinal Hernia
BKA	Below Knee Amputation
BM	Bowel Movement or Breast Milk
b.m. or B.M.	Bowel Movement, Feces
BP or B.P.	Blood Pressure
BR or br or B.R. or b.r.	Bedrest
BRP or B.R.P. or brp	Bathroom Privileges
BSC or bsc	Bedside Commode
BX	Biopsy
bid or B.I.D. or b.i.d.	Twice a day

C

Term	Meaning
°C	Celsius degree (or centigrade)
c	With
Ca	Cancer
CA	Calcium, Cancer, Carcinoma
CAA	Crystalline Amino Acids
CABG	Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
CAD	Coronary Artery Disease
CAPD	Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis
CAT	Computerized Axial Tomography
CBC	Complete Blood Count
CBD	Common Bile Duct
CBDE	Common Bile Duct Exploration
CBG	Capillary Blood Gas
CBI	Continuous Bladder Irrigation
CBS	Capillary Blood Sugar
CC	Chief Complaint
CCK	Cholecystokinin
CCPD	Continuous Cyclic Peritoneal Dialysis
CCU	Clean Catch Urine or Cardiac Care Unit
CCV	Critical Closing Volume
CBR	Complete Bed Rest
C/O	Complaint of
CO2	Carbon Dioxide
CF	Cystic Fibrosis
CHF	Congestive Heart Failure
CHO	Carbohydrate
CI	Cardiac Index
CKD	Chronic Kidney Disease
CLEA	Continuous Lumbar Epidural Anesthesia
CLT	Clinical Laboratory Technician
CML	Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
CN	Cranial Nerves
CNS	Central Nervous System
CO	Cardiac Output
COM	Chronic Otitis Media
COPD	Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
CP	Chest Pain, Cleft Palate
CPD	Cephalo-Pelvic Disproportion
CPK	Creatinine Phosphokinase
CPP	Cerebral Perfusion Pressure
CPR	Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
CRCL	Creatinine Clearance
CRF	Chronic Renal Failure
CRT	Capillary Refill Time
CS	Central Supply
CSF	Cerebrospinal Fluid
CSD	Central Service Department
CSR	Central Supply Room
CT	Computerized Tomography
CVA	Cerebral Vascular Accident, Costovertebral Angle
CVP	Central Venous Pressure

D

Abbreviation	Meaning
D3	Distal Third
D5W	5% Dextrose in Water
DAT	Diet as Tolerated
DC or dc	Discontinue
DIC	Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy
DIH	Direct Inguinal Hernia
DKA	Diabetic Ketoacidosis
DL	Direct Laryngoscopy
DM	Diabetes Mellitus
DNA	Deoxyribonucleic Acid
DNR	Do Not Resuscitate
DOA	Dead on Arrival
DOE	Dyspnea on Exertion
DPT	Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus
DTR	Deep Tendon Reflexes
DVT	Deep Venous Thrombosis
DX	Diagnosis
del. M. or d.r., or DR	Delivery Room
Disch or dish or D/C	Discharge
D&C	Dilatation and Curettage
drsg.	Dressing

E

Abbreviation	Meaning
EAA	Essential Amino Acids
EBL	Estimated Blood Loss
EBV	Epstein-Barr Virus
ECCE	Extra Capsular Cataract Extraction
ECF	Extracellular Fluid, Extended Care Facility
ECG or EKG	Electrocardiogram
ECT	Electroconvulsive Therapy
EDC	Extensor Digitorum Communis
EDH	Epidural Hematoma
EEA	End-to-End Anastomosis
EEL	Emergency Exploratory Laparotomy
EEG or E.E.G.	Electroencephalogram
EENT or E.E.N.T.	Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat
EFAD	Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency
EGD	Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
EMG	Electromyogram
EMV	Eyes, Motor, Verbal Response (Glasgow Coma Scale)
ENT	Ears, Nose, and Throat
EOM	Extraocular Muscles
ER or E.R.	Emergency Room
ERCP	Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
ESR	Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
ESRD	End-Stage Renal Disease
ET	Endotracheal Tube
ETT	Endotracheal Tube
EUA	Examination Under Anesthesia

F

Abbreviation	Meaning
°F	Fahrenheit degree
F, Fe	Female
FBS or F.B.S.	Fasting Blood Sugar
FBE	Foreign Body Extraction
FCU	Flexor Carpi Ulnaris
FDA	Food & Drug Administration
FDP	Flexor Digitorum Profundus
FDS	Flexor Digitorum Superficialis
FESS	Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
FEV	Forced Expiratory Volume
FFP	Fresh Frozen Plasma
FIA	Fistula in Ano
FNP	Family Nurse Practitioner
FTSG	Full Thickness Skin Grafting
ft	Foot
Fx	Fracture
Fx urine	Fractional urine
FF or F.F.	Forced Feeding or Forced Fluids

G

Abbreviation	Meaning
gal	Gallon
GB	Gallbladder
GC	Gonorrhea
GCS	Glasgow Coma Scale
GERD	Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
GETA	General Endotracheal Anesthesia
GFR	Glomerular Filtration Rate
GI or G.I.	Gastrointestinal
gt	One drop
gtt	Two or more drops
GTT or G.T.T.	Glucose Tolerance Test
GU or G.U.	Genitourinary
Gyn. or G.Y.N.	Gynecology
GSW	Gunshot Wound

H

Abbreviation	Meaning
H2O	Water or Aqua
HOB	Head of Bed
hr	Hour
HS or hs	Bedtime or Hour of Sleep
ht	Height
hyper	Above or High
hypo	Below or Low
H.W.B. or hwb or HWB	Hot Water Bottle
HB	Hemoglobin
HBP	High Blood Pressure
HCG	Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
HCO3	Bicarbonate
HCT	Hematocrit
HD	Hemodialysis
HDL	High Density Lipoprotein
HEENT	Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat
HPT	Hemoperitoneum

I

Abbreviation	Meaning
I&O or I.&O.	Intake and Output
I&D	Incision & Drainage
IBG	Iliac Bone Graft
ICU or I.C.U.	Intensive Care Unit
ICS	Intercostal Space
IIH	Indirect Inguinal Hernia
IJ	Intrajugular
IOC	Intraoperative Cholangiogram
Irr	Irregular
Isol. or isol	Isolation
IV or I.V.	Intravenous

J

Abbreviation	Meaning
JVD	Jugular Venous Distension
JVP	Jugular Venous Pressure

K

Abbreviation	Meaning
K	Potassium
KUB	Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder

L

Abbreviation	Meaning
L	Liter
Lab. or lab	Laboratory
lb	Pound
LDH	Lactate Dehydrogenase
LE	Lower Extremity
LFT	Liver Function Test
LLQ	Left Lower Quadrant
LOC	Level of Consciousness
LP	Lumbar Puncture
LPN	Licensed Practical Nurse
LUQ	Left Upper Quadrant
LVN or L.V.N.	Licensed Vocational Nurse

M

Abbreviation	Meaning
M	Male
Mat	Maternity
MD or M.D.	Medical Doctor
Meas	Measure
mec	Meconium
med	Medicine
min	Minute
ml	Milliliter
Mn or mn or M/n	Midnight
MCV	Mean Corpuscular Volume
ME	Myocardial Infarction
MRI	Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MS	Multiple Sclerosis
MSU	Midstream Urine
MT	Medical Technologist

N

Abbreviation	Meaning
N.A. or N/A	Nursing Aide or Nursing Assistant
Na	Sodium
NAD	No Acute Distress
n/g tube or ng. tube or N.G.T.	Nasogastric Tube
noct	At Night
NP	Neuropsychiatric or Nursing Procedure
NPO or N.P.O.	Nothing by Mouth
nsy	Nursery
NICU	Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
NKA	No Known Allergies
NS	Normal Saline
NSR	Normal Sinus Rhythm
NTG	Nitroglycerin
N/V	Nausea/Vomiting

O

Abbreviation	Meaning
O2	Oxygen
OB or O.B.	Obstetrics
Obt or obt.	Obtained
OJ or O.J.	Orange Juice
Orb.	Orderly
OOB or O.O.B.	Out of Bed
OPD or O.P.D.	Outpatient Department
OR or O.R.	Operating Room
Ortho	Orthopedics
OT or O.T.	Occupational Therapy or Oral Temperature
oz.	Ounce

P

Abbreviation	Meaning
PAR or P.A.R.	Postanesthesia Room
Pc	After Meals
Ped or Peds	Pediatrics
Per	By, Through
p.m. or P.M., pm or PM	Afternoon
PMC or P.M.C.	Post Mortem Care
PN or P.N.	Pneumonia
po	By Mouth
post or p	After
postop or post op	Postoperative
post op spec	After Surgery Urine Specimen
PP	Postpartum (After Delivery)
PPBS	Postprandial Blood Sugar
pre	Before
prn or p.r.n.	Whenever Necessary, When Required
preop or pre op	Before Surgery
pre op spec	Urine Specimen Before Surgery
prep	Prepare the Patient for Surgery by Shaving the Skin
Pt or pt	Patient; Pint
PT or P.T.	Physical Therapy

Q

Abbreviation	Meaning
q	Every
qd	Every day
qh	Every hour
q2h	Every 2 hours
q3h	Every 3 hours
q4h	Every 4 hours
QHS or qhs	Every night at bedtime/hour of sleep
qid or Q.I.D.	Four times a day
qam or q am or q.a.m.	Every morning
qod or Q.O.D.	Every other day
qs	Quantity sufficient, as much as required
qt	Quart

R

Abbreviation	Meaning
r or R	Rectal
Rm or rm	Room
RN or R.N.	Registered Nurse
Rom or R.O.M.	Range of Motion
RR or R Rm.	Recovery Room
Rx	Prescription or treatment ordered by a physician

S

Abbreviation	Meaning
s or ?	Without
S&A	Sugar and Acetone
S&A test or S.& A. test	Sugar and Acetone Test
S&K or S.& K. test	Sugar and Ketone Test
SOB	Shortness of Breath
sos	Whenever emergency arises; only if necessary
SPD	Special Purchasing Department

T

Abbreviation	Meaning
tid	Three Times a Day
TLC	Tender Loving Care
TPR	Temperature, Pulse, Respiration

U

Abbreviation	Meaning
U/A	Urinalysis
UE	Upper Extremity
URI	Upper Respiratory Infection
UTI	Urinary Tract Infection

V

Abbreviation	Meaning
VDRL	Test for Syphilis
VS or V.S.	Vital Signs

W

Abbreviation	Meaning
WBC	White Blood Count
WOF	Watch out for (precaution)
wt	Weight

XYZ

Abbreviation	Meaning
XR	X-Ray
YTD	Year to Date
Zn	Zinc

These terminologies can vary between different agencies and hospitals. This list serves only as a general reference for nurses. Always consult your hospital manual or institutional guidelines for the most accurate and specific information.