| A | B |
|---|
| cc | cubic centimeter--1000cc = 1 L. (qt.); 30 cc = 1 oz. |
| Cath | catheter--tube for evacuating or injecting fluids (e.g., Foley catheter, cardiac catheter) |
| gtt, Gtt, gtts | drop, drops--15-16 drops = 1 cc. |
| H20 | water |
| KUB | kidney, ureter, bladder X-ray--X-ray used without contrast, Dx stones |
| L, l | liter (1000cc's)--1 qt. |
| ml | milliliter--1 cc; one-thousandth of a Liter; 15-16 gtts = 1 cc. |
| oz | ounce--30 cc; 2 tbsp |
| UA, U/A | urinalysis--urine test for color, cloudiness, specific gravity, pH, sugar, etc. |
| UTI | urinary tract infection |
| ASAP | as soon as possible |
| CC | chief complaint |
| c/o | complains of |
| Dx, dx | diagnosis |
| EMS | emergency medical services |
| FUO | fever of unknown origin |
| Hx | history |
| I & D | incision and drainage |
| pt | patient |
| R/O | rule out |
| stat | immediately, at once |
| Sx | symptom--sign of disease |
| Subjective Sx | apparent to patient |
| Objective Sx | apparent to observer |
| exam | examination--the act of inspecting the body to Dx disease |
| ABC | airway, breathing, and circulation |
| AP | apical pulse--only pulse one can hear |
| ASHD | arteriosclerotic heart disease--hardening & loss of elasticity of arterial walls |
| Ax | axillary--armpit |
| BP | blood pressure--force exerted by blood on walls of any vessel |
| CABG | Coronary artery bypass graft--surgery to bring anew blood supply to heart muscle detouring around blocked arteries |
| CBC | complete blood count--blood tests: RBC, WBC, platelets, Hgb, Hct |
| CCU | coronary care unit |
| CHF | congestive heart failure--inability of heart to pump adequate blood through body to supply organs & tissues; complication of heart diseases (e.g., MI) |
| DNR | do not resuscitate |
| DOA | dead on arrival |
| EKG, ECG | electrocardiogram--electrical activity of the heart |
| ICU | intensive care unit |
| IV | intravenous--within a vein |
| MI | myocardial infarction; heart attack--blockage in coronary artery that cuts off blood supply to heart muscle resulting in necrosis in heart muscle |
| MVA | motor vehicle accident |
| P | pulse--HR 60-100 |
| R | Respiration or rectal 16-20 |
| T, Temp | temperature--98.6 F |
| TPR | temperature, pulse, respiration |
| VS | vital signs (TPR and BP) |
| ac | before meals |
| Ba | barium-radiopaque substance to visualize hollow organs |
| BE | barium enema--use of Ba as enema into rectum to XR the lower GI tract |
| BM | bowel movement--evacuation of stool/feces |
| BS | blood sugar--glucose in the blood 60-100 mg./100 ml. of blood |
| EGD | esophagogastroduodenoscopy--visual exam using a scope to visualize the esophagus, stomach, duodenum |
| ERCP | endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography--XR filming of the bile & pancreatic ducts using contrast, fluoroscopy, and an endoscope |
| FBS | fasting blood sugar-NPO, blood test for diabetics |
| GI | gastrointestinal--Pertaining to stomach and intestines |
| HBV | hepatitis B virus--Infection of liver passed by blood or certain secretions |
| LGI | lower GI--same as BE |
| NG | nasogastric tube--tube passed through the nose into the stomach to empty stomach contents |
| NPO | nothing by mouth |
| N/V | nausea and vomiting |
| pc | after meals |
| po | by mouth/per os |
| aa | of each |
| Bx, bx | biopsy |
| C & S | culture and sensitivity |
| c or w/ | with |
| drsg | dressing |
| lab | laboratory |
| p | after |
| s, w/o | without |
| spec | specimen |
| subq, SC, sc | subcutaneous |
| AIDS | Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome--a deadly virus that attacks immune system; STD |
| APGAR | test for newborns at 1 & 5 min. after birth--Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Airway, Reflex; each rated 0, 1, 2... with 10 maximum |
| D & C | dilation and curettage--cervix dilated, scraping inside of uterus |
| FHT | fetal heart tones--120-160/min. (100 if sleeping) |
| GC, Ge | gonococcus, gonorrhea--STD |
| HIV | human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS virus) |
| LMP | last menstrual period |
| L & D | labor and delivery |
| Nsy | nursery |
| Ob | obstetrics |
| PAP | Papanicolaou test (smear)--to detect CA cells of the cervix |
| PKU | phenylketonuria--disease deficient in amino acid, phenylalanine |
| PID | pelvic inflammatory disease--inflammation of cervix, endometrium, tubes, or ovaries; PID's are major causes from Chlamydia and GC infections |
| PMS | premenstrual syndrome--Sx women may have several days before menses |
| PP | postpartum--after delivery |
| STD | sexually transmitted disease--AIDS, GC, HSV Type II, over 25 diseases; Chlamydia is "silent sterilizer" b/c 80% females asymptomatic and if untreated will become infertile |
| am, AM | morning |
| amb | ambulate, walk |
| ad lib | as desired |
| ADL | activities of daily living |
| BR | bedrest |
| BRP | bathroom privileges |
| BSC | bedside commode |
| OT | occupational therapy |
| PT | physical therapy |
| pm, PM | afternoon/evening |
| ROM | range of motion |
| W/P | whirlpool |
| ASA | aspirin |
| bid/BID | twice a day |
| tid/TIS | three times a day |
| qid/QID | four times a day |
| Hr, h | hour, hours |
| HS | hours of sleep, bedtime |
| IM | intramuscular |
| lg | large |
| mod | moderate |
| prn | as needed, whenever necessary |
| q | every |
| qd | every day |
| ss | one half |
| sm | small |
| qod | every other day |
| CVA | cerebral vascular accident, stroke--death of a specific part of brain resulting from a decrease in blood flow to that area of the brain (e.g., form intracranial hemorrhage, thrombosis, or embolus) |
| EEG | electroencephalogram--electrical activity of the brain |
| EENT | ear, eye, nose and throat |
| HOH | hard of hearing |
| LOC | level of consciousness--checked every 8 hours (e.g., Alert to unconsciousness) |
| LP | lumbar puncture--needle placed in the subarachnoid space to Dx infection, increased intracranial pressure, etc. |
| od | overdose |
| free space | free space |
| ABG | arterial blood gases--blood test to check CO2 and O2 in heart and lung pts. |
| CPR | cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
| CO2 | carbon dioxide--colorless gas exhaled |
| COPD | chronic obstructive pulmonary disease--obstruction of small airways (e.g., asthma, emphysema); freq/ etiology is smoking |
| CXR | chest X ray--to evaluate lungs and heart |
| DPT | diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus--3 shots to prevent diseases @ 2, 4, 6 mos. |
| O2 | oxygen--colorless gas inhaled |
| PFT | pulmonary function tests--tests to determine lung function and abnormalities |
| SOB | shortness of breath |
| T & A | tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy--lymphatic tissue removed |
| TB | tuberculosis--infectious disease caused by tubercle bacillus (AFB), spread by inhalation of droplets |
| TCDB | turn, cough, and deep breathe |
| URI | upper respiratory infection--inflam. of mucosa lining of upper resp. tract (e.g., pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi) |
| CAT Scan | computerized axial tomography--images of body organs horizontally/in slices |
| CT Scan | computerized tomography--(greater sensitivity than X-rays |
| Fx | fracture--broken bone |
| HOB | head of bed |
| LS | lumbar sacral |
| MRI | magnetic resonance imaging--electromagnetic waves use and computer produces images of body (e.g., heart, brain, soft tissue, etc.) |
| Orth | orthopedics--skeletal and muscle systems |
| neg | negative--no disease present |
| tx | treatment, traction |
| w/c | wheelchair |
| XR | X ray--use of radiation to visualize organs |
| cc | cubic centimeter--1000cc = 1 L. (qt.); 30 cc = 1 oz. |
| Cath | catheter--tube for evacuating or injecting fluids (e.g., Foley catheter, cardiac catheter) |
| gtt, Gtt, gtts | drop, drops--15-16 drops = 1 cc. |
| H2)0 | water |
| KUB | kidney, ureter, bladder X-ray--X-ray used without contrast, Dx stones |
| L, l | liter (1000cc's)--1 qt. |
| ml | milliliter--1 cc; one-thousandth of a Liter; 15-16 gtts = 1 cc. |
| oz | ounce--30 cc; 2 tbsp |
| UA, U/A | urinalysis--urine test for color, cloudiness, specific gravity, pH, sugar, etc. |
| UTI | urinary tract infection |
