| A | B |
|---|
| P | pulse |
| p.c. | after meals |
| p.m., PM | afternoon |
| p.o. | by mouth |
| p.r.n. | whenever necessary |
| p/o, PO | post operative |
| PA | physician assistant, posteroanterior |
| PACU | post anesthesia care unit |
| Pap | pap smear |
| PCA | patient controlled analgesic |
| PCN | penicillin |
| PDR | Physician Desk Reference |
| PE | pulmonary embolism, physical exam |
| Peds | pediatrics |
| PERL | pupils equal and react to light |
| PF | peak flow |
| PID | pelvic inflammatory disease |
| PMS | premenstrual syndrome |
| POD | post operative day |
| postop | postoperative |
| PR | per rectum |
| preop | preoperative |
| prep | prepare for |
| procto | proctoscopy |
| pro Time/INR | prothrombin time |
| PSA | prostate specific antigen |
| PT | physical therapy |
| pt or PT | patient |
| PTCA | percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty |
| PTT | partial thromboplastin time |
| pulse ox | pulse oximetry |
| q. | every |
| q.2h, q.4h | every 2 hours, every 4 hours |
| q.h. | every hour |
| q.i.d, QID | 4 times a day |
| R | respiration |
| R, RT | right |
| R/O | rule out |
| RA | rheumatoid arthritis |
| RBC | red blood count |
| rbc | red blood cell |
| Rh | blood types |
| RLQ | right lower quadrant |
| RN | registered nurse |
| ROM | range of motion |
| RT | respiratory therapy |
| RUQ | right upper quadrant |
| Rx | take, prescribe |
| š | without |
| S/P, s/p | status post |
| SA | sinoatrial |
| SBE | self breast exam |
| SIDS | sudden infant death syndrome |
| SL | sublingual |
| SOB | shortness of breath |
| SQ, SC | subcutaneous |
| ST, CST | surgical technician, certified surgical technician |
| staph | staphylococcus |
| stat | immediately |
| STD/STI | sexually transmitted disease/infection |
| strep | streptococcus |
| supp | suppository |
| T | temperature |
| T&A | tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy |
| t.i.d., TID | three times a day |
| T1, T2 | thoracic vertebrae |
| T₃, T₄ | thyroid test |
| tab(s) | tablet(s) |
| TAH | total abdominal hysterectomy |
| TAHBSO | total abdominal hysterectomy bilater salpingo-oophorectomy |
| TB | tuberculosis |
| Tdap | tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine |
| TIA | transient ischemic attack |
| TKO | to keep open |
| TM | tympanic membrane |
| top | topical |
| TPN | total parenteral nutrition |
| trans | transverse |
| TSH | thyroid stimulating hormone |
| TUR | transurethral resection |
| TURB | transurethral resection of the bladder |
| TURP | transurethral resection of the prostate |
| TX | treatment |
| Type I | Type I diabetes |
| Type II | Type II diabetes |
| Ua, UA | urinalysis |
| UGI | upper gastointestinal |
| URI | upper respiratory infection |
| UTI | urinary tract infection |
| VAR | chicken pox vaccine |
| VAT | video assisted thoracotomy |
| VF | ventricular fibrillation |
| VS | vital signs |
| W/C, WC | wheelchair |
| WBC | white blood count |
| wbc | white blood cell |
| WNL | within normal limits |
| Wt | weight |
| y/o | years old |
| ∆ | change |
