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A

ABG -arterial blood gases

ac - before meals

ACE - angiotensin converting

enzyme

ACL -anterior cruciateligament

ACTH- adrenocorticotropic

hormone

ADA -American Diabetes

Association

ADH -antidiuretic hormone

ADL -activities of daily living

AFB -acid-fast bacilli

AFP -alpha-fetoprotein

AGA -appropriate for

gestational age

AIDS -acquired immune

deficiency syndrome

AKA -above knee amputation

ALP -alkaline phosphatase

ALT -alanine transaminase,

alanine aminotransferase

AMA -against medical advice

AMI -acute myocardial

infarction

AOD-M adult onset diabetes

mellitus

AP apical pulse

APSGN acute

poststreptococcal

glomerulonephritis

ARF acute renal failure

ASD atrial septal defect

AST aspartate

aminotransferase

ATN acute tubular necrosis

AU both ears

AVB atrio-ventricular block 

B

BBS bilateral breath sounds

BE barium enema

BG blood glucose

BI brain injury

BID twice a day

bilat bilateral

B/K below knee

BM bowel movement or breast

milk 

BP blood pressure

BPH benign prostatic

hypertrophy

BRM biologic response

modifiers

BRP bathroom privileges

BS bowel sounds

BSA body surface area

BSE breast self examinationBT bowel tones

BUN blood urea nitrogen

C

C&S culture and sensitivity

Ca calcium, cancer, carcinoma

CABG coronary artery bypass

graft

CAD coronary artery disease

CAPD continuous ambulatory

peritoneal dialysis

CAT computerized

tomography scan

CBC complete blood countCBD common bile duct

CBE clinical breast

examination

CBG capillary blood glucose

CBI continuous bladder

irrigation

CBS capillary blood sugar

CC chief complaint

CCK cholecystokinin

CCPD continuous cyclic

peritoneal dialysis

CEA cultured epithelial

autograft

CFT complement-fixation test

CIN cervical intraepithelial

neoplasm

CL cleft lip

CMS circulation, motion,

sensation

CO cardiac output

COPD chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease

CP chest pain, cleft palate

CPAP continuous positive

airway pressure

CPD cephalo-pelvic

disproportion

CPP cerebral perfusion

pressure

CPPD chest percussion and

post drainage

CRF chronic renal failure

CRRT continuous renal

replacement therapy

CRT capillary refill time

CSF cerebrospinal fluid,

colony stimulating factors

CT chest tube, computed

tomographyCVA cerebral vascular

accident, costovertebral angle

CVP central venous pressure

Cx cervix

CXR chest x-ray

D

DAT diet as tolerated

DC (dc) discontinue

DCCT Diabetes Control and

Complication Trials

DEX (DXT) blood sugar

DIC disseminatedintravascular coagulation

DKA diabetic ketoacidosis

DNA deoxyribonucleic acid

DNR do not resuscitate

DTR deep tendon reflex

DVT deep vein thrombosis

Dx diagnosis

E

EBV Epstein-Barr Virus

ECF extracellular fluid,

extended care facility

EENT eye, ear, nose and

throat

EMC ensephalomyocarditisEMG electromyogram

ERCP endoscopic retrograde

cholangiopancreatography

ESRD end stage renal disease

ET endotracheal tube

F

F & R force and rhythm

FA fatty acid

FBS fasting blood sugar

FD fatal dose, focal distance

FDA Food & Drug

Administration

Fx fracture

FUO fever of unknown origin

FVD fluid volume deficit

G

GB gallbladder

GERD gastroesophageal

reflux disease

GFR glomerular filtration rate

GGT gamma-glutamyl

transferase

GI gastrointestinal

GOT glutamic oxalic

transaminase

GU genitourinary

GVHD graft-versus-host-

disease

H

HA headache

Hb hemoglobin

HCG human chorionic

gonadotropin

HCO3 bicarbonate

HCT hematocrit

HD hemodialysis

HDL high density lipoprotein

HEENT head, eye, ear, nose

and throat

Hgb hemoglobin

HIV human

immunodeficiency virus

HRT hormone replacement

therapy

HS bedtime

Hx history

I

IBC iron binding capacity

IBD inflammatory bowel

disease

IBS irritable bowel syndrome

IBW ideal body weight

ICCE intracapsular cataract

extraction

ICF imtermediate care facility

ICP intracranial pressure

Nursing Abbreviations

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ICS intercostal space

ICT inflammation of 

connective tissue

ICU intensive care unit

IDM infant of diabetic mother

IDDM insulin dependent

diabetes mellitus

IE inspiratory exerciser

IH infectious hepatitis

IHD ischemic heart disease

IIP implantable insulin pump

IM intramuscular

IMV intermittent mandatory

ventilation

INR international

normalization ratio

IPD intermittent peritoneal

dialysis

IPPB intermittent positive

pressure breathing

ITP immune

thrombocytopenic purpura

IV intravenous

IVF in vitro fertilization

IVP intravenous pyelography

J

JAMA Journal of the

American Medical Association

JVP jugular venous pressure

K 

K potassium

KCl potassium chloride

KI potassium iodide

KUB kidney, ureter, bladder

KVO keep vein open

L

L & A light and

accommodation

LAD left anterior descending

(artery)

LB large bowel

LDL low density lipoprotein

LE lupus erythematosus

LFTs liver function tests

LIJ left internal jugular

LLQ left lower quadrant

LMP last menstrual period

LP lumbar puncture

LSC left subclavian

LUQ left upper quadrant

M

MAP mean arterial pressure

MAR medication

administration record

MCL modified chest lead

MDI multiple daily vitamin

MI myocardial infarction

MLC midline catheter

MM mucous membrane

MoAbs monoclonal antibodies

MOM Milk of Magnesia

MRDD mental

retarded/developmentally

disabled

MRI magnetic resonance

imaging

MRM modified radical

mastectomy

MS multiple sclerosis,

morphine sulfate

N

Na sodium

NaCl sodium chloride

NED no evidence of disease

NICU neonatal intensive care

unit

NIDDM noninsulin dependent

diabetes mellitus

NKA no known allergies

NKDA non-ketotic diabetic

acidosis

NKMA no known medcation

allergies

NPD nightly peritoneal

dialysis

NPO nothing by mouth

NSAID nonsteroidal anti-

inflammatory drug

NTD neural tube defect

NV nausea & vomiting

NYD not yet diagnosed

O

OD right eye

OGTT oral glucose tolerance

test

ORIF open reduction internal

fixation

OS left eye

OU both eyes

P

PABA para-aminobenzoic

acid

pc after mealsPCA patient

controlled analgesia, posterior

communicating artery

PCN penicillin, primary care

nurse

PCV packed cell volume

PD peritoneal dialysis

PDA patent ductus arteriosus,

posterior descending artery

PDD pervasive development

disorder

PDR physician's desk 

reference

PEG percutaneous endoscopic

gastrostomy

PEJ percutaneous endoscopic

 jejunostomy

PERL pupils equal, react tolight

PERRLA pupils equal, round,

react to light, accommodation

PET positron emission

tomography

PFT pulmonary function test

PG prostaglandin

PH past history

PI present illness

PICC peripherally inserted

central venous catheter

PID pelvic inflammatory

disease

PMI point of maximal impulse

PNH paroxysmal nocturnal

hemoglobinuria

PO by mouth

PRBC packed red blood cells

PS pyloric stenosis

PSA prostate specific antigen

PT prothrombin time

PTT partial thromboplastin

time

PUD peptic ulcer disease

PVD peripheral vascular

disease

Px pneumothorax

Q

QD everyday

QID four times a day

qns quantity not sufficient

QOD every other day

qs quantity sufficient, quantity

required

R 

RA rheumatoid arthritis

RAD reactive airway disease

RAI radioactive iodine

RAIU radioactive iodine

uptake

RCA right coronary artery

RDW red cell distribution

width

REEDA redness, edema,

ecchymosis, drainage,

approximation

RHD rheumatic heart disease,

relative hepatic dullness

RIJ right internal jugular

RLQ right lower quadrant

RM respiratory movement

ROM range of motionROS review of systems

RSC right subclavian

RUQ right upper quadrant

Rx prescription, pharmacy

S

S/S signs & symptoms

SAB spontaneous abortion

SAST serum aspartate

aminotransferase

SB spina bifida

SBO small bowel obstruction

SGPT serum glutamic-pyruvictransaminase

SLE systemic lupus

erythematosus

SNF skilled nursing facility

SOB short(ness) of breath

SR sedimentation rate

SS social services

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STD sexually transmitted

disease

STH somatotropic hormone

STM short term memory

SUI stress urinary

incontinence

SVR systemic vascular

resistance

Sx symptoms

T

T3 triiodothyronine

T4 thyroxine

TBSA total body surface area

TCDB turn, cough, deep

breathe

TED (hose) thrombo-

embolism deterrent

TEP transesophageal

puncture

THR total hip replacement

TIA transient ischemic attack 

TIBC total iron binding

capacity

TID three times a day

TIL tumor infiltrating

lymphocytes

TKR total knee replacement

TNF tumor necrosis factor

TNM tumor, node, metastases

TNTC too numerous to

mention

TP tuberculin precipitation

TPN total parenteral nutrition

TTN transient tachypnea of 

the newborn

TTP thrombotic

thrombocytopenia purpura

TUPR trans-urethral prostatic

resection

TUR (or TURP) trans-

urethral resection of the

prostate

TWB touch weight bear

TWE tap water enema

Tx treatment, traction

U

UA urinalysis

UAO upper airway

obstruction

UBW usual body weight

UGI upper gastrointestinal

UPJ ureteropelvic junction

URI upper respiratory

infection

US ultrasonic

UTI urinary tract infection

UVJ ureterovesical junction

V

VA visual acuity

VBAC vaginal birth after

caeserean

VF/Vfib ventricular

fibrillation

VLDL very low density

lipoprotein

VMA vanillylmandelic acid

VSD ventricular septal defect

VT/Vtach ventricular

tachycardia

VW vessel wall

W

W/C wheelchair

WBC white blood cell

WD well developed

WHO World Health

Organization

WN well nourished

WNL within normal limits

X

Y

Z