List of Nursing Abbreviations

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a assessment
a or AB abortion or miscarriage
a or ART artery
A&E accident and emergency
A&P auscultation and percussion
A&W alive and well
a.c. before meals (Lat. ante cenam)
a.f.g.f. acidic fibroblast growth factor
a.k. above knee
a.p. before dinner
A.S.A. American Society of Anesthesiologists
A.S.A. 1 normal healthy patient
A.S.A. 2 patient with mild systemic disease
A.S.A. 3 patient with severe systemic disease
A.S.A. 4 patient with incapacitating systemic disease that is constant threat to life
A.Z. Ascheim-Zondek test
A/B acid/base ratio
A/BE acid/base equilibrium
A/G albumin globulin ratio
A/O alert and oriented
A2 aortic second sound
AA affected area
aa equal part of each
AAA abdominal aortic aneurysm
AAL acute lymphoblastic leukemia - anterior axillary line
AAROM active assisted range of motion
AASP acute atrophic spinal paralysis
AAU acute anterior uveitis
AB Ace Bandage - active bilaterally
ab antibody
AB or abd abdominal
Abb abbreviations
ABC absolute basophil count
abd. abdomen - abduction - abductor
ABE activity before exercise - acute bacterial endocarditis
ABG arterial blood gas
ABN abnormal - active bulimia nervosa - acute bacterial nephritis
ABP arterial blood pressure
abs absent
ABW actual body weight
Ac acute
AC anterior chamber
acc accident
Acc.Inc. accidentally incurred
Acc.Inj. accidental injury
accom. accommodation
ACE angiotensin converting enzyme
ACEI angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
ACh Acetylcholine
AChR Acetylcholine receptor
ACL anterior cruciate ligament
ACM acute cerebrospinal meningitis
ACM or APAP acetaminophen (paracetamol)
ACNP acute care nurse practitioner
ACOP approved code of practice
Acous acoustic
Acr acrylic
ACS acute cervical sprain
Act actinomycin
ACT active motion - anesthesia care team
act activity
Act-C actinomycin C
Act-D actinomycin D
ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone
ACVD acute cardiovascular disease
AD advance directive - Alzheimer's disease - right ear (Lat. auris dexter)
ad lib as desired - at liberty
ADD Attention Deficit Disorder
ADH antidiruetic hormone (vasopressin)
ADHD Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder
ADL activities of daily living
ADM acquired dermal melanocytosis - arginine-deficient medium
adm. admission
ADR adverse drug reaction
AE above elbow
AEA above elbow amputation
AF afebrile
AF or Afib atrial fibrillation
AFB acid fast bacilli
AFO ankle-foot orthosis
AFP alpha fetoprotein
AGA appropriate gestational age
AgNO3 silver nitrate
AH abdominal hysterectomy
AHCD acquired hepatocellular degeneration
AHD acquired hepatocerebral degeneration
AHF Argentinian hemorrhagic fever
aI active ingredient
AI Adequate Intake - aortic insufficiency - articulation index
AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
AIDS-KS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with Kaposi's sarcoma
AJ ankle jerk
AKA above knee amputation
aka alcoholic ketoacidosis
alb. albumin
alc. alcohol
alkPhos alkaline phosphate
ALL acute lymphocytic/lymphoblastic leukemia
ALS amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
ALT alanine aminotransferase (formerly SGPT) - alternating with
AM before noon (Lat. ante meridiem)
AMA against medical advice
amb. ambulating - ambulatory
AMD age-related macular degeneration
AMI acute myocardial infarction
AML acute myeloid/myeloblastic leukemia
amnio amniocentesis
amp. ampule - amputation
ANA see FANA antinuclear antibody test
anes. anesthesia
ANF antinuclear factor
ann. fib. annulus fibrosis
ANS autonomic nervous system
ant. anterior
ANUG acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
Anxty or ANX anxiety
AO aorta
AOB alcohol on breath
AODM adult onset diabetes mellitus
AP acid phosphatase - active pepsin - ante partum
A-P anteroposterior
AP res. abdominal perineal resection of the rectum
A-P&lat or AP&L anteroposterior and lateral
APC atrial premature contractions
aph aphasia
aq. water
AR active-resistance - aortic regurgitation
ARC AIDS Related Complex
ARD acute respiratory distress
ARDS adult respiratory distress syndrome
ARE active-resistance exercise
ARF acute respiratory failure - acute rheumatic fever
Arg. arginine
AROM active range of motion - artificial rupture of membranes
art arterial - articulation
AS aortic stenosis - left ear (Lat. Auris sinistra)
ASA aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)
ASAP as soon as possible
ASC or ATS arteriosclerosis
ASCVD atherosclerotic/arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease
ASD atrial septal defect
ASHD arteriosclerotic heart disease
ASO antistreptolysin O
AST aspartate aminotransferase (formerly SGOT) - aspartate transaminase
AT Achilles tendon
at. flut. atrial flutter
ATN acute tubular necrosis
ATNR asymmetrical tonic neck reflex
ATP adenosine triphosphate
ATR Achilles tendon reflex
ATT arginine tolerance test
AU according to custom (Lat. ad usum) - both ears (Lat. auris unitas)
aud. auditory
Aur. Fib auricular fibrillation
AV aortic valve - atrioventricular
AV or AvV atrioventricular valves
AVD aortic valve disease
AVE aortic valve echocardiogram
AVF arteriovenous fistula
AVHS acquired valvular heart syndrome
AVO aortic valve opening
AVp arginine vasopressin
AVR aortic valve replacement
AVS aortic valve stenosis
AVt arginine vasotocin
AW able to work - above waist
Ax. axial - axilla - axillary
AXR abdominal X-ray

[AngelGorgz]

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 examination
BT bowel tones
BUN blood urea nitrogen
B.A. Bachelor of Arts
B.S. Bachelor of Science
B.S.N. Bachelor of Science in Nursing

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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 count
CBD      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 tomography
CVA cerebral vascular accident, costovertebral angle
CVP central venous pressure
CX cancel, cervix
CXR chest x-ray
CDA Certified Dental Assistant
CLS Clinical Laboratory Scientist
CLT Clinical Laboratory Technician
CMA Certified Medical Assistant
CNMT Certified Nuclear Medical Technologist
COTA Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
CRTT Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician

[AngelGorgz]

DAT diet as tolerated
DC (dc) discontinue
DCCT Diabetes Control and Complication Trials
DEX (DXT) blood sugar
DIC disseminated intravascular coagulation
DKA diabetic ketoacidosis
DNA deoxyribonucleic acid
DNR do not resuscitate
DTR deep tendon reflex
DVT deep vein thrombosis
DX diagnosis
D.M.D Doctor of Dental Medicine
DDS Doctor of Dental Surgery
DVM Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

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EBV Epstein-Barr Virus
ECF extracellular fluid, extended care facility
EENT eye, ear, nose and throat
EMC ensephalomyocarditis
EMG electromyogram
ERCP endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
ESRD end stage renal disease
ET endotracheal tube
EMT-B Emergency Medical Technician-Basic
EMT-I Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate
EMT-P Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic

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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
FNP Family Nurse Practitioner

[AngelGorgz]

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

[AngelGorgz]

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

[AngelGorgz]

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
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

[AngelGorgz]

JAMA      Journal of the American Medical Association
JVP        jugular venous pressure