Abbreviations

Section 10

ABBREVIATIONS

A

@	at
a	before
aa	of each / equal parts
AAA or A.A.A	abdominal aortic aneurysm
AAOX4	awake, alert and oriented (person, place, time and event)
ab	abortion
Abd.	abdomen
ABG’s	arterial blood gases
ABR	absolute bed rest
a.c.	before meals
AC	antecubital
ACE	angiotensin-converting enzyme
ACF	antecubital fossa
ACLS	advanced cardiac life support
ACT	air care team
ACTH	adrenocorticotrophic hormone
A&D	admission and discharge
ADA	American Diabetes Association
ADL	activities of daily living
ad lib	as desired
AED	automated external defibrillator
A-Fib	atrial fibrillation
A-Flutter	atrial flutter
AgNO3	silver nitrate
AIDS	acquired immune deficiency syndrome
AKA	also known as / above the knee amputation
A-Line	arterial line
ALS	advanced life support
A.M., am	morning hours, i.e., before noon
A.M.A., AMA	against medical advice / American Medical Association
Amb.	ambulatory
AMI	acute myocardial infarction
Amp.	ampule
amt.	amount
anes.	anesthesia
Angio	angiography/angiogram
ant.	anterior
AOS	arrived on scene
AP, A.P., appe	appendectomy
A/P	anterior/posterior
APAP	acetaminophen
APE	acute pulmonary edema
APGAR	appearance, pulse, grimace, activity and respiratory effort
APH	Arnold Palmer Hospital
A.P.& L.	anterior, posterior and lateral
approx.	approximately
Aq.	aqueous
aqua	water or H2O
ARB	Angiotensin receptor blocker
ARC	AIDS-related complex
ARDS	acute respiratory distress syndrome
ARNP	advanced registered nurse practitioner
ASA	aspirin (acetyl salicylic acid)
ASAP	as soon as possible
ASHD	arteriosclerotic heart disease
ASPD	Altamonte Springs Police Department
assist.	assistance
A-Tach	atrial tachycardia
A/V	atrioventricular

B

BAL	blood alcohol level
BBB	bundle branch block
BBS	bilateral breath sounds
BCFD	Brevard County Fire Department
BCP	birth control pills
BCSO	Brevard County Sheriff¡¦s Office
B.E.	barium enema
B/F	black female
B.I.D.	twice per day
BKA	below the knee amputation
Bicarb	Sodium Bicarbonate
bilat	bilateral
bkfst	breakfast
Bld.	blood
BLS	basic life support
B.M.	bowel movement
B/M	black male
B.P., B/P	blood pressure
BR	bath room
b.r.	bed rest
B.R.P.	bathroom privileges
B.S., BS, B/S	blood sugar/breath sounds/bowel sounds
BSA	body surface area
BSN	Bachelor's of Science in Nursing
BUN	blood urea nitrogen
BVM	bag valve mask
Bx	biopsy

C

c	with
C	centigrade / Celsius
C1, C2, C3	cervical vertebrae
CA	cancer
Ca	calcium
CaCL	calcium chloride
CAD	coronary artery disease
cap	capsule
Cap. Ref.	capillary refill
caps	capsules
cath	catheterization
CATH	catheter
CBC, cbc	complete blood count
C.B.R.	complete bedrest
cc	cubic centimeter
CC, c/c	chief complaint
C-collar	cervical collar
CCU	coronary care unit / critical care unit
CDC	Center for Disease Control
CHF	congestive heart failure
CHO	carbohydrate
CID	cervical immobilization device
cm	centimeters
cmpd	compound
CNS	central nervous system
c/o	complains of
CO	carbon monoxide
C.O.	cardiac output
CO2	carbon dioxide
cont.	continuous
COPD,	COLD chronic obstructive lung disease
C.P., C/P	chest pain
CPD	Casselberry Police Department
CPR	cardiopulmonary resuscitation
creat	creatinine
C-section	cesarean section
CSF	cerebral spinal fluid
CSM	circulation, sensation and movement
C-spine	cervical spine
CT scan	computerized axial tomography
CUPS	Critical, unstable, potentially unstable and stable
CVA	cerebral vascular accident
CVP	central venous pressure
CXR	chest X-ray
cysto	cystoscopy

D

D5W	dextrose 5% in water
D10W	dextrose 10% in water
D15W	dextrose 15% in water
D50	dextrose 50% in water
DAT	diet as tolerated
D/C	discontinue / discharge
D&C	dilatation and curettage
defib	defibrillate
dig.	digoxin
dist.	distilled
DNR	do not resuscitate
D.O.	doctor of osteopathic medicine
DOA	dead on arrival
DOB	date of birth
DOE	dyspnea on exertion
Dr.	doctor
drsg., dsg	dressing
DTs	delirium tremens
Dx	diagnosis
DDx or Diff Dx	differential diagnosis

E

EBL	estimated blood loss
ECG, EKG	electrocardiogram
ECHO	echogram (cardiogram or encephalo)
ED, E.D.	emergency department
EEG	electroencephalogram
EENT	eyes, ears, nose, throat
EGD	esophagogastroduodenoscopy
EJ	external jugular
EKG, ECG	electrocardiogram
EMG	electromyogram
EMT	emergency medical technician
EMS	emergency medical services
emul.	emulsion
ENT	ears, nose, throat
EPD	Eatonville Police Department
epi	epinephrine
EPS	extra pyramidal symptoms
ER	emergency room
E&R	equal and reactive
esp.	especially
ET, ETT	endotracheal tube
ETA	estimated time of arrival
etc.	etcetera
ETD	estimated time of departure
etiol.	etiology
ETOH	ethyl alcohol
EVAC	Volusia County EMS Service
exam	examination
exp	expiratory
ext	external

F

F.	Fahrenheit
F., F,	Fem female
FBS	fasting blood sugar
Fe	iron
FF, F.F.	forced feeding / forced fluids
FHA	Florida Hospital Altamonte
FHAP	Florida Hospital Apopka
FHE	Florida Hospital East
FHWP	Florida Hospital Winter Park
FHO	Florida Hospital Orlando
FHP	Florida Highway Patrol
FHT	fetal heart tones
fib	fibrillation / fibula
fl, fld.	fluid
FOB	foreign object/body
FROM	full range of motion
Ft.	feet
FUO	fever unknown origin
fx.	fracture

G

G	gravida
gm	gram
ga	gauge
gal	gallon
GB	gallbladder
GBD	gallbladder disease
GCS	Glasgow coma scale
GE	gastroenterology
gen.	general
GI	gastrointestinal
gluc	glucose
G.P.	general practitioner
gr.	grain
GSW	gunshot wound
gtt.	drops
G.T.T.	glucose tolerance test
GU	genitourinary
GYN	gynecology

H

H2O	water
H2O2	hydrogen peroxide
H/A, H.A.	headache / heated aerosol
HBD	has been drinking
HBO	Hyperbaric Oxygen
HCH	Health Central Hospital
Hct	hematocrit
HCTZ	hydrochlorothiazide
HEENT	head, ears, eyes, nose, throat
H/F	Hispanic female
H/M	Hispanic male
Hgb.	hemoglobin
HIV	human immune deficiency virus
HazMat	hazardous materials
HOB	head of bed
Hosp.	hospital
H&P	history and physical
Hr., hr., h. (°+)	hour
HR	heart rate
H.S.	hour of sleep
HSV	herpes simplex virus
ht	height
HTN	hypertension
Hx	history
hyper	above / high
hypo	below / low

I

IBS	irritable bowel syndrome
ICM	intercostal margin
ICP	intracranial pressure
ICS	intercostal space
ICU	intensive care unit
I&D	incision and drainage
IDDM	insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
IM	intramuscular
IN	intranasal
Immob.	immobilized
In, in.	inch
I.S.	incentive spirometry
info	information
insp	inspiratory
Int.	internal
IO	intraosseous
I&O	intake and output
IPPB	intermittent positive pressure breathing
Irreg.	irregular
irrig.	irrigation
Isol.	isolation
IU	international units
IUD	intrauterine device
IV	intravenous
IVP, I.V.P.	intravenous pyelogram / intravenous push
IVPB	intravenous piggy back

J

J	joules
jt.	joint
JVD	jugular vein distension

K

K+	potassium
KCL	potassium chloride
KED	Kendrick’s extrication device
Kg	kilogram
Km	kilometers
KUB	kidneys, ureter, bladder
KVO	keep vein open

L

L	left
L	liter
LA	left arm
Lab	laboratory
lac	laceration
LAC, LA/C	left antecubital
LBB	long backboard
lbs	pounds
LCFD	Lake County Fire Department
LCSO	Lake County Sheriff’s Office
L&D	labor and delivery
LFD	Longwood Fire Department
Lido	lidocaine
LLAQ	left lower abdominal quadrant
LLE	left lower extremity
LLL	left lower lobe
LLQ	left lower quadrant
LLR	left lateral recumbent
LMFD	Lake Mary Fire Department
LMP	last menstrual period
LMPD	Lake Mary Police Department
LOC	loss of consciousness / level of consciousness
LP.	lumbar puncture
LPD	Longwood Police Department
lpm	liters per minute
LPN, L.P.N.	licensed practical nurse
LR, RL	lactated ringers / ringers lactate
L.S.	lung sounds
LSD	lysergic acid diethylamide
L-spine	lumbar spine
L/S	spine lumbar sacral spine
Lt, (L)	left
LUAQ	left upper abdominal quadrant
LUE	left upper extremity
LUL	left upper lobe
LUQ	left upper quadrant

M

M.	meter
M	male
MAE	moves all extremities
MAO	monoamine oxidase
MAST	military anti-shock trousers / medical anti-shock trousers
mcg., µg.	microgram
MCL	modified chest lead
MD, M.D.	doctor of medicine
ME	medical examiner
meas	measure
Mec	meconium
med, meds	medicine / medications
med.	medium
meq, mEq	milliequivalents
MFD	Maitland Fire Department
mg., mgm	milligram
Mg/Dl	milligrams per deciliter
MI	myocardial infarction
min	minute
ml	milliliter
mm	millimeter
mmHg	millimeter of mercury
mn	midnight
M/O	month old
MOI	mechanism of injury
mos	months
MPD	Maitland Police Department
MRI	magnetic resonance imaging
MS, MSO4	morphine sulfate
MSN	Master’s of Science in Nursing
MVA	motor vehicle accident
MVC	motor vehicle crash

N

Na	sodium
N.A.	nursing assistant
NA, N/A	not applicable
NaCl	sodium chloride
NAD	no acute distress
NaHCO3	sodium bicarbonate
N.C., N/C	nasal cannula
Neg., Θ	negative
NEURO	neurological
n/g, ng.	nasogastric tube
N.G.T.	nasogastric tube
NIDDM	non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
NKA, NKDA	no known allergies / no known drug allergies
No.	number
NO2	nitrous oxide
NP	nurse practitioner
NPO	nothing per os (mouth)
NRM, NRB	non-rebreather mask
NS	normal saline (.9%)
NSAID	non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
NSG, Nsg	nursing
NSR	normal sinus rhythm
NTG, nitro	nitroglycerine
n/v,	N&V nausea and vomiting
N/V	neuro/vascular
NVD	nausea, vomiting and diarrhea

O

O2	oxygen
OB	obstetrics
OBS	organic brain syndrome
occ.	occasionally
OCFRD	Orange County Fire Rescue Division
OCSO	Orange County Sheriff’s Office
(OD), od, o.d.	right eye / overdose
OFD	Oviedo or Orlando Fire Department
oint.	ointment
OOB, o.o.b.	out of bed
O.P.	outpatient
OPA	oralpharyngeal airway
OPD	Oviedo or Orlando Police Department
OPD, O.P.D.	outpatient department
OR	operating room
ORHS	Orlando Regional Healthcare System (ORMC)
ORIF	open reduction internal fixation or orifice
ORMC	Orlando Regional Medical Center
ortho.	orthopedics
o.s., (OS)	left eye
O.T.	occupational therapy
(OU), o.u.	both eyes
Ox3	oriented to person, place and time
oz.	ounce

P

p	after / post
P	pulse
PA	physician’s assistant / pulmonary artery
PAC	premature atrial contraction
palp	palpation
PALS	pediatric advanced life support
PaO2	pressure of arterial oxygen
PARA	number of pregnancies
PASG	pneumatic antishock garment
PAT	paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
Path.	pathology
Pb	lead
p.c.	after meals
PCA	patient controlled analgesia
PCN	penicillin
PCP	pneumocystitis carinii pneumonia / phencyclidine
PCU	progressive care unit
P Edema	pulmonary edema
P Emb or P Embolies	pulmonary embolus
PEA	pulseless electrical activity
PEARL, PERL	pupils equal and reactive to light
peds.	pediatrics
PEEP	positive end expiratory pressure
PENRL	pupils equal and non-reactive to light
per	by / through
PERRL	pupils equal reactive responsive to light
PID	pelvic inflammatory disease
PJC	premature junctional contraction
P.M., pm	afternoon
PMH	past medical history
PM	paramedic
PMS	premenstrual syndrome
PND	paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
po, PO per os	(mouth) / oral intake
POC	position of comfort
pos,⊕	positive
post.	posterior
post-op	post-operative
POV	privately owned vehicle
p.p., PP	post prandial
PP	postpartum (after delivery)
PPBS	post prandial blood sugar
PPD	purified protein derivative (TB test)
PR, pr	per rectum
pre	before
pre-op	before surgery
pre op spec	(urine) specimen before surgery
prep.	preparation
P.R.N., prn	pro re nata (as needed)
prog.	prognosis
PROM	passive range of motion / premature rupture of membranes
PSVT	paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
pt	patient
P.T.	physical therapy or medicine
PTA	prior to admission / prior to arrival
PTCA	percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
PUD	peptic ulcer disease
PVC	premature ventricular contraction
PVR	peripheral vascular resistance
PVT	paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia

Q

q.	every
QAM, qam	every morning
qd	every day
qh	every hour
q2h	every two hours
q3h	every three hours
q4h	every four hours
q_h	every (blank) hours
QHS, qhs	every night at bedtime
qid, QID	four times a day
qod, QOD	every other day
qt.	quart

R

R, ®	right
R	rectal / respirations
RA	right arm
R/AC	right antecubital
REMT	registered emergency medical technician
REMT-P	registered emergency medical technician-paramedic
resp	respirations
RL	ringers lactate
RLAQ	right lower abdominal quadrant
RLE	right lower extremity
RLL	right lower lobe
RLQ	right lower quadrant
RLR	right lateral recumbent
RM, rm	room
RMA	Rural Metro Ambulance
RML	right middle lobe
R.N.	registered nurse
R/O	rule out
ROM	range of motion/movement
ROSC	return of spontaneous circulation
Rt., (R)	right
R.T.	respiratory therapist
RUAQ	right upper abdominal quadrant
RUE	right upper extremity
RUQ	right upper quadrant
RVR	rapid ventricular response
Rx	prescription / treatment / therapy

S

s	without
SAT	saturation
SBAR	Situation, background, assessment and recommendation
s.c., Subq, subcut, SQ	subcutaneous
SCFD	Seminole County EMS/Fire/Rescue Division
SCHD	Seminole County Health Department
SCSO	Seminole County Sheriff’s Office
SFD	Sanford Fire Department
SIDS	sudden infant death syndrome
sl	sublingual / slight
SNF	skilled nursing facility
SOB	shortness of breath
sol.	solution
sos	rescue or help needed
S/P	status post
sp. gr., S/G	specific gravity
SPD	Sanford Police Department
spec.	specimen
S-spine	sacral spine
SQ	subcutaneous
SR	sinus rhythm
S/S	signs and symptoms
SSCH	South Seminole Community Hospital
staph	staphylococcus
stat, STAT	immediately
STD	sexually transmitted disease
subq	subcutaneous
supp.	suppository
SURG	surgical
SVT	supraventricular tachycardia
SW	stab wound / sterile water
Sx	symptoms
Sz	seizure

T

T.,	temp temperature
T&A	tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
tab.	tablet
Tach	tachycardia
TAH	total abdominal hysterectomy
TB	tuberculosis
TBSA	total body surface area
Tbsp.	tablespoon
TCA	tricyclic antidepressant
TCP	transcutaneous pacemaker
TENS	transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
THR	total hip replacement
TIA	transient ischemic attack
tib	tibia
TID	three times per day
TKO	to keep open
TLC	tender loving care
T/O	telephone order
Torr	millimeters mercury (mmHg)
T.P.R.	temperature pulse respiration
trach.	tracheostomy
tsp.	teaspoon
T-spine	thoracic spine
T.U.R.	transurethral resection
T.U.R.P.	transurethral resection prostatectomy
T.V.	tidal volume
Tx.	treatment

U

U., u.	unit
UA, U/A	urinalysis
uncon.	unconscious
UND	undetermined
ung	ointment
unilat	unilateral
unkn, UNK	unknown
Unrem.	unremarkable
ur spec	urine specimen
URI, URTI	upper respiratory tract infection
USN	ultrasonic nebulizer
UTI	urinary tract infection
UV	umbilical vein / ultraviolet

V

vag	vaginal
VCFD	Volusia County Fire Department
VCSO	Volusia County Sheriff’s Office
V.D., vd	venereal disease
VDRL	venereal disease research lab
VF, V-Fib	ventricular fibrillation
V/O, v.o.	verbal order
vol	volume
vs., VS	vital signs
VT, V-Tach	ventricular tachycardia

W

w/a	while awake
w/b	weight bearing
WBC,W.B.C.	white blood count
wc., w/c	wheelchair
W/D	warm and dry
W/F	white female
W/M	white male
WNL	within normal limits
W/O	without
WPFD	Winter Park Fire Department
WPH	Winnie Palmer Hospital
WPMH	Winter Park Memorial Hospital
WPPD	Winter Park Police Department
WPW	Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
WSFD	Winter Springs Fire Department
WSPD	Winter Springs Police Department
wt.	weight

Y

Y/O, y.o.	years of age / years old
yr	year

OTHER SYMBOLS

>	greater than
<	less than
=	equal to
≠	not equal to
↑	increasing
↓	decreasing
1°	primary, first degree
2°	secondary, second degree
3°	tertiary, third degree
≥	greater than or equal to
≤	less than or equal to
Δ	change
≅	approximately equal to
~	approximately
≈	equivalent to
±	plus or minus
α	alpha
Β	beta
c	with
s	without
♂	male
♀	female
ø	none
μ	micro (1/1,000,000)
@	at
a	before
p	without