Medical Abbreviations

Using index cards, make flashcards of each abbreviation. Put the abbreviation on one side and the meaning on the other. You will be tested on these at the end of the course.

Restorative

ROM - Range of Motion the capability of a joint to go through its complete spectrum of movement

AROM - Active Range of Motion resident actively performs motion themselves

PROM - Passive Range of Motion someone assists the resident to perform motion

w/c - wheelchair

Time

ac - before meals

pc - after meals

q - every

HS - hours of sleep bedtime

BID - two times a day bi means two

TID - three times a day tri means three

QID - four times a day quad means four

Medical Conditions

CHF - Congestive Heart Failure edema & SOA

COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease lung disease most often caused by smoking

CVA - Cerebral Vascular Disease stroke (blockage of blood in brain)

DM - Diabetes Mellitus

HTN - Hypertension high blood pressure

MI - Miocardial Infarction heart attack

Vital Signs

VS - Vital Signs – blood pressure, pulse, respirations, oxygen, temperature

BP - Blood Pressure

Hyper - above normal

Hypo - below normal

ap - apical pulse

ax - axillary – armpit

t - temporal – forehead

ty - tympanic – ear (considered most accurate)

o - oral – mouth

r - rectal – rectum

Other

ADL - Activities of Daily Living

c/o - complains of

d/c - discontinue

LTC - Long Term Care

PO - by mouth

NPO - nothing by mouth

OOB - out of building

PPE - Personal Protective Equipment – gowns, gloves, masks, etc.

RACE - Rescue Alert Contain Evacuate – in case of fire

SOB - short of breath

PRN - as needed

I & O - intake and output

oz - ounces

ml - milliliters

O2 - oxygen

IV - intravenous