flexion | Bending of a joint |
fowlers position | sitting straight up or slightly back |
frank (blood) | Red (fresh) blood |
FUO | Fever of unknown origin |
FX | Fracture |
GERD | Gastroesophageal reflux disease |
g-tube | Gastrostomy tube |
guaiac test | Guaiac fecal occult blood test |
H&H | Hemoglobin & hematocrit |
H&P | History & physical |
H2O | Water |
Hemovac | Surgical drain |
high fowlers | Sitting upright |
HOB | Head of bed |
HR | Heart rate |
HS/hs | Hour of sleep |
ht | Height |
HTN | Hypertension |
HX/hx | History |
I&D | Incision and drainage |
I&O | Intake and output |
I&O cath | Intermittent catheterization |
ICU | Intensive care unit |
IDDM | insulin dependent diabetes mellitus |
IM | Intramuscular |
impaction | Hard stool causing a blockage |
incontinence | Inability to control bowel/bladder |
IV | Intravenous |
IVP | Intravenous pyelogram |
JP | Jackson Pratt Drain |
K | Potassium |
KCL | Potassium chloride |
L&D | Labor & delivery |
L/lt | Left |
L1 to L5 | lumber spine |
labile | Unstable |
lateral | Side |
lateral rotation | Turning outwards |
left lateral recumbent | Lying on left side |
LLE | Left lower extremity |
LLQ | Left lower quadrant |
LOC | Loss of consciousness |
log roll | to move as one |
LP | Lumbar puncture |
LUE | Left upper extremity |
LUQ | Left upper quadrant |
medial rotation | turn inwards |
meds | Medication |
MI | Myocardial infraction |
mm | Millimeter |
MN | Midnight |
MRI | Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
MRSA | Methicillin resistant staph aureus |
N&V | Nausea and vomiting |
Na/na | Sodium |
necrotic | Dead tissue |
neutropenia | low white blood cells |
NG | Nasogastric |
NGT | Nasogastric tube |
NIDDM | Noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus |
noc | Night |
nosocomial | Hospital acquired infection |
NPO | Nothing by mouth |
NSAID | Non steroid anti-inflammatory drug |
O&P | Ova & parasites |
O2 | Oxygen |
OB stool | Occult blood in stool/feces |
occult | Hidden |
OD | Right eye |
oncology | Dealing with cancer |
ORIF | Open reduction internal fixation |
ortho | Orthopedic |
orthopedic | Dealing with bones |
orthostatic | Postural hypotension |
OS | Left eye |
ostomy | Surgical opening in abdomen |
OU | Both eyes |
P with a line on top | After |
P&A | Percussion and auscultation |
p.c. | After meals |
P/PR | Pulse rate |
PAR | Post anesthesia recovery unit |
path. | Pathology |
pc | After meal |
PCA | Patient controlled analgesic |
PDR | Physicians desk reference |
PEG | percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy |
perineum | Body inferior to the pelvic diaphragm and between the legs |
ph | Hydrogen ion concentration |
Pleural | Covering around the lungs |
PO/po | By mouth/ per os |
Pre-op. post-op | Before surgery/ after surgery |
PRN | As needed |
pronation | Palm facing down |
prone | Lying face down |
PT | Physical therapy |
pt | Patient |
PVD | Peripheral vascular disease |
PVC | Premature ventricular contraction |
q | Every |