3 Communication Skills 6 Understand basic medical terminology

3 Communication Skills 6. Understand basic medical terminology and abbreviations REMEMBER: Abbreviations help healthcare workers communicate more efficiently, and many abbreviations are used in healthcare. Two examples of a common medical abbreviations are BP for blood pressure and temp for temperature.

3 Communication Skills Handout 3 -2: Abbreviations a before AAROM active-assistive range of motion abdomen ABR absolute bedrest ac, a. c. before meals AD Alzheimer’s disease ADC AIDS dementia complex ad lib as desired admission ADLs activities of daily living AED automated external defribrillator AHA American Heart Association AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome AIIR airborne infection isolation room AKA above-knee amputation, also known as am, AM morning AMA against medical advice, American Medical Association ambulate, ambulatory AMD age-related macular degeneration amt. amount ANS autonomic nervous system anterior a. p. /AP apical pulse approximately AROM active range of motion ASAP as soon as possible assistance as tolerated A, T, D admission, transfer, and discharge ax axillary BID, b. i. d. two times a day

3 Communication Skills Handout 3 -2: Abbreviations (cont'd) BKA below-knee amputation bld blood BLS basic life support BM bowel movement BP, B/P blood pressure BPH benign prostatic hypertrophy BPM beats per minute BR bedrest BRP bathroom privileges BSC bedside commode BSE breast self examination C centigrade, Celsius c with Ca/CA calcium, cancer, carcinoma CAD coronary artery disease calorie catheter CBC complete blood count CBI continuous bladder irrigation CBR CCMS CDC CDE C. diff CEP CEU CHD CHF chol ck cl liq cm CMS CNA CNP complete bedrest clean-catch midstream Centers for Disease Control and Prevention certified diabetes educator clostridium difficile competency evaluation (testing) programs continuing education unit coronary heart disease congestive heart failure cholesterol check clear liquid centimeter Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services certified nursing assistant certified nurse practitioner

3 Communication Skills Handout 3 -2: Abbreviations (cont'd) CNS c/o CO 2 COLD COPD CP CPM CPR CRF C. S. CSF CVA CVP CVS CXR DAT DJD central nervous system complains of, in care of carbon dioxide chronic obstructive lung disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cerebral palsy continuous passive motion cardiopulmonary resuscitation chronic renal failure Central Supply cerebrospinal fluid cerebrovascular accident, stroke central venous pressure cardiovascular system chest x-ray diet as tolerated degenerative joint disease DKA DM DNR DO DOA DOB DON Dr. DRG drsg DVT Dx/dx ECG/EKG ED EENT e. g. EMS ER ESRD diabetic ketoacidosis diabetes mellitus do not resuscitate doctor of osteopathy dead on arrival date of birth director of nursing doctor diagnostic related group dressing deep vein thrombosis diagnosis electrocardiogram emergency department eye, ear, nose and throat for example emergency medical services emergency room end-stage renal disease

3 Communication Skills Handout 3 -2: Abbreviations (cont'd) et al. ETOH exam F FBS FDA Fe FF FH fld FS FSBS ft F/U, f/u FUO FWB fx FYI GAD gal and other things alcohol examination Fahrenheit, female fasting blood sugar Food and Drug Administration iron force fluids family history fluid fingerstick blood sugar foot follow-up fever of unknown origin full weight-bearing fracture for your information generalized anxiety disorder gallon GB GERD gallbladder gastroesophageal reflux disease geri chair geriatric chair GI gastrointestinal GP general practitioner Gm, gm gram GSW gunshot wound GTT glucose tolerance test GU genitourinary GYN/gyn gynecology h, hr. hour H 20 water H 20 2 hydrogen peroxide H/A headache HAART highly active anti-retroviral therapy H&P history and physical HAV hepatitis A virus HBV hepatitis B virus

3 Communication Skills Handout 3 -2: Abbreviations (cont'd) HCV HDV HEV Hg HHA Hi-cal HIPAA hepatitis C virus hepatitis D virus hepatitis E virus mercury home health aide high calorie Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act HIV human immunodeficiency virus HMO health maintenance organization HOB head of bed HOH hard of hearing HPV human papillomavirus HS/hs hours of sleep ht height HTN hypertension H. U. C. Health Unit Coordinator Hx history hyper hypo I&D I&O IBD IBS ICU ID i. e. IICU IM in inc inf IQ Irr/irrig isol I. V. , IV K above normal, too fast, rapid low, less than normal incision and drainage intake and output irritable bowel disease irritable bowel syndrome intensive care unit identification that is intermediate intensive care unit intramuscular inch incontinent inferior intelligence quotient irrigation isolation intravenous potassium

3 Communication Skills Handout 3 -2: Abbreviations (cont'd) kg KS l, L L, lt lab lb LBP LE lg liq LLE LLQ LOC kilogram Kaposi’s sarcoma liter left laboratory pound low back pain lower extremity large liquid left lower extremity left lower quadrant level of consciousness, level of care Low-cal low-calorie Low-fat/ low-fat, low-calorie Low-cal Low-Na low-sodium LPN Licensed Practical Nurse LTCF LUQ LVN M. D. MD MDROs MDR-TB MDS meds mg MI min m. L mm mm Hg MO mod long-term care facility left upper quadrant Licensed Vocational Nurse medical doctor muscular dystrophy multidrug-resistant organisms multidrug resistant tuberculosis minimum data set medications milligram myocardial infarction minute milliliter millimeters of mercury microorganism moderate

3 Communication Skills Handout 3 -2: Abbreviations (cont'd) MRI MRSA magnetic resonance imaging methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus MS multiple sclerosis MSDs musculoskeletal disorders MSDS material safety data sheet MSW medical social worker MUFA monounsaturated fat MVA motor vehicle accident Na sodium N/A not applicable NA nursing assistant Na. Cl sodium chloride NAS no added salt NATCEP Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program N/C no complaints, no call NCS no concentrated sweets negative NF nursing facility NG, ng nasogastric NIBP non-invasive blood pressure monitoring NKA no known allergies NKDA no known drug allergies no number noc night NPO nothing by mouth NVD nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea NWB non-weight-bearing O 2 oxygen O&P ova and parasites OB obstetrics ob/gyn obstetrics and gynecology OBRA Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act occasionally

3 Communication Skills Handout 3 -2: Abbreviations (cont'd) OCD OD O. D. OG OOB OPD O. R. ord. ORIF ortho os O. S. OSHA OT OTC O. U. oz obsessive-compulsive disorder overdose right eye orogastric out of bed outpatient department operating room orderly, ordered open reduction, internal fixation orthopedics mouth left eye Occupational Safety and Health Administration occupational therapist, occupational therapy over-the-counter (medication) both eyes ounce P P. A. PAD pc, p. c. PCA PDR PE Peds/ peds PEG after physician’s assistant peripheral artery disease after meals patient-controlled anesthesia Physician’s Desk Reference pulmonary embolism pediatrics percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy peri care perineal care per os by mouth PET positron emission tomography p. H parts hydrogen PH past history PHI protected health information phy. ex. physical exam

3 Communication Skills Handout 3 -2: Abbreviations (cont'd) PID PM/pm PMH PNS PO post op PPD pelvic inflammatory disease afternoon past medical history peripheral nervous system (per os) by mouth positive after surgery purified protein derivative (test for tuberculosis) PPE personal protective equipment pre op before surgery preparation p. r. n. / when necessary prn progress PROM passive range of motion Pt/pt patient pt. pint PT physical therapist, physical therapy PTH PTSD PUFA PVD PWB q q 2 h, q 3 h, q 4 h QA qam Q&A qd qh, qhr qhs q. o. d. qt. quad R R, rt. parathyroid hormone post-traumatic stress disorder polyunsaturated fat peripheral vascular disease partial weight-bearing every two hours, every three hours, every four hours quality assurance every morning questions and answers every day every hour every night at bedtime every other day quart quadrant, quadriplegic respirations, rectal right

3 Communication Skills Handout 3 -2: Abbreviations (cont'd) RA RBC RDT reg. rehab REM req. resp. RF RLE RLQ RN RNA R/O ROM RR RT rheumatoid arthritis red blood cell registered dietician regular rehabilitation rapid eye movement requisition resident respiration restrict fluids right lower extremity right lower quadrant registered nurse restorative nursing assistant rule out range of motion respiratory rate respiratory therapy/therapist RUE RUQ Rx s S&A S&S, S/S s. c. SCA SCDs right upper extremity right upper quadrant prescription, treatment without sugar and acetone signs and symptoms subcutaneously sudden cardiac arrest sequential compression devices SIDS sudden infant death syndrome sl sublingually SLE systemic lupus erythematosis SLP speech-language pathologist sm. small SNAFU situation normal, all fouled up (slang) SNF skilled nursing facility SNS somatic nervous system

3 Communication Skills Handout 3 -2: Abbreviations (cont'd) SOB SP S. P. D. shortness of breath Standard Precautions Supply, Processing and Distribution spec. Specimen ss one-half SSE soapsuds enema ST. standard, speech therapy staphylococcus STAT/stat immediately Std prec Standard Precautions STDs sexually-transmitted diseases STIs sexually-transmitted infections streptococcus suppository surg. Surgery T. , temperature TB tuberculosis tbsp. T, C, DB tablespoon turn, cough, and deep breathe THR total hip replacement TIA transient ischemic attack t. i. d. , tid three times a day TKR total knee replacement TLC tender loving care TPN total parenteral nutrition T. P. R. temperature, pulse, and respiration tracheostomy tsp. teaspoon TWE tap water enema Tx/tx traction, treatment U/A, u/a urinalysis UE upper extremity UGI upper gastrointestinal UNK, unknown

3 Communication Skills Handout 3 -2: Abbreviations (cont'd) URI US USDA upper respiratory infection ultrasound United States Department of Agriculture UTI urinary tract infection vaginal VAP ventilator-acquired pneumonia VD venereal disease VRE vancomycin-resistant enterococcus VS, vs vital signs W/A, WA while awake WBC white blood cell/count w/c wheelchair WNL within normal limits wt. weight yr. year