ADL

Activities of Daily Living

UA

Urinalysis

q

Every

ex: per every so many hours

D/C

Discontinue

ex: Orders for PT are D/C

LOA

Leave Of Absence

MOM

Milk Of Magnesia

VO

Verbal Order

Fever

Elevated Tempature

ex: In ear or mouth read over 100°F 

In rectal reads over 101°F

PO

By Mouth

ex: take temp PO every night before bed

Tympanic

In Ear

ex: take temp tympanic every night before bed

G-tube

Gastrostomy Tube

ex: a tube that is inserted through the abdomen that delivers nutrition directly to the stomach

Bilateral

Both Sides

ex: having or relating to two sides; affecting both sides

Cerumen

Earwax

Dyspnea

Shortness of Breath

Difficulty or labored breathing

IM

Intramuscular

ex: intramuscular injection is a technique used to deliver a medication deep into the muscles

C\O

Complaint Of

ex: patient c\o head rush while getting dressed

SOB

Shortness Of Breath

ex: patient is SOB while speaking 

HOB

Head OF Bed

ex: orders to leave patient's HOB in 30° angle while sleeping

N/G

Nasogastric

ex: a nasogastric tube is passed to the stomach via the nose

PPD

Purified Protine Derivative

ex: tuberculin syringe is used to give this shot for screening of teberculosis

PRN

As Needed

ex: take medication every 4 hours PRN for pain

Sputum

A Mixure of Saliva and Mucus

ex: patient has coughed up sputum from the respiratory tract, so a sample will be sent down to the lab

Dieresis

Excessive Excretion of Urine

ex: occurs in conditions such as diabetes, renal failure, diuretic drugs or coffee, water, ect.

Mediastinum

Midway in the Central Cavity

ex: pertaining to a median septum or space between two parts of the body, such as the interval between the pleural sacs

Pleural

Pleural cavity is the fluid-filled space between the two visceral and parietal of the Lungs

ADM

Admission, admitted

AMA

Against Medical Advice

ex: patient needed to stay admitted to the er but they left the hospital AMA 

DNR

Do Not Resuscitate

H&P

History and Physical examination

HR

Heart Rate

or

Hour

ICU

Intensive Care Unit

IP

InPatient

MG

Miligram

ML

Milliliter

NKDA

No Know Drug Allergies

PCP

Primary Care Physician

RF

Risk Factor

STAT

Immediately

TPR

Temperature, Pulse, Resperation

VS

and

VSS

Vital Signs

and

Vital Signs Stable

WNL

With in Normal Limits

ex: patients VS were WNL

qhs

At Bedtime

q2h

and

q4h

Every 3 Hours

and 

Every 4 Hours

ex: take medication PRN q4h for pain