NURS 105
Bawi Sung
MEDICAL ABBREVIATIONS CHART EXAMPLE
Common Medical Abbreviations
Abbreviation
Long Form
Definition
1
ICU
Intensive care unit
A separate part of the hospital that hosts
seriously ill patients
2
AMI
Acute myocardial
infarction
This means a heart attack
3
CMV
cytomegalovirus
A common virus
4
CHF
Congestive heart failure
When the heart doesn’t pump enough blood
5
ECG, EKG
Electrocardiogram
A test that measures the impulses of the heart
6
HIV
Human immunodeficiency
virus
A virus that can lead to aids
7
HGB
hemoglobin
Red blood cells that carry oxygen
8
IUD
Intrauterine device
A T shaped birth control device
9
HTN
hypertension
High blood pressure
10
IV
intravenous
Means within the veins, and is used to give
fluids into the body
11
MRI
Magnetic resonance
imaging
A imaging test that can see almost every
internal structure of the body
12
VS
Vital signs
A measurement of breathing rates, blood
pressure, body temp, and just basic overall
body functions.
13
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress
syndrome
A mental disorder that occurs after someone
goes through a life changing/traumatic life
event
14
PRN
As needed
This can be seen on prescriptions, and it
means to take the pill prescribed as needed or
when the symptoms occur
15
RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus
A virus effecting the respiratory tract that can
cause symptoms similar to the cold
16
UTI
Urinary tract infection
A bacterial infection that effects the urinary
tract
17
TSH
Thyroid stimulating
hormone
A pituitary hormone that stimulates production
of thyroxine that affects your metabolism
18
MMR
Measles, mumps, rubella
A common set of vaccines that prevent
diseases caused by these three viruses and is
required for children to get if enrolled in
school
19
EEG
electroencephalogram
Medical test to check someone’s brain to be
diagnosed with brain conditions
20
SOAP
Subjective,
Objective,Assessment,Plan
The method for documentation of patients
used by healthcare providers
NURS 105
Bawi Sung
Error Prone Abbreviations
Error prone
Abbreviation
Misinterpretation
Best Practice
Long Form
Definition
1
BT
BID (twice
daily)
At Bedtime
Bedtime
To take at bedtime
2
IJ
Mistaken for
“IV”
Injection
injection
Insertion
3
IN
Mistaken for IV
or intrajugular
Spell out
intranasal
Intranasal
inserting through the
nasal passage
4
OD
Mistaken as
“right eye” or
overdose
Daily
Once daily
Using a prescribed
medicine once a day
5
QHS
Mistaken for
every hour (QH)
Nightly
Nightly at
bedtime
Used a prescribed
medicine every night
6
Q1D
Mistaken for
four times daily
(q.i.d.)
daily
daily
Using a prescribed
medicine once a day
7
cc
“U” as in units
mL
Cubic
centimeters
Amount of dosage, 1
cc is equal to 1 mL
8
DC
discontinued
when talking
about
prescriptions
discharge
Discharge
When a doctor
releases someone
from the hospital
9
Q6PM
Mistaken as
every 6 hours
6 Pm Daily
Use daily at
6PM
Used in prescriptions
10
SSRI
Selective-
serotonin
reuptake
inhibitor
Sliding scale
Sliding scale
regular
insulin
Used to treat patients
with diabetes
NURS 105
Bawi Sung
References
Institute for Safe Medication Practices ISMP’s List of Error-Prone Abbreviations, Symbols, and
Dose Designations. (n.d.). https://www.ismp.org/sites/default/files/attachments/2017-
11/Error%20Prone%20Abbreviations%202015.pdf
National Library of Medicine. (2018). Appendix B: Some common abbreviations: MedlinePlus.
Medlineplus.gov. https://medlineplus.gov/appendixb.html
