Medical abbreviations
Have you ever looked at your medical records or prescriptions and wondered what all those abbreviations mean?
Abbreviations are commonly used in healthcare settings to save doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals time and space whilst filling out medical records.
In this short guide, we will explain some of the most common abbreviations to help you make sense of your medical records or prescriptions.
At The Good Care Group, we recognise the importance of proper medication management for individuals receiving care and their families. The best way to feel confident that your loved one’s medication is being properly managed is through daily monitoring.
Contact our friendly team to learn how our dedicated live-in care services can improve your loved one’s quality of life through proper medication management, 24/7 support and specialist medical expertise for complex conditions.
Why are there so many medical abbreviations?
Doctors, nurses and pharmacists see a large number of patients each day. Medical abbreviations provide a short-hand way of conveying important information such as how and when a medication should be taken.
Using abbreviations can save healthcare professionals valuable space and time whilst writing patients’ medical records or prescriptions. Abbreviations also help eliminate errors due to unclear handwriting, typos or misspellings.
What do medical abbreviations on prescriptions mean?
The following abbreviations are somes of the most commonly used in the UK, and are usually in Latin. QDS for example stands for ‘quater die sumendum’ which means ‘to be taken four times a day’. Other common abbreviations that may appear on a prescription (also known as Rx) are:
OD – to be taken once a day
BD – to be taken twice a day
TDS – to be taken three times a day
Mane – morning
Nocte – night
MD – as directed
What are some common medical abbreviations?
Please note that this information is provided as guidance only. Medical staff may sometimes use the same abbreviations to mean different things. If you are ever confused about the abbreviations that appear on your medical records or prescriptions, it is best to contact your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
| # | broken bone (fracture) |
| A&E | accident and emergency |
| a.c. | before meals |
| AF | atrial fibrillation |
| BMI | body mass index |
| BNO | bowels not open |
| BO | bowels open |
| BP | blood pressure |
| c/c | chief complaint |
| CMHN | community mental health nurse |
| CPN | community psychiatric nurse |
| CSF | cerebrospinal fluid |
| CSU | catheter stream urine sample |
| CT scan | computerised tomography scan |
| CVP | central venous pressure |
| CXR | chest X-ray |
| DNACPR | do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
| DNAR | do not attempt resuscitation |
| DNR | do not resuscitate |
| DVT | deep vein thrombosis |
| Dx | diagnosis |
| ECG | electrocardiogram |
| ED | emergency department |
| EEG | electroencephalogram |
| EMU | early morning urine sample |
| EUA | examination under anaesthetic |
| FBC | full blood count (a type of blood test) |
| FY1 FY2 | foundation level doctor |
| GA | general anaesthetic |
| h., h | hour |
| h/o | history of |
| HCA | healthcare assistant |
| HCSW | healthcare support worker |
| HDL | high-density lipoprotein (a type of cholesterol) |
| Ht | height |
| Hx | history |
| i | 1one tablet |
| ii | two2 tablets |
| iii | three3 tablets |
| i.m., IM | injection into a muscle |
| i.v., IV | injection directly to a vein |
| IVI | intravenous infusion |
| Ix | investigations |
| LA | local anaesthetic |
| LDL | low-density lipoprotein (a type of cholesterol) |
| LMP | last menstrual period |
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
| MRI | magnetic resonance imaging |
| n.p.o., npo, NPO | nothing by mouth / not by oral administration |
| NAD | nothing abnormal discovered |
| NAI | non-accidental injury |
| NBM | nil by mouth |
| NoF | neck of femur |
| NSAID | non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug |
| o/e | on examination |
| OT | occupational therapist |
| p.c. | after food |
| PO | orally / by mouth / oral administration |
| p.r., pr, PR | rectally |
| p.r.n., prn, PRN | as needed |
| p/c | presenting complaint |
| physio | physiotherapist |
| PU | passed urine |
| q. | every |
| q.s., qs | a sufficient quantity (enough) |
| RN | registered nurse |
| RMN | registered mental health nurse |
| RNLD | learning disability nurse |
| RTA | road traffic accident |
| s.c., SC | injection under the skin |
| S/R | sustained release |
| stat. | immediately, with no delay, now |
| TCI | to come in |
| TFT | thyroid function test |
| TPR | temperature, pulse and respiration |
| TTO | to take out (usually medication to take home) |
| U&E | urea and electrolytes |
| u.d., ud | as directed |
| UTI | urinary tract infection |
| Wt | weight |
Talk to us about your care needs
To talk about your care needs, contact one of our friendly advisors. Calls from landlines are free.
