Common Medical Abbreviations

One of the most challenging tasks facing an EMT student is learning the language of medicine.
If this wasnt difficult enough, medicine also uses a large number of medical abbreviations.
If EMTs want to communicate more effectively they must understand medical abbreviations.
Many EMTs find report writing is easier when they can use abbreviations, but it is vital to make
sure the abbreviations used are used correctly and commonly understood. Poor documentation
can make the smartest EMT look foolish.
This is not a comprehensive list of abbreviations, but rather a guide to help get the EMT started
on their journey into the language of medicine.

Abbreviation
a
AED
a.c.
ASA
AMA
AMI
ASHD
b.i.d.
BP
BS
BVM
c/o
Ca
cc
CC
CHF
CO
COPD
CPR
CSF
CVA
CXR
d/c
DM
DOA
DOB
Dx
ECG, EKG

Created: 01/02

Meaning
Before
Automated External Defibrillator
Before meals
Aspirin
Against medical advice
Acute myocardial infarction
Arteriosclerotic heart disease
Twice a day
Blood pressure
Breath sounds, bowel sounds, or blood sugar
Bag-valve- mask
Complaining of
Cancer/carcinoma
Cubic centimeter
Chief Complaint
Congestive heart failure
Carbon monoxide
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema,
chronic bronchitis)
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrovascular accident
Chest X-ray
Discontinue
Diabetes mellitus
Dead on arrival
Date of birth
Diagnosis
Electrocardiogram

e.g.
ETA
ETOH
Fx
GI
GSW
gtt.
GU
GYN
h, hr.
H/A
HEENT
Hg
h/o
hs
HTN
Hx
ICP
ICU
IM
IO
JVD
KVO
L
LAC
LOC
LR
mcg
MS
NAD
NC
NKA
npo
NRB
NS
NSR
NTG
N/V
O2
OB
OD
OR
PCN
PEA
PERL
Created: 01/02

For example
Estimated time of arrival
Alcohol (ethanol)
Fracture
Gastrointestinal
Gun shot wound
Drop
Genitourinary
Gynecologic
Hour
Headache
Head, ears, eyes, nose, throat
Mercury
History of
At bedtime
Hypertension
History
Intracranial pressure
Intensive Care Unit
Intramuscular
Intraosseous
Jugular venous distension
Keep vein open
Left or Liter
Laceration
Level of consciousness
Lactated Ringers solution
Micrograms
Morphine sulphate, multiple sclerosis
No apparent dis tress
Nasal cannula
No known allergies
Nothing by mouth
Non-rebreather mask
Normal saline
Normal sinus rhythm
Nitroglycerin
Nausea / vomiting
Oxygen
Obstetrics
Overdose
Operating room
Penicillin
Pulseless electrical activity
Pupils equal and reactive to light
2

PID
PND
po
PRN
PSVT
Pt
PTA
PVC
q.h.
q.i.d.
R
r/o
Rx or Tx
SIDS
SOB
stat.
SVT
TIA
t.i.d.
TKO
V.S.
x
w/o or s
WNL
y/o or y.o.

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
By mouth
As needed
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
Patient
Prior to arrival
Premature ventricular contraction
Every hour
Four times a day
Right
Rule out
Treatment
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Shortness of breath
immediately
Supraventricular tachycardia
Transient ischemic attack
Three times a day
To keep open
Vital signs
Times
without
Within normal limits
Years old
change
Positive
Negative

For fun, you may want to translate this report from medicine into English:
67 y/o male c/o chest pain and SOB x 2 h. Pain is severe (8 out of 10), centered under sternum,
and radiates to the L arm and jaw. Pain woke patient from sleep, and is w/o with movement or
breathing. Pt. has a h/o ASHD, MI 1/15/01, HTN, and DM. Meds include ASA, insulin, lasix,
and lisinopril. Allergic to PCN.
On exam pt is A+O x 4, diaphoretic, and anxious.
HEENT: PERL
Neck: JVD, positive use of accessory muscles
Chest: BS crackles at bases, + retractions
Abdomen: soft, non-tender
Extremities: edema/clubbing/cyanosis

Created: 01/02

Assessment: r/o chest pain of cardiac origin

Plan: oxygen (15L NRB), IV NS TKO, cardiac monitor, monitor V.S., transport position of
comfort, NTG x 3 and MS 2 mg IV with decrease in pain from an 8 to a 3, ASA deferred as
patient had a dose today.

Created: 01/02