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4: Abbreviations

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    150529

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    Learning Objectives

    By the end of this chapter, you should be able to

    1. Define abbreviations pertaining to patient medications
    2. Define abbreviations pertaining to patient activity and nutrition orders
    3. Define abbreviations pertaining to patient diseases and symptoms
    4. Define abbreviations pertaining to patient diagnostic tests and procedure orders
    5. Define abbreviations pertaining to laboratory obstetrical and psychiatric orders
    6. Describe the use of the 24-hour clock

    Abbreviations are commonplace in medical settings. Because of the possibility of errors, certain abbreviations are not allowed in some facilities, so it is important to review which abbreviations are, and are not, allowed in any medical setting you may find yourself working in. This chapter will provide a thorough overview of abbreviations, their meanings, and key concepts to consider when you see or use abbreviations in your future work setting. Although there are a number of abbreviations covered in this chapter, you may see others in your practice. This is especially true in more specialized settings and hospital units. The tables, pictures, exercises, and final chapter review will give you a solid foundation of knowledge about abbreviations. As you progress through future chapters in this book, you will see some of these abbreviations again as they relate to body systems, tests, and medical concepts.

    • 4.1: Activity and Nutrition Orders
      This page covers the importance of activity and nutrition orders in hospital settings, especially related to surgical care. It outlines mobility options and dietary protocols, including the use of abbreviations for clarity. For instance, patients might start as NPO after surgery, progressing to clear fluids and then to a regular diet as tolerated. Understanding these orders is essential for effective patient management.
    • 4.2: Diagnostic Tests
      This page provides an overview of various diagnostic test abbreviations in healthcare, including their meanings, purposes, and examples of test orders. It covers tests like auscultation and percussion, culture and sensitivity, fasting blood sugar, and coagulation tests such as prothrombin and partial thromboplastin time. The importance of understanding these abbreviations is emphasized, as small changes can significantly affect their interpretation.
    • 4.3: Procedures
      This page outlines common medical procedures and their abbreviations, serving as a foundation for further details in the textbook. It includes definitions of terms like abortion (AB), blood pressure (BP), and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Key concepts covered are catheterization, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), dilation and curettage (D&C), and the importance of vital signs.
    • 4.4: Medications and Medication Orders
      This page outlines the significance of understanding medication orders and their abbreviations in healthcare, as they enhance communication and safety in medication administration. It details key terms like "2/3-1/3," "D5W," "STAT," and "tid," alongside various types of orders, including scheduled and PRN.
    • 4.5: Diseases and Symptoms
      This page offers an overview of common abbreviations in healthcare related to diseases and symptoms, including Alzheimer's disease, cystic fibrosis, and delirium tremens. It explains their usage in medical orders and highlights key concepts like cerebral palsy and surgical procedures, such as open reduction internal fixation. Examples of diagnostic orders are provided to demonstrate the practical application of these terms in patient care.
    • 4.6: Obstetrics
      This page of the textbook focuses on essential abbreviations and concepts in obstetrics, including C-section, EDC, and FHR, alongside explanations and examples relevant to medical orders. It highlights significant topics such as postpartum depression and phenylketonuria testing, stressing their importance for maternal and newborn health. The aim is to improve understanding of critical terminology for healthcare providers in the field of obstetrics.
    • 4.7: Psychiatry
      This page covers common psychiatric abbreviations like ADHD, MDD, and CBT, explaining their meanings and relevance. It highlights Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), including symptoms, causes, and treatments. The content also features examples of psychiatric disorders to demonstrate the practical use of these terms in clinical practice.
    • 4.8: Common Medical Terms
      This page summarizes common medical abbreviations and their meanings, emphasizing the importance of context for accurate interpretation. Key terms and the roles of healthcare professionals are discussed. Additionally, it provides practical patient care instructions, such as weighing patients in a wheelchair and recording data in medical systems, while also referencing relevant resources and studies.
    • 4.9: 24-Hour Clock
      This page explains the 24-hour clock system used in healthcare to prevent time-related confusion, detailing how to read and record times from 0000 to 2400. It differentiates between morning and afternoon hours, provides examples, and introduces lowercase Roman numerals commonly used in medical orders. The page concludes with sample medication orders that illustrate the proper use of time notation and Roman numeral applications in medical contexts.
    • 4.10: Review Exercises
      This page highlights the significance of reviewing the entire chapter and final exercises to understand abbreviations and key concepts in Chapter 4, reinforcing comprehension of medical terminology as outlined by Carter and Rutherford.

    Attribution

    Unless otherwise indicated, material on this page has been adapted from the following resource:

    Carter, K., & Rutherford, M. (2020). Building a medical terminology foundation. eCampusOntario. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/medicalterminology/ licensed under CC BY 4.0

     

    This page titled 4: Abbreviations is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lisa Sturdy and Susanne Erickson via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.