Nursing Abbreviations

• ABC: airway, breathing, circulation
• abd.: abdomen
• ac: before meals
• ADL: Activities of daily living
• amt.: amount
• aq.: water
• BCG: bacille calmette-guerin
• BLS: basic life support
• bid: two times a day
• BP: blood pressure
• BSA: body surface area
• BUN: blood, urea, nitrogen
• Ca: Calcium
• CA: Cancer
• caps: capsules
• cal: calories
• cbc: complete blood count
• cc: chief complaint
• cl: chloride
• cm: centimeter
• CNS: central nervous system
• cont: continuous
• COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• cva: cerebrovascular accident
• CVA: costovestebral angle
• CPM: continuous pasisve motion
• RT: related to
• ROM: range of motions
• qid: 4 times a day
• CVC: central venous catheter
• cvp: central venous pressure
• dc: discontinue
• dil.: dilute
• DKA: diabetic ketaocidosis
• DM: diabetes mellitus
• Dx: diagnosis
• ECF: extra cellular fluid
• ECG or EKG: electrocardiogram
• ED: emergency department
• ENT: ears, nose, throat