a p p e n d i x

Commonly Used Abbreviations and Acronyms

SYMBOLS
<

>

less than
equal to or less than
more than
equal to or more than
plus or minus
degree

WORDS
ADL
AHCPR
AIDS
ANA
AMA
BP
bpm
cal
CBC
CDC
CHO
CO2
CPR
CT
CVC
dL
ECG
EEG
EMG
EOMs
g
GI
HIV
JCAHO
I&O
ICN

activities of daily living

Agency for Health Care Policy and
Research
acquired immune deficiency syndrome
American Nurses Association
against medical advice; or American
Medical Association
blood pressure
beats per minute
calorie
complete blood count
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
carbohydrate
carbon dioxide
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
computed tomography (also CAT)
central venous catheter
deciliter (100 mL)
electrocardiogram (also EKG)
electroencephalogram
electromyography
extraocular movements
gram
gastrointestinal
human immunodeficiency virus
Joint Commission on Accreditation of
Healthcare Organizations
intake and output
International Council of Nurses

IM
IV
IVP
IVPB
kcal
kg
L
LPN

intramuscular
intravenous
IV push
IV piggyback
kilocalorie
kilogram (1000 g)
liter
licensed practical nurse (also LVN,
licensed vocational nurse)
MAR
medication administration record
mEq
milliequivalent
mg
milligram (one-thousandth g)
mL
milliliter (one-thousandth L)
mm Hg
millimeters of mercury
mph
miles per hour
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
NANDA
North American Nursing Diagnosis
Association
NAPNES
National Association for Practical
Nurse Education and Service
NCLEX-PN National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses
NCLEX-RN National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses
NEX
nose, earlobe, xiphoid process
NKA
no known allergies
NLN
National League for Nursing
NPO
nil per os, nothing by mouth
NREM
nonrapid eye movement (sleep phase)
NSS
normal saline solution
NWB
nonweight bearing
O2
oxygen
OTC
over the counter (eg, nonprescription)
PACU
postanesthesia care unit
PaCO2
partial pressure of carbon dioxide; that
which is dissolved in plasma
PaO2
partial pressure of oxygen; that which
is dissolved in plasma
PCA
patient-controlled analgesia
PEG
percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
PEJ
percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy
PERRLA
pupils equally round and respond to
light and accommodation
845

846
PET
pH
PICC
PPN
PWB
QA
RBC
REM
RN
R/O

APPENDIX D Commonly Used Abbreviations and Acronyms

positron emission tomography

degree of acidity or alkalinity
peripherally inserted central catheter
peripheral parenteral nutrition
partial weight bearing
quality assurance
red blood cell
rapid eye movement (sleep phase)
registered nurse
rule out; either confirm or eliminate

ROM
SAD
SaO2
SNF
SSE
TPN
TPR
WBC
WHO

range of motion
seasonal affective disorder
oxygen saturation; percent of hemoglobin molecules saturated with oxygen
skilled nursing facility
soap suds enema
total parenteral nutrition
temperature, pulse, and respirations
white blood cell
World Health Organization