Nursing Abbreviations

There are hundreds of acronyms and abbreviations used by nurses, doctors, and institutions. Most schools have their future nurses buy, as one of their textbooks, a dictionary of nursing abbreviations.

Examples of Nursing Acronyms and Abbreviations

Following are some of the most common nursing abbreviations.

Abd: Abdomen
A&D: Admission and discharge
ADL: Activities of daily living
amb: Ambulatory, able to walk
amt: Amount
AP: Appendectomy
Cath: Catheter
CBC: Complete blood count
CCU: Cardiac care unit/ coronary care unit
CBR: Complete bed rest
C/O: Complaint of
CVA: Cerebrovascular accident or stroke
CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
dc or d/c: Discontinue
DX: Diagnosis

More Common Nursing Abbreviations

ECG: Electrocardiogram
EEG: Electroencephalogram
FBS: Fasting blood sugar
FF: Forced feeding or forced fluids
Fx: Fracture
GI: Gastrointestinal
Gtt: Glucose tolerance test
Gyn: Gynecology
HOB: Head of bed
ICU: Intensive care unit
I&O: Intake and output
Isol: Isolation
IV: Intravenous
noct: At night
NPO: Nothing by mouth
PAR: Postanesthesia room
po: By mouth
post op spec: After surgery urine specimen
Pt: Patient; pint
Rom: Range of motion
SOB: Shortness of breath
Stat: At once, immediately
TPR: Temperature, pulse, respiration
U/A: Urinalysis
VS: Vital signs
w/c: Wheel chair

The History of Nursing

Now that you know some of the common nursing abbreviations, you might want to know when and how nursing got started. The word “nursing” originates with the Latin word “nutrire” and means “to nourish.” There were nurses as early as the 3rd century BC, when men tended to patients and physicians treated wounds and performed surgery. It was not until the 19th century that nursing became to be a recognized profession. During that time, training was offered people to take care of patients with a doctor’s supervision. In the 1800s, women nurses brought respect and honor to a profession that soon came into its own.

Nurses of Note

Florence Nightingale was born into a wealthy family and felt she was called by God to be a nurse. This news was not well-received by her family, because nursing back then was not much better than being a maid. She influenced the profession in many ways, including proper cleanliness of hospitals, establishing a medical college, and writing textbooks and manuals to educate students and the public in general.

A famous quote of Florence is, “Apprehension, uncertainty, waiting, expectation, fear of surprise, do a patient more harm than any exertion.” About unsanitary conditions in hospitals, she said, “It may seem a strange principle to enunciate as the very first requirement in a hospital that it should do the sick no harm.”

Clara Barton was a hard-working nurse in the American Civil War who organized the donation and distribution of supplies and actually went behind enemy lines to care for the wounded. She established the American Red Cross in 1881 after a trip to Europe, where she observed the International Red Cross in action.

Clara once said, “I have an almost complete disregard of precedent, and a faith in the possibility of something better. It irritates me to be told how things have always been done. I defy the tyranny of precedent. I go for anything new that might improve the past.” Another quote is “I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and fight, I can stand and feed and nurse them.”

Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first African-American nurse. She graduated in 1879 and paved the way for other women of color to become nurses. She was also a co-founder of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses which began in 1908.

Duties of Registered Nurses

Of all the healthcare jobs, registered nurses make up the largest group. There are around 2.6 million RNs with 60 percent of them working in hospitals. Their jobs include treating patients, educating people about various medical conditions, and providing emotional support to patients and their families.

They have to record symptoms, medical information, and test results. They also administer tests, medications and assist with rehabilitation. Registered nurses work with the families of patients and explain the patient’s needs including exercise and dietary restrictions and nutrition. Other than hospitals, you can find registered nurses helping with blood drives, in nursing homes, running certain kinds of clinics, and educating the public.

Nursing Abbreviations