| flexion | Bending of a joint |
| fowlers position | sitting straight up or slightly back |
| frank (blood) | Red (fresh) blood |
| FUO | Fever of unknown origin |
| FX | Fracture |
| GERD | Gastroesophageal reflux disease |
| g-tube | Gastrostomy tube |
| guaiac test | Guaiac fecal occult blood test |
| H&H | Hemoglobin & hematocrit |
| H&P | History & physical |
| H2O | Water |
| Hemovac | Surgical drain |
| high fowlers | Sitting upright |
| HOB | Head of bed |
| HR | Heart rate |
| HS/hs | Hour of sleep |
| ht | Height |
| HTN | Hypertension |
| HX/hx | History |
| I&D | Incision and drainage |
| I&O | Intake and output |
| I&O cath | Intermittent catheterization |
| ICU | Intensive care unit |
| IDDM | insulin dependent diabetes mellitus |
| IM | Intramuscular |
| impaction | Hard stool causing a blockage |
| incontinence | Inability to control bowel/bladder |
| IV | Intravenous |
| IVP | Intravenous pyelogram |
| JP | Jackson Pratt Drain |
| K | Potassium |
| KCL | Potassium chloride |
| L&D | Labor & delivery |
| L/lt | Left |
| L1 to L5 | lumber spine |
| labile | Unstable |
| lateral | Side |
| lateral rotation | Turning outwards |
| left lateral recumbent | Lying on left side |
| LLE | Left lower extremity |
| LLQ | Left lower quadrant |
| LOC | Loss of consciousness |
| log roll | to move as one |
| LP | Lumbar puncture |
| LUE | Left upper extremity |
| LUQ | Left upper quadrant |
| medial rotation | turn inwards |
| meds | Medication |
| MI | Myocardial infraction |
| mm | Millimeter |
| MN | Midnight |
| MRI | Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
| MRSA | Methicillin resistant staph aureus |
| N&V | Nausea and vomiting |
| Na/na | Sodium |
| necrotic | Dead tissue |
| neutropenia | low white blood cells |
| NG | Nasogastric |
| NGT | Nasogastric tube |
| NIDDM | Noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus |
| noc | Night |
| nosocomial | Hospital acquired infection |
| NPO | Nothing by mouth |
| NSAID | Non steroid anti-inflammatory drug |
| O&P | Ova & parasites |
| O2 | Oxygen |
| OB stool | Occult blood in stool/feces |
| occult | Hidden |
| OD | Right eye |
| oncology | Dealing with cancer |
| ORIF | Open reduction internal fixation |
| ortho | Orthopedic |
| orthopedic | Dealing with bones |
| orthostatic | Postural hypotension |
| OS | Left eye |
| ostomy | Surgical opening in abdomen |
| OU | Both eyes |
| P with a line on top | After |
| P&A | Percussion and auscultation |
| p.c. | After meals |
| P/PR | Pulse rate |
| PAR | Post anesthesia recovery unit |
| path. | Pathology |
| pc | After meal |
| PCA | Patient controlled analgesic |
| PDR | Physicians desk reference |
| PEG | percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy |
| perineum | Body inferior to the pelvic diaphragm and between the legs |
| ph | Hydrogen ion concentration |
| Pleural | Covering around the lungs |
| PO/po | By mouth/ per os |
| Pre-op. post-op | Before surgery/ after surgery |
| PRN | As needed |
| pronation | Palm facing down |
| prone | Lying face down |
| PT | Physical therapy |
| pt | Patient |
| PVD | Peripheral vascular disease |
| PVC | Premature ventricular contraction |
| q | Every |
