Every hour (usually a reference to frequency of nursing observations required whilst an inpatient on the ward)
A
A & O
Alert and orientation
A and W
Alive and well
Abdo
Abdomen
ABG
Arterial blood gas
ABI
Acquired brain injury
AC
before meals
ACE
Angiotensin-converting enzyme
ACS
Acute coronary syndrome
ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
ADL
Activities of daily living (e.g. dressing, showering, eating, cooking etc)
ADM
Admission/Admitted
ADR
Adverse drug reaction
AH
Auditory hallucinations
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency disorder
AMA
Acute management area (another term for HDU)
AMU
Acute Medical Unit
ANUM
Associate nurse unit manager
AOB
Alcohol on breath
AOD
Alcohol or other drugs
ASA
Aspirin
ASAP
As soon as possible
Ax
Assessment
B
BAL
Blood alcohol level
BC
Birth control/ Biochemistry
BD
Twice a day
BM
Blood sugar/ Bowel movement
BD/ bid
Twice daily (medication frequency)
BIBA
Brought in by Ambulance
BIBP/F
Brought in by police/family
BMI
Body mass index
BP
Blood pressure
BPAD
Bipolar affective disorder
BPD
Borderline personality disorder
C
C
Celsius Unit
C/F
Chills/Fever
C/O
Complaining of
CA
Cancer
CAD
Coronary Artery Disease
CAP
Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Cap
Capsule
CAT team/ CATT
Crisis Assessment and Treatment team
CCF
Congestive cardiac failure
CCU
Community care unit
CDU
Clinical Decisions
CF
Cystic fibrosiscm
CLZ
Clozapine (anti-psychotic medication)
CM
Centimeter
COS
Close of shift
CP
Chest pain
CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CRCU
Community Residential Care Unit
CTT
Continuing care team (based at a community mental health service)
CV / CVS
Cardiovascular
CWM/CWT
Compliant with medication/compliant with treatment
CxR
Chest X-Ray
D
D/C
Discharge (from hospital, compulsory order)
D&A
Drugs and alcohol
Depot
Medication given by injection
DCCV
Direct Current Cardioversion
DO
Disorder
DOA
Date of admission/Date of arrival
DOB
Date of Birth
Dx
Diagnosis
Dynamic factors
Factors that can change
E
EBL
Estimated blood loss
ECG
Electrocardiograph
ECU
Extended care unit
ED
Emergency Department
EDC
Estimated date of confinement
EDD
Estimated date of discharge
EEG
Electroencephalogram
EKG
Electrocardiogram
ETA
Estimated time of arrival
EL / UEL
Escorted Leave / Unescorted Leave
EOL
End of Life
EPSE
(Extra-pyramidal) side effects
ETOH
Alcohol
F
F
Fahrenheit
F/- –
Fluoride application
Fa
Father
FB
Foreign body
FBC
Full Blood Count
FEP
First episode psychosis
Flexicare
Another term for a high dependency or intensive care unit
FTA
Failed to Attend
FTD
Formal Thought Disorder
G
g
Gram
Gfa
Grandfather
Gmo
Grandmother
GSW
Gun shot wound
H
h – 6
hourly/6
h
hour
H/O
History of
HA
Headache
HAP
Hospital Acquired Pneumonia
HAV
Hepatitis A virus
Hb
Haemoglobin
HCV
Hepatitis C virus
HD
Haemodialysis
HDU/HDAU
High dependency unit/ High dependency acute unit (usually a separate area of an acute unit with higher staff/patient ratios and lower stimulus)
HFpEF
Heart Failure with preserved ejection fraction
HFrEF
Heart Failure with reduced ejection fraction
HMO
Hospital medical officer (who may be the person’s treating doctor, under supervision of the authorised psychiatrist)
HOPC
History of presenting complaint
HR
Heart rate
HTN
Hypertension
HTO/TOHTO
Harm to others/thoughts of harm to others
Hx
History
I
I/D
Incision and drainage
I/O
Intake/ Output
IA
Intra-arteria
ICA
Intensive care area (another term for HDU)
ID
Intellectual disability
IM/IMI
Intra-muscular injection (also known as ‘depot’)
IR
Immediate release (medication)
IV
Intravenous
IVDU
Intravenous drug use
K
Kg
Kilogram
L
L/S BP
Lying/Standing BP
Lab
Laboratory
LAMA
Left against medical advice
LBP
Lower back pain
LDU
Low dependency unit
LOC
Loss of consciousness
M
Mane
Morning (refers to administration of medication)
MDE
Major depressive episode
mg
milligram
min
minute
ml
millilitre
mm hg
millimeter of mercury.
Mo
Mother
MSE
Mental state examination (including assessment of appearance, mood, thought content, behaviour, insight and judgement, and overall demeanour)
MST
Mobile support team
Mx
Medication
N
NAD
No abnormality detected / No acute distress
NaVa
Sodium Valproate
Nil FTD
No formal thought disorder
Nil PD
No perceptual Disturbances
NIDDM
non-insulin-dependent diabetes
Nocte
Nightly (refers to administration of medication)
NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
NUM
Nurse Unit Manager
O
OA
Osteoarthritis
OCP
Oral contraceptive pills
OD
Once a day
OOB
Out of bed
OPG
Orthopantomogram
OT
Occupational Therapy
P
P
Pulse
P+
positive
PA/PT
Patient
PARC
Prevention and recovery centre – residential unit in the community for short-term treatment – often a step-down from hospital
PE
Pulmonary embolism
PMH
Past medical history
PO
Per oral/orally
PPM
Permanent Pacemaker
PR
Pulse Rate
PRN
‘as needed’ (as distinct from a regular dose of medication)
Protective factors
Things which can reduce the likelihood of a negative outcome, e.g. by reducing risk
Pt
Patient
PT
Physiotherapy
Q
Q1h
Every hour
Q1m
Every month
Q1w
Every week
QDS/QID
4 times a day
R
RA
Rheumatoid arthritis
r/v
Review
RIB
Resting in bed
RPN
Registered psychiatric nurse
ROSC
Return of spontaneous circulation
Rx
Medical prescription
S
SAD
Schizoaffective disorder
Schx / Sz
Schizophrenia
SECU
Secure extended care unit – locked mental health inpatient unit which provides rehabilitation and treatment, often long-term
SI/SH/HTO/TOSHSI
Suicidal ideation/self-harm/harm to others/thoughts of self-harm and suicide
SLR
Straight Leg Raise
Sn
Seclusion
SNT
Soft, Non tender
SOB
Shortness of Breath
SOBOE
Shortness of breath on exertion
SRS
Supported residential service
Static factors
Factors that do not change
STEMI
ST elevation MI
SW
Social Worker
Sx
Symptoms
T
Tab
Tablet
TB
Tuberculosis
TBI
Traumatic brain injury
TDS
Three times daily (medication frequency)
THC
Cannabis/marijuana
TIA
Transient Ischaemic Attack
TLOC
Transient Loss of consciousness
Tx
Treatment
U
U/O
Urine output
UA
Urinalysis
UCC
Urgent Care Centre
UDS
Urine drug screen
UEL / EL
Unescorted leave / escorted leave
US/USG
Ultrasound
UTI
Urinary tract infection
V
VBG
Venous blood gas
VH
Visual hallucinations
Vs
Vital signs
VSS
Vital signs stable
W
w/o
Without
WNL
Within normal limits
X
XR
Extended release (medications)
Y
y/yrs
Year
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