Nursing Acceptable Abbreviations (Georgia Gwinnett College)
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Before (ante)
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ā
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Before Meals
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āc
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Abdominal Aortic Aneurism, Acute Anxiety Attack
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AAA
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ALL DUE TO BRAIN DAMAGE: Aphasia (loss of verbal language skills), Agnosia (unable to intepret sensations), Apraxia (unable to perform purposeful actions), Agraphia (Loss of written Language Skills), Alexia (Loss of the ability to read)
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AAAAA
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Angiotensin- Converting Enzyme
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ACE
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Advanced Cardiac Life Support
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ACLS
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Admitting Diagnosis
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AD
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Antidiuretic Hormone
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ADH
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Activities of Daily Life
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ADL
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as desired
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ad lib
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Abdominal Hysterectomy
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AH
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Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease
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AHD
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Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
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AIDS
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Above the knee
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AK
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Above the knee amputation
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AKA
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Against Medical Advice
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AMA
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Acute Myocardial Infarction
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AMI
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Advanced nurse practitioner
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ANP
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AIDS-related complex
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ARC
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Acute Renal Failure
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ARF
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Acute Respiratory Infection
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ARI
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Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
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ARDS
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arterial
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art
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acute tubular necrosis
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ATN
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Aspirin
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ASA
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Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease
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ASCVD
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auscultation ( listening to sounds from the heart, lungs, or other organs, typically with a stethoscope)
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Aus©
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Alive and Well
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A&W
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Blood Glucose
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BG
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twice daily
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bid
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bilateral
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Bil or Bilat
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Below Knee
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BK
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Below Knee Amputation
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BKA
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Both Lower Extremities
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BLE
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Bowel Movement; Bone Marrow
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BM (2 Acceptable)
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Because Of
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B/O
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bolus
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bol
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Blood Pressure Bathroom Privileges Bedpan
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BP (3 acceptable)
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Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
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BPH
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Bronchoscopy, Bronchoscope
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Bronch (2 acceptable)
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Blood sugar
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BS
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Body Surface Area
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BSA
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Bachelor of Science in Nursing
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BSN
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Cancer, Carcinoma
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CA (2 acceptable)
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Coronary Artery Bypass
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CAB
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Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
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CABG
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Coronary Artery Disease
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CAD
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Computerized Axial Tomography
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CAT
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catheter, catheterize
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cath (2 acceptable)
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Chief Complaint, Complications and co-morbidities
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CC (2 acceptable)
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Critical Care Registered Nurse
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CCRN
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Cardiac Care Unit, Coronary Care Unit
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CCU (2 acceptable)
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Continuing Education Unit
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CEU
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Cardiac (coronary) Intensive Care Unit
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CICU
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Congestive Heart Failure
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CHF
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Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis
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CAPD
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Chronic Kidney Disease
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CKD
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Charge Nurse
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CN
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Certified Nuse-midwife; Clinical Nurse Manager
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CNM (2 acceptable)
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Certified Nutrition Support Nurse
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CNSN
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
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COPD
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Chest Pain
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CP
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Continuous (constant) Positive Airway Pressure
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CPAP
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Chronic Renal Failure
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CRF
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Cerebrospinal Fluid
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CSF
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Cerebrovascular Accident
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CVA
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Cardiovascular Disease
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CVD
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Chest X-Ray
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CXR
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Diet As Tolerated
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DAT
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Discontinue
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DC, dc
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Discharge
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D/C (Unacceptable abbreviation)
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Differential Diagnosis
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DD
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lying down (Decubitis)
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decub
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Diabetes Mellitus
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DM
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Do Not Resuscitate
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DNR
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Date of Birth
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DOB
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Date of Admission
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DOA
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Dyspnea(Shortness of breath) On Exertion
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DOE
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Director Of Nurses
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DON
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Decubitus Ulcer (Pressure Ulcer)
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Decub
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Diagnosis Related Group
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DRG
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Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
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DSM
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Delirium Tremens (a psychotic condition typical of withdrawal in chronic alcoholics, involving tremors, hallucinations, anxiety, and disorientation.)
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DT
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Deep Vein Thrombosis
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DVT
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Distilled Water; Dry Weight
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DW
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Diagnosis
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Dx
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Estimated Blood Loss
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EBL
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Enteric Coated
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EC
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Extended Care Facility
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ECF
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Echocardiogram
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Echo
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Escherichia coli
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E coli
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Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
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ECMO
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Extracellular Volume
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ECV
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Extracellular Water
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ECW
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Emergency Department
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ED
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Estimated Date of Confinement
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EDC
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edentulous (Lacking teeth)
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edent
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Electroencephalogram
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EEG
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Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat
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EENT
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End Expiratory Pressure
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EEP
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Ejection Fraction
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EF
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Essential Fatty Acids
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EFA
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Estimated Gestational Age
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EGA
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enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (immunological testing)
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ELISA
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Enteral Nutrition
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EN
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Explanation of Medical Benefits
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EOMB
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Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure
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EPAP
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Epinephrine
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EPI
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Erythropoietin
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EPO
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Extrapyramidal Symptoms
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EPS
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End Stage Liver Disease
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ESLD
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End Stage Renal Disease
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ESRD
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Endotracheal Tube
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ET
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Etiology
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Etiol
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Ethyl Alcohol (Ethanol, the kind you get drunk off of)
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ETOH
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Expired
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Exp
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Female
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F
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Fasting Blood Glucose
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FBG
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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
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FAS
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Fasting Blood Sugar
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FBS
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Foot of Bed
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FOB
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Full-Term Nursery
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FTN
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Failure To Progress
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FTP
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Failure To Thrive
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FTT
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Follow-up
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F/O
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Fever of Undetermined Origin
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FUO
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Fracture
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Fx
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gutassociated lymphoid tissue
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GALT
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Gallbladder
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GB
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Gallbladder Disease
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GBD
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Gallbladder Series
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GBS
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Gonococcus
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GC
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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
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GERD
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Glomerular Filtration Rate
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GFR
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Gastrointestinal
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GI
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gravida (total number of pregnancies a woman has had, regardless of outcome)
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G
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Gun Shot Wound
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GSW
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Gastric Ulcer
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GU
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Headache
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HA
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Bicarbonate
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HCO3
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Hydrochlorothiazide
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HCTZ
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Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn
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HDN
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Hemodialysis
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HD
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Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat
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HEENT
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hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body), hemiplegic
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hemi (2 Acceptable)
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Hiatial Hernia
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HH
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Hyperglycemic Hyperosomolar nonketotic Syndrome
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HHNKS
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Head Injury
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HI
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Human Immunodeficiency Virus
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HIV
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Hearing Loss
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HL
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Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
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HLHS
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Head and Neck
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H&N
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History and Physical
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H&P
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History Of
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H/O; h/o
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Head Of Bed
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HOB
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Hard of Hearing
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HOH
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Heart Rate
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HR
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bedtime
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hs
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Hypertension
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Htn
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History
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Hx
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease
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IBD
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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IBS
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Intracellular Water
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ICW
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Impaired Glucose Tolerance
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IGT
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Ischemic Heart Disease
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IHD
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Isoniazid
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INH
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Intake and Output
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I&O
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Intrauterine Growth Retardation
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IUGR
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Intravenous pyelography; Intravenous Push
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IVP (2 Acceptable)
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Intravenous Piggyback
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IVPB
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Interventricular Septal Defect
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ISVD
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Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
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JCAHO
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Potassium
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K
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Potassium Chloride
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KCl
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Infant Warming Bed
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KDC
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Kidney Liver Spleen
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KLS
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Keep Vein Open (IV rate of usually 25 cc/hr with NS of D5W)
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KVO
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Kidney, Ureter, Bladder
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KUB
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laporotomy
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lap
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Low Birth Weight
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LBW
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Licensed Clinical Social Worker
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LCSW
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Lower Esophageal Sphincter
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LES
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Liver Function Tests
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LFT
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Large for Gestational Age
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LGA
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Lower Left Quadrant
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LLQ
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Last Menstrual Period
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LMP
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Acceptable: Level of Consciousness Unacceptable: Laxative of Choice
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LOC (1 acceptable, 1 unacceptable)
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Length of Stay
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LOS
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Lumbar Puncture
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LP
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Lactated Ringers
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LR
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Lower Right Quadrant
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LRQ
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Long Term Care
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LTC
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Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
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LVH
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electrolytes
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lytes
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Male; Married
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M (2 acceptable)
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Monamine Oxidase Inhibitor
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MAOI
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Major Depressive Disorder
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MDD
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meconium
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mec
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medical-surgical
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med-surg
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milliequivalents
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mEq
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milliequivalents per Liter
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mEq/L
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Metastasis; Metastasize; Metastasizing
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met(s) (3 acceptable)
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Myocardial Infarction
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MI
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Medical Intensive Care Unit
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MICU
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millimole
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mM
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Morbidity and Mortality
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M&M
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millimeters of mecury (BP unit)
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mmHg
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Mineral Oil; Months Old
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MO (2 acceptable)
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Milk of Magnesia
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MOM
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Monocyte; Mononucleosis
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Mono (2 acceptable)
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Milliosmol
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Mosm
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Magnetic Resonance; Medical Records; Mental Retardation
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MR (3 acceptable)
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Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus
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MRSA
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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MRI
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Mitral Stenosis; Multiple Sclerosis
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MS (2 acceptable)
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Master of Social Work
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MSW
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Medical Technologist
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MT
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Motor Vehicle Accident
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MVA
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Mitral Valve Prolapse
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MVP
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Not Available
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N/A
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No Acute Distress
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NAD
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No Added Salt
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NAS
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Necrotizing Enterocolitis
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NEC
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Nasogastric (Tube)
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NG(T)
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Nursing Home (Placement)
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NH(P)
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No Known Allergies
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NKA
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Normal
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NI
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Non-Insulin Dependant Diabetes Mellitus
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NIDDM (1 not to be used anymore)
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not otherwise specified; no organisms seen
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NOS (2 acceptable)
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Nil Per Os (Nothing by mouth)
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NPO
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Normal Saline; Neurosurgery
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NS (2 acceptable)
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Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug
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NSAID
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Nausea and Vomiting
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N&V
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Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
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NVD
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Obstetrics
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OB
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Organic Brain Syndrome
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OBS
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Oral Contraceptive
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OC
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Out Of Bed
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OOB
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Operating Room
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OR
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Orthopedics
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Ortho
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Oxygen Saturation
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O2 Sat
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Occupational therapy
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OT
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Over-The-Counter
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OTC
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post; after
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p (lowercase) (2 acceptable)
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Para; Phosphorous; Pulse
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P (capitalized) (3 acceptable)
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Pernicious anemia; Phyisician's Assistant
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PA (2 acceptable)
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Percussion and Auscultation
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P&A
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Postanaesthesia Care Unit
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PACU
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para (nullipara, primiparia, Para !, Para II, etc)
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Para
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Pathology
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Path
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after meals
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p.c.
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Patient Controlled Anaesthesia
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PCA
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Penicillin
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PVN
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Polycystic Ovarian Disease
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PCOD
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Patent Ductus Arteriosus
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PDA
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Pelvic Exam; Physical Exam
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PE (2 acceptable)
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Positive End-Expiratory Pressure
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PEEP
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Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy
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PEG
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Pupils equal, Round, Reactive to Light and Accomidation
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PERRLA
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Pulmonary Function Test
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PFT
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Past History
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PH
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Physical Therapy
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PT
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Prior to Admission/Arrival
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PTA
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Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter
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PICC
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Positive Inspiratory Pressure
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PIP
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Phenylketonuria
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PKU
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Past Medical Histroy
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PMH
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Parenteral Nutrition
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PN
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Per os (by mouth); Phone Order
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PO; po (2 acceptable)
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Postoperative Day #
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POD#
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Postpartum; Post-Prandial
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PP (2 acceptable)
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Post Operative
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Post-Op
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Post-Prandial Blood Sugar
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PPBS
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Per Rectum
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PR; pr
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Pre-operative
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Pre-op
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Pro Re Nata (As Necessary)
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PRN
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Prognosis; Progress
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Prog (2 Acceptable)
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Prostate Specific Antigen
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PSA
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Peptic Ulcer Disease
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PUD
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Pulmonary
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Pulm
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Premature Ventricular Contraction
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PVC
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Pack Year (Cigarettes)
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P/Y; PY
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Every
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q
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Every Day
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QD;qd (1 unacceptable)
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Every Hour
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QH; qh
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Every other day
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QOD; qod (1 Unacceptable)
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Rectal
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R
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Rheumatoid arthritis; Right Atrium; Room air
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RA (3 acceptable)
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Respiratory; Respiration
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Resp (2 acceptable)
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Respiratory Distress Syndrome
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RDS
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Concerning
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Re
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Rhesus Factor (Will be + or -)
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Rh
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Radioimmunoassay
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RIA
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Right Lower Extremitity
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RLE
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Right Lower Love
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RLL
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Right Lower Quadrant
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RLQ
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Registered Nurse
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RN
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Rule Out
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R/O
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Range of Motion; Rupture of Membranes
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ROM (2 acceptable)
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Review of Symptoms
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ROS
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Respiratory Quotient
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RQ
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Respiratory Rate; Recovery Room
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RR (2 Acceptable)
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Regular Rate and Rhythm
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RRR
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Respiratory Therapist; Radiation Therapy
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RT (2 acceptable)
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Right Upper Extremity
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RUE
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Right Upper Quadrant
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RUQ
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Prescription, take, therapy, treatment
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Rx
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without
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s
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Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
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SAH
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Small (or short) Bowel
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SB
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Shortness of Breath on Exertion; Subacute Bacterial Endocarditis
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SBE (2 acceptable)
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Small Bowel Obstruction
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SBO
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Sickel Cell
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SC
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Special Care Nursery
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SCN
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Small for Gestational Age
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SGA
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Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
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SIADH
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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
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SIDS
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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
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SLE
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Skilled Nursing Facility
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SNF
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Significant Other
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SO
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Signed Out
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S/O
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Subjective Objective Assessment Plan
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SOAP
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Shortness of Breath
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SOB
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Solution
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Sol
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Status Post
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S/P; s/p
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Subcutaneous
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SQ
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Signs and Symptoms
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S&S; S/S
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Soapsuds (Enema)
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ss; SS; SSE
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one-half
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s s (1 unacceptable)
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Speech Therapist
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ST
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Staphylococcus
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Staph
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Sexually Transmitted Disease; short-term disability
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STD (2 acceptable)
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Statim (immediately)
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Stat
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Streptococcus
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Strep
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Subcutaneous
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Subq
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suppository
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supp
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suspension
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susp
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Seizure
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Sz
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Temperature; time
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T, temp
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Maximum Temperature
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T Max
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tablet
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tab
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Temporal Artery Catheter
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TAC
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Tachycardia
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tachy
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Total Abdominal Hysterectomy
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TAH
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Tuberculosis
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TB
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Total Burn Surface Area
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TBSA
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Term Birth, Living Child
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TBLC
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Total Body Water
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TBW
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Type and Crossmatch
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T&C
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Tube Feeding
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TF
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Total Hip Replacement
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THR
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Transient Ischemic Attack
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TIA
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Three Times a Day
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tid
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Telephone Order
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TO
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topically
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top
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tolerate, tolerated, tolerance
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tol
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Total Parenteral Nutrition
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TPN
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Transurethral resection of Prostate
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TURP
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Tap Water Enema
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TWE
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Treatment
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Tx
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Unit
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U, u (1 unacceptable)
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Umbilical Artery Catheter
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UAC
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Upper Airway Obstruction
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UAO
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Unknown
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unk
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Urinary Output
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UOP
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Up (out of bed) as desired (adlibitum)
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up ad lib
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Upper Respiratory; Utilization Review
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UR (2 acceptable)
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Upper Respiratory Infection
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URI
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Urology; Urologist
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Urol (2 acceptable)
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Ultrasound
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US; U/S
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United States Pharmacopeia
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USP
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Urinary Tract Infection
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UTI
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Ventricular; Volume
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V (2 acceptable)
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Vaginal Hysterectomy
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VH
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Vomiting and Diarrhea
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V/D
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Ventral; Ventricular; Ventilator
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Vent (3 acceptable)
question
that is, namely
answer
viz
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Very Low Birth Weight
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VLBW
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Verbal Order
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VO
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Oxygen Consumption
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VO2
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volume
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vol
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Venous Pressure
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VP
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Vancomycin Resistant Staph aureus
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VRSA
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Vital Signs
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VS
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white; widowed
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W
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Weight Bearing
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WB
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Well Baby Nursery
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WBN
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Wheel Chair
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W/C; w/c
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Well developed; warm and dry
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w/d (2 acceptable)
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Well Developed
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WD
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White Female
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WF; wf
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Within Functional Limits
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WFL
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White Male
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WM; wm
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Well Nourished
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WN; w/n
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Within Normal Limits
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WNL
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Weight
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Wt
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Work-up
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W/U; w/u
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times
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X
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Cross Match
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X-match
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Years Old
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YO; y/o
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Year To Date
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YTD
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Decrease
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↓
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Increase
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↑
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Female
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O ♀
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Male
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□ ♂
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Primary
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1°
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Secondary
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2°
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Lower-case alpha
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ά
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Lower-case beta; Denoting the second of a series
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β
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Lower-case gamma; Denoting the third of a series
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γ
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Upper-case delta; amount of change or difference
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Δ
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lowercase mu, micrometer (micron). Unacceptable symbol.
answer
μ
