It was very hard at the beginning in my career as a nurse in UK to understand all the abbreviations used in nursing homes by staff and healthcare professional. That’s why I put together this abbreviation list containing the most used ones. Feel free to send me other abbreviation that you may think of and is used often at your workplace. A ACP – Advance Care Plan ADRT – Advanced Decision to Refuse Treatment, called also Living Will AF – Atrial Fibrillation ABX - antibiotics B bd – bis die = twice a day BNF – British National Formulary BNO – bowels not open BP – blood pressure BO – bowels open C CA – carcinoma, cancer CAUTI – Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection CCF – congestive cardiac failure CF – cardiac failure CKD – chronic kidney disease CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation CRF – chronic renal failure COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease CT – computed tomography CSCI – Continuous SubCutaneous Infusion CVA – cerebrovascular accident (stroke) D DM – diabetes mellitus DNACPR – do not attend cardiopulmonary resuscitation DOB – date of birth DoLs – Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Dr – doctor DU – duodenal ulcer DVT – deep venous thrombosis Dx - diagnosis E ECG – electrocardiogram ENT – ears, nose and throat EOL – End Of Life EOLC – End Of Life Care F FBC – full blood count FBS – fasting blood sugar G GA – general anaesthesia GB – gall bladder GI - gastrointestinal GP – General Practitioner GU – gastric ulcer H HR – heart rate HTN – hypertension I IBS – irritable bowel syndrome IDDM – insulin dependent diabetes mellitus IM – intramuscular I & O – intake and output IV – intravenous/ intravenously L LFT – liver function test LPA – Lasting Power of Attorney M MI – myocardial infarction MS – multiple sclerosis MSU – mid-steam urine specimen N NS – nervous system NSAID – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug NICE – National Institute for Health and care Excellence O Obs – observation OD – once a day OM – once in the morning ON – once at night P PE – pulmonary embolism PO – per os = by mouth PR – per rectum PRN – pro re nata = whenever necessary PS – pulmonary stenosis Q QDS – quarter die sumendum = to be taken four times a day R RA – rheumatoid arthritis RBC – red blood cell count RIP – rest in peace Rx - treatment S SC - subcutaneous SALT – Speech And Language Therapy T TB – tuberculosis TDS – three times a day TIA – transient ischaemia attack Tsp - teaspoon U UTI – Urinary Tract Infection V VF – ventricular fibrillation Vit - vitamin