Nursing NCLEX Acronyms

There are so many acronyms for nursing and on the NCLEX! What are they all?

Many times in the NCLEX question, you will only get the acronym. You’ll also need to read a lot of notes from the HCP and other nurses, like this one.

If you don’t know what the acronym means, then you will have a very difficult time answering the question or understanding what is going on with the patient. Here’s a list you should get very familiar with.

• AAA: abdominal aortic aneurysm
• ABX: antibiotics
• ACE inhibitors: angiotensin converting enzyme
• ADD: attention deficit disorder
• ADHD: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• ADLs: activities of daily living
• AED: automated external defibrillator
• AIDS: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
• AKI: acute kidney injury
• ALP: alkaline phosphatase
• aPTT: activated partial thromboplastin time
• ARB: angiotensin receptor blockers
• ARF: acute respiratory failure
• AST: aspartate aminotransferase
• BG: blood glucose
• bid: two times a day
• BiPAP: bilevel positive airway pressure
• BMP: basic metabolic panel
• BNP: brain natriuretic peptide
• BP: blood pressure
• BPH: benign prostate hyperplasia
• BPM: beats per minute
• BS: blood sugar
• BUN: blood urea nitrogen
• Ca: calcium
• CABG: coronary arterial bypass graft
• CAD: coronary artery disease
• CBC: complete blood count
• CK (CPK-MB): creatine kinase
• CKD: chronic kidney disease
• CHF: congestive heart failure
• Cl: chloride
• CMP: complete metabolic panel
• CN: cranial nerves
• CO2: carbon dioxide
• COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• CP: chest pain
• CPAP: continuous positive airway pressure
• CPR: cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Cr: creatinine
• CRE: carbapenem resistant enterobacteriaceae
• CSF: cerebral spinal fluid
• CT: computed tomography (CT scan)
• CV: cardiovascular
• CVA: cerebral vascular accident
• CVD: cerebral vascular disease
• CVAD: central venous access device
• CVP: central venous pressure
• D5W: 5% dextrose in water
• DAR: data, action, response
• DI: diabetes insipidus
• DM: diabetes mellitus
• DTRs: deep tendon reflexes
• DKA: diabetic ketone acidosis
• DVT: deep vein thrombosis
• EBP: evidence based practice
• ECG or EKG: electrocardiography
• ED: emergency department
• ENT: ear nose throat
• EOM: extraocular muscles
• EPS: extrapyramidal symptoms
• ESRD: end stage renal disease
• ET: endotracheal tube
• F&E: fluids & electrolytes
• FVD: fluid volume deficient
• FVO: fluid volume overload
• GERD: gastroesophageal reflux disease
• GI: gastrointestinal
• gtts: drops
• HA: headache
• HCO3: bicarbonate
• HCP: healthcare provider
• Hct: hemotocrit
• HCTZ: hydrochlorothiazide
• HF: heart failure
• Hgb: hemoglobin
• H&H: hemoglobin and hematocrit
• HHS: hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state
• HIV: human immunodeficiency virus
• h/o: history of
• HOB: head of bed
• H&P: history and physical
• HR: heart rate
• HTN: hypertension
• IBS: irritable bowel syndrome
• ICP: intracranial pressure
• ICU: intensive care unit
• INR: international normalized ratio
• INT: interventions
• I&O: intake and output
• IV: intravenous
• IVP: intravenous push
• IVPB: intravenous piggyback
• JVD: jugular vein distention
• K: potassium
• KCl: potassium chloride
• KVO: keep vein open
• LAD: left anterior descending
• LOC: level of consciousness
• LPN: licensed practical nurse
• LR: lactated ringers
• LVEF: Left ventricular ejection fraction
• LVN: licensed vocational nurse
• MAOI: monoamine oxidase inhibitor
• MAR: medication administration record
• mcg: micrograms
• mg: magnesium
• mg: milligrams
• MI: myocardial infarction
• mL: milliliters
• MOA: mechanism of action
• MRA: magnetic resonance angiography
• MRI: magnetic resonance imaging
• MRSA: methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus
• MVA: motor vehicle accident
• Na: sodium
• NAD: no appreciable disease
• NG: nasogastric
• NMS: neuroleptic malignant syndrome
• NP: nurse practitioner
• NPA: nurse practice act
• NPs: my Nugget Pages!
• NPO: nothing by mouth
• NS: normal saline
• NSAID: nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug
• NSR: normal sinus rhythm
• N/V/D: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• OA: osteoarthritis
• OANM: oxygen, aspirin, nitro, morphine
• OJ: orange juice
• OR: operating room
• ORIF: open reduction and internal fixation
• OT: occupational therapy
• OTC: over the counter
• PA: physician assistant
• PAD: peripheral arterial disease
• PaO2: partial arterial oxygen
• PCI: percutaneous coronary intervention
• PCTA: percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
• PET: positron emission tomography
• PCA: patient controlled analgesia
• PERRLA: pupils equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation
• PICC: peripherally inserted central catheter
• Plt: platelets
• PN: parenteral nutrition
• PNX: pneumonia
• PPD: purified protein derivative
• PPE: personal protective equipment
• PPI: proton pump inhibitors
• PPN: partial parenteral nutrition
• PO: by mouth
• PRN: as needed
• PSA: prostate specific antigen
• PT: prothrombin time
• PT: physical therapy
• PTH: parathyroid hormone
• PTT: partial thromboplastin time
• PUD: peptic ulcer disease
• PVC: pre ventricular contraction
• RA: rheumatoid arthritis
• RA: room air
• RAI: radioactive iodine
• RBC: red blood cell
• RN: registered nurse
• ROM: range of motion
• RR: respirations
• RT: respiratory therapy
• SBAR: situation background assessment recommendation
• SpO2 or O2: oxygen saturation with pulse oximeter
• SCD: sequential compression device
• SG: specific gravity
• SIADH: syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
• SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus
• SOAP: subjective, objective, assessment, plan
• SOB: short of breath
• S/P: status post
• S&S: signs and symptoms
• ST: speech therapy
• STI: sexual transmitted infection
• SVT: supraventricular tachycardia
• TB: tuberculosis
• TBI: traumatic brain injury
• TC & DB: turn, cough and deep breathe
• TF: tube feeding
• TIA: transient ischemic attack
• tid: three times a day
• TPN: total parenteral nutrition
• TSH: thyroid stimulating hormone
• Tx: treatment
• UABCI: unconscious, airway, breathing, circulation, infection
• UAP: unlicensed assistive personnel
• UA & CS: urinalysis and culture & sensitivity
• UC: ulcerative colitis
• UO: urine output
• UTI: urinary tract infection
• VRE: vancomycin resistant enterococci
• VS: vital signs
• WBC: white blood cell
• y/o: year old

Besides these acronyms being a huge PITA, do you have any to add?

Did you know that I have all of my content in my book, NCLEX Nursing Nugget Pages? It’s a student-friendly book for reviewing content for the NCLEX and Nursing and includes all of these acronyms. Check it out!

NCLEX Nursing Nugget Pages