Acroynms

heatherabel3

heatherabel3

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First, is there already a post about all the different acronyms? If not, what are some of the most common ones and what do they mean? I start school next month and while I'm sure all of this will be explained I like to be a step ahead if at all possible. I know some of the basics
BLS-basic life support
ALS-advanced life support
pt-patient
c/c-cheif complaint
l&s-lights and sirens
 
heatherabel3 said:
First, is there already a post about all the different acronyms? If not, what are some of the most common ones and what do they mean? I start school next month and while I'm sure all of this will be explained I like to be a step ahead if at all possible. I know some of the basics
BLS-basic life support
ALS-advanced life support
pt-patient
c/c-cheif complaint
l&s-lights and sirens
Click to expand...

It's company dependent for what they accept in PCRs or ePCRs.

The only one I really use is CTAB - Clear to ascultation bilaterally.

Another one you will see a lot is WNL for within normal limits.

ILS - intermediate life support.

We don't use L&S it's usually code 3, running hot or "lit up". As far as charting it would be Code 3.

Not to sound like an *** but there are a million other things you should be studying to get yourself ready rather than acronyms.

The big ones in school will be BSI, DCAP-BTLS, SAMPLE, PENMAN, AEIOU-TIPS...things like that.
 
Oh it's just something I thought of reading through some of the posts on here. Honestly, I'm not sure what I should be studying. School starts the end of next month and I went ahead and ordered my book early so I will have about 3 weeks to start reading and learning before class starts but as far as just looking online to start learning I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Also...just a side note for future reference...feel free to call me out all you want. I don't get offended and I won't think your an ***.
 
heatherabel3 said:
...feel free to call me out all you want. I don't get offended and I won't think your an ***.
Click to expand...

Where's the "Duck and Cover Smiley" when you need it?

(Please interpret as a Welcome!)
 
Just avoid using acronyms. Not everyone uses the same acronyms, or the same acronyms mean different things depending upon who the audience is.
Spend the extra 0.5 second saying what you actually mean, and you will be easily understood. Miscommunication is a genuine danger in medicine, so being clear in what you are saying is very important.

Also, use generic names for medications. It gives me no end of grief to have to consult google half a dozen times a thread to find out what the hell medication someone is talking about.
 
BSI- body substance isolation (gloves etc)
PPE- personal protection equipment (BSI)
DCAP-BTLS- deformities, contusions, abrasions, penetrations, burns, tenderness, lacerations,swelling (useless acronym associated with trauma)
SAMPLE-s ymptoms, allergies, medications, pertinent medical Hx, last meal, event leading up to chief complaint (assessment questions)
OPQRST- onset, provocation, quality, radiation, severity, time (pain assessment)
AEIOU-TIPS- alcohol, epilepsy/seizure, insulin (diabetic), overdose, underdose, trauma, infarct(cardiac/cva), poison, sepsis. (causes for altered mental status)
VOMIT-vitals, oxygen, monitor, iv, transport (what you do when you don't know what to do)
AVPU- alert>verbal>pain>unresponsive (decreasing LOC level of consousnes (give me a break its late))
ABC- airway>breathing>circulation (order of importance)
 
I use PNA for pneumonia. I saw it on our approved list but I don't think it's a generally accepted one because no one knows what it stands for

Other than that it's just the normal c/o for complaining of

Wnl for within normal limits

Rom for range of motion

Pt for patient

Txp for transport

And I think that's it.

I don't have to worry about meds I just make a copy and write "see attached".
 
The "u" in AEIOU-TIPS is actually for uremia...

It's best not to use abbreviations while charting for the reasons listed above. If you must, your agency will have an approved list.

Some common ones
ETCO2: end-tidal carbon dioxide

AKA/BKA: above/below the knee amputation

ABG: arterial blood gas

BMP or Chem 7/8/10/12: basic blood chemistry

ETT:endotracheal tube

PMH: past medical history

PICC: peripherally inserted central catheter
 
If your patient is responsive, ie: talking to you, the whole ABC thing is a bit silly, no?
 
n7lxi said:
If your patient is responsive, ie: talking to you, the whole ABC thing is a bit silly, no?
Click to expand...

Responsive for us is any kind of movement not talking. So if we have a patient who is standing up or sitting up its ABCs. That patient could have a compromised airway.

So if the patient is alert to either verbal or painful then for teaching purposes they will follow ABC. If the patient is fully unresponsive then it's CAB.
 
Yes we have many lines about acronyms. I stated somewhere we need to use fewer of them in replies and posts unless we use citation format (spell it out the first time and put the acronym in parentheses, then use the acronym later if necessary, which is it not if used only one or two times more).
 
FDGB- Fall down go boom
 
DRT - dead right there
 
TMB- Too many birthdays
 
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