| AAC | augmentive or alternative communication |
| AAGBI | Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland |
| ABG | arterial blood gas |
| ABPM | ambulatory blood pressure monitoring |
| AD | autonomic dysreflexia |
| ADH | antidiuretic hormone |
| ADR | adverse drug reaction |
| A&E | accident and emergency |
| AED | automated external defibrillator |
| AIDS | acquired immune deficiency syndrome |
| ALARP | as low as reasonably practicable |
| ALS | advanced life support |
| ALT | alanine aminotransferase |
| ANH | acute normovolaemic haemodilution |
| ANP | atrial natriuretic peptide |
| ANS | autonomic nervous system |
| ANTT | aseptic non‐touch technique |
| AP | alkaline phosphatase/anteroposterior/alternating pressure |
| APTR | activated partial thromboplastin ratio |
| ARDS | adult respiratory distress syndrome |
| ART | assisted reproductive techniques |
| ASA | American Society of Anesthesiologists |
| AST | aspartate aminotransferase |
| AT | anaerobic threshold |
| AV | atrioventricular |
| AVPU | alert, verbal, pain, unresponsive |
| BAL | bronchoalveolar lavage |
| BIA | bio‐electrical impedance analysis |
| BiPAP | bilevel positive airway pressure |
| BLS | basic life support |
| BME | black and minority ethnic |
| BMI | body mass index |
| BNF | British National Formulary |
| BP | blood pressure |
| BSE | bovine spongiform encephalopathy |
| CAUTI | catheter‐associated urinary tract infection |
| CCU | coronary care unit |
| cfu | colony‐forming unit |
| CHG | chlorhexidine gluconate |
| CJD | Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease |
| CLP | continuous low pressure |
| CMV | cytomegalovirus |
| CNCP | chronic non‐cancer pain |
| CNS | central nervous system |
| CO | cardiac output |
| COAD | chronic obstructive airways disease |
| COPD | chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| CPAP | continuous positive airway pressure |
| CPET | cardiopulmonary exercise testing |
| CPNB | continuous peripheral nerve block |
| CPR | cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
| CRP | C‐reactive protein |
| CSF | cerebrospinal fluid |
| CSP | Chartered Society of Physiotherapy |
| CSU | catheter specimen of urine |
| CT | computed tomography |
| CTZ | chemoreceptor trigger zone |
| CVA | cerebrovascular accident |
| CVAD | central venous access device |
| CVC | central venous catheter |
| CVP | central venous pressure |
| CXR | chest X‐ray |
| DBE | deep breathing exercises |
| DIC | disseminated intravascular coagulation |
| DKA | diabetic ketoacidosis |
| DM | diabetes mellitus |
| DMSO | dimethylsulphoxide |
| DNA | did not attend |
| DNAR | do not attempt resuscitation |
| DPI | dry powder inhaler |
| DRE | digital rectal examination |
| DRF | digital removal of faeces |
| DVT | deep vein thrombosis |
| EBN | evidence‐based nursing |
| EBP | evidence‐based practice |
| ECF | extracellular fluid |
| ECG | electrocardiogram |
| ECM | extracellular matrix |
| EDTA | ethylenediamine tetra‐acetic acid |
| ELISA | enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay |
| EMR | endoscopic mucosal resection |
| ENT | Ear, Nose and Throat |
| ESD | endoscopic submucosal dissection |
| ESR | erythrocyte sedimentation rate |
| ETT | endotracheal tube |
| EU | European Union |
| EWS | early warning scoring |
| FBC | full blood count |
| FEES | fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing |
| FFP | fresh frozen plasma |
| FRC | functional residual capacity |
| FVC | forced vital capacity |
| FWB | fully weight bearing |
| GCS | Glasgow Coma Scale |
| GFR | glomerular filtration rate |
| GGT | gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase |
| GI | gastrointestinal |
| GMC | General Medical Council |
| GM‐CSF | granulocyte macrophage‐colony stimulating factor |
| GSL | general sales list medicine |
| GTN | glyceryl trinitrate |
| HBPM | home blood pressure monitoring |
| HBV | hepatitis B virus |
| HCA | healthcare assistant |
| HCAI | healthcare‐associated infection |
| HCP | healthcare professional |
| HCV | hepatitis C virus |
| HDU | high‐dependency unit |
| HEPA | high‐efficiency particulate air |
| HFEA | Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority |
| HFOT | high‐flow oxygen therapy |
| HIV | human immunodeficiency virus |
| HLA | human leucocyte antigen |
| HME | heat and moisture exchanger |
| HOCF | Home Oxygen Consent Form |
| HOOF | Home Oxygen Ordering Form |
| HPA | Health Protection Agency |
| HPV | human papillomavirus |
| HR | heart rate |
| HSE | Health and Safety Executive |
| HTLV | human T cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus |
| IAD | incontinence‐associated dermatitis |
| IASP | International Association for the Study of Pain |
| IBCT | incorrect blood component transfused |
| IC | inspiratory capacity |
| ICF | intracellular fluid |
| ICP | intracranial pressure |
| ICS | intraoperative cell salvage |
| ICSI | intracytoplasmic sperm injection |
| IM | intramuscular |
| INR | international normalized ratio |
| IO | intraosseous |
| IPCT | infection prevention and control team |
| ISC | intermittent self‐catheterization |
| ITDD | intrathecal drug delivery |
| ITU | intensive therapy unit |
| IV | intravenous |
| JVP | jugular venous pressure |
| LA | local anaesthetic |
| LBC | liquid‐based cytology |
| LCT | long‐chain triglyceride |
| LMA | laryngeal mask airway |
| LMN | lower motor neurone |
| LOS | lower oesophageal sphincter |
| LPA | Lasting Power of Attorney |
| MAOI | monoamine oxidase inhibitor |
| MAP | mean arterial pressure |
| MAR | medicines administration record |
| MC&S | Microscopy, Culture and Sensitivity |
| MCT | medium‐chain triglyceride |
| MDA | Medical Devices Agency |
| MDI | metered dose inhaler |
| MDT | multidisciplinary team |
| MESA | microepididymal sperm aspiration |
| MET | medical emergency team |
| MHRA | Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency |
| MI | myocardial infarction |
| MIC | minimum inhibitory concentration |
| MMP | matrix metalloprotease |
| MPQ | McGill Pain Questionnaire |
| MRC | Medical Research Council |
| MRI | magnetic resonance imaging |
| MRSA | meticillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus |
| MS | multiple sclerosis |
| MSCC | metastatic spinal cord compression |
| MSU | midstream urine |
| MUAC | mid upper arm circumference |
| MUST | Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool |
| NAT | nucleic acid testing |
| NBM | nil by mouth |
| NEWS | National Early Warning Score |
| NG | nasogastric |
| NHS | National Health Service |
| NHSCSP | NHS cervical screening programme |
| NIPEE | non‐invasive positive end‐expiration |
| NIV | non‐invasive ventilation |
| NMC | Nursing and Midwifery Council |
| NMDA | N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate |
| NPC | National Prescribing Centre |
| NPSA | National Patient Safety Agency |
| NPWT | negative pressure wound therapy |
| NRAT | Norgine Risk Assessment Tool |
| NRS | numerical rating scale |
| NSAID | non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug |
| NWB | non‐weight bearing |
| ODP | operating department practitioner |
| OGD | oesophagogastroduodenoscopy |
| OSCE | objective structured clinical examination |
| OT | occupational therapist |
| OTC | over the counter |
| P | pharmacy‐only medicine |
| PACU | post‐anaesthetic care unit |
| PAD | pre‐operative autologous donation |
| PART | patient‐at‐risk team |
| PCA | patient‐controlled analgesia |
| PCEA | patient‐controlled epidural analgesia |
| PDPH | post‐dural puncture headache |
| PE | pulmonary embolus |
| PEA | pulseless electrical activity |
| PEEP | positive end‐expiratory pressure |
| PEF | peak expiratory flow |
| PEG | percutaneous endoscopically placed gastrostomy |
| PEP | post‐exposure prophylaxis |
| PESA | percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration |
| PGD | Patient Group Direction |
| PHCT | primary healthcare team |
| PHN | post‐herpetic neuralgia |
| PICC | peripherally inserted central cannula |
| PN | parenteral nutrition |
| PNS | peripheral nervous system |
| POA | pre‐operative assessment |
| POCT | point‐of‐care testing |
| POM | prescription‐only medicine |
| PONV | post‐operative nausea and vomiting |
| PPE | personal protective equipment |
| PRBC | packed red blood cell |
| PrP | prion protein |
| PSCC | primary/benign spinal cord compression |
| PT | physiotherapist |
| PTFE | polytetrafluoroethylene |
| PUO | pyrexia of unknown origin |
| PVC | polyvinyl chloride |
| PWB | partially weight bearing |
| PWO | partial withdrawal occlusion |
| RA | right atrium |
| RAS | reticular activating system |
| RBC | red blood cell |
| RCN | Royal College of Nursing |
| RCT | randomized controlled trial |
| RFID | radiofrequency identification tag |
| RIG | radiologically inserted gastrostomy |
| RNI | reference nutrient intake |
| RSV | respiratory syncytial virus |
| SA | sinoatrial |
| SaBTO | Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs |
| SAP | Single Assessment Process |
| SARS | severe acute respiratory syndrome |
| SBAR | Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation |
| SC | subcutaneous |
| SCC | spinal cord compression |
| SCI | spinal cord injury |
| SGA | subjective global assessment |
| SHOT | Serious Hazards of Transfusion |
| SIMV | synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation |
| SIRS | systemic inflammatory response syndrome |
| SIU | spinal injuries unit |
| SL | semi‐lunar |
| SLT | speech and language therapist |
| SMBG | self‐monitoring of blood glucose |
| SNRI | serotonin‐norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor |
| SOP | Standard Operating Procedure |
| SPa | suprapubic aspirate |
| SSRI | selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor |
| SV | stroke volume |
| SVC | superior vena cava |
| swg | standard wire gauge |
| TACO | transfusion‐associated cardiac overload |
| TA‐GVHD | transfusion‐associated graft‐versus‐host disease |
| TB | tuberculosis |
| TCA | tricyclic antidepressant |
| TED | thromboembolic deterrent |
| TENS | transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation |
| TESE | testicular sperm extraction |
| TIVA | total intravenous anaesthesia |
| TPI | Treponema pallidum immobilization |
| TRALI | transfusion‐related acute lung injury |
| TSE | transmissible spongiform encephalopathy |
| TSS | toxic shock syndrome |
| TTO | to take out |
| TURBT | transurethral resection of bladder tumour |
| TURP | transurethral resection of prostate |
| UMN | upper motor neurone |
| UTI | urinary tract infection |
| VAD | vascular access device |
| VAP | ventilator‐associated pneumonia |
| VAT | Venous Assessment Tool |
| VBG | venous blood gas |
| vCJD | variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease |
| VDRL | Venereal Disease Research Laboratory |
| VEGF | vascular endothelial growth factor |
| VF | ventricular fibrillation |
| VPF | vascular permeability factor |
| V/Q | ventilation/perfusion |
| VT | ventricular tachycardia |
| VTE | venous thromboembolism |
| WBC | white blood cell |
| WBIT | wrong blood in tube |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
| WOB | work of breathing |
| WR | Wassermann reaction |
Searching for just a few words should be enough to get started. If you need to make more complex queries, use the tips below to guide you.
- Boolean operators
- This OR that
This AND that
This NOT that - Must include "This" and "That"
- This That
- Must not include "That"
- This -That
- "This" is optional
- This +That
- Exact phrase "This That"
- "This That"
- Grouping
- (this AND that) OR (that AND other)
