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 |