Medical Abbreviations and Symbols Practice Questions

79 multiple-choice questions on Abbreviations and symbols for paramedic and EMT students, from Chapter 7 (Medical Terminology). Read each question, pick your answer, then tap Show answer to check it and read the explanation.

79 practice questions

1. The abbreviation "Hx" means:

   1. A. History
   2. B. Hypoxia
   3. C. Hemorrhage
   4. D. Hospital
   Show answer

   Answer: A. History

   Common in documentation shorthand.

2. The abbreviation "c/o" means:

   1. A. Change of
   2. B. Care of
   3. C. Cardiac output
   4. D. Complains of
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Complains of

   It introduces the patient's stated complaint.

3. The abbreviation "SOB" means:

   1. A. Sudden onset bleeding
   2. B. Shortness of breath
   3. C. Slow onset bradycardia
   4. D. Swelling of the body
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Shortness of breath

   Many agencies prefer writing dyspnea instead. Generalized swelling is anasarca or edema, not SOB.

4. The abbreviation "NKDA" means:

   1. A. No known dietary allergies
   2. B. No known drug allergies
   3. C. No known drug abuse
   4. D. No known diagnosis available
   Show answer

   Answer: B. No known drug allergies

   It documents an important part of the SAMPLE history. Food allergies are recorded separately, and substance use belongs in the social history.

5. The abbreviation "PRN" means:

   1. A. Before meals
   2. B. As needed
   3. C. By mouth
   4. D. Every day
   Show answer

   Answer: B. As needed

   From the Latin pro re nata.

6. The abbreviation "PO" means:

   1. A. Post-operative
   2. B. Per rectum
   3. C. By mouth
   4. D. Pulse oximetry
   Show answer

   Answer: C. By mouth

   From per os.

7. The abbreviation "SL" as a medication route means:

   1. A. Semi-lateral
   2. B. Sublingual
   3. C. Saline lock
   4. D. Slow
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Sublingual

   Nitroglycerin is commonly given this way.

8. The abbreviation "BID" means:

   1. A. Three times a day
   2. B. Every other day
   3. C. Once daily
   4. D. Twice a day
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Twice a day

   TID is three times a day; QID is four.

9. The abbreviation "ACS" in EMS documentation means:

   1. A. Acute compartment syndrome
   2. B. Airway control system
   3. C. Acute coronary syndrome
   4. D. Advanced cardiac support
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Acute coronary syndrome

   Context matters with abbreviations.

10. The abbreviation "LOC" is problematic because it can mean:

    1. A. Loss of circulation or consciousness
    2. B. Level of care or location
    3. C. Level or loss of consciousness
    4. D. Length of call or location
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Level or loss of consciousness

    Write out which one you mean.

11. Which abbreviation is on do-not-use lists because of misreading risk?

    1. A. mg for milligrams
    2. B. U for units
    3. C. mL for milliliters
    4. D. mcg for micrograms
    Show answer

    Answer: B. U for units

    U has been misread as a zero or a four; write out units.

12. The symbol for "change" or "delta" in documentation is best:

    1. A. Used if defined once in the report
    2. B. Used freely, since it is standard
    3. C. Used only for vital sign trends
    4. D. Avoided; write out the word
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Avoided; write out the word

    Clarity outranks brevity in a legal record. Symbols are easily misread.

13. The abbreviation ABC stands for:

    1. A. Alert, breathing, conscious
    2. B. Alert, bleeding, circulation
    3. C. Airway, breathing, circulation
    4. D. Airway, bleeding, consciousness
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Airway, breathing, circulation

    The primary assessment sequence. Alertness and bleeding control are assessed, but the A in ABC is airway.

14. The abbreviation AMS means:

    1. A. Altered mental status
    2. B. Acute medical situation
    3. C. Advanced monitoring system
    4. D. Ambulance medical service
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Altered mental status

    Common chief complaint.

15. The abbreviation BP means:

    1. A. Blood pressure
    2. B. Breathing pattern
    3. C. Blood pH
    4. D. Body position
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Blood pressure

    Vital sign.

16. The abbreviation BPM means:

    1. A. Beats or breaths per minute
    2. B. Bilateral pulse measurement
    3. C. Basic patient management
    4. D. Blood pressure measurement
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Beats or breaths per minute

    Specify which.

17. The abbreviation CHF means:

    1. A. Cardiac hypertension factor
    2. B. Congestive heart failure
    3. C. Chronic hepatic failure
    4. D. Chronic heart fatigue
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Congestive heart failure

    Now often called heart failure. Liver failure is not abbreviated CHF.

18. The abbreviation COPD means:

    1. A. Congestive obstructive pulmonary disorder
    2. B. Chronic occlusive peripheral disease
    3. C. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
    4. D. Chronic obstructive pleural disease
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

    Emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD affects the lungs' airways, not peripheral arteries or the pleura.

19. The abbreviation CVA means:

    1. A. Cerebrovascular accident
    2. B. Cervical vertebral alignment
    3. C. Central venous access
    4. D. Cardiovascular assessment
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Cerebrovascular accident

    Stroke; the term stroke is now preferred.

20. The abbreviation DOA means:

    1. A. Dead on arrival
    2. B. Direction of approach
    3. C. Dose of analgesic
    4. D. Date of arrival
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Dead on arrival

    Used in some systems.

21. The abbreviation DNR means:

    1. A. Do not report
    2. B. Do not resuscitate
    3. C. Did not recover
    4. D. Does not respond
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Do not resuscitate

    A medical order.

22. The abbreviation ECG or EKG means:

    1. A. Electroencephalogram
    2. B. Electromyogram
    3. C. Echocardiogram
    4. D. Electrocardiogram
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Electrocardiogram

    EKG comes from the German spelling. An electromyogram (EMG) records muscle activity.

23. The abbreviation ETT means:

    1. A. Endotracheal tube
    2. B. Extended treatment time
    3. C. Emergency transport time
    4. D. Esophageal tracheal tube
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Endotracheal tube

    Advanced airway. The dual-lumen esophageal-tracheal device is a different airway with its own abbreviation.

24. The abbreviation GCS means:

    1. A. General condition scale
    2. B. Gross cerebral status
    3. C. Glasgow Coma Scale
    4. D. Grading of consciousness scale
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Glasgow Coma Scale

    Eye, verbal, motor.

25. The abbreviation GI means:

    1. A. Gastric irritation
    2. B. Gastrointestinal
    3. C. Glucose intake
    4. D. General illness
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Gastrointestinal

    GI bleed.

26. The abbreviation GSW means:

    1. A. General surgical wound
    2. B. Gross skin wound
    3. C. Gunshot wound
    4. D. Glass shard wound
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Gunshot wound

    Reportable in most states. Glass injuries are documented as lacerations, not GSW.

27. The abbreviation HTN means:

    1. A. Hypotension
    2. B. Hospital transfer note
    3. C. Hypertension
    4. D. Hypertonia
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Hypertension

    Common history item. Hypotension is low blood pressure, and hypertonia is increased muscle tone.

28. The abbreviation ICP means:

    1. A. Immediate care protocol
    2. B. Intracerebral perfusion
    3. C. Intensive care patient
    4. D. Intracranial pressure
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Intracranial pressure

    Rises with head injury. Cerebral perfusion pressure is a related but different measure, abbreviated CPP.

29. The abbreviation IM means:

    1. A. Immediate
    2. B. Infant monitor
    3. C. Intramuscular
    4. D. Internal medicine
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Intramuscular

    Injection route.

30. The abbreviation IO means:

    1. A. Intermittent oxygen
    2. B. Internal organ
    3. C. Intraosseous
    4. D. Input and output
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Intraosseous

    Vascular access route.

31. The abbreviation IV means:

    1. A. Initial vitals
    2. B. Immediate ventilation
    3. C. Intravenous
    4. D. Internal vein
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Intravenous

    Vascular access.

32. The abbreviation JVD means:

    1. A. Jugular vein dissection
    2. B. Jugular venous distention
    3. C. Jugular venous drainage
    4. D. Junction ventricular defect
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Jugular venous distention

    A sign of right heart pressure. Dissection is a tear in a vessel wall, and drainage describes flow; JVD is visible distention of the neck veins.

33. Your partner writes 'LOC' in a head-injury narrative. Why should you rewrite it?

    1. A. It is on the Joint Commission do-not-use list
    2. B. It could mean either level or loss of consciousness
    3. C. It is used only in hospital charting
    4. D. It stands for 'location of call'
    Show answer

    Answer: B. It could mean either level or loss of consciousness

    LOC is ambiguous: 'level of consciousness' and 'loss of consciousness' mean very different things after head trauma. Write out 'loss of consciousness for about 1 minute' or describe the level (for example, GCS). It is not on the Joint Commission's official do-not-use list, which covers U, IU, QD, QOD, trailing zeros, missing leading zeros, MS, MSO4, and MgSO4.

34. The abbreviation MI means:

    1. A. Medical incident
    2. B. Mental impairment
    3. C. Minor injury
    4. D. Myocardial infarction
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Myocardial infarction

    Heart attack.

35. The abbreviation MVC means:

    1. A. Major vascular compromise
    2. B. Mitral valve closure
    3. C. Motor vehicle collision
    4. D. Multiple vertebral compression
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Motor vehicle collision

    Preferred over MVA, since accident implies no cause. Mitral valve closure is a heart sound event, and vertebral compression is an injury, not MVC.

36. The abbreviation NAD means:

    1. A. No acute disease
    2. B. Nasal airway device
    3. C. No assessment documented
    4. D. No apparent distress
    Show answer

    Answer: D. No apparent distress

    Common in exam documentation.

37. The abbreviation NPO means:

    1. A. No prior orders
    2. B. No pulse observed
    3. C. Normal pulse oximetry
    4. D. Nothing by mouth
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Nothing by mouth

    From the Latin nil per os.

38. The abbreviation NRB means:

    1. A. No response to breathing
    2. B. Nasal respiratory bypass
    3. C. Nonrebreather mask
    4. D. Normal respiratory baseline
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Nonrebreather mask

    High-concentration oxygen device.

39. The abbreviation NS means:

    1. A. Nervous system
    2. B. No symptoms
    3. C. Nasal spray
    4. D. Normal saline
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Normal saline

    0.9 percent sodium chloride.

40. The abbreviation OB means:

    1. A. Obstetric
    2. B. Observation
    3. C. Obstruction
    4. D. Oxygen bottle
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Obstetric

    Pregnancy-related.

41. The abbreviation PE can mean:

    1. A. Patient evaluation or pulse exam
    2. B. Physical exam only, in all settings
    3. C. Pulse exam or patient education
    4. D. Physical exam or pulmonary embolism
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Physical exam or pulmonary embolism

    Another dangerous ambiguity. Context or spelling it out matters.

42. The abbreviation PEA means:

    1. A. Peripheral extremity assessment
    2. B. Patient emergency assessment
    3. C. Pulmonary edema, acute
    4. D. Pulseless electrical activity
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Pulseless electrical activity

    Organized rhythm without a pulse.

43. The abbreviation PERRL means:

    1. A. Pupils equal, round, reactive to light
    2. B. Peripheral exam, rapid, reflexes, limbs
    3. C. Pupils equal, reduced reaction to light
    4. D. Pupils enlarged, round, reactive to light
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Pupils equal, round, reactive to light

    Add A for accommodation. In PERRL the E stands for equal and the second R for reactive, so reduced reaction or enlarged pupils would be findings, not the abbreviation.

44. The abbreviation PMH means:

    1. A. Primary medical history
    2. B. Patient medical hospital
    3. C. Prior medication held
    4. D. Past medical history
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Past medical history

    Part of SAMPLE.

45. A medication list reads 'albuterol 2 puffs PRN.' This means the patient uses it:

    1. A. Twice a day
    2. B. At bedtime
    3. C. As needed
    4. D. Every 4 hours
    Show answer

    Answer: C. As needed

    PRN (pro re nata) means as needed, so ask when the patient last used it and how often. Twice a day is BID and at bedtime is hs, which is error-prone and better written out. Every 4 hours would be written q4h.

46. The abbreviation PT or Pt means:

    1. A. Pulse and temperature
    2. B. Patient only, never therapy
    3. C. Patient or physical therapy
    4. D. Physical therapy only
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Patient or physical therapy

    Context matters.

47. The abbreviation ROM means:

    1. A. Range of motion, in all settings
    2. B. Rupture of membranes, in all settings
    3. C. Motion range or membrane rupture
    4. D. Rate of movement or rhythm
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Motion range or membrane rupture

    Obstetrics versus orthopedics. It can mean range of motion or rupture of membranes; context decides.

48. The abbreviation ROSC means:

    1. A. Rate of systolic change
    2. B. Return of spontaneous consciousness
    3. C. Return of spontaneous circulation
    4. D. Return of sinus cardiac rhythm
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Return of spontaneous circulation

    The goal of resuscitation. ROSC refers to circulation with a palpable pulse; a patient can have ROSC while still unconscious and in a non-sinus rhythm.

49. The abbreviation RSI means:

    1. A. Rapid secondary inspection
    2. B. Respiratory status index
    3. C. Rapid spinal immobilization
    4. D. Rapid sequence intubation
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Rapid sequence intubation

    Medication-facilitated intubation. Spinal motion restriction is not abbreviated RSI.

50. The abbreviation SpO2 means:

    1. A. Pulse oximetry oxygen saturation
    2. B. Supplemental oxygen percentage
    3. C. Systolic pressure of oxygen
    4. D. Partial pressure of oxygen
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Pulse oximetry oxygen saturation

    A percentage.

51. The abbreviation EtCO2 means:

    1. A. Exhaled total carbon oxide
    2. B. Estimated carbon dioxide
    3. C. End-tidal carbon dioxide
    4. D. Endotracheal carbon dioxide
    Show answer

    Answer: C. End-tidal carbon dioxide

    Capnography. The E stands for end, as in the end of exhalation, not endotracheal; it is measured with or without a tube.

52. The abbreviation STEMI means:

    1. A. Standard treatment of emergency myocardial injury
    2. B. ST-elevation myocardial infarction
    3. C. ST-elevation myocardial ischemia
    4. D. Subendocardial myocardial infarction
    Show answer

    Answer: B. ST-elevation myocardial infarction

    Requires rapid reperfusion. STEMI means infarction, not just ischemia, and subendocardial infarction is the pattern usually seen in NSTEMI.

53. The abbreviation SVT means:

    1. A. Supraventricular tachycardia
    2. B. Spinal vertebral trauma
    3. C. Severe ventricular tachycardia
    4. D. Systolic volume test
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Supraventricular tachycardia

    Narrow complex tachycardia.

54. The abbreviation TBI means:

    1. A. Traumatic bowel injury
    2. B. Traumatic brain injury
    3. C. Thoracic blunt injury
    4. D. Total body injury
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Traumatic brain injury

    Head trauma. Bowel injuries are abdominal trauma, not TBI.

55. The abbreviation TIA means:

    1. A. Total initial assessment
    2. B. Traumatic intracranial aneurysm
    3. C. Trauma incident assessment
    4. D. Transient ischemic attack
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Transient ischemic attack

    Warning sign of stroke. An aneurysm is a structural vessel lesion, not a transient event.

56. The abbreviation UTI means:

    1. A. Unknown time of injury
    2. B. Upper thoracic injury
    3. C. Urinary tract infection
    4. D. Urethral trauma or injury
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Urinary tract infection

    Common in older adults with confusion. Urethral injury is trauma, not an infection.

57. The abbreviation VF means:

    1. A. Ventilation failure
    2. B. Ventricular fusion beats
    3. C. Ventricular fibrillation
    4. D. Venous filling
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Ventricular fibrillation

    Shockable rhythm.

58. The abbreviation VT means:

    1. A. Ventilator tidal volume
    2. B. Vagal tone
    3. C. Venous thrombosis
    4. D. Ventricular tachycardia
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Ventricular tachycardia

    May or may not have a pulse.

59. The abbreviation WNL means:

    1. A. Without neurologic loss
    2. B. Wheezes noted, left
    3. C. Within normal limits
    4. D. Weakness, new, left-sided
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Within normal limits

    Some say it also means we never looked. Neurologic loss, wheezes, and new weakness are findings, not the expansion; WNL means within normal limits and should be charted for findings actually assessed.

60. The abbreviation c with a bar over it means:

    1. A. Without
    2. B. Cold
    3. C. With
    4. D. Change
    Show answer

    Answer: C. With

    From the Latin cum.

61. The abbreviation s with a bar over it means:

    1. A. Severe
    2. B. Stable
    3. C. Without
    4. D. With
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Without

    From the Latin sine.

62. The abbreviation q means:

    1. A. Quick
    2. B. Quiet
    3. C. Quantity
    4. D. Every
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Every

    From quaque, as in q4h.

63. The abbreviation h or hr means:

    1. A. Heart
    2. B. Hour
    3. C. High
    4. D. Hold
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Hour

    Time unit.

64. The abbreviation stat means:

    1. A. Statistics
    2. B. Stable
    3. C. Immediately
    4. D. Standing order
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Immediately

    From the Latin statim.

65. The abbreviation ac means:

    1. A. Before meals
    2. B. After care
    3. C. Airway clear
    4. D. Acute condition
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Before meals

    From ante cibum.

66. The abbreviation pc means:

    1. A. Primary complaint
    2. B. Patient care
    3. C. After meals
    4. D. Pulse check
    Show answer

    Answer: C. After meals

    From post cibum.

67. The abbreviation hs means:

    1. A. Hourly
    2. B. At bedtime
    3. C. Heart sounds
    4. D. High severity
    Show answer

    Answer: B. At bedtime

    From hora somni. Hourly is written q1h, not hs.

68. The abbreviation gtt means:

    1. A. Gauge of tubing
    2. B. Gastric tube
    3. C. Grams total
    4. D. Drop or drops
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Drop or drops

    From the Latin gutta.

69. The abbreviation mcg means:

    1. A. Microgram
    2. B. Milligram
    3. C. Megagram
    4. D. Microliter
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Microgram

    Preferred over the Greek letter mu, which is misread.

70. The abbreviation mEq means:

    1. A. Minimum effective quantity
    2. B. Microequivalent
    3. C. Milliequivalent
    4. D. Mega equivalent
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Milliequivalent

    Used for electrolytes. A microequivalent is one thousandth of a milliequivalent and is written with the micro symbol.

71. The abbreviation kg means:

    1. A. Kilogram
    2. B. Kilocalorie
    3. C. Kilometer
    4. D. Kilograin
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Kilogram

    Weight for dosing. Kilocalorie is kcal and kilometer is km.

72. Which abbreviation is on the official do-not-use list?

    1. A. mg or mL
    2. B. IV or IM
    3. C. PO or SL
    4. D. QD or QOD
    Show answer

    Answer: D. QD or QOD

    QD for daily is misread as QID.

73. The abbreviation MS is dangerous because it can mean:

    1. A. Morphine sulfate only
    2. B. Morphine or magnesium sulfate
    3. C. Magnesium sulfate only
    4. D. Multiple sclerosis or mental status
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Morphine or magnesium sulfate

    Write out the drug name.

74. The abbreviation cc should be replaced by:

    1. A. gtt
    2. B. L
    3. C. mg
    4. D. mL
    Show answer

    Answer: D. mL

    cc can be misread as units or zeros.

75. The symbol for greater than is dangerous because:

    1. A. It is reserved for lab values
    2. B. It cannot be typed in most EHRs
    3. C. It is not a standard SI unit
    4. D. It can be read as less than or 7
    Show answer

    Answer: D. It can be read as less than or 7

    Write the words.

76. The abbreviation D/C is dangerous because it can mean:

    1. A. Discontinue, always
    2. B. Dose change or discharge
    3. C. Discharge or discontinue
    4. D. Discharge, always
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Discharge or discontinue

    Discontinuing medications by accident.

77. The abbreviation IU should be written as:

    1. A. I.U., with periods
    2. B. International units
    3. C. U, for units
    4. D. IU, as written
    Show answer

    Answer: B. International units

    IU is misread as IV. Spell it out.

78. The abbreviation SC or SQ for subcutaneous is discouraged because:

    1. A. It is easily confused with intramuscular
    2. B. It is not a recognized route
    3. C. It is longer than writing subcut
    4. D. SC is misread as SL, SQ as 5 every
    Show answer

    Answer: D. SC is misread as SL, SQ as 5 every

    Write subcut or subcutaneous.

79. The Joint Commission do-not-use list exists because:

    1. A. Abbreviations slow down charting
    2. B. They have caused real patient harm
    3. C. Courts reject abbreviated records
    4. D. Abbreviations look unprofessional
    Show answer

    Answer: B. They have caused real patient harm

    Each entry has a story behind it.