FREE DOWNLOAD FOR HOSPITAL STAFF

Medical Abbreviations Cheat Sheet

The shorthand you will actually see on transport requests, wristbands, door signs and whiteboards, explained in plain English on two printable pages.

  • About 100 abbreviations and terms, grouped the way you meet them on a shift
  • Weight bearing, isolation, safety alerts and the equipment that travels with a patient
  • The Joint Commission Do Not Use list and safe read-back tips

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What is inside

Page 1: on the requestMode and mobility (amb, w/c, str, SBA, assist x2), weight bearing (NWB to FWB), timing (STAT, POD 1), safety alerts (NPO, FR, DNR, HOB 30) and equipment (PCA, tele, NC, Foley, JP).
Page 2: in the chart and on the doorChart shorthand (s/p, h/o, r/o, d/c), departments and tests (PACU, IR, CT, MRI), common wristband colors, the Do Not Use list, and safe ways to say numbers and names.
Built for support staffWritten for patient transporters, EVS, food and nutrition, unit clerks and students. Every line says what the term means for the job, not just what the letters stand for.
Rule one on the sheet: every hospital has its own approved abbreviation list, and it always wins. If an abbreviation is unclear, ask. Never move a patient based on a guess.

Want to read every request without guessing?

Medical Terminology for Hospital Support Staff course

Medical Terminology for Hospital Support Staff is the full online course behind this cheat sheet: 10 lessons, a graded case assignment from a real-style shift, four job aids, a certificate of completion and 10 CE hours toward CHT CE Active.

See the course, $99

Questions

Is the cheat sheet really free?

Yes. Enter your name and email and the PDF opens right away. There is nothing to buy.

Who is it for?

Hospital support staff and people preparing for those jobs: patient transporters, EVS, food and nutrition, unit clerks, and medical assistant, billing and healthcare students.

Can I print it for my team?

Yes. Print it for your own team or classroom. Please do not sell it or post it on another website.

Does it replace my hospital's abbreviation list?

No. Abbreviations, wristband colors and sign names vary by hospital. Your hospital's approved list and the nurse's direction always come first.