Commonly Used Medical Abbreviations for OET Takers

1. Commonly Used Medical Abbreviations for OET Takers When used strategically, abbreviations can enhance your performance in the listening, reading, and writing sub-tests. So, practice applying them during your OET online review. Here are some guidelines when using them for the high-stakes exam. In the listening exam, you can only use abbreviations that are frequently used in the healthcare industry. You can’t use ones that are specific to a specialization or workplace.

2. In the reading exam, you can only use abbreviations that are mentioned in the text. In the writing exam, you can only use abbreviations that are appropriate to the provided context and commonly used in the healthcare industry. If your reader is a patient, for instance, using the complete form of the abbreviation is recommended. If your reader is a medical professional, on the other hand, using abbreviations is acceptable. Keep these in mind whenever you use abbreviations during your OET exam preparation online. To help you review and build up your vocabulary, here’s a list of the most frequently used abbreviations in the industry. Abbreviation Complete Name GENERAL ADM admission / admitted ASAP as soon as possible AMA against medical advice A&W alive and well BMI body mass index C Celsius, centigrade C/O complains of D.C discontinue / discharge DO disorder DOA dead on arrival, date of admission EDC estimated date of confinement EDD estimated delivery date ER emergency room F Fahrenheit H&P history and physical examination HPI history of present illness H/O history of ICU intensive care unit IP inpatient MVA motor vehicle accident P pulse Post-op postoperative, after surgery Pre-op preoperative, before surgery PA/PT patient RBC red blood cell

3. SX symptoms T temperature VS vital signs VSS vital signs stable DIAGNOSIS A&O alert and oriented AOB alcohol on breath BM bowel movement BP blood pressure C/F chills/fever CP chest pain Dx diagnosis EBL estimated blood loss GSW gunshot wound HA headache Hb hemoglobin HR heart rate LBP lower back pain SOB shortness of breath TBI traumatic brain injury UO urine output CONDITIONS ADHD attention deficit hyperactivity disorder AIDS acquired immune deficiency disorder CA cancer CAD coronary artery disease CF cystic fibrosis CV cardiovascular GI gastrointestinal HCV hepatitis C virus HDV hepatitis D virus HTN hypertension TB tuberculosis UTI urinary tract infection HEALTHCARE BAL blood alcohol level BC birth control

4. CXR chest x-ray CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation ECG emergency cardiac arrest ECG/EKG electrocardiogram FB foreign body hs hours of sleep I&D incision and drainage I&O intake and output IV intravenous IUPC intrauterine pressure catheter In vitro In the laboratory In vivo In the body KUB kidney, ureter, bladder (x-ray) PT physical therapy UA urinalysis US ultrasound Want to learn more healthcare abbreviations that you can use for the life-changing exam? Prepare with an excellent OET online review course. Not only will it help you expand and refine your word choice but it’ll also enhance your strategies for all four sub-tests. Enroll in the best training program available to guarantee OET success!