COMMONLY USED NICU ABBREVIATIONS

A & B - Apnea and Bradycardia

Bili -Bilirubin

BP - Blood Pressure

BPD -Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

cc or ml - Metric measures of liquid; 30cc (or ml) is 1 ounce; 5 cc is ~1 teaspoon

CNS - Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord) or Clinical Nurse Specialist

CPAP - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (air or oxygen delivered under a small amount of pressure)

CPR - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

CPT or Chest PT - Chest Physiotherapy (vibrating or tapping on the chest)

ET - Endotracheal (refers to a tube placed through the mouth or nose to the wind pipe)

Gms or grams - Metric weight; 450 grams = 1 pound; 1 kilogram (Kg) = 1000 grams

HMD - Hyaline Membrane Disease (another name for Respiratory Distress Syndrome

HI-FI - High Frequency Ventilator -a kind of breathing machine that delivers hundreds of tiny breaths per minute while holding the air sac open

ID - Infectious Disease or Identification

IMV - Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation - # of breaths per minute by the ventilator

IV - Intravenous (by vein)

IVH -Intraventricular Hemorrhage

LP - Lumbar Puncture (getting sample of spinal fluid using a needle)

NEC -Necrotizing Enterocolitis

NG - Nasal Gastric (tube going from nose to stomach)

NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

NPO - Nothing by Mouth

O2 - Oxygen

OG - Oral Gastric (tube going from mouth to stomach)

OT - Occupational Therapist

PDA -Patent Ductus Arteriosus

PICC or PCVL - an tiny catheter or tube threaded into a vein to give fluids or nutrition

PT - Physical Therapist

PVL -Periventricular Leukomalacia

RN - Registered Nurse

ROP -Retinopathy of Prematurity

RDS -Respiratory Distress Syndrome

SIDS - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

SIMV - Synchronized Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation (machine breaths timed to baby's)

TPR - Temperature, pulse and respiration

TTNB -Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn

TPN or TNA - Total Parenteral Nutrition (nutrition by vein)

UAC - Umbilical Artery Catheter

UTI - Urinary Tract (kidney or bladder) Infection

UVC - Umbilical Venous Catheter

VS - Vital signs ( temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure)