Abbreviation Help

Published

Specializes in Eventually RN, BSN, CNRA.

I'm doing my first ever prep sheet without having the teacher in front of me to ask questions. I'm not sure how all programs are, but, for mine, we basically get a copy of the chart, and have to research all of there diagnoses and previous medical health. Problem is, under the previous column, they basically strictly use abbreviations and I'm afraid when I look online I'll find the wrong one.

There's two that really stumped me, although I think I found one, the other one I have no idea if it's "DM" or "OM". Do anyone of them stand for anything significant? The other one that I think I figured out is CVA - does that mean stroke?

Thanks in advance!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hospice.

DM = Diabetes Mellitus

CVA = cerebrovascular accident (yes, a stroke)

:D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm doing my first ever prep sheet without having the teacher in front of me to ask questions. I'm not sure how all programs are, but, for mine, we basically get a copy of the chart, and have to research all of there diagnoses and previous medical health. Problem is, under the previous column, they basically strictly use abbreviations and I'm afraid when I look online I'll find the wrong one.

There's two that really stumped me, although I think I found one, the other one I have no idea if it's "DM" or "OM". Do anyone of them stand for anything significant? The other one that I think I figured out is CVA - does that mean stroke?

Thanks in advance!

DM =Diabetes Mellitus

OM =Otitis Media (pediatric more likely) or perhaps Osteomyelitis

CVA =Cerebrovascular Accident (stroke)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with above post. In my experience, OM usually stands for otitis media(ear infection). I have also seen MDs use OM for osteomyelitis(bone infection). Hope this helps. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

DM= diabetes mellitus

OM= otitis media, osteomyelitis, or obtuse marginal artery if you're somewhere in the CCU... but it's more likely that it's one of the first two!

CVA= cerebrovascular accident, or stroke

Good luck! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

we have weblinks to online medical abbreviation sites where you can look these things up. you can find them on this sticky thread in the nursing student assistance forum: https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/need-help-abbreviations-89810.html - need help with abbreviations, medical terminology

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion