In the writing section of OET, test takers are often presented with case notes. In order to perform well on the Writing task, it is important to understand these case notes and to plan your response. And since you are expected to select only that information which is relevant to the reader understanding abbreviations becomes imperative.

Here is a list of abbreviations that are commonly used across the OET writing prompts and are also approved by the National Health Service - UK.

Abbreviation Meaning

fracture

A&E accident and emergency a.c before meals AF atrial fibrillation APTT activated partial thromboplastin time ASQ ages and stages questionnaire b.d.s, bds, BDS 2 times a day b.i.d., bid, bd twice a day / twice daily / 2 times daily BNO bowels not open BO bowels open c/c chief complaint CMHN community mental health nurse CPN community psychiatric nurse CSF cerebrospinal fluid CSU catheter stream urine sample CVP central venous pressure DNACPR do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation DNAR do not attempt resuscitation DNR do not resuscitate DVT deep vein thrombosis Dx diagnosis EMU early morning urine sample ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate EUA examination under anaesthetic FBC full blood count FY1 FY2 foundation doctor GA general anaesthetic gtt., gtt drop(s) h., h hour h/o history of Hb haemoglobin HCA healthcare assistant HCSW healthcare support worker HDL high-density lipoprotein HRT hormone replacement therapy Ht height Hx history i 1 tablet ii 2 tablets iii 3 tablets i.m., IM injection into a muscle (intra muscular) i.v., IV injection directly to a vein (intra venous) INR international normalised ratio IVI intravenous infusion IVP intravenous pyelogram Ix investigations LA local anaesthetic LDL low-density lipoprotein LFT liver function test LMP last menstrual period M/R modified release MRI magnetic resonance imaging MRSA methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus MSU mid-stream urine sample n.p.o., npo, NPO nothing by mouth / not by oral administration NAD nothing abnormal discovered NAI non-accidental injury NBM nil by mouth NG nasogastric nocte every night NoF neck of femur NSAID non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug o.d., od, OD once a day o/e on examination OT occupational therapist p.c. after food p.m., pm, PM afternoon or evening p.o., po, PO orally / by mouth / oral administration p.r., pr, PR rectally p.r.n., prn, PRN as needed (also pertactin, a key antigen of ac. pertussis vaccine) p/c presenting complaint POP plaster of paris PTT partial thromboplastin time PU passed urine q. every q.1.d., q1d every day q.1.h., q1h every hour q.2.h., q2h every 2 hours q.4.h., q4h every 4 hours q.6.h., q6h every 6 hours q.8.h., q8h every 8 hours q.d., qd every day / daily q.d.s, qds, QDS 4 times a day q.h., qh every hour, hourly q.i.d, qid 4 times a day q.o.d., qod every other day / alternate days q.s., qs a sufficient quantity (enough) RN registered nurse RNLD learning disability nurse (Registered Nurse for Learning Disabilities) ROSC return of spontaneous circulation RTA road traffic accident Rx treatment s.c., SC injection under the skin S/R sustained release SLT speech and language therapist SpR specialist registrar stat. immediately, with no delay, now STEMI ST-elevation myocardial infarction t.d.s, tds, TDS 3 times a day t.i.d., tid 3 times a day TCI to come in TFT thyroid function test TPN total parenteral nutrition TPR temperature, pulse and respiration TTA to take away TTO to take out U&E urea and electrolytes u.d., ud as directed UCC urgent care centre UTI urinary tract infection VLDL very-low density lipoprotein VTE venous thromboembolism Wt weight