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. Learn more at https://jroozoettrainingcenter.wordpress.com/2018/11/27/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!