Dictionary

Abbreviations

Abbreviations nurses read and write, with the ones never to use.

CABCompressions, airway, breathing: the order of steps the American Heart Association teaches for CPR.

ccAn abbreviation for cubic centimeter, a unit of volume equal to 1 milliliter.

CCPCyclic citrullinated peptide: a protein whose antibodies (anti-CCP) are measured in a blood test for rheumatoid arthritis.

CCRNA certification for critical care nurses, awarded by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

CCUCoronary care unit (also cardiac or critical care unit): a hospital unit for clients with serious heart problems who need close monitoring.

CD4A protein on the surface of helper T cells; a CD4 count measures how many of these immune cells are in the blood.

CD8A marker on the surface of cytotoxic (killer) T cells, the white blood cells that destroy infected and cancer cells; also those cells themselves.

CHDCoronary heart disease, or congenital heart disease, depending on the note.

CIWAClinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol: a scoring tool nurses use to rate how severe a client's alcohol withdrawal is.

CLLChronic lymphocytic leukemia: a slow-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow in which too many mature-looking lymphocytes build up.

CMSAn abbreviation for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the US agency that runs Medicare, or for a circulation, motor and sensation check.

CNECertified Nurse Educator: a credential for nursing faculty, awarded by the National League for Nursing.

CNMCertified nurse-midwife: an advanced practice registered nurse trained to care for people through pregnancy, birth and beyond.

COPDChronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to move air out of the lungs.

COVIDCOVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019: an infectious illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

COWSClinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale: an 11-item score nurses use to rate how severe opioid withdrawal is.

CPAn abbreviation with more than one meaning, most often cerebral palsy or chest pain.

CPAPContinuous positive airway pressure: a steady flow of pressurized air through a mask that keeps the airway open.

CPOEComputerized provider order entry: a system in which prescribers enter orders directly into the electronic health record.

CPZAn abbreviation for Compazine (prochlorperazine); ISMP advises writing the full drug name.

CRHCorticotropin-releasing hormone: a hormone from the hypothalamus that signals the pituitary gland to release ACTH.

CSTCertified Surgical Technologist, a credential for surgical technologists; in maternity care, contraction stress test.

CTAComputed tomography angiography: a CT scan with IV contrast dye that shows blood vessels in detail.