P

P – pulse, phosphorus

PA – physician assistant

PAC – pulmonary artery catheter

PACU – post-anesthesia care unit

PAD – public access defibrillation, peripheral artery disease

PAF – paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Pancreatitis – pancreas inflammation

PAP – pulmonary artery pressure

Pap smear, PAP – Papanicolaou smear

Pathology – the study of disease

PC – after meals, poison control

PCA – patient controlled analgesia

PCI – percutaneous coronary intervention

PCM – primary care manager

PCO2 – partial pressure of carbon dioxide

PCP – primary care provider

PCT – patient care technician,

PE – pulmonary embolism

Pediatrics – dealing with children

PED – pediatric, pedestrian

PEG – percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

PERRLA – pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation

PET scan – positron emission tomography scan

PFT – pulmonary function test

PHI – protected health information

PICC – peripherally inserted central catheter

PICU – pediatric intensive care

Pt – pint

PIV – peripheral intravenous

PLIF – posterior lumbar interbody fusion

PLOF – prior level of function

PLT – platelets

PMH – past medical history

PMI – point of maximal impulse

PMHX – patient medical history

PN – parenteral nutrition

PNA – pneumonia

PNC – penicillin

PND – paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

Pneumo – pneumothorax

PNS – peripheral nervous system

PO – by mouth

PO2 – partial pressure of oxygen

POA – present on admission

POC – point of care, plan of care

POD – post-operative days

POM – patient’s own medication

POMR – problem-oriented medical record

Pos – positive

Post op – postoperative

PPD – purified protein derivative

PPE – personal protective equipment

PPH – postpartum hemorrhage

PPS – prospective payment system

PPX – prophylaxis

PR – pulse rate, pulmonary rehabilitation

PRBC – packed red blood cells

Prec – precautions

PRN – as needed

PROM – passive range-of-motion exercises

Pruritus – itching

PSBO – partial small bowel obstruction

PSCU – presurgical care unit

PSH – past surgical history

PT – patient, physical therapy, prothrombin time, pint

PTC – percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram

PTH – parathyroid hormone

PTT – partial thromboplastin time

PTX – pneumothorax

PUD – peptic ulcer disease

Pulm – pulmonary

PVD – peripheral vascular disease

Px – prognosis

Pyrexia – fever