--P--

p

Pulse

P&A

percussion and auscultation

PA

posteroanterior; pulmonary artery; Physician's Assistant

PA-C

Physician's Assistant, Certified

PAC

premature atrial contraction

PaCO2

partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial gas

PACU

postanesthesia care unit

PAD/PAS

pulmonary artery diastolic/systolic

PaO2

partial pressure of arterial oxygen

Pap Smear

Papanicolaou Smear Test

para

number of pregnancies producing viable offspring; paraplegic

PAS

pulmonary artery systolic

PAT

paroxysmal atrial tachycardia

path

pathology

PBC

primary biliary colic; primary biliary cirrhosis

PBI

protein bound iodine

pc

[L. post cibum] after a meal

PCA

patient-controlled analgesia; Patient Care Assistant

PCE

pericardial effusion

PCM

Patient Care Manager, protein/calorie malnutrition

PCN

penicillin

PCO2

partial pressure of carbon dioxide

PCS

precordial stethoscope

PCSD

partial complex seizure disorder

PCVC 

percutaneous central venous catheter

PCWP

pulmonary capillary wedge pressure

PD

peritoneal dialysis

PDA

patent ductus arteriosus

PDN

Private Duty Nurse

PDR

Physician's Desk Reference

PE

Pulmonary Embolus

peds

pediatrics

PEEP

positive end-expiratory pressure

PEG

percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

Pen G

penicillin-G

per

[L. per] through, by

PERL

pupils equal, reactive (to) light

PERLA

pupils equal, reactive to light and accommodation

PERRLA

pupils equal, round, reactive (to) light (and) accommodation

PH

alkalinity-acidity index

PH

past history

Ph.D.

Doctor of Philosophy

Phaco

phacoemulsification

Pharm. D.

Doctor of Pharmacy

PI

present illness

PICC 

Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter

PID

pelvic inflammatory disease

PIH

pregnancy-induced hypertension

PIP

peak inspiratory pressure; proximal interphalangeal

PJC

premature junctional contraction

PKU

phenylketonuria

Pm

[L. post meridiem] afternoon

PMD

private medical doctor

PMH/PMHx

past medical history

PMI

point of maximal impulse

PMIS

Patient Medication Information Sheet

PMR

physical medicine (and) rehabilitation

PMS

premenstrual syndrome

PN

parenteral  nutrition

PND

paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

PNS

peripheral nerve stimulation

PNT

paroxysmal nodal tachycardia

Po or PO

[L. per os] by mouth

PO2 or PO2

partial pressure of oxygen

PO4

phosphate

POA

Power of Attorney

POC

Plan of Care; products of conception

POD

postoperative day

Polys

polymorphonuclear leukocytes

POMR

problem-oriented medical records

Pos

positive

Postop

postoperative

POV

privately owned vehicle

Pp

postprandial

PP

postpartum

PPB

positive pressure breathing

PPD

purified protein derivative

PPN

peripheral parenteral nutrition

Ppr

per patient's request

PPVT

Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test

PR interval

beginning of supraventricular complex to beginning of ventricular complex

PRBC

packed red blood cells

PRE

progressive resistance exercise

Precert

precertification

Preop

preoperative

prep

prepare for

prn or p.r.n.

[L. pro re nata] as required

pro

protein

PRO

peer review organization

PROM

premature rupture of membranes, passive range of motion

prot

protein

PSA

Prostate-Specific Antigen

psy

psychiatry

pt

patient

PT

Physical Therapist; physical therapy; prothrombin time

PTA

prior to admission; Physical Therapy Assistant

PTCA

percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

PTFE

polytetrafluoroethylene

PTSD

post-traumatic stress disorder

PTT

partial thromboplastin time

PUD

peptic ulcer disease

PVC

premature ventricular contraction

PVD

peripheral vascular disease

PVR

pulmonary vascular resistance

PWB

partial weight bearing