Common Acronyms for Postpartum/Newborn Nursing Unit
A comprehensive cheat sheet of common acronyms used on postpartum/newborn units will help you navigate clinical rotations with more confidence and understanding.
Maternal Care Acronyms
- EPL - Early Pregnancy Loss (preferred over outdated terms like "failure" or "blighted ovum") 1
- RPOC - Retained Products of Conception (used after incomplete delivery of placental tissue) 1
- SAB - Spontaneous Abortion (medical term for miscarriage) 1
- LUS - Lower Uterine Segment (anatomical term often referenced during labor and delivery) 1
- GS - Gestational Sac (ultrasound finding in early pregnancy) 1
- YS - Yolk Sac (ultrasound finding in early pregnancy) 1
- IUP - Intrauterine Pregnancy (normal pregnancy location) 1
- US - Ultrasound (imaging modality) 1
- OB-Gyn - Obstetrical and Gynecological (medical specialty) 1
Newborn Care Levels and Settings
- NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (for critically ill newborns) 1
- Level I - Basic neonatal care for healthy newborns and stable preterm infants ≥35 weeks 1
- Level II - Specialty care for moderately ill newborns ≥32 weeks or ≥1500g 1
- Level III - Comprehensive care for infants <32 weeks, <1500g, or critically ill 1
- Level IV - Regional NICU with surgical capabilities for complex conditions 1
- CPAP - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (respiratory support) 1
- PPV - Positive Pressure Ventilation (respiratory support) 1
Resuscitation and Emergency Care
- NRP - Newborn Resuscitation Program (training for providers) 1
- NRT - Neonatal Resuscitation Training 1
- CPR - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation 1
- A-B-C - Airway-Breaths-Compressions (resuscitation sequence) 1
- C-A-B - Compressions-Airway-Breaths (alternative resuscitation sequence) 1
- BLS - Basic Life Support 1
- PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support 1
- ACLS - Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support 1
- AED - Automated External Defibrillator 1
Maternal Care Levels
- Level I - Basic care for low-risk pregnancies 1
- Level II - Specialty care for moderate-risk pregnancies 1
- Level III - Subspecialty care for high-risk pregnancies 1
- Level IV - Regional perinatal healthcare centers 1
- MFM - Maternal-Fetal Medicine (high-risk pregnancy specialists) 1
- CNM - Certified Nurse-Midwife 1
Documentation and Assessment
- PEWS - Pediatric Early Warning System (monitoring tool) 1
- CPC - Cerebral Performance Category (neurological assessment) 1
- DNACPR - Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation 1
- PICO - Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome (research framework) 1
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Avoid using outdated terminology like "blighted ovum" (use "anembryonic pregnancy" instead) 1, 2
- Be cautious with abbreviations on the "do not use" list to prevent medical errors 3
- Avoid using terms like "viable" or "living" in first trimester documentation 1
- Be aware that unconventional acronyms may vary between institutions 4
- Remember that proper documentation using standardized terminology improves patient safety 4, 3
Tips for Success
- Ask your preceptor for unit-specific abbreviations that may not be standardized 4
- Keep this cheat sheet handy during clinical rotations 5
- Focus on understanding maternal and newborn assessment terminology as these are frequently used in reports 6, 7
- When in doubt about an abbreviation, always ask for clarification rather than assuming 3