Which abbreviation stands for "physical examination"?

Which abbreviation stands for "physical examination"?

• A. OOB
• B. PE
• C. NPO
• D. NG

Answer: (B)

The main concept is that PE is the standard shorthand for physical examination. In medical notes, a physical examination refers to the clinician’s hands-on assessment of the patient, and PE is the common abbreviation used to denote that part of the encounter. The other terms point to different concepts: OOB means out of bed, indicating mobility status; NPO means nothing by mouth, indicating restrictions on oral intake; and NG refers to a nasogastric tube. Because PE specifically denotes the physical examination, it is the best match.

The main concept is that PE is the standard shorthand for physical examination. In medical notes, a physical examination refers to the clinician’s hands-on assessment of the patient, and PE is the common abbreviation used to denote that part of the encounter. The other terms point to different concepts: OOB means out of bed, indicating mobility status; NPO means nothing by mouth, indicating restrictions on oral intake; and NG refers to a nasogastric tube. Because PE specifically denotes the physical examination, it is the best match.