WNL
Medical abbreviation · Nursing
| Stands for | Within normal limits |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
WNL stands for Within normal limits, a nursing abbreviation.
Charting term stating that an assessment finding, lab value or test result falls inside the expected range. It is applied to whole body systems ("neuro WNL") or single results and implies the clinician actually examined or reviewed it.
Example: Skin warm and dry, cap refill under 3 seconds, peripheral pulses WNL.
Usage notes
Critics joke that WNL means "we never looked", and legal reviewers warn that it says nothing about what was assessed. Many electronic charts replace it with WDL (within defined limits), tied to a written definition of normal for each system. Laboratory reference ranges also vary by age, sex and analyzer.
Related abbreviations
More nursing abbreviations
- A&Ox3 – Alert and oriented times three
- A&Ox4 – Alert and oriented times four
- AAT – Activity as tolerated
- ADAT – Advance diet as tolerated
- ADPIE – Assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation
- amb – Ambulate (ambulatory)
- BCMA – Barcode medication administration
- BR – Bed rest
- BRP – Bathroom privileges
- BS – Blood sugar
- BSC – Bedside commode
- C&DB – Cough and deep breathe
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.