The R/T medical abbreviation means related to, and it links a health problem to the factor causing or contributing to it. It is written in lower case as r/t in most notes, and nursing students meet it early because it is the hinge word in a nursing diagnosis statement.
A typical line reads "Impaired skin integrity r/t immobility AEB stage 2 pressure injury on sacrum." The first part names the problem, r/t names the cause, and AEB, as evidenced by, lists the signs. Below are more examples, the formats where r/t changes role, and the mix ups to avoid.
At a glance
What the R/T medical abbreviation means in nursing
Nursing diagnoses describe how a person is responding to an illness or situation, rather than naming the disease itself. Pain, anxiety, risk of falling, trouble sleeping and poor nutrition are examples. To make the statement useful, the nurse also names what is driving the problem, because that is what the care plan can target.
That is the job of related to. In "Anxiety r/t upcoming surgery," the anxiety is the problem and the surgery is the factor. The care plan might then include teaching about what to expect, which addresses the cause directly.
The three part nursing diagnosis format
Many nursing programs teach a problem, etiology, signs structure, sometimes called the PES format. R/T sits in the middle.
| Part | Joined by | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Problem | Opens the statement | Acute pain |
| Etiology, the cause | r/t | r/t surgical incision |
| Signs and symptoms | AEB | AEB pain rated 7/10 and guarding |
Care plan entry: "Ineffective airway clearance r/t thick secretions AEB coarse crackles and weak cough." The patient has trouble clearing their airway because of thick mucus, shown by crackling lung sounds and a weak cough.
R/T nursing abbreviation in risk diagnoses
A risk diagnosis names a problem the patient does not have at present, so there are no signs to list and AEB drops out. Here r/t, or the phrase as evidenced by risk factors, points to the factors that raise the chance of the problem.
- "Risk for falls r/t unsteady gait and new sedating medicine."
- "Risk for infection r/t surgical wound and indwelling catheter."
- "Risk for impaired skin integrity r/t limited mobility."
Some newer textbooks prefer "as evidenced by risk factors" or "as manifested by" in place of r/t for risk statements. Follow the format your program or facility uses.
R/T versus D/T, AEB and RT
These short connectors look alike but do different jobs.
| Shorthand | Meaning | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| r/t | Related to | Links a problem with a contributing factor |
| d/t | Due to | States a direct cause, common in progress notes |
| AEB | As evidenced by | Introduces the signs that prove the problem |
| RT | Often respiratory therapy or radiation therapy | A service or treatment, not a connector |
Related to is a softer claim than due to. It says the factor contributes, without stating it is the only cause.
Tips for students and families reading r/t
For students, a common mistake is writing a medical diagnosis after r/t when a more specific factor would guide nursing care better. Pain r/t hip fracture is acceptable in many programs, but pain r/t movement of the fractured hip points the plan toward positioning and timing of pain relief. Another trap is putting the sign in the cause slot.
For families reading a care plan, r/t simply tells you what the nurses think is behind a problem. More care plan shorthand appears on the nursing abbreviations page.
This is a general explanation of nursing documentation. Questions about a loved one's care plan are best asked of the nurse caring for them.
Frequently asked questions
What does r/t mean in nursing?
It means related to. It connects a nursing problem, such as pain or anxiety, with the factor contributing to it.
What comes after r/t in a nursing diagnosis?
Usually AEB, meaning as evidenced by, followed by the signs and symptoms. In a risk diagnosis there are no signs yet, so the statement ends with the risk factors.
Is r/t the same as d/t?
They are close but not identical. D/t, due to, states a direct cause, while r/t says the factor is linked or contributing.
Can R/T mean respiratory therapy?
Respiratory therapy is usually written RT without a slash. With the slash, r/t in a nursing note almost always means related to.