Which term indicates that a patient is not showing any distress during assessment?

The term "NAD" stands for "No Acute Distress." It is commonly used in medical assessments to indicate that a patient is not exhibiting any signs of physical distress during the examination. This is an important observation because it helps healthcare providers quickly assess a patient's overall condition and determine the urgency of their medical needs. When a patient is noted to be in NAD, it suggests that their vital signs are stable, and they are not experiencing pain, difficulty breathing, or any other significant symptoms at that moment.

The other options refer to different terms: "NKDA" means "No Known Drug Allergies," which relates to a patient's allergy history; "HPI" stands for "History of Present Illness," which is focused on the details surrounding the patient's current health issues; and "hx" is shorthand for "history," often used to refer to the medical history of a patient. While pertinent to patient assessments, these terms do not specifically indicate the absence of distress during an evaluation.