SIG Abbreviations

Rx

prescription symbol (recipe or take thou)

1/2 NS

half-strength normal saline (0.45%)

a

before

a.c.

before meals

a.d.

right ear

a.m.

morning, before noon

a.s.

left ear

a.a.

of each

ABW

actual body weight

ad

up to; to make

ad lib.

use as much as one desires; at pleasure, freely

admin

administer

qoh

every other hour

amp.

ampul

amt

amount

APAP

acetaminophen

aq.

water

aq.dist.

distilled water

ASA

aspirin

ASAP

as soon as possible

ATC

around the clock

bid

twice a day

biw

twice a week

BM

bowel movement

bol.

as a large single dose (usually intravenously)

BP

blood pressure

BS

blood sugar

BSA

body surface area

BUN

blood urea nitrogen

BW

body weight

C

celsius

c., w, or w/

with

C&S

culture and sensitivity

CA

cancer

cap., caps.

capsule

CBC

complete blood count

cf

with food

cc or cm^3

cubic centimeter

CCT

crude coal tar

CHD

coronary heart disease

CHF

congestive heart failure

CIVI

continuous (24 hour) intravenous infusion

CNS

central nervous system

comp.

compound

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

crm or cr

cream

d

day

D.A.W.

dispense as written

D10W

dextrose 10% in water

D5 1/2 NS or D5-0.45

dextrose 5% in 1/2 normal saline (0.45% NaCl)

D5LR

dextrose 5% in lactated Ringer's

D5NS

dextrose 5% in normal saline (0.9% NaCl)

D5W

dextrose 5% in water

dc, D/C, disc or D.C.

discontinue

dil

dilute

disp.

dispense

DOB

date of birth

DS

double strength

DW

distilled water

DX

diagnosis

EC

enteric coated

ECG or EKG

electrocardiogram

EENT

eyes, ears, nose, throat

EES

erythromycin ethylsuccinate

EFAD

essential fatty acid deficiency

elix.

elixir

emuls

emulsion

EPI

epinephrine

EPO

erythropoietin

ER

emergency room

F

Fahrenheit

f, fl, or fld

fluid

f. or ft.

make; let it be made

FBS

fasting blood sugar

FFA

free fatty acid

fl (3) or f (3) *as subscripts

fluid dram

g

gram

gal

gallon

GERD

gastroesophageal reflux disease

GFR

glomerular filtration rate

GI

gastrointestinal

gr

grain

gtt, gtts

drop, drops

H

hypodermic

h or hr

hour

HA

headache

Hb

hemoglobin

HBP

high blood pressure

HCT

hematocrit

HCTZ

hydrochlorothiazide

HEPA

high-efficiency particulate air

HR

heart rate

HRT

hormone replacement therapy

hs

at bedtime

HT

height

HTN

hypertension

I&O

input and output

IBW

ideal body weight

ICU

intensive care unit

ID

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