Charting and Medical Abbreviations

Ch.3 MedMath and Ch.20 Taylor's Fundamentals for Nursing' Abbreviations (or lack of them)

s/p

status post

fx

fracture

ac

before meals. ante cibum

pc

after meals. post cibum

daily

every day. quaque die.

qd or q.d.

bid

twice a day. bis in die

tid

three times a day. ter in die

qid

four times in a day. quater in die

qh

every hour. quaque hora

at bedtime

at bedtime. hora somni

hs or h.s.

qn

every night. quaque nocte.

stat

immediately. statin

q2h

q2^o

every two hours

q4h

q4^o

every 4 hours

q6h

q6^o

every 6 hours

q8h

q8^o

every 8 hours

q12h

q12^o

every 12 hours

3 times weekly

three times per week. ter in vicis

tiw or t.i.w

biw

twice per week. bis in vicis

right ear

right ear. aures dextra

AD

left ear

left ear. aures laeva

AL

each ear

each ear. aures utrae

AU

HHN

handheld nebulizer: medication placed in a device that produces a fine spray for inhalation

IM

intramuscularly: injection is given at a 90-degree angle into a muscle

IV

intravenously: medication or fluid isgiven int oa vein

IVPB

intravenous piggyback: medication prepared in a small volume of fluid attached to an IV (which is already infusing fluid into a client’s vein) at specified times

MDI

metered-dose-inhaler: aerosol device that delivers medication by inhalation

NEB

nebulizer: medication placed in a deice that produces a fine spray for inhalations

NGT, ng

nasogastric tube: medication is placed in the stomach through a tube in the nose

in the right eye

in the right eye. oculus dextra

OD

in the left eye

in the left eye. oculus sinister

OS

in both eyes

in both eyes. oculi utrique

OU

PO, po

by mouth. per os

PR, pr

in the rectum. per rectum

sub q

subcutaneously: injection is usually given at a 45-degree angle into subcutaneous tissue

sc, s.c., sq, s.q.

SL

sublingual: under the tongue. sub lingua

S&S

swish and swallow → client coats his or mouth with liquid medication, then swallows

cap, caps

capsule: medication encase in a gelatin shell

CR

controlled release.

indicates drug has been prepared in a form that allows extended action (given less frequently)

LA

long acting.

indicates drug has been prepared in a form that allows extended action (given less frequently)

SA

sustained action.

indicates drug has been prepared in a form that allows extended action (given less frequently)

SR

slow release or sustained release.

indicate drug has been prepared in a form that allows extended action (given less frequently)

DS

double strength.

indicates drug has been prepared in a form that allows extended action (given less frequently)

EC

enteric coated: tablet is coated with a substance that will not dissolve in the acid secretions of the stomach and will instead dissolve in the more alkaline secretions of the intestine

el, elix

elixir: drug dissolved in a hydroalcoholic sweetened base

sol

solution: drug is contained in a clear, liquid preparation

sp

spirit: alcoholic solution of a volatile substance

sup, supp

suppository: solid, cylindrically shaped drug that can be inserted into a body opening, typically rectum or vagina

susp

suspension: small particles of drug are dispersed in a liquid base and must be shaken before being poured.

syr

syrup: sugar is dissolved in a liquid medicatoin and flavored to disguise the tastet

tab, tabs

tablet: medication is compressed or molded into a solid form; additional ingredients are used to shape and color the tablet

tr, tinct.

tincture: liquid alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solution of a drug

ung, oint.

ointment: semisolid drug preparation that is applied to the skin

KVO

keep vein open

TKO

to keep open

D/C

discontinue. do not use

NKA

no known allergies

NKDA

no known drug allergies

cc

cubic centimeter

• measures gases + substitutable with mL

• 1 [__] = 16 drops from medicine dropper

g

gram

• solid measure of weight

• 1 [__] = 2 paper clips

kg, Kg

kilogram

• weight measure

• 1 [__] = 2.2 lb

L

liter

• liquid measure

• 1[_] > 1 qt

mcg

microgram

• weight measure

• 1 [__] = 0.001 mg

do not use → $\mu$

mEq, meq

milliequivalent

• drug measurement (drugs prepared this way by default)

• no equivalent

mg

milligram

• measure of weight

• 1 [__] = 0.001g

mL, ml

milliliter

• liquid measurement 1 [__] = 0.001 L

• interchangeable with cc — 1 [__] = 1 cc

unit

measure of biologic activity; nurses do not calculate this measure

pt

pint

• 1 [__] = 500 mL

• 1 [__] = 0.5 qt

qt

quarter

• 1 [__] = 1 L = 1000 mL

• 1 [__] = 2 pt

tbsp

tablespoon

• 1 [__] = 1/2 oz = 15 mL

• 1 [__] = 3 tsp

tsp

teaspoon

• 1 [__] = 1/6 oz = 5 mL

• 1 [__] = 1/3 tbsp

oz, fl oz

fluid ounce

• 1 [__] = 30 mL

• 1 [__] = 2 tbsp = 6 tsp