Common Sig Abbreviations and Best Practices

Vocabulary flashcards for medical sig abbreviations and ISMP best practice recommendations.

amp

Ampule

sol / soln

Solution

cap / caps

Capsules

supp

Suppository

crm

Cream

susp

Suspension

elix

Elixir

syr

Syrup or syringe

gtt(s)

Drop(s)

tab / tabs

Tablets

inj

Injection

troch

Troche

MDI

Metered-dose inhaler

oint / ung

Ointment

nebs

Solution for nebulization

ad / a.d.

Right ear

od / o.d.

Right eye

T/F: You should use o.d. / od for once daily.

False. According to ISMP, it should only be used for right eye.

as / a.s.

Left ear

os / o.s.

Left eye

au / a.u.

Each ear

ou / o.u.

Each eye

IM

Intramuscularly

NPO

Nothing by mouth

IV

Intravelously

PO

By mouth or oral ly

IVB

Intravenous bolus

PR

Rectal ly

IVP

Intravenous push

SC / SQ

Subcutaneously

According to ISMP, what is the best practice for subcutaneously?

SUBQ or Subcutaneously

IVPB

Intravenous piggyback

SL

Sublingual ly

NGT

Via nasogastric tube

top

Topical ly

ac / a.c.

Before meals

qd

Daily or once daily

T/F: Based on ISMP, it is best practice to say "daily" instead of QD?

True

alt

Alternating

qhs / QHS

Bedtime

ATC

Around the clock

qid

Four times a day

bid

Twice daily

qod

Every other day

T/F: Based on ISMP, it is best practice to say "every other day" instead of qod?

True

biw

Twice weekly

According to ISMP, what is the best practice instead of biw?

Use 2 times weekly

qpm

Every evening

c / c̄

With

qweek

Once weekly

s / s̄

Without

pc / p.c.

After meals

stat

Immediately

prn

As needed

tid

Three times daily

q4h, q8h, etc.

Every (number) hours

tiw

Three times weekly

According to ISMP, what is the best practice instead of tiw?

3 times weekly

qam

Every morning

ud

As directed

T/F: It is best practice to use ud.

False. Best practice is to use "as directed"

aa / āā

Of each

NTE

Not to exceed

aq.

Water

qs

Quantity sufficient

aq. pur.

Purified water

qs ad

Quantity sufficient to make

disp

Dispense

ss / s̅s̅ (one straight bar)

One-half

div

Divide

t / tsp

Teaspoon

T / tbsp

Tablespoon

Are teaspoon and tablespoon the standard units of volume recommended for liquid medication?

No, the standard unit of volume would be milliliters (mL) when possible.

i

1

ii

2

TKO

To keep open

NR

No refil ls

#

Number, quantity