Medical Abbreviations

ac

before meals

ad lib

as desired

bid

twice a day

BP

blood pressure

c

with

cc

centimeters - same as millimeters (use millimeters)

CR

controlled release

cap

capsule

DS

double strength

EC

enteric coated

ext

extract

h

hour

Nightly

hour of sleep, bedtime

IM

intramuscular

IV

intravenous

IVP

intravenous push

IVPB

intravenous piggyback

NKA

No known allergies

NKDA

No known drug allergies

KVO

keep vein open

NG

nasogastric

NJ

nasojejunal

NPO

nothing by mouth

NS

normal saline

OTC

over the counter

pc

after meals (post cibum)

per

by

pm

after noon (post meridian)

PO

by mouth (can also use by mouth or orally)

PPE

personal protective equipment

pr

per rectal

prn

whenever necessary

q1h

every 1 hour

q2h

every 2 hours

q3h

every 3 hours

q4h

every 4 hours

q6h

every 6 hours

q8h

every 8 hours

qh

every hour

qid

four times a day

ROM

range of motion

s

without

Subcut or subcutaneously

subcutaneous

sl

sublingual

SR

sustained release

stat

immediately

supp

suppository

susp

suspension

tab

tablet

tid

three times a day

VO

verbal order

VS

vital signs

WNL

within normal limits

Fill in the Blank: ac means __________.

before meals

Fill in the Blank: ad lib means __________.

as desired

Fill in the Blank: bid stands for __________.

twice a day

Fill in the Blank: BP refers to __________.

blood pressure

Fill in the Blank: cc is equivalent to __________.

centimeters - same as millimeters

Fill in the Blank: IM means __________.

intramuscular

Fill in the Blank: NPO indicates __________.

nothing by mouth

Fill in the Blank: OTC is short for __________.

over the counter

Fill in the Blank: prn means __________.

whenever necessary

What does 'q4h' indicate?

every 4 hours

What is the meaning of 'NKA'?

No known allergies

What does 'VO' stand for?

verbal order

What does 'stat' imply?

immediately

What does 'p.m.' refer to?

after noon (post meridian)