Nursing Abbreviations

Approved and Not Approved

a

before

abx

antibiotics

ac

before meals

ad lib

as desired

AM

morning

amp

ampule

ASAP

as soon as possible

BG

blood glucose

BID

twice daily

BP

blood pressure

BRP

bathroom privileges

c

with

cap(s)

capsule(s)

cm

centimeter

CP

chest pain

Cx

culture

c/o

complaints of

drsg

dressing

Dx

diagnosis

elix

elixir

fl

fluid

G

gram

Gr

grain

gtt

drop

HOB

head of bed

hr

hour

Hx

history

IM

intramuscular

IV

intravenous

IVF

intravenous fluid

IVP

intravenous push

IVPB

intravenous piggyback

kg

kilogram

L

liter

lb

pound

liq

liquid

mcg

microgram

med(s)

medicine(s)

mEq

milliequivalent

mg

milligram

min

minute

mL

milliliter

mm

millimeter

mmHg

millimeters of mercury

mmol

millimole

NAPD

no apparent pain or distress

NC

nasal cannula

NG

nasogastric

NKDA

no known drug allergies

NPO

nothing by mouth

NS

normal saline

N&V

nausea and vomiting

oz

ounce

p

after

pc

after meals

PM

afternoon

PO

by mouth

PR

per rectum

PRN

as needed

Pt

patient

pwd

powder

q

every

QID

four times daily

r/t

related to

Rx

prescription

s

without

sol

solution

STAT

immediately

SUBQ

subcutaneous

supp

suppository

SR

side rails

syr

syrup

tab(s)

tablet(s)

tbsp

tablespoon

TID

three times daily

TPN

total parental nutrition

tsp

teaspoon

Tx

treatment

VS

vital signs

WC

wheelchair

wt

weight

x

times

(triangle)

change