abbreviations and conversions

1 tsp

5 mL

1 tbsp

15 mL

1 fl oz

30 mL

1 kg

2.2 lb

1 lb

0.454 kg or 454 g

1000 mcg

1 mg

1000 mg

1 g

1000 g

1 kg

1 dL

100 mL or 0.1 L

1 L

1000 mL or 10 dL

1 mL

0.01 dL or 0.001 L

1000 mcL

1 mL

mcg/mg/g/kg

pounds to kilograms

divide by 2.2

*lbs should be larger than kgs*

kg

kilogram (1000 g)

g

gram or grams

mg

milligram (1/1000th of a gram)

mcg

microgram (1/1000th of a milligram)

ng

nanogram (1/1000th of a microgram)

mL

millitiers

dL

deciliter (100 mL)

L

liter (1000 mL)

mcL

microliter

po

by mouth (per os)

NPO

nothing by mouth

BID

2 times a day

TID

3 times a day

qd

every day

*ISMP error-prone*
write out: qday or daily

QID

4 times a day

q2h

every 2 hours

q4h

every 4 hours

q6h

every 6 hours

1 oz

28.5 g

ou

both eyes (oculus uterque)

*ISMP error-prone*
write out: both eyes

os

left eye (oculus sinistra)

*ISMP error-prone*
write out: left eye

od

right eye (oculus dextra)

*ISMP error-prone*
write out: right eye

au

both ears (auris uterque)

*ISMP error-prone*
write out: both ears

as

left ear (auris sinistra)

*ISMP error-prone*
write out: left ear

ad

right ear (auris dextra)

*ISMP error-prone*
write out: right ear

qhs

every bedtime

*ISMP error-prone*
write out: nightly or every night at bedtime

TUD

take as directed

prn

as needed (patient only takes mediation when they need it)

1 pt

2 cups
16 fl oz
480 mL

1 qt

2 pt
4 cups
32 fl oz
960 mL

1 gal

4 qt
8 pt
16 cups
128 fl oz
3840 mL

pt

pint

qt

quart

gal

gallon

SL

sublingual (under the tongue)

pv

into vagina or vaginally

pr

into rectum or rectally

gtt

drop

gtts

drops

20 gtts

1 mL

qam

every morning

qpm

every evening

min

minute

h

hour

d

day or days

*ISMP error-prone*
write out: days or doses

ATC

around the clock

WA

while awake

ac

before meals

pc

after meals

HTN

hypertension (high blood pressure)

N/V

nausea and vomiting

HA

headache

qs

quantity sufficient or sufficient quantity

qs ad

a sufficient quantity up to

QOD

every other day

*ISMP error-prone*
write out: every other day

NMT

no more than

NTE

not to exceed

APAP

acetaminophen

*ISMP error-prone*

ASA

aspirin

NKDA

no known drug allergies

c̅

with (cum)

s̅

without (sine)

dx

diagnosis

sx

symptoms

1 gr

65 mg (or 60 mg)

gr

grain

lowercase roman numerals

dram

5 mL

fluid ounce

30 mL

IV

intravenous

IM

intramuscular

ID

intradermal

subcut

subcutaneous

SQ or SC would be *ISMP error-prone*

stat

immediately

NSAID

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (ex. ibuprofen)

PCN

penicillin

NS

normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride)

D5W

dextrose 5% in water solution

D10

dextrose 10% in water solution

D50

dextrose 50% in water solution

SWFI

sterile water for injection

cm

centimeter

in

inch

1 in

2.54 cm

u

units

*ISMP error-prone*
always write out the units

DAW

dispense as written (no generic)