Medication Administration & Dosage Calculation Vocabulary Review

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering common medication-administration abbreviations, measurement conversions, injection equipment, dosage-calculation methods, IV infusion formulas, and safety protocols essential for nursing dosage-calculation exams.

ac

Before meals (time abbreviation)

pc

After meals (time abbreviation)

bid

Twice a day (time abbreviation)

tid

Three times a day (time abbreviation)

qid

Four times a day (time abbreviation)

qh

Every hour (time abbreviation)

qn

Every night (time abbreviation)

prn

As needed (time abbreviation)

blw

Twice per week (time abbreviation)

HHN

Hand-held nebulizer (route abbreviation)

IM

Intramuscularly (route abbreviation)

IV

Intravenously (route abbreviation)

IVP

Intravenous push (route abbreviation)

IVPB

Intravenous piggyback (route abbreviation)

MDI

Metered-dose inhaler (route abbreviation)

NEB

Nebulizer (route abbreviation)

NGT / ng

Nasogastric tube (route abbreviation)

PO / po

By mouth (route abbreviation)

PR / pr

In the rectum (route abbreviation)

Sub q

Subcutaneously (route abbreviation)

SL

Sublingual, under the tongue (route abbreviation)

S&S

Swish and swallow (route abbreviation)

cap / caps

Capsule (drug preparation abbreviation)

CR

Controlled release (drug preparation abbreviation)

LA

Long acting (drug preparation abbreviation)

SA

Sustained action (drug preparation abbreviation)

SR

Slow release or sustained release (drug preparation abbreviation)

DS

Double strength (drug preparation abbreviation)

EC

Enteric coated (drug preparation abbreviation)

el / elix.

Elixir (drug preparation abbreviation)

sol

Solution (drug preparation abbreviation)

sp.

Spirit (alcoholic solution)

sup / supp

Suppository (drug preparation abbreviation)

susp

Suspension (drug preparation abbreviation)

syr.

Syrup (drug preparation abbreviation)

tab / tabs

Tablet (drug preparation abbreviation)

tr / tinct

Tincture (alcoholic extract)

ung / oint.

Ointment (drug preparation abbreviation)

KVO

Keep vein open (minimal IV flow)

TKO

To keep open (same as KVO)

NKA

No known allergies

NKDA

No known drug allergies

pt

Pint—household volume measure

qt

Quart—household volume measure

tbsp

Tablespoon (≈15 mL)

tsp

Teaspoon (≈5 mL)

oz

Ounce (≈30 mL for fluid ounce)

1 kg

Equals 1000 g or 2.2 lb

1 g

Equals 1000 mg

1 mg

Equals 1000 mcg

1 tsp

Equals 5 mL

1 tbsp

Equals 15 mL or ½ fl oz

1 oz (fl oz)

Equals 30 mL or 2 tbsp

1 cup

Equals 8 oz or 240-250 mL

1 pt

Equals 500 mL or 2 cups

1 qt

Equals 1000 mL or 1 L or 2 pt

°C to °F

(°C × 1.8) + 32

°F to °C

(°F − 32) ÷ 1.8

Needle gauge (G)

Diameter size; higher number = smaller needle

Intradermal needle

3/8–5/8 in, 25 G, 15° angle

Subcutaneous needle

5/8–⅞ in, 28–23 G, 45° angle

Intramuscular needle

1–3 in, 23–20 G, 90° angle

Intravenous needle

1–3 in, 25–14 G, long bevel

IM injection sites

Dorsogluteal, ventrogluteal, vastus lateralis, deltoid

Proportion method

Dosage calculation using ratio–proportion: Have:Supply :: Desired:x

Formula method

Uses Desire / Have × Supply to find dose; no cross-multiplication

Dimensional analysis

Single-factor conversion method; most systematic and accurate

Drop factor (DF)

Number of drops per milliliter delivered by IV tubing

Basic drip rate formula

mL to infuse × DF ÷ minutes = gtt/min

Infusion pump rate

Total mL ÷ hours = mL/hr

Units/hour calculation

Used for drugs like heparin; convert units to mL per hour

g/hour or mg/hour

Weight-based infusion rate; convert to mL/hr for pump

mg/minute infusion

Convert mg/min to mg/hr then to mL/hr

mcg/minute infusion

Often for nitroglycerin; reduce solution, change mg to mcg, solve for mL/hr

mcg/kg/minute infusion

Weight-based dose (e.g., dopamine); convert lb→kg, then dose to mL/hr

Milliunits/minute infusion

Used for oxytocin; convert units→milliunits, solve for mL/hr

Heparin protocol

IV heparin titrated to PTT; standard mix often 25,000 units/500 mL

Insulin protocol

IV regular insulin titrated to blood glucose; (BG-60) × 0.02 = units/hr

Three Checks

Verify drug label 1) on retrieval, 2) vs. MAR, 3) before administration

Seven Rights

Right medication, client, dosage, route, time, reason, documentation

Microdrip tubing

60 gtt/mL IV set used for pediatric or precise infusions

Buretrol

Volume-control IV chamber (pediatric safety)

gtt

Drop (from Latin guttae); used in IV calculations

cc

Cubic centimeter; equals 1 mL but no longer approved abbreviation

Military time

24-hour clock used in nursing for accuracy