Time of Administration

• ac: before meals

• pc: after meals

• daily: every day, daily

  • DO NOT USE: qd/q.d.

• bid: twice a day

• tid: three times a day

• qid: four times a day

• qh: hourly

• at bedtime: at bedtime

  • DO NOT USE hs/h.s.

• qn: every night

• stat: immediately

• every other day: every other day

  • DO NOT USE qod/q.o.d.

• prn: as needed

• three times weekly: three times per week

  • DO NOT USE tiw/t.i.w.

• biw: twice per week

• q2h: every 2 hours

• q4h: every 4 hours

• q6h: every 6 hours

• q8h: every 8 hours

• q12h: every 12 hours

Military Time

• 24 hour clock

• Add 12 or subtract 12

• ex: 1300 is 1:00pm

• Midnight is 0 hour, or 0000

Routes of Administration

• Right ear

  • DO NOT USE: AD

• Left ear

  • DO NOT USE: AL

• Both ears

  • DO NOT USE AU

• HHN: handheld nebulizer

• IM: intramuscularly

• IV: intravenously

• IVP: intravenous push

• IVPB: intravenous piggyback

• MDI: metered-dose inhaler

• NEB: nebulizer

• NGT or ng : nasogastric tube

• Right eye

  • DO NOT USE OD

• Left eye

  • DO NOT USE OS

• Both eyes

  • DO NOT USE OU

• PO or po: by mouth

• PR or pr: in rectum

• Subcutaneously or sub q

  • DO NOT USE sc or sq

• SL: sublingual

• S&S: swish and swallow

Metric and SI Abbreviations

• cc: cubic centimeter

  • DO NOT USE: substitute for mL

• g: gram

• kg: kilogram

• L: liter

• mcg: microgram

  • DO NOT USE: greek symbol gamma

• mEq: milliequivalent

• mg: milligram

• ml or mL: milliliter

• unit

  • DO NOT USE: U

Abbreviations for Drug Prep

• cap, capsules

• CR: controlled release

• LA: long acting

• SA: sustained action

• SR: slow release

• DS: double strength

• EC: enteric coated

• el, elix: elixir

• sol: solution

• sp: spirit

• sup or supp: suppository

• susp: suspension

• syr: syrup

• tab or tabs: tablet

• tr or tinct: tincture

• ung or oint: ointment

• KVO: keep vein open

• TKO: to keep open

• Discontinue

• NKA: no known allergies

• NKDA: no known drug allergies