Med. Abbreviations.pdf

OA 221 Anatomical Terminology Medical Abbreviations A I a (ac) before (before meals) IM intramuscular A&O alert & oriented...

OA 221 Anatomical Terminology Medical Abbreviations A I a (ac) before (before meals) IM intramuscular A&O alert & oriented I&O intake and output (of body fluids) ad lib as desired inj. injection or injury ADLs activities of daily living IV intravenous APAP acetaminophen (Tylenol) ASA aspirin K ASAP as soon as possible K+ potassium kg kilogram (2.2 pounds/kg) B L BID/b.i.d. twice a day L liter BP blood pressure LA long-acting BS bowel sounds lb or # pound BBS bilateral breath sounds LOC level of consciousness Lt. left C c with M Cap capsule mcg microgram (1000 in a mg) c/o complaints of mEq milliequivalent mg milligram (1000 in a g) D mL milliliter DAT diet as tolerated (Regular diet) MVA motor vehicle accident D5W/D10W 5% or 10% dextrose in water N E NAD no acute distress ea each nitro nitroglycerin Elix. Elixir (liquid) noc or noct night ETOH alcohol NPO nothing by mouth (or per os) NS normal saline (salt solution) F NSAID nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory FDA U.S. Food & Drug Administration drug (i.e. Aleve or Advil) FFP fresh frozen plasma N/V/D nausea/vomiting/diarrhea Fx fracture (broken bone) O G OOB out of bed g or gm gram os mouth GI gastrointestinal OTC over-the-counter medication H P h or hr hour p (pc) after (after meals) H1 antihistamine (for allergy) PCA Pt. controlled analgesia I.V. H2 antihistamine (for GI) p.o. (PO) by mouth (orally) HA headache PR per rectum (suppositories) HOB head of bed p.r.n./PRN as needed Hx history pt. patient OA 221 Page 2 Q q. or q every q.h. every hour NOTE: No space after periods q.3h. every 3 hours NOTE: No period after the number because it q.4h. every 4 hours is not an abbreviation. (May use any number). R R rectal Rx prescription Rt. right S s without SA sustained action SE side effect sig: medication instructions on a prescription (means “to take”) SL sublingual SOB short of breath (dyspnea) Stat/STAT immediately or emergently (faster than ASAP) STD/I sexually transmitted disease/infection T tab tablet TB tuberculin (as in the disease or a type of 1 mL syringe) TID/t.i.d. three times a day TPN total parenteral nutrition (nutrients given into blood vessels instead of G.I. tract) Tx treatment U ung ointment V VS vital signs (temp., pulse, respirations, blood pressure, pain level = TPR, BP, & Pain) W WNL within normal limits X x except Measurements: 5 mL = 1 Teaspoon 3 teaspoons = 1 Tablespoon. 30 mL = 1 ounce 5 mg/kg per dose (five milligrams per kilogram per dose) – use only one virgule (slash) per phrase OA 221 Page 2 ABBREVIATIONS THAT SHOULD NOT BE USED OR AVOIDED These words should be written out – not abbreviated. A.D. right ear A.S. left ear A.U. both ears cc write mL not cc D/C discharge or discontinue gr grain gtt drop h.s. bedtime H.S. half strength IU international unit M.O. mineral oil M.O.M. milk of magnesia MS confused with many possibilities MSO4 easy to confuse MgSO4 these 2 O.D. right eye O.S. left eye O.U. both eyes oz ounce q.a.m. every morning q.p.m. every evening q.d. (qD) daily q.h.s. every night at bedtime q.i.d. (QID) four times a day q.o.d.(QOD) every other day ss one-half SQ, subQ, SC subcutaneous(ly) U unit NOTE: 1) Never write a zero by itself after a decimal point (i.e. 5 mg not 5.0 mg), and always place a leading zero before a decimal point for numbers less than 1 (i.e., 0.5 mg not.5 mg) 2) Do not add an “s” to make abbrev. plural (i.e. “fifty milligrams” = 50 mg) 3) Always use decimal fractions with metric. (i.e. “three-quarters of a centimeter” = 0.75 cm)