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Abbreviations Nurse
Question | Answer |
---|---|
carpo- | wrist |
endo- | inside, within |
cephalo- | head |
gloss- | tongue |
gastro- | stomach |
ecto- | outside |
hepato- | liver |
hydro- | water |
hypo- | deficient |
wt | weight |
IDDM | insulin dependent diabetes mellitus |
CVA | cerebral vascular accident |
PVD | peripheral vascular disease |
myo- | muscle |
neuro- | nerve |
nephro- | kidney |
dys- | painful |
pan- | all |
osteo- | bone |
para- | beside |
peri- | around |
phleb- | vein |
poly- | many |
post- | behind |
pre- | before |
pneumo- | lung |
pulm- | lung |
pyo- | pus |
orchid- | testes |
rhin- | nose |
retro- | backward |
salphingo- | tube |
stoma- | mouth |
sub- | below |
trans- | across |
thrombo- | clot |
tachy- | rapid, fast |
supra- | above |
hyster- | uterus |
inter- | between |
lapar- | abdomen |
macro- | large |
micro- | small |
mono- | one |
myelo- | bone marrow |
-spasm | contraction |
-gram | picture |
CHF | congestive heart failure |
colp- | vagina |
CAD | coronary artery disease |
derma- | skin |
gyne- | woman |
entero- | intestine |
cysto- | bladder |
hemi- | half |
CABG | coronary artery bypass graft |
-centesis | puncture |
-algia | pain |
DVT | deep vein thrombosis |
COPD | chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
oculo- | eye |
ab- | away from |
-ectasis | enlargement |
-megaly | enlarged |
-osis | disease, condition |
-ostomy | surgical opening |
-otomy | incision |
-pathy | disease |
-penia | deficiency |
-phagia | swallow |
-plasty | plastic surgery |
-plegia | paralysis |
-rrhagia | hemorrhage |
-rrhea | flowing |
vas- | vessel |
-scope | picture |
viscera- | organ |
a- | without |
brachio- | arm |
brady- | slow |
STAT | at once, immediately |
pre-op | preoperative |
PT | physical therapy or protime |
pt | patient or pint |
ROM | range of motion |
R/O | rule out |
sp gr | specific gravity |
S/P | status post |
chole- | bile |
pc | after meals |
pm | afternoon |
PO | by mouth |
PRN | when necessary |
prep | preparation |
NS | normal saline |
OOB | out of bed |
TIA | transient ischemic attack |
abd | abdomen |
ant | anterior |
ax | axillary |
bil | bilateral |
LLQ | left lower quadrant |
LUQ | left upper quadrant |
mid | middle |
RLQ | right lower quadrant |
RUQ | right upper quadrant |
GI | gastrointestinal |
ad lib | as desired |
am | morning |
amb | ambulatory, walking |
amt | amount |
BM | bowel movement |
B/P or BP | blood pressure |
BR | bedrest |
BRP | bathroom privileges |
cath | catheterization |
cbr | complete bed rest |
dsg | dressing |
ECG, EKG | electrocardiogram |
EEG | electroencephalogram |
FBS | fasting blood sugar |
fld | fluid |
gtts | drops |
Hgb | hemoglobin |
H and H | hemoglobin and hematocrit |
HOB | head of bed |
H2O2 | hydrogen peroxide |
hr | hour |
ac | before meals |
I & O | intake and output |
IM | intramuscular |
IV | intravenous |
IVP | intravenous push |
IVPB | intravenous piggyback |
ng | nasogastric |
nil | none |
NPO | nil per os (nothing by mouth) |
ADLs | activities of daily living |
post-op | postoperative |
-itis | inflammation |
-emia | blood |
-ectomy | removal of |
buccal- | cheek |
GSW | gun shot wound |
HTN | hypertension |
-sclerosis | hardening |
ad- | toward |
WNL | within normal limits |
vs | vital signs |
vo | verbal order |
TPR | temperature, pulse, and respiration |
-lysis | breakdown |
-phobia | fear |
w/c | wheelchair |
-sarcoma | tumor, cancer |
arthro- | joint |
subcutaneously | write sub-Q |
cc= cubic centimeter | write "ml" for milliliters |
clearly indicate medication name (generic name is preferred) | if necessary, print the name of the med so all can read: celebrex can look like celexa |
do not abbreviate drug names | abbreviations can be misinterpreted ex) MSO4 can be morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate |
never use a zero after a decimal: 5 not 5.0 | if the decimal is not read, a 10 fold error can occur 5.0 mg can look like 50 mg |
never use "U" for units | "U" can be misread as zero; 5 U insulin can look like 50 insulin |
avoid writing the dose in volume only (ml's) | many liquid meds have multiple strengths: Amoxicillin 5 ml could = 125 mg, 200 mg, etc. |
sign entire name and indicate pager number | identifiers give the nurse and pharmacist clear contact info if order clarification is needed |
include date and time the order is written | gives the nurse and pharmacist info in timing for administration of new orders |
indicate the route of administration (po, IV, IM, Sub Q) | many drugs come in multiple dosage forms (can be given orally or IV) |
clearly indicate frequency of administration | frequencies can be misinterpreted qod can look like qid |
for pediatric orders, indicate dose per weight (mg/kg) and dose prescribed | enables pharmacist and nurse to double check dose vs. weight; ex) cephalexin (50 mg/kg/day) 125 mg po 88 hrs |
always use a zero before a decimal point: 0.5 not .5 | if the decimal point isn't read .5 mg can look like 5 mg |
write the exact dose to be given with the appropriate units (mg, mcg, gm, etc.) | most meds have multiple dosages: Ibuprofen 1 tablet could =200mg,400mg, etc. |