Medical Abbreviations
108 flashcards by MentisLibrary
The shorthand that fills every chart, order and handoff note, from NPO and PRN to STEMI and PERRLA. Includes the dangerous do not use abbreviations that have caused real harm and what to write instead.
- NPO
- Nil per os, nothing by mouth
- PO
- Per os, by mouth
- PRN
- Pro re nata, as needed
- BID
- Bis in die, twice a day
- TID
- Ter in die, three times a day
- QID
- Quater in die, four times a day
- QD
- Quaque die, every day
- QOD
- Quaque altera die, every other day
- HS
- Hora somni, at bedtime
- AC
- Ante cibum, before meals
- PC
- Post cibum, after meals
- STAT
- Statim, immediately
- IM
- Intramuscular
- IV
- Intravenous
- SUBQ
- Subcutaneous
- IVP
- Intravenous push
- IVPB
- Intravenous piggyback
- KVO
- Keep vein open
- NS
- Normal saline, sodium chloride 0.9 percent
- LR
- Lactated Ringer solution
- D5W
- Dextrose 5 percent in water
- BP
- Blood pressure
- HR
- Heart rate
- RR
- Respiratory rate
- SpO2
- Peripheral capillary oxygen saturation
- VS
- Vital signs
- I&O
- Intake and output
- HPI
- History of present illness
- PMH
- Past medical history
- ROS
- Review of systems