a (**with a line above it)
before (abante)
ac
before meals (ante cibum)
ad lib
as desired (ad libitum)
A.M. , am
morning
amp
ampule
aq
aqueous water
b.i.d.
two times a day
BP
blood pressure
C (**with a line above it)
with
C
celcius; centigrade
cap
capsule
CBC
complete blood count
cc
cubic centimeter
CVP
central venous pressure
d
day
D/W
dextrose in water
D5W or D5/W
5% dextrose in water
daw
dispense as written
dr
dram
Dx
diagnosis
elix
elixir
ER
extended release
F
fahrenheit
g
gram
gr
grain
GT
gastrostomy tube
gtt
drop
h, hr
hour
hs
hour of sleep; bedtime (hora somni)
IC
intracardic
ID
intradermal
IM
intramuscular
IV
intravenous
USP
United States Pharmacopeia
IVP
intravenous push
IVPB
intravenous piggyback
IVSS
IV soluset
kg
kilogram
KVO
keep vein open
L
liter
LA
long acting
lb
pound
LIB
left in bag, left in bottle
LOS
length of stay
MAR
medication administration record
mcg
microgram
mcgtt
microdrop
mEq
milliequivalent
mg
milligram
min
minute
mL
milliliter
mU
milliunit
n, noct
night
NDC
national drug code
NGT
nasogastric tube
NKA
no known allergies
NKDA
no known drug allergies
NKFA
no known food allergies
NPO
nothing by mouth (per ora)
NS
normal saline
NSAID
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
OTC
over the counter
oz
ounce
p (**with a line above it)
after
PEG
percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube
P
pulse
pc
after meals (post cibum)
PEJ
percutaneous endoscopic jujunostomy
PICC
peripherally inserted central catheter
P.M., pm
afternoon, evening
PO
by mouth (per os)
POST-OP
after surgery
PR
by way of rectum
PRE-OP
before surgery
prn
when required or whenever necessary
Pt
patient
pt
pint
q
every (quaque)
qh
every hour (quaque hora)
q2h
every 2 hours
q3h
every 3 hours
q4h
every 4 hours
q.i.d.
4 times a day (quarter in die)
qn
every night
qs
quantity sufficient or sufficient amount
R
respiration
R/O
rule out
Rx
prescription, treatment
s (**with a line above it)
without
SIG
directions to the patient
SL
sublingual
SR
sustained release
stat
immediately
subcut
subcutaneous
supp
suppository
susp
suspension
T or tbs
tablespoon
t or tbs
teaspoon
T
temperature
t.i.d.
three times a day
tab
tablet
TPN
total parenteral nutrition
USP
United States Pharmacopeia
V/S
vital signs
wt
weight
what are the 6 rights of medication administration?
right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right Pt, right documentation (and sometimes right to know, and right to refuse)
Oral Medications
administered PO, can be solid or liquid (tablets, capsules, caplets).
-enteric-coated tablets=meant to dissolve in the intestine rather than in the stomach (therefore should not be chewed/crushed).
-capsulse=gelatin case containing a powder, liquid, or gr
enteral administration
liquid medications may be administered enterally (to gastrointestinal tract) via specially placed tubes;
NG, GT (gastrostomy), and PEG
parenteral medications
meds that are injected (via needle) into the body by various routes. They are absorbed faster and more completely than drugs given by other routes.
routes:
epidural, IM, subcut, IV, ID IC, intrathecal (into the spinal column)
*epidural vs. intrathecal: in
cutaneous medications
topical: administered on the skin surface and provide a local or systemic effect,
transdermal: contained in a disk or patch applied to the skin, with systemic effects-constant release controlled amounts over period of time
inhalation: nubulizers (vaporize
b.i.d. = q12h?
NO, b.i.d. is not necessarily the same as q12h. Also b.i.d. is not the same as b.i.d. in divided doses-which means splitting the documented dose between 2 administrations
XL or XR
extended release
side effects
undesired physiologic response to a drug
Drug Labels
important features of drug labels include:
1. Name of the drug, trade name is capitalized and generic name is all lowercase
2. Form of the drug
3. National Drug code (NDC) number
4. Bar code
5. Dosage strength, eg. 150mg per capsule
6. Dosage recommendati
1 quart (qt)= ? pints (pt)
1 qt = 2 pt
1 qt = 1,000 mL
1 pt = ? measuring cups
1 pt = 2 cups
1 pt =500 mL
1 cup = ? oz
1 cup = 8 oz
1 cup = 240mL
1 glass (*usually) = ? oz
1 glass typically = 8 oz
1 oz =? Tbsp
1 oz = 2 T
1 oz= 30 mL
1 Tbsp = ? tsp
1T = 3 t
1 tsp = 5 mL and 1T= 15 mL
1 lb = ? oz
1 lb= 16 oz
2.2 lbs= 1 kg
1 cubic centimeter (cc or cm3) = ? mL
1 cc= 1 mL
1000 mL = 1L
1 inch = ? cm
1 inch = 2.5 cm