Here are the common and not so common abbreviations that you
might see in medication orders written by the MD, PA, ARNP, and
yes, even the NURSE*.


*Nurses write Telephone and Verbal orders for medications and they also transfer to the MAR.

Abbreviations written in RED are considered dangerous and are being phased out.
JCAHO no longer wants these commonly confused abbreviations used. See the Dangerous
Abbreviation page for more details.
See the bottom of this page for another site in which abbreviations are listed.
Abbreviation
Meaning
 
Abbreviation
Meaning
A.C.
Before Meals
 
A.D.
Right Ear
AD LIB
As Desired
 
A.S.
Left Ear
ASAP
Within 30 minutes
 
A.U.
Both Ears
AMP
Ampule
 
BID
Twice a day
AMA
Against Medical Advice
 
_
C
With
D/C or DC*
Discontinue or
Discharge
*(You should write out
these orders)
 
QD, Q Day,
Daily
(You should write out
daily)
G
Guage
 
HS
Hour of Sleep, bedtime
ELIX
Elixir
 
DS
Double Strength
PC
After Meals
 
PRN
As Needed
Q
A "Q" before a number
or symbol means every
 
QID
Four times a day
STAT
NOW, WITHIN 5
MINUTES!!!!!
 
TID
Three times a day
ID
Intradermal
 
IM
Intramuscular
IV
Intravenous
 
IVPB
Intravenous Piggy Back
SQ or SC
Subcutaneous
 
PO
By Mouth
SL
Sublingual
 
NPO
NOTHING by mouth
SB
Subbuccal
 
TL
Translingual
NGT
Nasal Gastric Tube
 
PEG
PercutaneousEndoscopi
cGasterotomy Tube
PR
Per Rectum
 
PV
Pervagina
S&S
Swish and Swallow
 
S/S
Signs and Symptoms
__
ss
one half--
(write out one half)
 
KVO
Keep vein open
LOC
Level of consciousness
Location (Injections, IV)
 
R circled
Right
_
S
without
 
L Circled
Left
TOV
Telephone order
verified
 
TORB
Telephone Order Read
Back
VO
Verbal Order
!!Caution!! Check Facility
Policy
 
>
<
Greater Than
Less Than
ETOH
Alcohol
 
GTT
drop, drops
(Write out drop or drops)
CC
Cubic Centimeter
(Use ml now)
 
G, gm
Gram
L
Liter
 
mg
milligram
ml
milliliter
 
mcg
microgram
kg
Kilogram
 
mEq
milliequivelant
oz
ounce
 
T
Tablespoon
U
unit
(Must write out Unit)
 
tsp
teaspoon
gr
grain
 
C
Cup, normally 8 oz
..
II
two
 
.
I
one
...
III
three
 
.
IV
Four
BM
Bowel movement
 
RUA
Right upper arm
RFA
Right forearm
 
LUA
Left Upper Arm
LFA
Left Forearm
 
PICC
Peripheral inserted
Central Catheter
SR
Sustained Release
 
susp
suspension
cap
 Capsule
   oint
 Ointment
tab
Tablet
 
syr
syrup
If these are not enough abbreviations for you, please visit this page for more in-depth abbreviations used in medicine. The
neat thing about this page is that it even tells you how to verify a DEA number on a prescription.
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Clinical Math for the Practicing and Student Nurse
ABBREVIATIONS
LEGAL | PRIVACY | COPPA | CONTACT
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