Patricia Schull - McGraw-Hill Nurses Drug Handbook

The abbreviations below are commonly used by nurses. Not all of them, however, are acceptable. Those in red marked with a Clinical Alert logo were identified as contributing to medication errors in the National Patient Safety Goals of the Joint Commission and by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. To avoid mistakes and to ensure Joint Commission compliancy, spell out the entire term.

@ at

ABG

arterial blood gas

a.c.

before meals

ACE

angiotensin-converting enzyme

ACLS

advanced cardiac life support

ACTH

adrenocorticotropic hormone

AD right ear

ADH

antidiuretic hormone

ADLs

activities of daily living

AICD

automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator

AIDS

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

ALP

alkaline phosphatase

ALT

alanine aminotransferase

APTT

activated partial thromboplastin time

AS left ear

AST

aspartate aminotransferase

AU each ear

AV

atrioventricular

B1

beta1

B2

beta2

BCLS

basic cardiac life support

b.i.d.

twice daily

BSA

body surface area

B.T. bedtime

BUN

blood urea nitrogen

with

C

Celsius

cAMP

cyclic 3, 5 adenosine monophosphate

CBC

complete blood count

cc cubic centimeter

CI

cardiac index

CK

creatine kinase

cm

centimeter

CMV

cytomegalovirus

CNS

central nervous system

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CR

controlled release

CV

cardiovascular

CVA

cerebrovascular accident

CYP

cytochrome

D5W

dextrose 5% in water

DIC

disseminated intravascular coagulation

DIC

disseminated intravascular coagulation

D/C discharge, discontinue

dl

deciliter

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid

ECG

electrocardiogram

EEG

electroencephalogram

EENT

eyes, ears, nose, and throat

F

Fahrenheit

FDA

Food and Drug Administration

g

gram

G

gauge

GABA

gamma-aminobutyric acid

GFR

glomerular filtration rate

GI

gastrointestinal

GnRH

gonadotropin-releasing hormone

gr

grain

gtt

drops

G6PD

glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

GU

genitourinary

H1

histamine1

H2

histamine2

HCL

hydrochloride

HCT

hematocrit

HDL

high-density lipoprotein

Hg

mercury

Hgb

hemoglobin

HIT

heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

HIV

human immunodeficiency virus

HMG-CoA

3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A

HR

heart rate

h.s. at bedtime

H.S. half-strength

I.J. injection

I.M.

intramuscular

I.N. intranasal

INR

International Normalized Ratio

IPPB

intermittent positive-pressure breathing

IU international unit

I.V.

intravenous

K

potassium

kg

kilogram

KVO

keep vein open

L

liter

LD

lactate dehydrogenase

LDL

low-density lipoprotein

LMW

low-molecular-weight

m

meter

m2

square meters

g microgram

MAO

monoamine oxidase

mcg

microgram

MDI

metered-dose inhaler

mEq

milliequivalent

mg

milligram

MgSO4 magnesium sulfate

ml

milliliter

mm

millimeter

mm3

cubic millimeters

mm Hg

millimeters of mercury

mmol

millimole

MS morphine sulfate

MSO4 morphine sulfate

Na

sodium

NA

not applicable

NaCl

sodium chloride

ng

nanogram

NG

nasogastric

N.P.O.

nothing by mouth

NSAID

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug

O.D. right eye

OJ orange juice

O.S. left eye

OTC

over the counter

O.U. each eye

oz

ounce

p.c.

after meals

PCA

patient-controlled analgesia

per

through, by

P.O.

by mouth

P.R.

by rectum

p.r.n.

as needed

PT

prothrombin time

PTT

partial thromboplastin time

PVC

premature ventricular contraction

q

every

Q.D. every day

q.h.s. at bedtime

q.i.d.

four times daily

Q.O.D. every other day

RBC

red blood cell

RDA

recommended dietary allowance

RNA

ribonucleic acid

RSV

respiratory syncytial virus

SA

sinoatrial

S.C. subcutaneous

SI

International System of Units

SIADH

syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion

S.L.

sublingual

S.Q. subcutaneous

SSRI

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

T3

triiodothyronine

T4

thyroxine

TCA

tricyclic antidepressant

t.i.d.

three times daily

T.I.W. three times a week

tRNA

transfer ribonucleic acid

tsp

teaspoon

U unit

USP

United States Pharmacopeia

VMA

vanillylmandelic acid

WBC

white blood cell

Notice

Medicine is an ever-changing science. As new research and clinical experience broaden our knowledge, changes in treatment and drug therapy are required. The authors and the publisher of this work have checked with sources believed to be reliable in their efforts to provide information that is complete and generally in accord with the standards accepted at the time of publication. However, in view of the possibility of human error or changes in medical sciences, neither the authors nor the publisher nor any other party who has been involved in the preparation or publication of this work warrants that the information contained herein is in every respect accurate or complete, and they disclaim all responsibility for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from use of the information contained in this work. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information contained herein with other sources. For example and in particular, readers are advised to check the product information sheet included in the package of each drug they plan to administer to be certain that the information contained in this work is accurate and that changes have not been made in the recommended dose or in the contraindications for administration. This recommendation is of particular importance in connection with new or infrequently used drugs.