Abbreviations
Review error-prone abbreviations, dose designations, and safer written alternatives used in clinical documentation.
TermDecode is a study reference for medical terminology and abbreviation safety, not medical advice or clinical guidance. Always defer to your coursework, institutional policy, and licensed professionals.
Unit
Use: Write "unit"
Unit
Use: Write "unit"
International Unit
Use: Write "international unit" or "units"
Once daily
Use: Write "daily"
Once daily
Use: Write "daily"
Once daily
Use: Write "daily"
Once daily
Use: Write "daily"
Every other day
Use: Write "every other day"
Every other day
Use: Write "every other day"
Every other day
Use: Write "every other day"
Every other day
Use: Write "every other day"
Trailing zero after decimal
Use: Never use trailing zeros; write "1 mg" not "1.0 mg"
Lack of leading zero
Use: Always use leading zero; write "0.5 mg" not ".5 mg"
Ambiguous: morphine sulfate OR magnesium sulfate
Use: Write "morphine sulfate" or "magnesium sulfate" in full
Morphine sulfate
Use: Write "morphine sulfate"
Magnesium sulfate
Use: Write "magnesium sulfate"
Zinc sulfate
Use: Write "zinc sulfate"
Microgram
Use: Write "mcg"
Microgram
Use: Write "mcg"
Microgram
Use: Write "mcg"
Nanogram
Use: Write "nanogram"
Nanogram
Use: Write "nanogram"
Cubic centimeter
Use: Write "mL"
Left ear
Use: Write "left ear"
Right ear
Use: Write "right ear"
Both ears
Use: Write "both ears"
Intranasal
Use: Write "intranasal"
Intrathecal
Use: Write "intrathecal"
Left eye
Use: Write "left eye"
Right eye
Use: Write "right eye"
Both eyes
Use: Write "both eyes"
Discharge or discontinue
Use: Write "discharge" or "discontinue"
Half-strength or at bedtime
Use: Use "QHS" or "qhs" for bedtime; write "half-strength" when that is intended
At bedtime
Use: Write "at bedtime"
Subcutaneous
Use: Write "SUBQ" or "subcutaneous"
Subcutaneous
Use: Write "SUBQ" or "subcutaneous"
Subcutaneous
Use: Write "SUBQ" or "subcutaneous"
Subcutaneous
Use: Write "SUBQ" or "subcutaneous"
Three times weekly
Use: Write "3 times weekly"
Three times weekly
Use: Write "3 times weekly"
Twice weekly
Use: Write "twice weekly"
Twice weekly
Use: Write "twice weekly"
One-half
Use: Write "one-half" or "1/2"
Sliding scale insulin
Use: Write "sliding scale insulin"
Greater than
Use: Write "greater than"
Less than
Use: Write "less than"
At
Use: Write "at"
And
Use: Write "and"
Plus or positive
Use: Write "plus" or "positive"
By mouth
Use: Write "PO", "by mouth", or "orally"
Every night
Use: Use "QHS" or "qhs" for bedtime
Every night at bedtime
Use: Use "QHS" or "qhs" for bedtime
At bedtime
At bedtime
Once daily
Use: Write "daily"
Once daily
Use: Write "daily"
Every evening at 6 PM
Use: Write "daily at 6 PM" or "6 PM daily"
Daily
Use: Write "daily"
Every evening
Use: Write "daily in the evening"
As directed
Use: Write "as directed"
Baby boy A
Use: Use mother's last name, baby gender, and a distinguishing multiple-birth identifier
Baby girl B
Use: Use mother's last name, baby gender, and a distinguishing multiple-birth identifier
Injection
Use: Write "injection"
Orange juice
Use: Write "orange juice"
Milligram with terminal period
Use: Write "mg" without a terminal period
Milliliter with terminal period
Use: Write "mL" without a terminal period
Zidovudine
Use: Write "zidovudine"
Compazine (prochlorperazine)
Use: Write "prochlorperazine" or "Compazine"
Hydrocortisone or hydrochlorothiazide
Use: Write the complete drug name
Hydrochlorothiazide
Use: Write "hydrochlorothiazide"
Methotrexate
Use: Write "methotrexate"
Pitocin (oxytocin)
Use: Write "oxytocin" or the complete drug name
Prenatal vitamins
Use: Write "prenatal vitamins"
Propylthiouracil
Use: Write "propylthiouracil"
Triamcinolone or tacrolimus
Use: Write the complete drug name
Triamcinolone or tacrolimus
Use: Write the complete drug name
TNKase (tenecteplase)
Use: Write the complete drug name
Tissue plasminogen activator; Activase (alteplase)
Use: Write the complete drug name
Tissue plasminogen activator; Activase (alteplase)
Use: Write the complete drug name
Tranexamic acid
Use: Write "tranexamic acid"
Nitroglycerin infusion
Use: Write "nitroglycerin infusion"
Intravenous vancomycin
Use: Write "intravenous vancomycin"
Levofloxacin
Use: Write "levofloxacin"
Neo-Synephrine (phenylephrine)
Use: Write "phenylephrine" or the complete drug name
Diagnosis
History
Prescription/Treatment
Symptoms
Treatment
Nothing by mouth
As needed
Immediately
Patient
Complains of
With
Without
Status post
Year old
Year old
Within normal limits
No acute distress
No known allergies
No known drug allergies
Do not resuscitate
Do not intubate
Against medical advice
History and physical
Review of systems
Chief complaint
History of present illness
Past medical history
Past surgical history
Family history
Social history
Blood pressure
Heart rate
Respiratory rate
Temperature
Oxygen saturation
Oxygen saturation
Body mass index
Weight
Height
Vital signs
Mean arterial pressure
Central venous pressure
Glasgow Coma Scale
By mouth
Intravenous
Intramuscular
Subcutaneous
Sublingual
Per rectum
Inhaled
Nebulized
Topical
Transdermal
Per vagina
Nasogastric
Gastrostomy tube
IV piggyback
IV push
Twice daily
Three times daily
Four times daily
Every 4 hours
Every 6 hours
Every 8 hours
Every 12 hours
Before meals
After meals
Every morning
Every week
Every month
Every hour
Every 2 hours
One time only
Milligram
Microgram
Gram
Kilogram
Milliliter
Liter
Milliequivalent
Millimole
Millimeters of mercury
Deciliter
Beats per minute
Complete blood count
Basic metabolic panel
Comprehensive metabolic panel
Liver function tests
Urinalysis
Arterial blood gas
Prothrombin time
Partial thromboplastin time
International normalized ratio
Blood urea nitrogen
Creatinine
Estimated glomerular filtration rate
Hemoglobin
Hematocrit
White blood cell count
Red blood cell count
Platelet count
Hemoglobin A1c
Fasting blood sugar
Thyroid stimulating hormone
Triiodothyronine
Use: Write "Tylenol with codeine No. 3" or "liothyronine" in full
Thyroxine
Brain natriuretic peptide
Creatine kinase
Creatine kinase-MB
Lactate dehydrogenase
Aspartate aminotransferase
Alanine aminotransferase
Alkaline phosphatase
Gamma-glutamyl transferase
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
C-reactive protein
Prostate-specific antigen
Myocardial infarction
Congestive heart failure
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Diabetes mellitus
Hypertension
Cerebrovascular accident
Deep vein thrombosis
Pulmonary embolism
Coronary artery disease
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation
Rapid ventricular response
Chronic kidney disease
Acute kidney injury
End-stage renal disease
Urinary tract infection
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Peptic ulcer disease
Gastrointestinal
Upper GI bleed
Lower GI bleed
Pneumonia
Community-acquired pneumonia
Hospital-acquired pneumonia
Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Obstructive sleep apnea
Transient ischemic attack
Shortness of breath
Dyspnea on exertion
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Rheumatoid arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Multiple sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Parkinson disease
ST-elevation myocardial infarction
Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction
Coronary artery bypass graft
Percutaneous coronary intervention
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Computed tomography
Magnetic resonance imaging
Chest X-ray
Kidneys, ureters, bladder X-ray
Electrocardiogram
Electrocardiogram
Echocardiogram
Transthoracic echocardiogram
Transesophageal echocardiogram
Lumbar puncture
Incision and drainage
Biopsy
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Hemodialysis
Continuous positive airway pressure
Bilevel positive airway pressure
Endotracheal tube
Catheterization
Aspirin
Acetaminophen
Use: Write "acetaminophen"
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
ACE inhibitor
Angiotensin receptor blocker
Beta blocker
Calcium channel blocker
Proton pump inhibitor
H2 blocker
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
Use: Write "sliding scale insulin" or spell out the antidepressant class fully
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
Tricyclic antidepressant
Antibiotics
Nitroglycerin
Potassium chloride
Milk of magnesia
Dextrose 5% in water
Normal saline
Lactated Ringer's
Intravenous fluids
Total parenteral nutrition
Ambiguous: patient-controlled analgesia OR procainamide
Use: Write "procainamide" or "patient-controlled analgesia" in full
Ejection fraction
Left ventricular ejection fraction
Intensive care unit
Coronary care unit
Emergency department
Emergency room
Operating room
Post-anesthesia care unit
Out of bed
Bathroom privileges
Activities of daily living
Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Range of motion
Left lower extremity
Right lower extremity
Left upper extremity
Right upper extremity
Alert and oriented
Awake, alert, and oriented times three
Level of consciousness
Pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation
Cranial nerves
Deep tendon reflexes
Nasal cannula
Non-rebreather mask
Room air
Intake and output
Bowel movement
Nausea and vomiting
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Low back pain
Headache
Chest pain
Abdomen/abdominal
Bilateral
As needed
Tablet
Capsule
Suspension
Suppository
Drop(s)
Dispense as written
Not otherwise specified
Not elsewhere classified
Rule out
Follow-up
Standard of care
Upper respiratory infection
Lower respiratory infection