Abbreviations

Use: Write "unit"

Unit

Use: Write "unit"

International Unit

Use: Write "international unit" or "units"

Once daily

Use: Write "daily"

Q.D.

Once daily

Use: Write "daily"

q.d.

Once daily

Use: Write "daily"

Once daily

Use: Write "daily"

QOD

Every other day

Use: Write "every other day"

Q.O.D.

Every other day

Use: Write "every other day"

q.o.d.

Every other day

Use: Write "every other day"

qod

Every other day

Use: Write "every other day"

X.0

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

MSO4

Morphine sulfate

Use: Write "morphine sulfate"

MgSO4

Magnesium sulfate

Use: Write "magnesium sulfate"

ZnSO4

Zinc sulfate

Use: Write "zinc sulfate"

Microgram

Use: Write "mcg"

Microgram

Use: Write "mcg"

Microgram

Use: Write "mcg"

Nanogram

Use: Write "nanogram"

MeasurementVerified

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"

D/C

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"

Frequency

Subcutaneous

Use: Write "SUBQ" or "subcutaneous"

Subcutaneous

Use: Write "SUBQ" or "subcutaneous"

Subcutaneous

Use: Write "SUBQ" or "subcutaneous"

sub q

Subcutaneous

Use: Write "SUBQ" or "subcutaneous"

TIW

Three times weekly

Use: Write "3 times weekly"

tiw

Three times weekly

Use: Write "3 times weekly"

BIW

Twice weekly

Use: Write "twice weekly"

biw

Twice weekly

Use: Write "twice weekly"

One-half

Use: Write "one-half" or "1/2"

Dosage

SSI

Sliding scale insulin

Use: Write "sliding scale insulin"

Greater than

Use: Write "greater than"

Less than

Use: Write "less than"

Use: Write "at"

And

Use: Write "and"

Plus or positive

Use: Write "plus" or "positive"

per os

By mouth

Use: Write "PO", "by mouth", or "orally"

Every night

Use: Use "QHS" or "qhs" for bedtime

Qhs

Every night at bedtime

Use: Use "QHS" or "qhs" for bedtime

o.d.

Once daily

Use: Write "daily"

Once daily

Use: Write "daily"

q6PM

Every evening at 6 PM

Use: Write "daily at 6 PM" or "6 PM daily"

q1d

Daily

Use: Write "daily"

qPM

Every evening

Use: Write "daily in the evening"

Frequency

As directed

Use: Write "as directed"

BBA

Baby boy A

Use: Use mother's last name, baby gender, and a distinguishing multiple-birth identifier

BGB

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"

mg.

Milligram with terminal period

Use: Write "mg" without a terminal period

MeasurementVerified

mL.

Milliliter with terminal period

Use: Write "mL" without a terminal period

MeasurementVerified

AZT

Zidovudine

Use: Write "zidovudine"

CPZ

Compazine (prochlorperazine)

Use: Write "prochlorperazine" or "Compazine"

HCT

Hydrocortisone or hydrochlorothiazide

Use: Write the complete drug name

HCTZ

Hydrochlorothiazide

Use: Write "hydrochlorothiazide"

MTX

Methotrexate

Use: Write "methotrexate"

PIT

Pitocin (oxytocin)

Use: Write "oxytocin" or the complete drug name

PNV

Prenatal vitamins

Use: Write "prenatal vitamins"

PTU

Propylthiouracil

Use: Write "propylthiouracil"

TAC

Triamcinolone or tacrolimus

Use: Write the complete drug name

tac

Triamcinolone or tacrolimus

Use: Write the complete drug name

TNK

TNKase (tenecteplase)

Use: Write the complete drug name

TPA

Tissue plasminogen activator; Activase (alteplase)

Use: Write the complete drug name

tPA

Tissue plasminogen activator; Activase (alteplase)

Use: Write the complete drug name

TXA

Tranexamic acid

Use: Write "tranexamic acid"

Nitro drip

Nitroglycerin infusion

Use: Write "nitroglycerin infusion"

IV vanc

Intravenous vancomycin

Use: Write "intravenous vancomycin"

Levo

Levofloxacin

Use: Write "levofloxacin"

Neo

Neo-Synephrine (phenylephrine)

Use: Write "phenylephrine" or the complete drug name

Triiodothyronine

Use: Write "Tylenol with codeine No. 3" or "liothyronine" in full

LaboratoryVerified

APAP

Acetaminophen

Use: Write "acetaminophen"

SSRI

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Use: Write "sliding scale insulin" or spell out the antidepressant class fully

PCA

Ambiguous: patient-controlled analgesia OR procainamide

Use: Write "procainamide" or "patient-controlled analgesia" in full