Abbreviations and Conversions

Abbreviations: Medication Administration Routes

Abbreviations: Medication Administration Routes

a.d. or A.D. Right ear
a.s. or A.S. Left ear
a.u. or AU Each ear or both ears
HHN Hand held nebulizer
I.D. Intradermal route
I.M. or IM Intramuscular route
I.T. Intrathecal route
I.V. or IV Intravenous route
IVP Intravenous push
IVPB Intravenous piggyback
NGT Nasogastric tube
od or O.D. Right eye
os or O.S. Left eye
ou or O.U. Each eye or both eyes
po or P.O. or PO By mouth
P.R. or PR By rectum
SQ, sub q, subcut Subcutaneous route
SL or s.l. Sublingual route
S&S Swish and swallow
V or P.V. Vaginal route

Abbreviations RT Medication Administration Times

Abbreviations RT Medication Administration Times

Ac Before meals
ad lib As desired / needed
ASAP As soon as possible
b.i.d. or BID Twice daily (not the same as q 12 °)
h.s. or HS At bedtime (hour of sleep)
NOC Nighttime [archaic usage]
pc or P.C. After meals
p.r.n. or PRN As needed
q or Q Every
q AM Every morning
 q hr Every hour
q.d. or QD Every day
q.i.d. or QID Four times a day
q.o.d. or QOD Every other day
q (Q) 1°, 2°, 3°, Every 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12 hours. (Concept is
4°, 6°, 8°, or 12°, based on a day and administering on a routine
etc sequential basis to maintain therapeutic blood
levels.)
Stat or STAT Immediately! [not when you can get around to
it]
t.i.d. or TID Three times daily (not the same as q 8°)

Abbreviations RT Medication Dosage Forms

Abbreviations RT Medication Dosage Forms

amp. Ampule
cap(s) Capsule(s)
DS Double-strength
elix Elixir
LA Long-acting
liq Liquid
sol  Solution
supp Suppository
S.R Sustained release
susp Suspension
syr Syrup
tab Tablet
tinct or tr Tincture
ung Ointment

Abbreviations RT Medication & Solution Measurements

Abbreviations RT Medication & Solution Measurements

cc or CC Cubic centimeter
G or gm Gram
Gr Grain
gtt (s) Drop (s)
IU International units (best to write out)
Kg Kilogram
 L Liter
Mcg or µg Microgram (best to write out)
Mg Milligram
mEq Milliequivalent
Ml Milliliter
Mn, m Minim
Oz Ounce
__
One-half (archaic use)
ss  or ss
sliver in NICU, a small slice of a suppository
T or Tbs Tablespoon
Tsp Teaspoon
U Unit (best to write out)

CONVERSIONS

1 kilogram (kg) 2.2 pounds (lb)

1 pound (lb) 453.6 grams (g or gm) (use 454)
1 kilogram (kg) 1000 grams (g or gm)
1 gram (g or gm) 1000 mg (milligrams)
1000 micrograms (mcg, but should
1 milligram (mg) always be written out to avoid
transcription errors)
1 gram (gm) 1 ml (milliliter) [Preferred term]
1 cc (cubic centimeter) 1 ml (milliliter) 
1 inch (in) 2.54 cm (centimeters)
1 grain (gr) 60 mg (milligrams)
1 (household) cup 240 ml (milliliter)
8 ounces (oz) 1 (measuring) cup
16 ounces (oz) 1 pint (pt)
1 ounce (oz) 30 ml (milliliter)
1 teaspoon (tsp) 5 ml (milliliter)  (not 4-5)
1 dram 4 ml (milliliter) [archaic use]
1 tablespoon ( T or tbs) 15 ml (milliliter)
2 tablespoons (T or tbs) 1 Ounce 
3 teaspoons (tsp) 1 tablespoon ( T or tbs)
1 teaspoon (tsp) 75 gtt (drops)
1 milliliter (ml) 16 minims  (not 15-16)
1 milliliter (ml) 15 gtt (drops)
1 liter (L) 1000 ml (milliliter)
37.0 ° C (Centigrade degrees) 98.6° F (Fahrenheit degrees)
1 kilogram (kg) 2.2 pounds (lb)
1 pound (lb) 453.6 grams (g or gm) (use 454)
1 kilogram (kg) 1000 grams (g or gm)
1 gram (g or gm) 1000 mg (milligrams)
1 milligram (mg) 1000 micrograms (mcg, but should
 always be written out to avoid
transcription errors)
1 gram (gm) 1 ml (milliliter) [Preferred term]
1 cc (cubic centimeter) 1 ml (milliliter) 
1 inch (in) 2.54 cm (centimeters)
1 grain (gr) 60 mg (milligrams)
1 (household) cup 240 ml (milliliter)
8 ounces (oz) 1 (measuring) cup
16 ounces (oz) 1 pint (pt)
1 ounce (oz) 30 ml (milliliter)
1 teaspoon (tsp) 5 ml (milliliter)  (not 4-5)
1 dram 4 ml (milliliter) [archaic use]
1 tablespoon ( T or tbs) 15 ml (milliliter)
2 tablespoons (T or tbs) 1 Ounce 
3 teaspoons (tsp) 1 tablespoon ( T or tbs)
1 teaspoon (tsp) 75 gtt (drops)
1 milliliter (ml) 16 minims  (not 15-16)
1 milliliter (ml) 15 gtt (drops)
1 liter (L) 1000 ml (milliliter)
37.0 ° C (Centigrade degrees) 98.6° F (Fahrenheit degrees)
1 kilogram (kg) 2.2 pounds (lb)
1 pound (lb) 453.6 grams (g or gm) (use 454)