Commonly Used Acceptable Medical
and Hospital Abbreviations
Time of Administration
ac ----- before meals (ante cibum)
q4h ----- every 4 hours
pc ----- after meals (post cibum)
q6h ----- every 6 hours
od ----- daily/once a day (omni die)
qd ----- everyday (quaque die)
Bid ----- two times daily/twice daily/2x a day (bis
in die)
prn ----- when necessary (pro renata)
Stat ----- at once/immediately (statim)
AM ----- morning (ante meridiem)
PM ----- afternoon (post meridiem)
Tid ----- 3x a day
Qid ----- 4x a day
h(hr) ----- hour (hora)
OM ----- each morning
qhs ----- at bed time (hora somni)
Alt. ----- alternative days
Alt her ----- alternate night
M et N ----- morning and night
Alt nect ----- alternative nights
q ----- every (quaque)
QOD ----- alternative day/ every other day
q1h ----- every hour
q2h ----- every 2 hours
Dosage and Application
gtt ----- drops (guttae)
OS ----- left eye (oculus sinister)
kg ----- kilogram, a thousand grams
OU ----- both eyes
L ----- a liter,
IM ----- intramuscular
SC ----- subcutaneous
IV ----- intravenous
mL ----- milliliter, a thousandth
NPO (NBM) ----- nothing by mouth
KSS ----- Keep Set Sterile
No. (#) ----- number
KVO ----- Keep Vein Open
ID ----- intradermalō
Preparation of Drugs
Amp ----- ampule
Amt ----- amount
Aq/H2O ----- water
Cap. ----- capsule
Dist. ----- distilled
S. or Sig. ----- give the following
Rx ----- take
C ----- with
S ----- without
OD ----- right eye (oculus dexter)
OS ----- left eye (oculus sinister);overdose
OU ----- both eyes
IV ----- intravenous
Acceptable Initials and
Abbreviations
Adm ----- admission
Abd. ----- abdomen
ADL ----- activities of daily living
Ad Lib ----- as desired (ad libitum)
Amb ----- ambulatory
approx. ----- approximately
CC ----- chief complaint
C ----- celsius
CBC ----- complete blood count
CI ----- client
c/o ----- complaints of
CNS ----- central nervous system
CSF ----- cerebrospinal fluid
CO2 ----- carbon dioxide
BP ----- blood pressure
BR ----- bed rest
BRP ----- bathroom privileges
BUN – Blood Urea Nitrogen
Cldy ----- cloudy
DAT ----- diet as tolerated
D & C ----- dilation and curettage
DOA ----- dead on arrival
I & O ----- intake and output
Lab ----- laboratory
LMP ----- last menstrual period
Meds ----- medication
Mod ----- moderate
Neg ----- negative
Commonly Used Symbols
♀ ----- female
♂ ----- male
> ----- greater than
< ----- less than
= ----- equal
↑ ----- increased
↓ ----decreased
̊ ----- degree
@ ----- at
x ----- times
# ----- number
ō ----- 0