Abbreviations for Nursing Students Units of Measure c = cup cc = cubic centimeters cm = centimeters dr = drams dss = 2 teaspoons fl = fluid ft = foot

g = grams gal = gallon gl = glass gr = grains gt = drop gtt = drops in = inches kg = kilograms L = liters lb = pound m = meters mcg = micrograms mEq = milliquivalents mg = milligrams mL = milliliters mm = millimeters oz = ounce pt = pint qt = quart tbsp = tablespoons tsp = teaspoons U = unit

Other Abbreviations a = before (ante) ABG = arterial blood gas ABT = antibiotic therapy ac = before meals (ante cibum) AD = right ear (auricula dexter) ADH = antidiuretic hormone ad lib = as desired ADA = American Diabetes Ass. am = before noon (ante meridian) AMA = against medical advice aq = water AS = left ear (auricula sinister) AU = both ears (auriculi utro) bid = twice a day (0900, 1700) BP = blood pressure BUN = blood urine nitrogen c = with cap = capsule CAD = coronary artery disease CAT = computerized axial tomography CBC = complete blood count CF = cystic fibrosis CHF = congestive heart failure CNS = central nervous system CO = cardiac output COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease CPK = creatinine phosphokinase CSF = cerebrospinal fluid CVA = cerebrovascular accident CVP = central venous pressure EC = enteric coated ECG = electrocardiogram EEG = electroencephalogram elix = elixir ext = extract GFR glomerulofiltration rate GT = gastrostomy h = hour
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hct = hematocrit hgb = hemoglobin hs = hour of sleep, bedtime (2100) ID = intradermal ICP = intracranial pressure IM = intramuscular IV = intravenous IVP = intravenous push/pyelogram IVPB = intravenous piggyback KVO = keep vein open MI = myocardial infarction NG = nasogastric NJ = nasojejunal NPO = nothing by mouth NS = normal saline OD = right eye (oculus dexter) oint = ointment OTC = over the counter OS = left eye (oculus sinister) OU = both eyes (oculo utro) p = after (post) pc = after meals (post cibum) per = by pm = after noon (post meridian) po = by mouth (per os) pr = per rectal prn = whenever necessary PT = prothrombin time PTT = partial prothrombin time q = every q1h = every 1 hour q2h = every 2 hours q3h = every 3 hours q4h = every 4 hours (0900, 1300, 1700,...0500) q6h = every 6 hours (2400, 0600, 1200, 1800) q8h = every 8 hours (0600, 1400, 2200) qd = every day (0900) qh = every hour qid = four times a day (0900, 1300, 1700, 2100) qod = every other day
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qs = quantity sufficient RBC = red blood count ROM = range of motion s = without sc = subcutaneous sl = sublingual sol = solution sq = subcutaneous SR = sustained release ss = one half S/S = signs and symptoms stat = immediately supp = suppository susp = suspension syr = syrup tab = tablet tid = three times a day (0900, 1300, 1700) TO = telephone order tr = tincture ung = ointment UTI = urinary tract infection VO = verbal order VS = vital signs WBC = white blood count WNL = within normal limits Conversion Factors for Nursing Students Short list 1 cup (c) = 8 ounces (oz) 1 dram (dr) = 60 grains (gr) 1 dram (fl dr) = 60 minims 1 gallon (gal) = 4 quarts (qt) 1 glass = 8 ounces (oz) 1 grain (gr) = 64.8 milligrams (mg) 1 gram (g) = 15.43 grains (gr) 1 inch (in) = 2.54 centimeters (cm) 1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds (lb) 1 liter (L) = 1.057 quarts (qt)
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1 milliliter (mL) = 16.23 minims 1 minim = 1 drop (gt) 1 ounce (oz) = 2 tablespoons (tbsp) 1 ounce (oz) = 8 drams (dr) 1 ounce (fl oz) = 29.57 milliliters (mL) 1 pint (pt) = 16 ounces (oz) 1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces (oz) 1 quart (qt) = 0.946 liters (L) 1 quart (qt) = 2 pints (pt) 1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 3 teaspoons (tsp) 1 teacup = 6 ounces (oz) 1 teaspoon (tsp) = 4.93 mL Long list 1 cental = 45,359 grams (g) 1 centimeter (cm) = 10 millimeters (mm) 1 cubic centimeter (cc) = 1 milliliter (mL) 1 cup (c) = 8 ounces (oz) 1 drachm = 3.55 milliliter (mL) 1 dram (dr) = 60 grains (gr) 1 dram (fl dr) = 60 minims 1 gallon (gal) = 4 quarts (qt) 1 gill = 4 ounces (oz) 1 glass = 8 ounces (oz) 1 grain (gr) = 64.8 milligrams (mg) 1 gram (g) = 1,000 milligrams (mg) 1 gram (g) = 1,000,000 micrograms (mcg) 1 gram (g) = 15.43 grains (gr) 1 hand = 4 inches (in) 1 inch (in) = 2.54 centimeters (cm) 1 kilogram (kg) = 1,000 grams (g) 1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds (lb) 1 liter (L) = 1000 milliliters (mL) 1 liter (L) = 1.057 quarts (qt) 1 meter (m) = 1,000 millimeters (mm) 1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters (cm) 1 milligram (mg) = 1,000 micrograms (mcg) 1 milliliter (mL) = 1 cubic centimeter (cc) 1 milliliter (mL) = 15 drops (gt)
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1 milliliter (mL) = 16.23 minims 1 minim = 1 drop (gt) 1 ounce (fl oz) = 2 tablespoons (tbsp) 1 ounce (oz) = 20 pennyweights (dwt) 1 ounce (oz) = 24 scruples 1 ounce (oz) = 31.1 grams (g) 1 ounce (oz) = 480 grains (gr) 1 ounce (oz) = 8 drams (dr) 1 ounce, fluid (fl oz) = 29.57 milliliters (mL) 1 palm = 3 inches (in) 1 pennyweight (dwt) = 24 grains (gr) 1 pint (pt) = 16 ounces (oz) 1 pint (pt) = 4 gills 1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces (oz) 1 pound (lb) = 350 scruples 1 quart (qt) = 0.946 liters (L) 1 quart (qt) = 2 pints (pt) 1 scruple = 20 grains (gr) 1 stone = 0.14 centals 1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 3 teaspoons (tsp) 1 teacup = 6 ounces (oz) 1 teaspoon (tsp) = 60 drops (gtt) 1 teaspoon (tsp) = 4.93 mL Mass Units Large units of mass and their abbreviations: Gram (g or gm): A unit of mass in the metric system. A nickel weighs about 1 gram. A gram is equal to about 35/1000 (thirty-five thousandths of an ounce. Another way to think of this is that 28.4 g are equal to 1 ounce. Kilogram (kg): The prefix "kilo-" means "1000 times". A kilogram is a unit of mass in the metric system that refers to 1000 grams or about 35 ounces. 35 ounces is about 2.2 Pounds. 454 g are equal to 1 pound. Small units of mass and their abbreviations:

Milligram (mg): The prefix "milli-" means "1/1000 of " (one thousandth of). A milligram is 1/1000 of a gram or about 35/1,000,000 (thirty-five millionths) of an ounce. 28,400 mg are equal to 1 ounce. Microgram (g): The prefix "micro-" means "1/1,000,000 of" (one millionth of). A microgram is 1/1,000,000 of a gram or 1/1000 of a milligram. A microgram is equal to about 35/1,000,000,000 (thirty-five billionths) of an ounce. 28,400,000 g are equal to 1ounce. The metric unit for weight is the gram. One thousand (1,000) grams is equal to 2.2 pounds. Usually, measurements in the laboratory are very small one thousandth (0.001) or one millionth (0.000001) of a gram. One thousandth (0.001) of a gram is called a milligram (preceded by the Latin "mill" which means a thousandth) and is abbreviated as "mg." One millionth (0.000001) of a gram is called a microgram (preceded by the Latin "micro" which means a millionth). Many grocery items list their weights in grams. Vitamins and other dietary supplements are often measured in milligrams. A pinch of salt weighs about 100 milligrams.