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Writing Prescriptions
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| Prescription writing is a task that physicians perform many times a day. As a medical student, you will start writing presrciptions under the supervision of a resident or attending physician. You do not have prescribing privileges therefore all your prescriptions will need to be co-signed by a licensed physician. |
Here are the basics of prescription writing:
| 1. Prescriptions are written on a script - a printed prescription sheet that comes in a pad. A clinic or hospital name and address are on the script. | |
| 2. Write neatly. Illegible handwriting can be dangerous. | |
| 3. Basic abbreviations are used (see below). |
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Abbreviation
|
Definition
|
Abbreviation
|
Definition
|
||||
| p.o |
-
|
orally | q.d. |
-
|
once a day | ||
| I.M. |
-
|
intramuscularly | b.i.d. |
-
|
twice a day | ||
| Subq. |
-
|
subcutaneous | t.i.d. |
-
|
three times a day | ||
| Rectally |
-
|
rectally | q.i.d. |
-
|
four times a day | ||
| I.V. |
-
|
intravenous | q.h.s. |
-
|
before bed | ||
| O.D. |
-
|
in the right eye | 5X a day |
-
|
five times a day | ||
| O.S. |
-
|
in the left eye | q.4h |
-
|
every four hours | ||
| O.U. |
-
|
in both eyes | q.6h |
-
|
every six hours | ||
| q.o.d. |
-
|
every other day | |||||
| prn. |
-
|
as needed | |||||
|
|
-
|
One | |||||
|
|
-
|
Two | q.t.t. |
-
|
drop | ||
 |
-
|
Three | a.c. |
-
|
before meals | ||
 |
-
|
Four | p.c. |
-
|
after meals |
