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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 prescriptions 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
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Definition
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Abbreviation
|
Definition
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| p.o |
-
|
orally | q.d. |
-
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once a day | ||
| I.M. |
-
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intramuscularly | b.i.d. |
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twice a day | ||
| Subcut |
-
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subcutaneous | t.i.d. |
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three times a day | ||
| Rectally |
-
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rectally | q.i.d. |
-
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four times a day | ||
| I.V. |
-
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intravenous |
-
|
||||
|
-
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5X a day |
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five times a day | ||||
|
-
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q.4h |
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every four hours | ||||
|
-
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q.6h |
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every six hours | ||||
| q.o.d. |
-
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every other day | |||||
| prn. |
-
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as needed | |||||
|
|
-
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One | |||||
|
|
-
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Two | q.t.t. |
-
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drop | ||
 |
-
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Three | a.c. |
-
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before meals | ||
 |
-
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Four | p.c. |
-
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after meals |
