Today we're going to tackle an abbreviation that many non medical professionals find difficult. It's one of a series of abbreviations that are sometimes used interchangeably. I'll focus on each individually but its normal to feel confused about them.
r/t-- related to
Because each of a number of assorted abbreviations mean approximately the same thing it is really hard to remember, also this is the least common of the abbreviations, and most commonly used by the physicians and physical therapists and not the nurses. It will appear a few times in a medical record, and just uncommonly enough to be difficult to remember.
These examples are here for reference but if you have specific questions to meaning please contact me and I'll be happy to help you out.
Examples:
The wound on her left foot is r/t diabetes
Alteration in nutrition r/t the presence of a g-tube
Monday, August 31, 2015
Monday, August 24, 2015
Monday August 24, 2015 Abbreviation
This week's abbreviation is the opposite of last week's abbreviation.
PO
This abbreviation literally means Per Os, which stands for by mouth. This abbreviation can also mean orally. Although it is not common to see it written out, the place where you most likely see this in in the vital signs chart. When temperature is taken and recorded, to save space many charts use PO to indicate that the temperature was taken orally. In this way it's really just a space saver, and about the only place I have regularly seen it mean orally.
Unlike NPO, this is more commonly seen in notes, but it can also be an order. As an order it is usually used with medication to indicate the way the medication should be administered.
Examples:
She took all of her medicines PO without any difficulty.
Amoxicillin 500mg PO daily
PO
This abbreviation literally means Per Os, which stands for by mouth. This abbreviation can also mean orally. Although it is not common to see it written out, the place where you most likely see this in in the vital signs chart. When temperature is taken and recorded, to save space many charts use PO to indicate that the temperature was taken orally. In this way it's really just a space saver, and about the only place I have regularly seen it mean orally.
Unlike NPO, this is more commonly seen in notes, but it can also be an order. As an order it is usually used with medication to indicate the way the medication should be administered.
Examples:
She took all of her medicines PO without any difficulty.
Amoxicillin 500mg PO daily
Monday, August 17, 2015
Monday August 17 2015 Abbreviations
Goodness gracious. I think I've figured out this blog thing. If I've figured it out I'll start adding categories until there's new content Sunday through Thursday each week.
But since I'm still figuring it out Monday is still the only day with information.
On to today's abbreviation.
I've decided to focus on a personal favorite today. This is the first abbreviation that I learned.
NPO
It literally means Nil Per Os. Which is Latin for nothing by mouth.
Nothing by mouth is both a dietary status and a physician order. The reasons for nothing by mouth are different depending on the client. Sometimes the client's diet is NPO because they're at risk for aspiration or choking on their food, and sometimes the order is NPO because the person is going for a test the next morning.
NPO is almost always in capital letters in the sentence.
Example Sentences
Patient was made NPO at midnight for his test tomorrow morning. Patient was aware of his status.
Patient is NPO due to her high risk for aspiration.
But since I'm still figuring it out Monday is still the only day with information.
On to today's abbreviation.
I've decided to focus on a personal favorite today. This is the first abbreviation that I learned.
NPO
It literally means Nil Per Os. Which is Latin for nothing by mouth.
Nothing by mouth is both a dietary status and a physician order. The reasons for nothing by mouth are different depending on the client. Sometimes the client's diet is NPO because they're at risk for aspiration or choking on their food, and sometimes the order is NPO because the person is going for a test the next morning.
NPO is almost always in capital letters in the sentence.
Example Sentences
Patient was made NPO at midnight for his test tomorrow morning. Patient was aware of his status.
Patient is NPO due to her high risk for aspiration.
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