# Clinical Abbreviations, Prescription Sig Codes, Charting Acronyms & Eponymous Signs

> 32 review cards on Latin prescription Sig abbreviations, TJC/ISMP Do-Not-Use medication safety rules, SOAP/SBAR clinical charting, physical exam and ICU acronyms, and high-yield eponymous clinical signs and triads.

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- **Markdown URL:** https://flashcards.world/flashcards/sets/337cefea-c987-4a67-ac5c-d6f9da3db970.md
- **Level:** advanced
- **Languages:** en → en
- **Total Cards:** 32

## Flashcards (32 Cards)

| # | Front (Term / Prompt) | Back (Definition / Answer) | Example | Multiple-Choice Options |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 1 | Which additional high-risk abbreviations are recommended against by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) (e.g., 'µg', 'cc', 'TIW', 'HS/qhs', 'SC/SQ', 'D/C')? | 'µg' (mistaken for 'mg' = 1000-fold overdose -> write 'mcg' or 'micrograms'); 'cc' (mistaken for 'U' [units] -> write 'mL'); 'TIW' (three times a week, mistaken for TID or twice a week -> write '3 times weekly'); 'HS' (half-strength vs. hora somni -> write 'half-strength' or 'at bedtime'); 'SQ / SC' (mistaken for SL -> write 'SubQ' or 'subcutaneously'); 'D/C' (interpreted as both 'discontinue' and 'discharge' -> write out the intended word). |  |  |
| 2 | What are 'Beck Triad', 'Virchow Triad', 'Charcot Triad (Biliary vs. Neurologic)', and 'Reynolds Pentad'? | 'Beck triad' (Cardiac Tamponade): hypotension, jugular venous distension (JVD), and muffled heart sounds; 'Virchow triad' (Venous Thromboembolism): endothelial injury, venous stasis, and hypercoagulability; 'Charcot biliary triad' (Acute Cholangitis): fever, jaundice, and RUQ pain (plus hypotension and altered mental status = 'Reynolds pentad'); 'Charcot neurologic triad' (Multiple Sclerosis): nystagmus/INO, intention tremor, and scanning staccato speech. |  |  |
| 3 | What do the vascular access abbreviations 'PIV', 'PICC', 'CVC', 'IJ', 'SCV', 'AVF', and 'IO' stand for? | 'PIV' = Peripheral Intravenous catheter; 'PICC' = Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter; 'CVC' = Central Venous Catheter; 'IJ' = Internal Jugular vein; 'SCV' = Subclavian Vein; 'AVF' = Arteriovenous Fistula (for hemodialysis); 'IO' = Intraosseous access (emergency infusion into bone marrow cavity, e.g., proximal tibia). |  |  |
| 4 | How do you elicit and interpret 'McBurney Point Tenderness', 'Rovsing Sign', 'Psoas Sign', and 'Obturator Sign' in acute appendicitis? | 'McBurney point': maximal tenderness one-third of the distance from the right anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the umbilicus; 'Rovsing sign': RLQ pain elicited by deep palpation of the Left Lower Quadrant; 'Psoas sign' (retrocecal appendix): RLQ pain on passive extension of the right hip (or active flexion against resistance); 'Obturator sign' (pelvic appendix): RLQ pain on passive internal rotation of the flexed right hip. |  |  |
| 5 | How do you elicit and interpret 'Lachman Test / Anterior Drawer Sign', 'McMurray Test', and 'Thompson Test' in orthopedic lower extremity examination? | 'Lachman test' (pulling tibia anteriorly with knee at 20–30° flexion, most sensitive) and 'Anterior drawer test' (at 90° flexion) detect an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear; 'McMurray test' (flexing/extending the knee with varus/valgus stress and internal/external tibial rotation) elicits a painful click/pop in a Meniscal tear; 'Thompson test' (squeezing the calf while prone with feet hanging off the table fails to produce passive plantarflexion) diagnoses an Achilles tendon rupture. |  |  |
| 6 | What do the prescription dispensing abbreviations 'Rx', 'Sig', 'Disp', 'qs', 'NR', 'DAW', and 'OTC' mean? | 'Rx' (recipe) = take / prescription; 'Sig' (signa) = write on label / directions for patient use; 'Disp' = dispense (quantity); 'qs' (quantum sufficit) = a sufficient quantity; 'NR' = no refills; 'DAW' = dispense as written (brand medically necessary, no generic substitution); 'OTC' = over-the-counter (non-prescription). |  |  |
| 7 | What are 'Whipple Triad' in endocrinology and 'Waddell Triad' in pediatric trauma? | 'Whipple triad' (Insulinoma / true hypoglycemia): 1) symptoms of hypoglycemia (neuroglycopenia/autonomic), 2) documented low plasma glucose (< 55 mg/dL) at the time of symptoms, and 3) immediate relief of symptoms upon glucose administration; 'Waddell triad' (pediatric pedestrian struck by motor vehicle): 1) ipsilateral femoral shaft fracture, 2) ipsilateral thoracic or intra-abdominal injury (spleen/liver), and 3) contralateral head injury. |  |  |
| 8 | What do the timing and conditional prescription abbreviations 'PRN', 'STAT', 'AC', 'PC', 'HS', 'AM/PM', and 'QOD (every other day)' mean? | 'PRN' (pro re nata) = as needed; 'STAT' (statim) = immediately / at once; 'AC' (ante cibum) = before meals; 'PC' (post cibum) = after meals; 'HS' (hora somni) = at bedtime; 'AM' (ante meridiem) = morning and 'PM' (post meridiem) = afternoon/evening; 'QOD' (quaque altera die, now written out as 'every other day') = every other day. |  |  |
| 9 | How do you elicit and interpret 'Phalen Maneuver' and 'Tinel Sign' at the wrist, and 'Finkelstein Test' at the thumb? | 'Phalen maneuver' (holding wrists in maximal flexion for 60 seconds) and 'Tinel sign' (percussing over the palmar carpal ligament) reproduce numbness/tingling in the thumb, index, middle, and radial ring fingers in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (median nerve compression); 'Finkelstein test' (grasping the thumb inside the fingers and ulnar-deviating the wrist) reproduces sharp pain over the radial styloid in De Quervain tenosynovitis (abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons). |  |  |
| 10 | What do the neurological, endocrine, and musculoskeletal abbreviations 'CVA', 'TIA', 'ICP', 'MS', 'ALS', 'DM (DKA vs. HHS)', 'SIADH', 'DI', 'OA', 'RA', 'SLE', and 'ORIF' stand for? | 'CVA' = Cerebrovascular Accident (stroke); 'TIA' = Transient Ischemic Attack; 'ICP' = Intracranial Pressure; 'MS' = Multiple Sclerosis; 'ALS' = Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; 'DM' = Diabetes Mellitus ('DKA' = Diabetic Ketoacidosis, 'HHS' = Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State); 'SIADH' = Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion; 'DI' = Diabetes Insipidus; 'OA' = Osteoarthritis; 'RA' = Rheumatoid Arthritis; 'SLE' = Systemic Lupus Erythematosus; 'ORIF' = Open Reduction and Internal Fixation. |  |  |
| 11 | What do the ophthalmic and otic route abbreviations 'OD', 'OS', 'OU', 'AD', 'AS', 'AU', and 'gtt' mean, and why are they error-prone? | Ophthalmic (oculus): 'OD' (oculus dexter) = right eye, 'OS' (oculus sinister) = left eye, 'OU' (oculus uterque) = both eyes; Otic (auris): 'AD' (auris dextra) = right ear, 'AS' (auris sinistra) = left ear, 'AU' (auris utraque) = both ears; 'gtt' (guttae) = drops; they are error-prone because OD/OS/OU are frequently confused with AD/AS/AU, so ISMP recommends writing 'right eye', 'left ear', etc. in full. |  |  |
| 12 | What are 'Cullen Sign' and 'Grey Turner Sign', and what life-threatening conditions do they indicate? | 'Cullen sign' is bluish-purple periumbilical ecchymosis, and 'Grey Turner sign' is bilateral flank ecchymosis; both indicate retroperitoneal hemorrhage tracking through fascial planes, classically seen in severe hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis or ruptured ectopic pregnancy / abdominal aortic aneurysm. |  |  |
| 13 | What are 'Janeway Lesions', 'Osler Nodes', 'Roth Spots', and 'Splinter Hemorrhages', and with what disease are they associated? | All four are classic stigmata of Infective Endocarditis: 'Janeway lesions' are painless erythematous/hemorrhagic macules on the palms and soles (septic microemboli); 'Osler nodes' are PAINFUL violaceous nodules on the finger and toe pads (immune complex deposition — 'Ouch = Osler'); 'Roth spots' are retinal hemorrhages with pale white centers; 'Splinter hemorrhages' are linear reddish-brown streaks under the nail beds. |  |  |
| 14 | How do you elicit and interpret 'Babinski Sign', 'Hoffmann Sign', and 'Romberg Sign' on neurological examination? | 'Babinski sign': dorsiflexion (upgoing) of the great toe with fanning of the other toes upon stroking the lateral sole of the foot, indicating an Upper Motor Neuron (corticospinal tract) lesion in patients > 1 year old; 'Hoffmann sign': reflex flexion of the thumb and index finger upon flicking the nail of the middle finger (cervical UMN lesion); 'Romberg sign': loss of balance when standing with feet together and eyes CLOSED (after standing steadily with eyes open), indicating a loss of proprioception (dorsal columns) or vestibular function (sensory ataxia). |  |  |
| 15 | What do the structured clinical documentation acronyms 'SOAP' and 'SBAR' stand for? | 'SOAP' (progress note format): Subjective (patient's chief complaint, HPI, symptoms), Objective (vital signs, physical exam findings, lab/imaging results), Assessment (differential diagnosis and clinical synthesis), and Plan (diagnostic workup, treatment, disposition); 'SBAR' (interprofessional handoff communication): Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. |  |  |
| 16 | What do the emergency and resuscitation acronyms 'CPR', 'AED', 'BLS', 'ACLS', 'ROSC', 'DNR', 'DNI', and 'AMA' stand for? | 'CPR' = Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; 'AED' = Automated External Defibrillator; 'BLS' = Basic Life Support; 'ACLS' = Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support; 'ROSC' = Return of Spontaneous Circulation; 'DNR' = Do Not Resuscitate (no chest compressions/defibrillation if pulseless); 'DNI' = Do Not Intubate; 'AMA' = Against Medical Advice. |  |  |
| 17 | What do the respiratory and intensive care abbreviations 'RA', 'NC', 'NRB', 'BiPAP', 'CPAP', 'ETT', 'PEEP', 'FiO2', and 'SpO2' stand for? | 'RA' = Room Air (FiO2 21%); 'NC' = Nasal Cannula; 'NRB' = Non-Rebreather mask; 'CPAP' = Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; 'BiPAP' = Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure; 'ETT' = Endotracheal Tube; 'PEEP' = Positive End-Expiratory Pressure; 'FiO2' = Fraction of Inspired Oxygen; 'SpO2' = Peripheral Capillary Oxygen Saturation (pulse oximetry). |  |  |
| 18 | How do you elicit and interpret 'Brudzinski Sign' and 'Kernig Sign', and what condition do they indicate? | Both indicate meningeal irritation (meningismus, e.g., acute bacterial meningitis or subarachnoid hemorrhage): 'Brudzinski sign' is involuntary flexion of the hips and knees when the examiner passively flexes the patient's neck; 'Kernig sign' is severe hamstring resistance and pain when attempting to extend the knee beyond 135 degrees while the hip is flexed at 90 degrees. |  |  |
| 19 | What are 'Homans Sign', 'Kussmaul Sign', 'Pulsus Paradoxus', and 'Corrigan (Water-Hammer) Pulse'? | 'Homans sign': calf pain on passive dorsiflexion of the foot (historically associated with DVT, low sensitivity/specificity); 'Kussmaul sign': paradoxical rise (or failure to fall) in jugular venous pressure during inspiration (seen in constrictive pericarditis, restrictive cardiomyopathy, or right ventricular infarction, NOT cardiac tamponade); 'Pulsus paradoxus': exaggerated drop in systolic BP > 10 mmHg during inspiration (cardiac tamponade, severe asthma/COPD); 'Corrigan pulse': bounding, rapidly rising and collapsing arterial pulse in chronic aortic regurgitation. |  |  |
| 20 | What do the dietary and fluid order abbreviations 'NPO', 'PO', 'AD LIB', 'I&O', 'BM', 'BRP', and 'OOB' mean in nursing and medical orders? | 'NPO' (nil per os) = nothing by mouth; 'PO' (per os) = by mouth / orally; 'AD LIB' (ad libitum) = as desired / freely; 'I&O' = strict intake and output monitoring; 'BM' = bowel movement; 'BRP' = bathroom privileges; 'OOB' = out of bed. |  |  |
| 21 | How do you elicit and interpret 'Murphy Sign' and 'Courvoisier Sign' in hepatobiliary examination? | 'Murphy sign' (Acute Cholecystitis): inspiratory arrest triggered by deep palpation in the Right Upper Quadrant below the costal margin as the inflamed gallbladder descends onto the examiner's fingers; 'Courvoisier sign' (Malignant biliary obstruction, e.g., pancreatic head adenocarcinoma): a palpable, non-tender distended gallbladder accompanied by painless jaundice. |  |  |
| 22 | What do the pulmonary, GI, and renal disease abbreviations 'COPD', 'ARDS', 'OSA', 'GERD', 'PUD', 'IBD (UC vs. CD)', 'GI', 'AKI', 'CKD', 'ESRD', 'BPH', and 'UTI' stand for? | 'COPD' = Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; 'ARDS' = Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome; 'OSA' = Obstructive Sleep Apnea; 'GERD' = Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease; 'PUD' = Peptic Ulcer Disease; 'IBD' = Inflammatory Bowel Disease ('UC' = Ulcerative Colitis, 'CD' = Crohn Disease); 'GI' = Gastrointestinal; 'AKI' = Acute Kidney Injury; 'CKD' = Chronic Kidney Disease; 'ESRD' = End-Stage Renal Disease; 'BPH' = Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia; 'UTI' = Urinary Tract Infection. |  |  |
| 23 | What do the cardiovascular disease abbreviations 'HTN', 'HLD', 'CAD', 'ACS', 'STEMI', 'NSTEMI', 'CHF (HFrEF vs. HFpEF)', 'AFib', 'DVT', 'PE', and 'PAD' stand for? | 'HTN' = Hypertension; 'HLD' = Hyperlipidemia; 'CAD' = Coronary Artery Disease; 'ACS' = Acute Coronary Syndrome; 'STEMI' = ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction; 'NSTEMI' = Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction; 'CHF' = Congestive Heart Failure ('HFrEF' = with reduced ejection fraction, 'HFpEF' = with preserved ejection fraction); 'AFib' = Atrial Fibrillation; 'DVT' = Deep Vein Thrombosis; 'PE' = Pulmonary Embolism; 'PAD' = Peripheral Artery Disease. |  |  |
| 24 | Distinguish between 'Trousseau Sign of Latent Tetany' and 'Trousseau Sign of Malignancy (Trousseau Syndrome)'. | 'Trousseau sign of latent tetany' is carpopedal spasm upon brachial artery occlusion in hypocalcemia; 'Trousseau sign of malignancy' is migratory superficial thrombophlebitis presenting as a paraneoplastic hypercoagulable syndrome caused by mucin-producing visceral adenocarcinomas (especially pancreatic, gastric, or lung cancer). |  |  |
| 25 | What are 'Koplik Spots', 'Nikolsky Sign', 'Auspitz Sign', and 'Herald Patch' in dermatologic diagnosis? | 'Koplik spots': tiny white/bluish-gray grains-of-salt lesions on erythematous buccal mucosa opposite the molars, pathognomonic for prodromal Measles (rubeola); 'Nikolsky sign': shearing/sloughing of superficial epidermis upon gentle lateral finger pressure on normal-appearing skin (positive in Pemphigus vulgaris, Stevens-Johnson syndrome/TEN, and Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome, negative in Bullous pemphigoid); 'Auspitz sign': pinpoint bleeding spots when silvery scales are scraped off a plaque of Psoriasis; 'Herald patch': solitary salmon-colored oval plaque preceding the 'Christmas tree' rash of Pityriasis rosea. |  |  |
| 26 | How do you elicit and interpret 'Chvostek Sign' and 'Trousseau Sign', and which electrolyte imbalance do they signify? | Both signify latent tetany from HYPOCALCEMIA (or hypomagnesemia/alkalosis): 'Chvostek sign' is ipsilateral twitching of the facial muscles upon tapping the facial nerve (CN VII) anterior to the ear tragus; 'Trousseau sign' is carpopedal spasm (wrist and MCP flexion with IP extension and thumb adduction) induced by inflating a blood pressure cuff 20 mmHg above systolic BP for 3 minutes. |  |  |
| 27 | What do the medical history sections 'CC', 'HPI', 'PMH', 'PSH', 'FH', 'SH', 'ROS', 'NKDA', and 'WNL' stand for? | 'CC' = Chief Complaint; 'HPI' = History of Present Illness (OLDCARTS / OPQRST); 'PMH' = Past Medical History; 'PSH' = Past Surgical History; 'FH' = Family History; 'SH' = Social History; 'ROS' = Review of Systems; 'NKDA' = No Known Drug Allergies; 'WNL' = Within Normal Limits. |  |  |
| 28 | What do the common diagnostic test abbreviations 'CBC', 'BMP', 'CMP', 'ABG', 'UA', 'LP', 'CXR', 'CT', 'MRI', 'TTE', and 'TEE' stand for? | 'CBC' = Complete Blood Count; 'BMP' = Basic Metabolic Panel; 'CMP' = Comprehensive Metabolic Panel; 'ABG' = Arterial Blood Gas; 'UA' = Urinalysis; 'LP' = Lumbar Puncture; 'CXR' = Chest X-Ray; 'CT' = Computed Tomography; 'MRI' = Magnetic Resonance Imaging; 'TTE' = Transthoracic Echocardiogram; 'TEE' = Transesophageal Echocardiogram. |  |  |
| 29 | What do the standard physical examination abbreviations 'HEENT', 'PERRLA', 'EOMI', 'JVD', 'RRR', 'CTA-B', 'NT/ND', and 'A&Ox4' stand for? | 'HEENT' = Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat; 'PERRLA' = Pupils Equal, Round, and Reactive to Light and Accommodation; 'EOMI' = Extraocular Movements Intact; 'JVD' = Jugular Venous Distension; 'RRR' = Regular Rate and Rhythm; 'CTA-B' = Clear to Auscultation Bilaterally; 'NT/ND' = Non-Tender, Non-Distended (abdomen); 'A&Ox4' = Alert and Oriented to person, place, time, and situation/event. |  |  |
| 30 | What are the official Joint Commission (TJC) 'Do Not Use' Abbreviations, and why is each banned from clinical orders? | 1) 'U' or 'u' (mistaken for '0', '4', or 'cc' -> write 'unit'); 2) 'IU' (mistaken for 'IV' or '10' -> write 'International Unit'); 3) 'QD, Q.D., qd, q.d.' and 'QOD, Q.O.D., qod, q.o.d.' (mistaken for each other or 'QID' -> write 'daily' and 'every other day'); 4) Trailing zero 'X.0 mg' (decimal point missed causing 10-fold overdose -> write 'X mg') and Lack of leading zero '.X mg' (missed decimal -> write '0.X mg'); 5) 'MS', 'MSO4', and 'MgSO4' (morphine sulfate and magnesium sulfate confused for one another -> write full drug names). |  |  |
| 31 | What do the Latin dosing frequency abbreviations 'QD (daily)', 'BID', 'TID', 'QID', 'Q4H', 'Q6H', and 'Q8H' mean? | 'QD' (quaque die, now written out as 'daily') = once daily; 'BID' (bis in die) = twice a day; 'TID' (ter in die) = three times a day; 'QID' (quater in die) = four times a day; 'Q4H' = every 4 hours (6 times/day); 'Q6H' = every 6 hours (4 times/day); 'Q8H' = every 8 hours (3 times/day). |  |  |
| 32 | What do the parenteral and enteral route abbreviations 'IV', 'IVP', 'IVPB', 'IM', 'SubQ (SC)', 'ID', 'SL', 'PR', 'NGT', and 'PEG' mean? | 'IV' = intravenous; 'IVP' = intravenous push (bolus); 'IVPB' = intravenous piggyback (secondary intermittent infusion); 'IM' = intramuscular; 'SubQ / SC' = subcutaneous; 'ID' = intradermal; 'SL' = sublingual (under the tongue); 'PR' = per rectum; 'NGT' = nasogastric tube; 'PEG' = percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube. |  |  |

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