Doctor/Medical Symbols...

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Bariatrics.

Does anyone have any good links (or know of books) that list symbols that are used by doctors and what they mean?

I know most of the abbreviations but I am trying to teach myself the symbols, like the funky "pie" symbol and some other's I've seen. I've been trying to google but not finding what I need.

:bowingpur

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

never heard of, or remember seeing, a "pie" symbol used by docs. the "fishscales" or grids used to document cbc and electrolyte results are explained in this previous thread: https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/fish-scales-222631.html. another symbol i can think of is the patient's peripheral response to reflexes (a stick man with arrows pointing up or down).

i imagine this is going to be a long term project. you will find these symbols randomly in many different physician progress notes or hand written history and physicals. then you will have the job of finding out what they mean. some of them you may find on pre-printed nurses daily flow charts, so i would check as many forms in each clinical site you go to.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Bariatrics.

Yep, I was looking at a dr. order yesterday and saw a pie symbol. Another one is two vertical lines with a line on top with a dot.... I couldn't figure that one out either. The majority of the ones I see are from dr. orders.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

The two vertical lines with a dot on top means one. It's the number of dots that gives you the number relating to. Two dots would mean two, etc.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Bariatrics.
The two vertical lines with a dot on top means one. It's the number of dots that gives you the number relating to. Two dots would mean two, etc.

Ohhh, I'll have to take another look next time I'm at work. That one baffled me. I did see the same symbol with two dots on top, so now that makes sense. Thanks.

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.
The two vertical lines with a dot on top means one. It's the number of dots that gives you the number relating to. Two dots would mean two, etc.

I have seen it with one vertical line with one dot = 1... 2 verticle lines with 2 dots = 2. But I never seen it with 2 verticle lines and one dot. Is this interchangable?

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.
Does anyone have any good links (or know of books) that list symbols that are used by doctors and what they mean?

I know most of the abbreviations but I am trying to teach myself the symbols, like the funky "pie" symbol and some other's I've seen. I've been trying to google but not finding what I need.

:bowingpur

My Taber's has A LOT of info on symbols, abbreviations, charting abbreviations and their meanings, prescriptive writing and abbreviations, etc...

The Taber's I have also has medical dx along with nursing ones as suggestions.

It is a nifty little book.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Bariatrics.
My Taber's has A LOT of info on symbols, abbreviations, charting abbreviations and their meanings, prescriptive writing and abbreviations, etc...

The Taber's I have also has medical dx along with nursing ones as suggestions.

It is a nifty little book.

Thanks, I'll look into getting one next week.

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