stupid question about abreviation....

[LanaBanana]

I know this is something I should know, but I see 2 different abreviations used for "after", you know like when saying someone is NPO after midnight. Sometimes I see a P with a line over it and sometimes a Q with a line. What is it, and what does it stand for? I would think P, for post. Like I said, a stupid question!

[nurseangel47]

Nu uh....never see it like a q with a line! I have always written it as p (post meaning after....like you said)....with the line above the p!

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

One of our docs writes her q's (like in 'q6h' - every six hours) with a line over them, but it doesn't change the meaning.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

p with a line over it = post, or after (as in p.c., post cibum, or after meals)

q with a line over it = quantity (as in q.d., quaque die, or every day)

If you have a copy of a medical dictionary around, such as Taber's, you will find both the "p" and the "q" as entries in the alphabetic listings along with their meanings. You will also find entries for "p.c." and "q.d." explaining these abbreviations.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

These abbreviations are no longer allowed in our facility - we use very few abbreviations anymore for just this reason - easy to misinterpret.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

These abbreviations are no longer allowed in our facility - we use very few abbreviations anymore for just this reason - easy to misinterpret.

Same here, a disaster waiting to happen otherwise.