Need abbreviation help

Published

Specializes in Midwifery, women's health.

I'm a nursing student researching my patient for tomorrow morning's clinical and have come across an abbreviation on the nursing worklist that I can't figure out. It is regarding her insulin injection and is "QACHS". I searched online and can't find anything! I know QHS is bedtime, but have not yet come across this one.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in AGNP.

Before meals and at bedtime.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Oncology.

Q is "every", AC is "before meals", and HS is "bedtime"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

It is more frequently written as AC & HS. This was just poor transcription or handwriting.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The part I can't figure out is the abbreviation pst . It looks like those are the letters comparing his "p" with other "p"s in the letter .

I'm not sure what pst could stand for and there is the possibility that the next two letter after the p are not st.

Anyone have any idea in the context of the sentence what it could be? (The patient was treated for prostate cancer by chemo and radiation therapy without any improvement).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

"Q" is not an acceptable abbreviation any longer, per Joint Commission. We should write out "daily". Might as well get in the habit.

pst is probably made up by the MD - which is a bad habit for him/her! This is the very reason nurses can make mistakes - by trying to guess what the MD wanted. My practice is to call them to verify. Even at night. If they want to be cryptic they pay the price. But as a student, you will have to ask someone who works there probably.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

pst is short for pssssttttt which means be very very quiet and only whisper :rofl:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Oncology.

I was gonna say pacific standard time... Or please send tell (old online gamer abbreviation)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If anyone goes crazy over abbreviations like me, you can pick up a book by Neil M Davis called: "Medical Abbreviations: 30,000"

I bought it thinking I would never use it, and wound up using it a lot. It makes my life so much easier.

http://www.amazon.com/Medical-Abbreviations-Conveniences-Expense-Communication/dp/093143114X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266354401&sr=8-1

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion