Pain abbreviated Px?

[cowboy_carl]

I've been using Px as an abbreviation for pain. I never really learned that in school, but some of my co-workers use it. I can't find anything that proves that this is a legitimate abbreviation. Any references?

[michael79]

I would check with your facility's approved abbreviation list. In our facility if its not on that list you may not use it.

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

i've never heard of using px for pain .. i use dx diagnosis and tx treatment and rx for perscription... but never heard of px... maybe someone else uses it... did you learn px for pain in nursing school? it's not on our approved abbrev for our hospital.. i wouldn't use it if it's not approved...

[cowboy_carl]

I saw it used in this post for pain: https://allnurses.com/test-question-t110944/

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

I've seen it for prognosis.

[Burnt Out, ASN, RN]

I've never seen pain abbreviated that way. I've also never seen it on my facility's approved abbreviation list. And as others have said, I wouldn't use it if is not on the list.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I beg of anyone not to use abbreviations that are not approved by the facility. My stupid hospital seems to allow it, anyhow. I saw something today; written by one of the residents in our computerized chart "UTD"...and it took us a few minutes to ASSUME that this meant that the vaccinations were Up To Date. And, that is an assumption, not a fact, to me, because this is not an approved abbreviation. The resident was gone for the day (convienently), so, we didn't really know what he was speaking of. This was in the physician's notes, not a nursing order, thank goodness, but I do believe that this is a dangerous practice.

What we use on the internet is one thing; a legal document can open up a can of worms.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

That's a good point, pagandeva. Medical residents probably present a unique case though, because they often move between several facilities in a very short time. The logistics of tackling several different abbreviation lists would likely prove very challenging.

I've worked where "UTD" is completely acceptable, so I'd have to sympathize with the doc on that one.

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

I agree if its not an approved abbreviation it shouldnt be used. We have some doctors that seem to think that RTC should mean return to clinic and somehow majically we should know this? how?

Anyway, keep it simple,, use the ones you know are approved and remember every day Joint commission is nixing several others for us.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

That's a good point, pagandeva. Medical residents probably present a unique case though, because they often move between several facilities in a very short time. The logistics of tackling several different abbreviation lists would likely prove very challenging.

I've worked where "UTD" is completely acceptable, so I'd have to sympathize with the doc on that one.

I appreciate you sharing this; I really didn't know that. I really believe that abbreviations should be standardized at least, through the state, if not the entire country. Thanks for the clarity.

[caliotter3]

My last employer started to comply with the list put out by JCAHO in their patient safety standards document and sent every one of us a copy of the organization's list of standard abbreviations. I decided it was just easier to refrain from all abbreviations so have been trying to break out of the habit of using them. Less chance of being called in to redo my nursing notes for this reason.

[queenjean]

I've never seen px as pain; like another poster, it's used as prognosis in our facility.

Pain is only two letters more than px--not much of an abbreviation (this coming from the woman who uses "et" instead of "and" so what the heck do I know?).