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English for

Pharmacist
Pharmacy Vocabulary & Phrases
prescription dispense

to get a good night's sleep prescription

pharmacy profiles

to take medicine counsel

to take a pill interaction

easier said than done effect

to stay calm drug

pharmacist prescribe
regimen allergy (n.)

antidepressant (n.) apply (v.)

over-the-counter (adj.) migraine

side effect antibiotic

dose (n.) aseptic

generic drug bandage (n.)

drowsy (adj.) dehydration

fever nausea

active ingredient rash (n.)

Sedative diarrhea

therapeutic (adj.)
These English phrases will be useful when you are at a chemist.

The active ingredients are listed on the back of the package.

This drug has potential for abuse.

This will cause alleviation of swelling.

May cause feelings of anxiousness.

Can cause frequent bowel movements.

Will promote alleviation of constipation.

Take one dose every 8 hours.


Taking medication will cause drowsiness.

For external use only.

For internal use only.

Take this medicine with food.

Drug interaction warnings: .

Other drugs that may not interact well are .

The medication may cause you to itch.

If you take too much medicine, you will overdose.


See your doctor if the pain persists.

Do not take more pills than you are supposed to.

Let me know if you have one of these rare side effects.

These pills should alleviate the throbbing.

There are warnings, in Spanish, on the back of the bottle.

Swallow two pills before bed.

Describe your symptoms.


I'd like some … have you got anything for …?

toothpaste cold sores

paracetamol a sore throat

I've got a prescription here chapped lips


from the doctor

a cough

travel sickness

athlete's foot
can you recommend anything for a cold?

I'm suffering from …

hay fever

indigestion

diarrhea

I've got a rash

you could try this cream


if it doesn't clear up after a week, you should see your doctor

have you got anything to help me stop smoking?

have you tried nicotine patches?

can I buy this without a prescription?

it's only available on prescription

does it have any side-effects?

it can make you feel drowsy

you should avoid alcohol

I'd like to speak to the pharmacist, please


Vocabulary Exercises
In the first two exercises choose the correct answer for each of the
following questions. After you answer the question, click on the “Check
Mark” to see the correct answer.

Have fun!!!!!!!!
Exercise 1
Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4
Exercise 1
1. I have to my prescription. ( = get a second /
subsequent filling )

refill refuel reveal

2. I'm sorry, we're temporarily that antibiotic. ( =


we don't have any more)

sold out of away from

3. Nausea is a common of these pills.

side condition secondary affectation side effect


4. Make sure you take this with plenty of water.

medication medicament pills

5. Don't take these on . Take them with a meal.

empty stomach a stomach that's empty an empty stomach

6. We always ( = verify) with your doctor before


filling your prescription.

check out check check in


7. You might ( = feel) some dizziness.

Experience expect expend

8. This is the best cold medicine . (=


available) that's

on demand on the market on a scale of one to ten

9. Its benefits its risks. ( = it has more benefits


than risks)

weight more than outweigh are heavier than


Exercise 2
1. A company that produces drugs/medicine is called a company.

Pharmacy pharmaceutical pharmacist

2. If you've had a with these pills in the past I don't recommend


you take them again.

Nausea bad feeling bad reaction

3. Are you taking any other medication?

right now currently/presently present/current


4. You can your prescription online or by telephone.

re-order rearrange react to

5. I just want to make sure there are no with other


medication you might be taking.

interaction(s) prescription(s) refills

6. In the United States and Canada, there are many


pharmacies. You can pick up your prescription without even getting out of your car!

Driving drive-by drive-through


7. A negative reaction = An reaction.

adverse awesome adept

8. medicine is medicine that you can buy without a


prescription.

Over-the-counter On demand Overpriced

9. Are their any potential ( = problems) from using


the medications together?

Correlations complications collocations


Exercise 3
Match the definition on the left with the letter of the term above:

a - antidepressant (n.) f - drowsy (adj.)


b - over-the-counter (adj.) g - fever
c - side effect h - active ingredient
d - dose (n.) i - sedative
e - generic drug j - therapeutic (adj.)

1. available without a prescription -->

2. the amount of medicine to be taken -->

3. having the ability to heal -->

4. an abnormally high body temperature -->

5. an undesired effect resulting from a medication -->


Match the definition on the left with the letter of the term above:

a - antidepressant (n.) f - drowsy (adj.)


b - over-the-counter (adj.) g - fever
c - side effect h - active ingredient
d - dose (n.) i - sedative
e - generic drug j - therapeutic (adj.)

6. medicine that treats depression -->

7. the opposite of a "brand name" drug -->

8. medicine that calms you down -->

9. sleepy -->

10. the substance in a pharmaceutical drug that is


biologically active -->
Exercise 4
Match the definition on the left with the letter of the term above:
a - allergy (n.) f - bandage (n.)
b - apply (v.) g - dehydration
c - migraine h - nausea
d - antibiotic i - rash (n.)
e - aseptic j - diarrhea

1. free of microorganisms -->

2. medicine that kills bacteria -->

3. a strip of material such as gauze used to


protect, immobilize, compress, or support a
wound -->

4. severe headache -->

5. an excessive loss of body fluid -->


a - allergy (n.) f - bandage (n.)
b - apply (v.) g - dehydration
c - migraine h - nausea
d - antibiotic i - rash (n.)
e - aseptic j - diarrhea

6. to put on one's skin, hair, etc. -->

7. loose or liquid bowel movements -->

8. a feeling like one wants to vomit/throw up -->

9. a physical (usually negative) reaction to taking


a medicine -->

10. a change of the skin which affects its color,


appearance or texture -->
Pronunciation
Acetaminophen BuSpar

Amoxicillin (am OX i sil in) Carbamazepine

Aspirin Cialis

Atenolol Concerta

Baclofen Demerol

Benadryl Digoxin
Diphenhydramine Ferrous Sulfate

Effexor Folic Acid

Erythromycin Gardasil

Excedrin Glucophage

Femara Glucovance
allergic to severe allergy attack spots allergist to refer you sinuses itchy watery
hives shortness of breath breathe constricted nasal passages sneezing Tilt

Victor: Oh, doctor, you’ve got to help me!


Doctor: Try to relax. What seems to be the problem?
Victor: I’m (1)_ all the time, and my eyes are (2)_ and(3) .
Doctor: (4)_ your head back so I can take a look at your (5)_ . You’re very
congested.
Victor: My (6)_ are killing me! I have headaches all the time and nothing I do seems to help.
Doctor: What is this on your skin?
Victor: I don’t know. I’ve had red (7)_ all over my body.
Doctor: They look like (8)_ to me. Are you experiencing any (9)_ ?
Victor: Well, my chest feels (10)_ and it’s hard to (11)_ .
Doctor: I think you may be experiencing a (12) . I’m going (13)_ to
an(14) . What were you doing right before you started experiencing these symptoms?
Victor: I started my first job.
Doctor: That could be your problem.
Victor: I knew it! I’m (15)_ work!
pharmacy technician insomnia home remedy Pharmaceuticals drugstore pharmacist
rash eye drops medication over-the-counter allergies Pain relievers headaches
dry eyes prescriptions

Pharmacist: Can I help you?


Sanaz: Yes, I had some questions for the .
Pharmacist: I’m the pharmacist. How can I help you?
Sanaz: Can I fill these _here?
Pharmacist: Yes, you can. Just give those to the and she’ll take care of you.
Sanaz: The reason I ask is that I’m hoping there’s a for my problems so I don’t have to pay for
prescription .
Pharmacist: If you’ve already seen a doctor, then I would follow his or her instructions on what to do, including
taking these medications.
Sanaz: All right, but I have some other problems.
Pharmacist: Like what?
Sanaz: I have a on my arm. See? Is there an medication I can use?
Pharmacist: That doesn’t look too serious. You can find medications for rashes on aisle 3. I would recommend
a cream made by McQ . Use it for a few days and monitor it to see if it improves. If not, you
may want to see your doctor about it.
Sanaz: Okay, thanks. I also have .
Pharmacist: There are several medications for allergies.
Sanaz: I already take those. What I want to know is if there is something I can do about the I get
from the allergies?
Pharmacist: are on aisle 4. Let me show you where they are.
Sanaz: Oh, thank you. On the way there, I’ll tell you about my other health problems. I need _for
my , pills for my , something for my back pain...
better flu symptoms sachet headache plenty
help much appointment sore feel

Pharmacist: Can I you?


Olga: Yes … I think I've got the .
Pharmacist: Ah. What are your ?
Olga: I've got a and my muscles are .
Pharmacist: When did this start?
Olga: Yesterday.
Pharmacist: Well, you should stay at home and drink of fluids. You can
also take this drink. Just add hot water and have one every four hours.
Olga: OK. How is that?
Pharmacist: It's £3.40 for a box of 10 sachets.
Olga: Ok. I'll take that.
Pharmacist: If you're not feeling in a couple of days then you should
appointment
Olga: Ok, I will. Thanks for your help.
Pharmacist: Thank you. Hope you better soon.
Pharmacist – patient dialogues
Pharmacist – patient
A Prescription
Patient is standing in front of the counter.
Patient already contact the cashier.
Calling patients to get their medicine.
Asking about allergy.
Situation I
Situation II
Situation III
Buying Over-the-Counter Medicine
Filling Prescription
Pharmacist – patient
Pharmacist: Hi, how may I help you?
Patient: Hi there, I’d like to pick up a prescription.
Pharmacist: Alright, give me the doctor’s note.
Patient: Here it is.
Pharmacist: Alright, one moment please.
Patient: Also, there’s something else I wanted.
Pharmacist: Alright, what do you need?
Patient: Do you have any anti-itch medication?
Pharmacist: What kind of itch is it?
Patient: It’s itches due to bug bites.
Pharmacist: Oh, okay. There’s some down the third aisle.
Patient: Alright. What does it look like?
Pharmacist: Well, there are many brands. Some can be used for more than just bug bites.
Patient: Cool, thank you!
Pharmacist: I’ll have your prescription drugs ready shortly.
Patient: Thanks! Hm, my daughter hurt her wrist the other day. Maybe I should get a brace for it.
Pharmacist: There are some bandages and braces over there, if you’d like to take a look.
Patient: Okay, I think I will. The pharmacy sure has a lot of helpful things.
Pharmacist: Yes, it does. Do you own an emergency first aid kit?
Patient: No, I don’t. Should I get one?
Pharmacist: Yes, you should. They’re extremely helpful. In fact, let me get one for you from the back.
Patient: Perfect, thanks! I wonder if I need anything else…
Pharmacist: Well, if you need anything, you can always come in and ask.
Patient: Alright, thanks. Is my prescription ready?
Pharmacist: Yeah, here it is. You’re all set!
Patient: Alright, thank you!
Pharmacist: Have a nice day!
A Prescription

Patient: … what about the problems I've been having sleeping?


Doctor: I'm going to give you a prescription for some medicine to help you get a
better night's sleep.
Patient: Thank you doctor.
Doctor: Here, you can get this prescription at any pharmacy.
Patient: How often should I take the medicine?
Doctor: Just take one pill about 30 minutes before you go to bed.
Patient: How long should I take them?
Doctor: The prescription is for thirty days. If you're not sleeping well after thirty
days, I'd like you to come back in.
Patient: Is there anything else I can do to help me sleep at night?
Doctor: Don't worry so much about things at work. I know, I know... easier said
than done.
Patient: Should I stay home from work?
Doctor: No, I don't think that's necessary. Just remember to stay calm.
Patient is standing in front of the counter.

Pharmacist : Excuse me, sir? May I help you?

Patient : Yes. I’ve just seen the doctor and now I want to get my medicine.

Pharmacist : Did you contact the cashier?

Patient : No, not yet.

Pharmacist : O.K., could you please contact them first? And wait for the
cashier to call your name. After that you can bring the receipt to get your
medicine here.

Patient : O.K., thanks a lot.

Pharmacist : No problem, sir.


Patient already contact the cashier.

Pharmacist : Good morning, Could I have your receipt, please? ** Patient


gives the receipt to the pharmacist**

Pharmacist : Just a minute, please have a seat.

Patient : My medicine is not ready?

Pharmacist : Umm.. Not yet, sir. I’ll call you when your medicine is ready.
Calling patients to get their medicine.

Pharmacist : Mr. peter Johnson, please t….. Mr. Johnson, please.


Hello, sir. Please check your name again, is it correct?
Patient : Yeah, Peter Johnson.
Pharmacist : How many doctors have you seen today?
Patient : Just one doctor. Why do you always keep asking this question?
Pharmacist : Because some patients met more than one doctor so I just want
to make sure that you’ve got all the medicine, you suppose to have.
Pharmacist : Are you allergic to any medicine?
Patient : Nothing that I know of.
Pharmacist : OK, Today you have 3 medicines…….
Asking about allergy.

Pharmacist : Have you ever been allergic to any medicine?


Patient : Yes, I used to be allergic to penicillin but it’s a long time ago.
Pharmacist : OK, what was the symptom when you took penicillin?
Patient : I had a rash all over.
Pharmacist : Have you ever take it again since then?
Patient : No, never.
Pharmacist : OK, today you won’t have any problem about this because the
doctor gave different class of antibiotic.
Patient : That’s good.
Situation I

Pt : Hello, I want to buy this medicine. I couldn’t find it from anywhere. Do you
have it here?
Ph : Just a minute, please. Let me check it for you. Yes, we have this medicine
but I cannot dispense it without a prescription from the doctor. Would you
mind to see the doctor first?
Pt : Why do I have to see the doctor? I’ve been taking this medication for a
long time.
Ph : Yes, I understand that but this medicine has to be used under doctor’s
control that’s why you need a prescription.
Pt : OK, where can I see a doctor?
Ph : Is this your first time here?
Pt : Yeah.
Ph : So you have to register first. The registration section is right at the corner
over there. You just tell them that you want to buy the medicine which needs a
prescription from the doctor.
Pt : OK, thank you
Ph : You’re welcome.
Situation II

Ph : Hello, May I speak to Mr. John Smith, please?


Pt : Speaking.
Ph : This is Bumrungrad Hospital calling. Yesterday you came to the hospital,
right?
Pt : Yes. Is there any problem?
Ph : Do you know that you suppose to have the medicine to take home?
Pt : Yeah, but really didn’t have time to wait. Can I pick it up to day?
Ph : Sure, you can.
Pt : where can I get my medicine.
Ph : Please contact the cashier on 2nd floor and bring the receipt to get your
medicine at Pharmacy department.
Pt : OK, thank you very much.
Ph : No problem, sir.
Situation III

Pt : Is my medicine ready yet? I’ve been waiting here for almost 15 minute.
And there are no other patients at all. What are you doing? I don’t get it.
Ph : I’m very sorry. What your name, please? I’ll check it out for you.
Pt : Patricia.
Ph : OK, just a minute please. You have one medicine that needs to be mixed
so it might take some more time.
Pt : So how long do I have to wait?
Ph : Just about 10 minute. I’m very sorry for the inconvenience.
Pt : Alright.
Buying Over-the-Counter Medicine

A: Excuse me, could you help me pick out a lotion?


B: Sure, what is the problem?
A: I got poison oak while hiking, and I need something to help me with the itching.
B: I can suggest a product called Technu that comes in a lotion or cream.
A: Which do you prefer?
B: Hikers tell me that the cream is best because it stays on longer.
A: Is there anything else I can do to help with the itching?
B: You can take an antihistamine.
A: Thank you so much for all of the information.
B: You are welcome. Please feel free to ask me a question any time you need help.
A: I need help picking out a lotion.
B: It would be my pleasure to help you. What do you need help with?
A: I picked up some poison oak while hiking, and I can't stop itching.
B: We have Technu, and it is available in lotion or cream.
A: Do you find that one works better than the other?
B: I have heard that the cream is longer lasting.
A: Is there anything I can take that will help with the itching?
B: If you take an antihistamine, that would help a lot.
A: Thank you for helping me figure out what to do with my poison oak.
B: It was a pleasure. Come back anytime.
A: Can you help me find a lotion for a problem I am having?
B: That's what I am here for. What questions can I answer for you?
A: I have poison oak, and I need help with the rash that won't stop itching.
B: The best product is Technu, and you can buy either the lotion or cream.
A: Which one is best?
B: The cream form is very popular.
A: Can I do anything else to help with the itching?
B: You could also take an antihistamine to help the rash go away quicker.
A: I appreciate you helping me find a solution to the itching.
B: Anytime you have a question, please feel free to ask
Filling Prescription

A: I need to get my prescription filled.


B: You may pick it up in twenty minutes.
A: If I wanted to, could I have it mailed to me?
B: Yes, and you can renew this prescription by phone.
A: Are there any special instructions about this medication?
B: Take it three times a day.
A: Can I take it with food?
B: You should take this medicine with food and no alcohol.
A: Are there any side effects with this medication?
B: You might get a little dizzy, but that is it.
A: I am here to get my prescription filled.
B: Your prescription will be ready in twenty minutes.
A: Do you ever deliver prescriptions by mail?
B: Yes, in fact, you can renew this prescription over the Internet and have it delivered to
your home.
A: How should I take this medication?
B: You should take it twice a day.
A: Should I avoid alcohol with this medication?
B: You need something in your stomach when you take it. Don't drink alcohol with this
medication.
A: Should I expect any side effects?
B: Sometimes you might feel dizzy, but that isn't common.
A: I am dropping off my prescription to get it filled.
B: You can come back in twenty minutes, and it will be ready.
A: If I couldn't wait, could the prescription be mailed to me?
B: Yes, you can have it delivered or filled at any location in our HMO.
A: When should I take this medication?
B: You need to take it at bedtime.
A: Should I take this medicine on an empty stomach?
B: Don't mix alcohol with this medication, but you can take it with or without food.
A: What are the side effects of this medication?
B: You might feel a little dizzy at first, but it should pass.
Idiomatic Language
In England, high-street chemists (drugstore or pharmacy) stock
a huge range of toiletries (items for personal hygiene), baby
products, cosmetics, perfumes and medicines. Dispensing
chemists also fill prescriptions (given to you by your doctor)
and some even develop films for you.

Baby care;
Many people buy nappies (diapers) for their babies at chemists.
Along with the nappies are other products for babies, such
as nappy cream, cotton wool buds(lengths of plastic tipped with
soft cotton to clean a baby's ears, for example), baby wipes (to
help clean a baby) and so on.
Hair care;
Chemists also stock a range of hair products. You can
buy shampoo and conditioner (to wash your hair) and products to
colour hair. For styling your hair you can buy gel or mousse, which
act a bit like glue to keep your hair in a particular style. You can also
buy hair brushes or combs, to make your hair neat, and hair
grips and hair slides, which are plastic objects that keep your hair in
place.

Make up;
If you are looking for cosmetics or make-up, you can find eye-
liner (or kohl), mascara (for your eyelashes) and eye-shadow, which is
coloured powder to put on your eyelids. You can also
buy foundation (a cream to put on your face to give an even
surface), blusher (to add colour to your cheeks), lipstick (which adds
colour to your lips), and lip-gloss which adds shine to your lips. To
colour your nails you can use nail polish, also known as nail varnish.
Personal hygiene;
There's normally a wide selection of personal hygiene products. Many English
people like to soak in a long, hot bath, and so there's a huge market in bath
oils, bath salts or bubble bath – all ways to add nice smells to your bath! You can
also buy nail scissors and emery boards (to file your nails) and pumice stone, to
rub away dry skin from your feet. For oral hygiene, you can
buy toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss, which is like string that you use
to clean between your teeth.
You can also buy face and body creams, moisturizer (cream to prevent your skin
from going dry), soap and deodorant. Other items you can find in this section of
the chemist are razors, to shave hair from your body, shaving foam;
and feminine hygiene products, such as tampons and sanitary towels.
bitter pill to swallow
- an unpleasant fact that one must accept
Losing the election was a bitter pill to swallow for the candidate.

black-and-blue
- bruised, showing signs of having been physically harmed
My arm was black-and-blue after falling down the stairs.

break out in (something)


- to begin showing a rash or other skin disorder
I broke out in a rash after eating the shrimp at the restaurant.

catch a cold
- to get a cold
I caught a cold last week and had to miss four days of work.
come down with (something)
- to become sick with something, to catch an illness
My niece came down with a cold and was unable to visit me last week.

a dose of one's own medicine


- the same treatment that one gives to others (usually this has a negative
meaning)
We gave the boy a dose of his own medicine after he bullied us.

fill a prescription
- to get some medicine from a pharmacy (drug store) with the orders from
a doctor
The man went to the drug store to fill a prescription.

get over (something)


- to overcome a difficulty, to recover from an illness or shock
The woman is having trouble getting over her father`s death.
get sick
- to become ill
I got sick yesterday and did not go to the movie.

get (something) out of one's system


- to get rid of the desire to do something
I went on a short holiday so that I could get travelling out of my system.

get well
- to become well, to become healthy again
The boy was sick but now he is getting well.

just what the doctor ordered


- exactly what is needed or wanted
A nice hot bath was just what the doctor ordered after my long day at work.
on medication
- taking medicine for a current medical problem
The woman has been on medication for many years.

an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure


- it is easier to prevent something bad than to deal with the results
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and I decided to stay home
and rest rather than go out in the cold with my sore throat.

refill a prescription
- to sell a second set of medicine on a doctor's orders
I went to the pharmacy to refill a prescription for my mother.

run a fever/temperature
- to have a higher than normal body temperature
The girl has been running a fever this week.
The little boy is running a temperature and should stay in bed all day.
splitting headache
- a severe headache
I have been suffering from a splitting headache all morning.

take one's medicine


- to swallow one's medicine
The boy had to take his medicine before he went to bed.

a taste of one's own medicine


- the same treatment that one gives to others (usually this has a
negative meaning)
Our boss got a taste of his own medicine when people began to treat
him badly like he treats others.

throw up
- to vomit
The woman threw up after eating the bad shellfish.
Prescription writing
A prescription is an order that is written by you, the physician (or medical student
with signature by a physician) to tell the pharmacist what medication you want your
patient to take. The basic format of a prescription includes the patient’s name and
another patient identifier, usually the date of birth. It also includes the meat of the
prescription, which contains the medication and strength, the amount to be taken, the
route by which it is to be taken and the frequency. Often times, for “as needed”
medications, there is a symptom included for when it is to be taken. The prescriber
also writes how much should be given, and how many refills. Once completed with a
signature and any other physician identifiers like NPI number or DEA number, the
prescription is taken to the pharmacist who interprets what is written and prepares
the medication for the patient. Let’s break it down.
Patient Identifiers

According to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations


(JCAHO) national patient safety goals, at least two patient identifiers should be used
in various clinical situations. While prescription writing is not specifically listed,
medication administration is. I think prescription writing should be considered in this
category as well. The two most common patient identifiers are full name and date of
birth. These are the FIRST things to write on a prescription. This way you don’t write
a signed prescription without a patient name on it that accidentally falls out of your
white coat and onto the floor in the cafeteria.

Drug/Medication

This is an easy one. This is the medication you want to prescribe. It generally does not
matter if you write the generic or the brand name here, unless you specifically want to
prescribe the brand name. Remember, if you do want the brand name, you specifically
need to tell the pharmacist – “no generics.” There are several reasons why you would
want to do this, but we won’t get into that here. On the prescription pad, there is a
small box which can be checked to indicate “brand name only” or “no generics”.
Strength

After you write the medication name, you need to tell the pharmacist the desired
strength. Many, if not most, medications come in multiple strengths. You need to write
which one you want. Often times, the exact strength you want is not available, so the
pharmacist will substitute an appropriate alternative for you. For example, if you write
prednisone (a corticosteroid) 50 mg, and the pharmacy only carries 10 mg tablets, the
pharmacist will dispense the 10 mg tabs and adjust the amount the patient should take
by a multiple of 5.

Amount

Using my previous example for prednisone, the original prescription was for 50 mg tabs.
The prescriber would have written “prednisone 50 mg, one tab….” (I’ll leave out the rest
until we get there). The “one tab” is the amount of the specific medication and strength
to take. Again using my previous example, the instructions would be rewritten
“prednisone 10 mg, five tabs….” You can see that “one tab” was changed to “five”.
Pharmacists make these changes all the time, often without any input needed from the
physician.
Route

Up until this point, we have been using plain English for the prescriptions. The route is
the first opportunity we have to start using English or Latin abbreviations. A NOTE: it is
often suggested that to help reduce the number of medication errors, prescription
writing should be 100% English, with no Latin abbreviations. I will show you both and let
you decide. There are several routes by which a medication can be taken: By Mouth (PO),
Per Rectum (PR), Sublingually (SL), Intramuscularly (IM), Intravenously (IV),
Subcutaneously (SQ)

As you can see, the abbreviations are either from Latin roots like PO – per os – or just
common combination of letters from the English word. Unfortunately when you are in a
hurry and scribbling these prescriptions, (there is a truth behind never being able to read
a physician’s hand writing) many of these abbreviations can look similar. For example,
intranasal is often abbreviated “IN,” which, when you are in a hurry, can be mistaken for
“IM” or “IV.” Check this out:
Common Route Abbreviations:
PO (by mouth)

PR (per rectum)

IM (intramuscular)

IV (intravenous)

ID (intradermal)

IN (intranasal)

TP (topical)

SL (sublingual)

BUCC (buccal)

IP (intraperitoneal)
Frequency
The frequency is simply how often you want the prescription to be taken. This can be
anywhere from once a day, once a night, twice a day or even once every other week.
Many frequencies start with the letter “q.” Q if from the Latin word quaque which means
once. So it used to be that if you wanted a medication to be taken once daily, you would
write QD, for “once daily ” (“d” is from “die,” the Latin word for day) . However, to
help reduce medication errors, QD and QOD (every other day) are on the JCAHO “do not
use” list. Instead you need to write “daily” or “every other day.”

Common Frequencies Abbreviations:

daily (no abbreviation) QHS (Every Bedtime)

every other day (no abbreviation) Q4h (Every 4 hours)

BID/b.i.d. (Twice a Day) Q4-6h (Every 4 to 6 hours)

TID/t.id. (Three Times a Day) QWK (Every Week)

QID/q.i.d. (Four Times a Day)


The “Why” Portion

Many prescriptions that you write will be for “as needed” medications. This is known
as a “PRN” (from the Latin pro re nata, meaning as circumstances may require). For
example, you may write for ibuprofen every 4 hours “as needed.” What is commonly
missed is the “reason.” Why would it be needed? You need to add this to the
prescription. You should write “PRN headache” or “PRN pain” so that the patient
knows when to take it.

How Much

The “how much” instruction tells the pharmacist how many pills should be dispensed,
or how many bottles, or how many inhalers. This number is typically written after
“Disp #.” I highly recommend that you spell out the number after the # sign, though
this is not required. For example: I would write “Disp #30 (thirty).” This prevents
someone from tampering with the prescription and adding an extra 0 after 30, turning
30 into 300.
Refills

The last instruction on the prescription informs the pharmacist how many times the
patient will be allowed to use the same exact prescription, i.e. how many refills are
allowed. For example, let’s take refills for oral contraceptives for women. A physician
may prescribe 1 pack of an oral contraceptive with 11 refills, which would last the
patient a full year. This is convenient for both the patient and physician for any
medications that will be used long term.
Prescription Writing Examples:

This example is a common medication prescribed when people are leaving the
hospital. It is one 100 mg tablet, taken at bedtime. The prescription is for 30 pills and
no refills.
Zofran is a very popular anti-nausea medication used after surgery. You’ll notice this
script is missing the “amount.” IV medications are a little different in that the
amount and strength are kind of mixed together. This is not always the case though.
You also see that this is an “as needed” or “PRN” medication. When the patient
complains of nausea, the nurse can give this medication because it has been
prescribed.
This example shows a common way to write prescriptions for liquids, especially for
children. Obviously “liquid” isn’t the medication, but you get the idea. Liquids come
in specific strengths per amount of liquid. Here, the strength is 10 mg per 5 mL. We
only want to give 5 mg though, so the “amount” that we prescribe is only 2.5 mL per
dose. It’s given by mouth every 4 hours. We are dispensing “1 (one) bottle”. You could
also just write “1 (one)” as the pharmacist would know what you meant.
To finish up, here is a list of the JCAHO “Do Not Use” List:
U or u (unit) – use “unit”

IU (International unit) – use “International Unit”

Q.D./QD/q.d./qd – use “daily”

Q.O.D./QOD/q.o.d./qod – use “every other day”

Trailing zeros (#.0 mg) – use # mg

Lack of leading zero (.#) – use 0.# mg

MS – use “morphine sulfate” or “magnesium sulfate”

MS04 and MgSO4 – use “morphine sulfate” or


“magnesium sulfate”
Body parts vocabulary
The Face

eye, nose, mouth, ear, cheek, chin, nostril, eyebrow, eyelid, eyelash, lips.

Mouth - you use your mouth to talk, to eat and to breathe.

Nose - You can smell things with your nose. You can also breathe through
your nose.

Nostrils - these are the two holes in your nose


The Arm and Hand
finger, palm, wrist, forearm, elbow, upper arm, shoulder, thumb

The Hand and Fingers


1. hand

2. thumb

3. index finger

4. middle finger

5. ring finger

6. little finger

7. nail

8. knuckle
The Leg and Foot
knee, leg, shin, calf (muscle), ankle, heel, foot, toe

ankle - the joint between your leg and your foot.

Internal Parts of the Body


heart - your heart pumps your blood around your body.

lungs - when you breathe, the air goes into your lungs.

veins - these transport blood through your body. They are like little tubes.

brain - this is your 'thinking machine' inside your head.


throat - food goes down this to get to your stomach.

liver - the organ that cleans your blood.

stomach - your food goes here when you swallow it.

kidneys - the organs that process all your body waste.

skeleton - all of the bones in your body.

ribs - these are the bones that protect the organs in your chest.

bones - your skeleton consists of many bones. There are about 206 in
your body.

skin - it covers almost the entire body and helps keep all the organs
and muscles in place.
Other Parts of the Body
Here is a list of some other parts of the body that have not been included above.

head - face - hair - tongue - tooth - back - waist - chest - hip - thigh - muscles

neck - this connects your head with your shoulders and the rest of
your body.

tongue - the muscle at the bottom of your mouth that tastes things
and helps you pronounce words

wrinkles - the lines in your skin caused by age. Old people have a lot
of wrinkles.

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