543-300-MC Common Medical Abbreviations
and Their Meanings – Questions With Expert
Solution
1. What does the abbreviation "BID" mean?
• A) Once daily
• B) Twice daily
• C) Three times daily
• D) Four times daily
Answer: B) Twice daily
Rationale: BID stands for "bis in die," which is Latin for twice a day. This is
commonly used in prescription instructions to indicate medication should be
taken two times per day .
2. What does the abbreviation "TID" mean?
• A) Once daily
• B) Twice daily
• C) Three times daily
• D) Four times daily
Answer: C) Three times daily
Rationale: TID stands for "ter in die," Latin for three times a day. It is frequently
used in medication orders .
3. What does the abbreviation "QID" mean?
, • A) Once daily
• B) Twice daily
• C) Three times daily
• D) Four times daily
Answer: D) Four times daily
Rationale: QID means "quater in die," indicating four times a day. This
abbreviation is used for medications that require frequent dosing .
4. What does the abbreviation "Q.d." mean?
• A) Once daily
• B) Every day
• C) Every other day
• D) As needed
Answer: B) Every day
Rationale: Q.d. stands for "quaque die," meaning every day . Note that this
abbreviation is often discouraged due to potential confusion with "q.i.d." .
5. What does the abbreviation "PRN" mean?
• A) Before meals
• B) After meals
• C) As needed
• D) Immediately
Answer: C) As needed
,Rationale: PRN stands for "pro re nata," meaning "as the situation arises" or "as
needed." It is used when medication should be given only when necessary rather
than on a fixed schedule .
6. What does the abbreviation "STAT" mean?
• A) Once daily
• B) As needed
• C) Immediately
• D) Twice daily
Answer: C) Immediately
Rationale: STAT is derived from the Latin "statim," meaning immediately. It
indicates that an order should be carried out without delay .
7. What does the abbreviation "AC" mean?
• A) After meals
• B) Before meals
• C) As needed
• D) Twice daily
Answer: B) Before meals
Rationale: AC stands for "ante cibos," Latin for before meals. It is used to indicate
that medication should be taken prior to eating .
8. What does the abbreviation "PC" mean?
• A) Before meals
, • B) After meals
• C) As needed
• D) Immediately
Answer: B) After meals
Rationale: PC stands for "post cibos," meaning after meals .
9. What does the abbreviation "NPO" mean?
• A) Nothing by mouth
• B) Nothing per order
• C) Not permitted orally
• D) Nutritional plan only
Answer: A) Nothing by mouth
Rationale: NPO is derived from the Latin "nil per os," meaning nothing by mouth.
This is used when a patient should not eat or drink anything, typically before
surgery or certain procedures .
10. What does the abbreviation "PO" mean?
• A) Nothing by mouth
• B) By mouth/orally
• C) Per order
• D) Rectally
Answer: B) By mouth/orally
Rationale: PO stands for "per os," Latin for by mouth or orally. It indicates the
route of medication administration .
and Their Meanings – Questions With Expert
Solution
1. What does the abbreviation "BID" mean?
• A) Once daily
• B) Twice daily
• C) Three times daily
• D) Four times daily
Answer: B) Twice daily
Rationale: BID stands for "bis in die," which is Latin for twice a day. This is
commonly used in prescription instructions to indicate medication should be
taken two times per day .
2. What does the abbreviation "TID" mean?
• A) Once daily
• B) Twice daily
• C) Three times daily
• D) Four times daily
Answer: C) Three times daily
Rationale: TID stands for "ter in die," Latin for three times a day. It is frequently
used in medication orders .
3. What does the abbreviation "QID" mean?
, • A) Once daily
• B) Twice daily
• C) Three times daily
• D) Four times daily
Answer: D) Four times daily
Rationale: QID means "quater in die," indicating four times a day. This
abbreviation is used for medications that require frequent dosing .
4. What does the abbreviation "Q.d." mean?
• A) Once daily
• B) Every day
• C) Every other day
• D) As needed
Answer: B) Every day
Rationale: Q.d. stands for "quaque die," meaning every day . Note that this
abbreviation is often discouraged due to potential confusion with "q.i.d." .
5. What does the abbreviation "PRN" mean?
• A) Before meals
• B) After meals
• C) As needed
• D) Immediately
Answer: C) As needed
,Rationale: PRN stands for "pro re nata," meaning "as the situation arises" or "as
needed." It is used when medication should be given only when necessary rather
than on a fixed schedule .
6. What does the abbreviation "STAT" mean?
• A) Once daily
• B) As needed
• C) Immediately
• D) Twice daily
Answer: C) Immediately
Rationale: STAT is derived from the Latin "statim," meaning immediately. It
indicates that an order should be carried out without delay .
7. What does the abbreviation "AC" mean?
• A) After meals
• B) Before meals
• C) As needed
• D) Twice daily
Answer: B) Before meals
Rationale: AC stands for "ante cibos," Latin for before meals. It is used to indicate
that medication should be taken prior to eating .
8. What does the abbreviation "PC" mean?
• A) Before meals
, • B) After meals
• C) As needed
• D) Immediately
Answer: B) After meals
Rationale: PC stands for "post cibos," meaning after meals .
9. What does the abbreviation "NPO" mean?
• A) Nothing by mouth
• B) Nothing per order
• C) Not permitted orally
• D) Nutritional plan only
Answer: A) Nothing by mouth
Rationale: NPO is derived from the Latin "nil per os," meaning nothing by mouth.
This is used when a patient should not eat or drink anything, typically before
surgery or certain procedures .
10. What does the abbreviation "PO" mean?
• A) Nothing by mouth
• B) By mouth/orally
• C) Per order
• D) Rectally
Answer: B) By mouth/orally
Rationale: PO stands for "per os," Latin for by mouth or orally. It indicates the
route of medication administration .
