Dictionary

Abbreviations

Abbreviations nurses read and write, with the ones never to use.

SA nodeSinoatrial node: a small cluster of cells in the right atrium that starts each heartbeat.

SAMHSASubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: the US government agency for mental health and substance use services.

SARSSevere acute respiratory syndrome: a lung infection caused by a coronavirus, first seen in 2002–2003.

SARS-CoVSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus: the virus that caused the SARS outbreak of 2002–2004.

SARS-CoV-2Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2: the virus that causes COVID-19.

SBARA four-part way to report about a client: situation, background, assessment and recommendation.

SBIRTScreening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment: a quick method for finding and addressing risky alcohol and drug use.

SBPAn abbreviation that most often means systolic blood pressure, and sometimes spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

SCAn abbreviation for subcutaneous, meaning into the fatty layer under the skin.

SCIDSevere combined immunodeficiency: a group of rare inherited disorders in which the immune system barely works from birth.

SDSSafety Data Sheet: a document that describes a chemical product's hazards and how to handle it safely.

SHSocial history: the part of a health history about a person's living situation, work, habits and supports.

SIAn abbreviation with several meanings: International System of Units, suicidal ideation, or sacroiliac.

SNSAn abbreviation with several meanings, most often sympathetic nervous system; the setting shows which.

SPECTSingle-photon emission computed tomography: a nuclear medicine scan that makes 3D pictures using a small dose of a radioactive tracer.

SQAn abbreviation for subcutaneous (under the skin) that ISMP lists as error-prone; ISMP advises SUBQ instead.

SRAn abbreviation with more than one meaning, most often sustained-release (after a drug name) or sinus rhythm (on a heart strip).

SSIAn abbreviation that can mean surgical site infection or sliding scale insulin.

statImmediately; at once.

STEMIST-elevation myocardial infarction: a heart attack in which the ECG shows a raised ST segment.