What Does IV Mean in Medical Terms?

IV stands for intravenous. Into a vein, describing a fluid or medicine route.

Where you will see IV

You will most often see IV in medication orders and prescriptions, nursing notes, care plans and handovers.

Example

A medication order might be written with “IV” as shorthand for intravenous.

Related abbreviations

• 1:1 — one-to-one observation
• 2g Na diet — two-gram sodium diet
• 3% saline — three percent saline (hypertonic)
• 4-point restraints — four-point restraints
• 5-FU — fluorouracil
• 6-MP — mercaptopurine
• 6-TG — thioguanine
• 7+3 — seven plus three induction

Browse the full Medical Abbreviations guide — 5,715 entries, searchable A–Z and by specialty.