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Nursing vocabulary · Medication Administration

Withhold

Meaning in nursing, with examples

/wɪθˈhoʊld/verbCommon term

In nursing, withhold means: To not give a prescribed dose of a medicine for a period of time, usually for a safety reason such as low blood pressure or a planned operation.

In Turkish: vermemek, dozu tutmak, ilaca ara vermek

How it is used

A formal word used in prescriptions and notes: 'Withhold if systolic BP is below 100', 'dose withheld, doctor informed'. In speech nurses usually say 'hold': 'Hold his warfarin tonight.' Withholding is temporary; stopping a drug for good is 'discontinue' or 'stop'.

Example sentences

  1. His blood pressure is 85/50, so I'm going to withhold his amlodipine and let the doctor know.

  2. The surgeon asked us to withhold her blood thinner for two days before the operation.

Common collocations

  • withhold a dose
  • withhold medication
  • withhold if
  • reason for withholding
  • doseThe amount of a medicine given at one time, such as 500 mg, or the total amount given over a period.
  • medication chartThe form or electronic record where a patient's medicines are prescribed and where nurses sign for each dose they give or do not give.
  • blood pressureThe force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries, written as two numbers such as 120/80 and measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).
  • hypotensionBlood pressure that is lower than normal. In adults it is often defined as below about 90/60 mmHg, but the change from the patient's usual reading also matters.

More terms: Medication Administration

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.