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Common acronyms (ADL, POLST, MAR, ND…)

2 min readGlossary

Quick meanings: ADL = Activities of Daily Living; POLST = Portable Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment; MAR = Medication Administration Record; ND = Nurse Delegation; IP = Individual Provider; CDWA = Consumer Direct Care Network WA.

  1. 1ADL — Activities of Daily Living: bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring, walking.
  2. 2IADL — Instrumental ADLs: shopping, cooking, housework, managing money/meds.
  3. 3POLST — a medical order form stating the client's wishes for life-sustaining treatment; usually bright green, kept visible at home. Follow it and alert EMS to it.
  4. 4MAR — Medication Administration Record: where medication assistance/administration is logged.
  5. 5ND — Nurse Delegation; RN — Registered Nurse; APS — Adult Protective Services.
  6. 6IP — Individual Provider (paid through CDWA); AFH — Adult Family Home; DSHS — Dept. of Social & Health Services; DOH — Dept. of Health; L&I — Labor & Industries.

What to remember

  • —ADL — Activities of Daily Living: bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring, walking..
  • —IADL — Instrumental ADLs: shopping, cooking, housework, managing money/meds..
  • —POLST — a medical order form stating the client's wishes for life-sustaining treatment; usually bright green, kept visible at home.
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