When documenting a prescription, which abbreviation should a nurse correctly use for the intravascular route?

The abbreviation "IV" stands for intravenous, which indicates that a medication is administered directly into the bloodstream through a vein. This route allows for rapid absorption and is often used for medications that need to take effect quickly or for fluids and electrolytes.

In contrast, the other abbreviations represent different routes of administration: "IM" stands for intramuscular, referring to injections into a muscle; "PO" represents oral, which is for medications taken by mouth; and "SC" means subcutaneous, used for injections into the tissue layer between the skin and muscle. Each has distinct implications for the speed and method of drug absorption, making IV the appropriate abbreviation for intravascular administration.