IS
Abbreviation with 5 meanings
| Stands for | Incentive spirometry |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 5 |
| Categories | Medical, Geography & Places, Technology & Computing, Military |
| Also written | Is. |
IS has five meanings. The most common are Incentive spirometry (nursing) and Island (geographic feature); it can also stand for Iceland, Information systems and Intelligence Specialist.
Meanings of IS at a glance
| # | IS stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Incentive spirometry | Medical › Nursing |
| 2 | Island | Geography & Places › Geographic Feature |
| 3 | Iceland | Geography & Places › Country Code |
| 4 | Information systems | Technology & Computing › Computer |
| 5 | Intelligence Specialist | Military › US Navy and Coast Guard Rating |
1. Incentive spirometry
Medical · Nursing Abbreviations
Breathing exercise in which the patient inhales slowly through a handheld device that shows the volume reached, encouraging deep breaths that reopen collapsed alveoli after surgery or during immobility. Nurses teach the technique and chart the volumes achieved.
Example: IS x10 q1h while awake; achieving 1250 mL, goal 1500 mL.
The device itself is an incentive spirometer. A typical instruction is ten slow breaths every hour while awake, holding each for a few seconds. Evidence that it prevents pneumonia on its own is mixed, but it remains a standard postoperative order alongside early walking and coughing. Diagnostic spirometry in a pulmonary function lab is a different test.
2. Island (Is.)
Geography & Places · Geographic Feature Abbreviations
Map and place-name abbreviation of Island or Islands, as in Canary Is. or Bainbridge Is.; Isl. and I. are also used. USPS uses IS for Island and ISS for Islands as street suffixes.
Example: The ferry to Bainbridge Is. leaves every 50 minutes.
Because is is a common word, many style guides spell Island out in running text. Map labels such as Channel Is. or Falkland Is. use it to save space.
3. Iceland
Geography & Places · Country Code Abbreviations
Iceland takes its code from Ísland; Reykjavík is the northernmost capital of a sovereign state and ISL the alpha-3 code. Its parliament, the Althing, was founded in 930.
Example: Tour operators in IS sell northern-lights trips from September to April.
The .is domain is popular for English word plays such as wh.is. Icelanders use patronymics rather than family names, and the phone book is sorted by first name.
4. Information systems
Technology & Computing · Computer Abbreviations
Field and organizational function concerned with how people, processes and technology combine to collect, store and use information, including databases, enterprise software and decision-support tools. Universities often teach IS degrees in business schools.
Example: She majored in IS and now manages the company's ERP rollout.
IS differs from computer science in focusing on how organizations use technology rather than on computation itself, and from IT in emphasizing business processes over infrastructure. Related labels include MIS (management information systems) and IS&T. In large companies the chief information officer usually leads the IS function.
5. Intelligence Specialist
Military · US Navy and Coast Guard Rating Abbreviations
Analysts who collect, evaluate and report intelligence, prepare briefings for commanders and aircrews, and build target and threat products. They work in ship intelligence centers, squadrons and fleet and joint intelligence commands.
Example: IS1 Rhodes briefed the aircrews on surface-to-air missile threats before the strike.
Intelligence specialists hold top secret clearances and often move into civilian intelligence agencies after service. They are distinct from cryptologic technicians, who focus on signals. In Islamic State coverage, IS refers to the militant group, an unrelated meaning.
Related abbreviations
More nursing abbreviations
- HOH – Hard of hearing
- I&O – Intake and output
- INT – Intermittent needle therapy (intermittent infusion device)
- IPC – Intermittent pneumatic compression
- IUC – Indwelling urinary catheter
- IVF – Intravenous fluids
- JP – Jackson-Pratt drain
- KVO – Keep vein open
See all 90 nursing abbreviations →
More geographic feature abbreviations
- GIS – Geographic information system
- Gt. – Great
- Hbr. – Harbor
- Hts. – Heights
- Jct. – Junction
- L. – Lake
- Lat. – Latitude
- Long. – Longitude
See all 46 geographic feature abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.