What does "NS" commonly refer to in medical settings?

In medical settings, "NS" commonly refers to Normal Saline, which is a sterile solution of sodium chloride in water. It is an isotonic solution often used for various purposes, including rehydrating patients, diluting medications, and serving as a vehicle for intravenous therapy. Normal Saline contains 0.9% sodium chloride, which closely matches the salt concentration of the body's fluids, making it a safe option for fluid replacement and maintenance.

Understanding the context in which fluid solutions are used is essential for patient care. Normal Saline is critical in emergency medicine, surgeries, and various treatment protocols, making it important for medical professionals to be familiar with its uses and implications in patient care. Other terms, like non-saturated, nutritive solution, or nutritional supplement, do not accurately reflect this widely recognized medical solution and its applications.