What does "2 ml" specify in a medication order?

The designation "2 ml" in a medication order specifies a volume measurement of liquid, specifically 2 milliliters. This is a standard unit used in the medical and pharmaceutical fields to quantify the amount of medication being administered. Milliliters are part of the metric system, which is commonly used for dosing liquids in healthcare settings due to its precision and ease of conversion to other metric units.

Understanding that "ml" stands for milliliters is crucial for medication administration, as it helps ensure patients receive the correct dosage. In contrast, other units mentioned in the options—milligrams, teaspoons, and tablespoons—refer to different measurements of mass or volume that are not equivalent to milliliters. Milligrams measure weight, while teaspoons and tablespoons are often used in cooking but are not typically used for precise medical dosing, making them unsuitable for interpreting a medication order expressed in milliliters.